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“I am better than all right,” he said confidently.

She believed him and it made her feel much better. She very much wanted to go to Northwood with him but knew it was impossible at the moment.

“Will ye send for me when everything is taken care of?” she asked hopefully.

“Aye, you know I will,” he assured her. “Mayhap we will even occupy Questing for a time, but should Henry call me back to London then you will come with me. I will never be separated from you again, and the king be damned.”

She frowned. “What do ye mean ‘the king be damned?’”

“Because he still believes you to be the countess, of course,” he reminded her patiently.

She shook her head. “He knows I am your wife,” she informed him. When he looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and fear, she nodded firmly. “Aye, he knows, William. I told him myself the very day I arrived. He has not said anything to ye yet?”

“Nay,” he shook his head in wonder, but he was also angry with her. “Why did you tell him, Jordan? ’Twas not your place.”

“Not my place?” she repeated incredulously. “I am yer wife, English. ’Twas not only my place, it was my right. He saw me when I arrived and called me ‘countess.’ I was frightened for ye and wanted to tell him at the first why I had come to London, to tend ye. I dunna think he was very happy, in faith, but at least he knows the truth of it now.”

William rubbed the back of his neck worriedly. Truth was, she had saved him the responsibility and it was much harder to strike a pregnant woman than a large, healthy knight. He deduced that if Henry were truly angry then he would not have commanded William to lead troops back to Northwood. Nor would he still be the king’s champion, or a baron for that matter. William found that he was greatly relieved that the monarch knew their secret.

At least he knew now, heading into his audience with the king, that Jordan had told the man everything. Better to be prepared.

“Speaking of the king, he is expecting me.” He would not dwell on what she had done. Leaning down, he gave her a swift kiss on the lips, but she latched onto his neck with her arms and would not let him go. He responded automatically, kissing her deeply until he forced himself away from her with a groan. “Do not do this to me, Jordan. Making love to you is out of the question, although it has been an eternity and I would dearly love to.”

“I miss ye already,” she whispered.

He left her with another kiss, but not before making sure she got back in bed with Analiese in attendance. His mind at ease with his wife and children taken care of, he marched from his apartments and prepared himself for his meeting with Henry.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Henry did not mince words; he was short and to the point. He was bloody well pissed off at the whole situation, and William wondered if Alexander would be facing the swordsman when he returned to London. Henry’s veins bulged on his temple as he ranted and raved about the stupidity of a certain new earl and cursing the Scots in the same breath. Not only did he have problems with the damnable Welsh, but the Scots were becoming completely unreasonable as well. He would send a missive to King Alexander of Scotland and demand that the man control his border lords… or else.

William stood stoically in front of his king, listening to the ramblings of an angry old man. Around him, his courtiers remained in silent agreement, offering small opinions to reinforce the king’s own ideals.

William was completely focused on the king until he began to notice that the ladies present were looking at him and sending him coy, meaningful glances. He was irritated at their attentions, tearing his gaze away from Henry only once to shoot the group of them a reproachful glare. Undaunted, they continued until Henry dismissed the entire room, with the exception of William.

He came down off the dais, giving William the once over as he calmed his boiling blood.

“You look as if you could take on the devil and win,” the king commented.

“Mayhap that is just what I will be doing, sire.”

The king grunted. “I am glad to have my champion back. We came close to losing you a few times, didn’t we?”

“I am better than ever now, sire,” came the firm reply.

Henry nodded, fixing William with a stare. “And I understand congratulations are in order. I hear your wife birthed two healthy sons yesterday.”

William faltered for a split second. “Aye, sire. She and the twins are doing very well. Allow me to apologize for not telling you of the true situation between Lady Jordan and myself. ’Twas wrong of me, I know.”

Henry looked impassive. “Aye, it was. But you are not entirely to blame. Yet I must tell you that if John were alive he would be the recipient of the royal wrath. I am unused to being deceived in such a manner.”

“What the earl did, sire, he did out of respect for me,” William defended his late liege. “He knew of my feelings for Jordan and he also knew that she returned those feelings. To marry her would have caused a great many people misery, including himself. He did not want a bride. Believe me when I tell you that he did not allow me to marry Jordan just to spite you.”

Henry shrugged thoughtfully, yet with an irritated cock of the brow. “Be that as it may, it still serves a purpose in that Lady Jordan is married to a border lord, yet I understand that there is virtually no Langton left to be allied with.”

“So I have been informed, sire,” William answered grimly.

Henry paced back to his chair. “I would know the situation as soon as you reach Northwood. I have no patience with the bloody Scots and their mindless war games. What they are doing is foolhardy and well they know it. ’Tis time for a show of force from the crown to chase the little bastards back into their holes. Be swift and painful, William.”