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She made a face at him. When he was halfway through the antechamber he heard her call him again. Returning to the doorway, he was surprised to find her in tears. Concerned, he stepped into the room.

“What’s the matter, love?”

“I…I dunna…,” she swallowed. “I dunna want to take Scott and Troy to London. The trip is long and could be dangerous, and I would rather leave them here for the time-being where I know they are safe.”

He nodded. “That’s fine, whatever you decide,” he told her. He knew how hard it was for her to leave the babes behind. He had thought it was for the best, too, but he wasn’t going to suggest it. That was her decision to make, he felt.

She blinked and fat tears splattered on her cheeks, lowering her head back to her job. He hated to see her cry; he moved around the bed and kissed her head sympathetically.

“Do not cry,” he whispered. “When we find out what Henry wants of me, then mayhap we will send for them. ’Tis better to leave them safe and sound here with Sylvie and Caladora, and with the rest of them to look after them. You are wise in your decision.”

She sniffed and smiled weakly. “I know,” she said arrogantly.

He raised his eyebrows humorously at her conceited statement, so out of character for her it was laughable. But she had meant it to be.

Kissing her one last time, he quit the room.

CHAPTER SIXTY

The weather was unbearably hot and humid all the way to London. As miserable as Jordan was in her heavy surcoats, she knew William was baking in his armor but he never said a word. Deinwald complained enough for everyone and he and Jemma kept a running battle going the entire way.

Jemma would not be left behind this time. Kieran tried to insist that she stay, but he didn’t have the heart to force her. She wanted to be with him, and he wanted her with him. Furthermore, she had never seen London and was thrilled at the prospect of seeing the sprawling city. The difficult part, however, had been leaving Mary Alys, and Jemma had only recently stopped crying over leaving her bairn.

Jordan was glad to have her along for company. William had even allowed Aloria to go because he felt his wife should have a maid to assist her, and also because the woman had a cousin at court she had not seen in a while.

Aloria turned out to be the best entertainment of all on the long trip. As big as she was, she was also strong and athletic. It was only logical that she ride with Deinwald, who protested strongly at first, but all too easily accepted the lanky woman seated in front of him. Jordan thought he looked a little flushed, too.

However, he kept up with the insults and jibes for good measure, whispering into her ear endlessly until Aloria had had enough. She and Deinwald were developing a fragile romance of sorts, but she refused to take his bullying any longer.

On the third day Deinwald started insulting Jemma and Aloria early on. Jemma responded to him as she usually did, but Aloria didn’t want to hear him anymore. After a comment about the size of her feet, she turned around in the saddle and slugged him as hard as she could with her fist against the side of his head. He teetered a moment before crashing to the ground, pulling her down with him.

William heard the thud and halted the column, turning around to see eloquent Aloria straddled on Deinwald cursing a blue streak. In his opinion, the man deserved worse. He did not interfere because this was Deinwald’s fight. Mayhap if a woman licked him in a fight he would stop being such a bully, and Aloria was certainly big enough to do it.

Jemma was laughing so hard she was crying. Jordan simply sat and watched, fighting off a grin. Deinwald’s faceplate was down and it was impossible to see his face, but she could imagine what his expression must be.

Aloria finished her tirade and smacked Deinwald on the helmet again for good measure before pushing herself off of him.

“English, mayhap I should ride with Deinwald now,” Jordan suggested quietly. “Aloria can ride with ye.”

William didn’t want to ride with anyone but his wife, but he suspected she was correct in assuming that Deinwald and Aloria needed time to cool off.

“That may be wise,” he agreed, then yelled. “Deinwald! My wife wishes to ride with you.”

Deinwald pushed himself up from the ground, tearing off his helmet and ignoring his liege’s statement. The helm landed on the ground with a thump as he stalked toward Aloria. She met his hostile glare with a crossed-arm stance, seething with anger. Technically, they were of the same social station so it was not a matter of her being disrespectful to a superior. They were on equal turf and of equally strong will.

Jordan watched apprehensively as Deinwald advanced on her lady-in-waiting. When it was apparent no one was going to stop him, she turned to her husband.

“English, dunna let him hurt her,” she pleaded.

He shook his head faintly, watching his knight. “He will not.”

Jordan, doubtful, turned to watch the scene unfold. She wondered if she should yell at Deinwald and tell him to leave Aloria alone, but she bit her tongue. Mayhap this was something they had to work out on their own.

“Give it to him, Aloria!” Jemma yelled before Kieran could clap a hand over his wife’s unruly mouth.

Deinwald stopped a mere inch or so from Aloria, his eyes as angry and threatening as Jordan had ever seen them. Aloria didn’t back away, however, standing her ground. She would give him more of the same if he tried anything.

Jordan saw Deinwald’s hands coming up and stiffened, she was afraid he was going to hurt her badly. She started to say something to her husband, to demand that he stop his knight, when Deinwald’s hands suddenly grasped Aloria on either side of her head and his mouth descended on her own so forcefully that her head snapped back.