Page 40 of King’s Knight

Now he watched Merewyn dancing with Duke Robert. “This evening cannot end soon enough for me,” he said to Rory and Guy. “Merewyn is assailed from all sides. First Ranulf and his indecent threats and now the king’s brother. God only knows who will next appear.”

Sharing a concerned glance with Rory, Guy asked, “What would you have us do?”

“Find my father and tell him I am taking Merewyn home.”

“Aye, we can do that,” said Rory. “Do you need an escort?”

“Nay, my sword will be sufficient.”

The moment the song ended, Alex was there to take Merewyn’s hand.

Duke Robert bowed to her. “My lady, ’tis been a pleasure. I hope I will yet see you ere we leave London, but a lady guarded by a wolf is not likely to be available for walks along the Strand.”

Alex inclined his head but said nothing. As he led her toward the doors, he leaned in close. “We are leaving.”

“So soon?”

“Aye. I’d not risk you further this night, not with Ranulf lurking about.”

“You are probably right, but the duke was all good manners.”

“Robert has a kindly nature, but he, too, has been known to steal a lady’s virtue.”

“Then ’tis well we go.” She looked up at him with trusting eyes. “It has been wonderful, Alex. Thank you for being with me, even if only for a while.”

He offered his arm and she took it. Likely she believed he would marry Adèle of Vermandois, but he would not. His father might have been compelled by the Conqueror to marry his mother but from what he had determined in his brief time with the Lady Adèle, she was nothing like the Lady of Talisand—or Merewyn. “If I have my way, my lady, ’twill be for much longer.”

Once they had returned to the manor and taken off their cloaks, Alex poured them both a goblet of wine. “Now I can have the wine I would have indulged in at the palace were it not for the need to have all my senses alert to guard you from the circling predators.”

She accepted the goblet he offered her, taking a long draw on the rich red liquid. “I think I prefer the hall at Talisand,” she said with a smile, setting down her goblet. “It is smaller but more welcome and feels like home.”

“Me as well,” he said, placing his goblet on the table. “Come, I will see you to your chamber.”

As they were ascending the stairs, Nelda came up behind them. “Mistress, do you require me?”

“Nay, Nelda, do whatever you must to prepare for Lady Serena.”

When they arrived at Merewyn’s door, Alex stood back and let her enter.

“Will you not come in to bid me goodnight?” she asked.

How he wanted to take her in his arms, kiss her and teach her the ways of love. He wanted to bind her to him forever. “Merewyn, I can protect you from other men but not from myself. I fear I could not act honorably were we to be alone and a bed nearby.” Their eyes met and a powerful force flowed between them, like a cable of steel, unbreakable. “I would have you as mine forever,” Alex said.

Across her face flitted a look of surprise. A moment passed in which she appeared to hesitate, but then she placed her palm on his chest. “I would have you be mine, also.”

“Can it be we have missed what has always been before us?” he asked. “Friendship has, indeed, become something more, has it not? Or, mayhap I only failed to see that you have always been mine.”

“You have held my heart since that day in the woods long ago when you rescued me.” Smiling, she added, “And still you persist in saving me from danger.”

He took her palm from his chest and turned it toward his lips, kissing the soft skin. “I must leave you now, else I would claim tonight what I desire.”

CHAPTER 8

In his eyes, Merewyn glimpsed his sincerity. She had come to trust this man. He had never been like the others, like Ranulf Flambard and even Duke Robert, whose desire for her was driven only by lust. Inside, Alex was still the boy who had once rescued her, only now he was so much more.

Taking his hand, she pulled him into her chamber and closed the door.

“Stay,” she whispered. With that one word, she knowingly sealed her fate. One day she might lose him to Lady Adèle or some other woman at the king’s command, but tonight he could be hers. And she would have the memory to treasure forever.