Page 195

She put her hand on his blond head. “We share a common bond, Paris. We both love him with all our hearts. I shall send word to ye as soon as I can.”

He nodded, staring down at her hand and caressing it absently. He was afraid if he looked her in the eye he would start bawling like a babe.

Jordan sensed his emotions. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Dunna fret. I shall be fine and the babe will be fine. I promise not to have him on the road to London.”

“I shall hold you to that,” he replied softly. “William will kill me if anything happens to you.”

She grinned, tipping his head up to look at her. “Mayhap when he sees me, he will be angry enough to stay alive just long enough to belt ye for letting me out of yer sight.” Her smile softened as she gazed down into his worried blue eyes. “Dunna worry. Everything will be fine. I willna let William die without a fight.

“I know.” He looked into her face, seeing the face William loved so well and knowing exactly why he did love her so. It would be so easy to…. “Kieran will be wondering where you are,” he said softly. “ ’Tis time to go.”

She nodded. But her hand was still on his face and she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “Then we shouldna keep him waiting.”

Feeling sad and depressed, Paris stood up and extended his arm to her “Your carriage awaits, my lady.”

She accepted it warmly and together they went down to the bailey.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

The journey to London was thankfully uneventful. Weary and exhausted, Kieran helped an equally exhausted Jordan from the carriage. She stretched the fatigue from her body, gazing about at the magnificent courtyard of Windsor Castle. She could scarce believe she had actually arrived.

Kieran had brought the party in to the northern entrance, crossing through the Great Park and entering through the twin portcullises of the King’s Gate. The bailey, a vast open thing bustling with activity, should have enthralled Jordan, but she could not muster the excitement. She was focused on one thing; her husband. He was here, within this place, and she had to see him.

Byron and Analiese exited the carriage, standing close to their mistress, as Kieran began shouting orders to the soldiers. The knights accompanying him picked up the orders and suddenly there were soldiers mobilizing and moving from the courtyard, leaving Jordan alone with her carriage, her companions, and her wagons.

“How are you feeling?” Kieran asked her gently.

“Fine,” she said shortly. “Where is William?”

He took her arm and led her through the entrance of the Earl Marshall’s Tower. She found herself staring at the many, many people they passed, all dressed in the finest clothes she had ever seen. The courtiers stared back at her as well, but she wasn’t the least bit self-conscious with her enormous belly.

Jordan was tingling with apprehension, afraid of what she would find when she finally came face to face with her husband. She wished Kieran would run, fly, anything to reach William immediately.

Down a corridor they ran head-on into the king himself. Henry looked surprised to see her on Kieran’s arm, looking her over with growing pleasure.

“Lady de Longley,” his voice was soft but unmistakably powerful. “A genuine pleasure.”

Jordan curtsied and had to be helped up by Kieran. “My lord king.”

Henry pulled back her heavy cloak, revealing her stomach. He snorted. “God’s Blood, John must have planted an entire population in that belly.”

Jordan flushed, she was angry, tired, and upset to the core. She discreetly pulled her cloak back around her and looked the king in the eye.

“Might I have a word with ye in private, sire?” she requested with controlled fury, although she was shaking profusely. “ ’Twill take but a moment and is most important.”

After a slight hesitation, the king nodded. “Only a minute. I have duties to attend to.”

He drew her into a small antechamber not far from where they met, leaving everyone else still congregated in the corridor.

Kieran watched the closed door like a hawk, wondering what in the hell Jordan was telling the king. He could guess what it was but refused to believe it. Truth was, he was afraid to believe it. He had no idea how the king was going to react.

The minutes drew long. Analiese passed Kieran a couple of worried glances as Byron inspected the artwork lining the hall, ignoring the strange stares of the king’s perfumed courtiers. The corridor was silent save the sounds of servants and soldiers in the distance.

Deinwald rounded a corner and nearly ran headlong into Kieran.

“I saw you ride in,” he exclaimed. “I have been looking all over this bloody maze for you.”

“How is William?” Kieran fired at him.