Page 89 of Lionheart

"AmI?" Would he accept her challenge? "You want me not."

"Youare wrong, wife. I want you with every breath I take. I cannot look at youwithout wanting you. But I am too strong to become a victim of your lies. Myown mother found naught in me to love, so why should I believe you would bedifferent?"

"Yourmother? What has she got to do with us?"

"Imisspoke. I do not wish to talk about that woman. I merely wanted to warn youthat I will banish you to a convent should you betray me with anotherman."

"Ithought you had no care for what I did," she goaded.

"Challengeme not, Vanora, for you cannot win. I will not be humiliated by yourindiscretions."

Indignationstiffened her shoulders. "What about your indiscretions?"

"Whatabout them?"

She jerkedthe reins from his hand. "Go to the devil, Lionheart, and take your lemanwith you!" Lionheart lifted his head, inhaled sharply of the cold,exhilarating air, and laughed. He had not felt so alive since he had last madelove, nay, rutted with Vanora. How he missed her! Her keen wit and acid tongue,her sleekly muscled body . . . God's blood, why did his life have to be socomplicated?

Invigorated,he returned to the training field, ready to take on all twenty of his men andtheir squires.

* * *

Vanoraentered the village and reined her mount toward Gordy's wattle-and-daub hut.She knew she was too late when she saw a group of weeping women gatheredoutside the hut. Her heart sank. She dismounted and pushed her way through tothe door.

"Isshe gone?" Vanora asked a bent old woman hovering in the doorway.

"Aye,Bretta is in peace now." She wiped away a tear. "What will become ofher little ones?"

Vanora hadno answer as she entered the hut and knelt beside Father Caddoc to offerprayers for the dead woman. Three small children huddled around their father,tears streaming down their pale little faces.

"Whateverwill I do without my Bretta?" Gordy sobbed. "I cannot care for thechildren myself, my lady."

"Doyou have relatives?"

"Aye,a sister."

"Wouldshe be willing to help out?"

"Aye,she is a widow with no children, but I have no means to get her here. She livesa half day's journey from Cragdon."

"AfterBretta is buried, I shall lend you a horse so you can fetch her," Vanoraoffered.

"Iwill care for the children until Gordy returns," a woman said from thedoorway. "Take the children outside so we can prepare your wife's body forburial."

"Iwill help," Vanora offered.

"Nay,my lady, 'tis not right."

"Gohome, Vanora," Father Caddoc urged. "Leave the food and blankets withme. I will pray over Bretta and see that the children are warm and fed."

Vanoragave reluctant agreement. "When you are ready, Gordy, come to the keep,and I will see that you are given a horse for your journey."

Toogrief-stricken to speak, Gordy nodded. Then the women who had come to preparethe body edged Vanora out of the cramped hut. After handing Father Caddoc thefood and blankets she had brought, Vanora left. She was approaching theoutskirts of the village when she heard someone call out to her. Glancing overher shoulder, she saw Sir Ren behind her.

"LadyVanora, I have been waiting daily for you or Father Caddoc to come to thevillage."

"Whathas happened, Sir Ren?"

"Daffidapproached me and Cragdon's knights about joining his army. He plans to attackCragdon when he has enough men behind him."