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Her emotions began to race, as did her breathing. She could hear the priest intoning the remainder of the blessing as if he were racing with the devil to finish it, but suddenly she could not hear anything else but her heart pounding in her ears. Panic. Horror. Fear. Her mind was reeling.

She felt very hot and a strange lightness filled her head. With horror, she realized she was going to faint and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. Her cheeks blazed inordinately warm and her vision faded to black.

*

When Jordan came to, a host of faces were staring back at her with great concern.

“Here, now, here she comes,” she could hear the earl’s voice. “My lady? Can you hear me?”

“Sit her up.” It was a matronly woman’s voice. “Child, can you hear me? Come around now.”

Jordan struggled to sit up as several hands steadied her. “What… what happened?”

“Rest easy, child,” the woman said.

Jordan blinked her eyes into focus, deeply embarrassed that she had passed out. The queen was kneeling beside her, a wet cloth in her hand. Henry, behind his wife, stared back at her with his droopy eye and Jordan had to look away or she knew she would become sick again.

The earl was on the other side of her, along with William, and she turned enough to see that she half laid in Aloria’s lap.

“How do you feel now?” the queen asked.

Jordan blinked again, her hand going to her head. “A little dizzy, Your Highness.”

“ ’Tis the heat,” Eleanor said firmly, and everyone around her nodded confidently. “You will retire until the celebration this evening. ’Twould not do well to have a sickly bride at her own feast.”

Aloria gently pushed Jordan into a sitting position, as those who were kneeling around her stood. The earl motioned to William.

“Pick her up, Captain,” he instructed. “Had I the strength, I would do it myself.”

William reached down and gathered his wife to him with infinite gentleness, trying not to let his concern show. Eleanor approached Jordan as she lay cradled in William’s arms.

“You made it through the entire ceremony before your strength gave out,” she said with a bit of pride. “Let me be the first to congratulate you, Countess of Teviot.”

Jordan smiled weakly, then stiffened as Henry approached. He eyed her emotionlessly. “You are a lovely bride,” he said. “I hope to see you well tonight. I think I should like to have a dance with the most beautiful bride in all of England.” With that, he turned and preceded Eleanor from the chapel.

William felt Jordan relax as the king and queen left, and he gave her a little squeeze. The earl turned to him.

“Get her up to her apartments. I must attend our king and queen, as befitting a bridegroom,” he said, looking at Jordan with concern. “Are you sure you are feeling well, Jordan?”

She nodded faintly. “Aye, my lord. ’Tis the heat, I am sure.”

The earl nodded in agreement, pulling his children with him as he left. In his wake, it took Jordan a moment to realize the entire chapel was vacant.

“What happened to the people?” she asked, confused.

“De Longley chased them the hell out when you fainted,” William replied. “You scared him.”

She shook her head, trying to clear her muddled mind. But a glance about told her that they were entirely surrounded by their trusted people and she relaxed against her husband, putting her arms around his neck.

“I was fine until I saw the king,” she said softly. “Then it was as if I had no control over my fear. All I could think of was his wrath should he discover us.”

Without replying, William took his wife from the chapel, through the back way, and up to her old apartments. His knights dispersed themselves and Aloria made herself scarce, although William made sure Paris kept an eye on the woman. He was still having a difficult time trusting her.

William sat her down carefully in the antechamber. “Off with that damn mountainous dress,” he ordered softly, helping her with the stays.

The dress fell to the floor and Jordan stepped clear, still holding onto William’s arms to steady herself. She was feeling much better now, but still a bit shaky. He removed the girdle and she sighed with relief, now clad only in her pantalets.

“Go lay down,” he ordered, his eyes raking over her body.