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Shocked, Aloria’s arms unwound and her fists balled, but that was as far as she got before responding to Deinwald’s kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck and she matched his force passionately.

Jordan and Jemma grinned while William and Kieran whistled their approval loudly. Even the men-at-arms who were close enough to witness the exchange hooted and shouted favorably. It was completely unexpected and William wondered if Deinwald did it because he was trying to make her submit or if it was because he suddenly found himself in love with the big-boned woman. From the length and passion of the kiss, he guessed it to be the latter.

“Deinwald!” he yelled with a smirk. “Do that on your own time. The king is waiting.”

Deinwald was actually flushed when he pulled away from Aloria, but his cheeks were nothing compared to hers. Jordan watched him, his eyes smoky with gentleness and passion as he helped a somewhat stunned Aloria onto his destrier and mounted behind her, Jordan was able to catch a wink from Jemma before William turned his mount around and they were once again heading for London.

*

Jordan found herself back in the same apartments at Windsor. She felt a strange hominess when she first set foot in them, remembering her sons had been born here and wondering if the babe she carried would also be born here.

The knights went with her husband to seek the king, leaving her, Jemma, and Aloria to do the unpacking with the help of several soldiers. In little time everything was put away, and clean linens put on the beds. Jordan dismissed Aloria to go and find her cousin, although she and Jemma were dying to bombard the woman with questions about her and Deinwald. But that could wait, for Jemma was also eager to get a look at Windsor.

Dressed in their court best, Jordan in her silver-and-lavender dress and Jemma in a lovely soft gold, they walked Windsor from one end to the other. Jemma was overwhelmed at the size of the palace, marveling at all of the people they passed along the way, much the same as Jordan did the first time she toured the castle.

Women in surcoats with plunging necklines passed them every so often, bringing criticism from Jemma and looks of disapproval from Jordan. However, Jordan could not be too much of a hypocrite, after all, she had had a dress made for her like that once. Seeing the castle once again brought on a sense of familiarity and Jordan pointed out the various towers to her cousin, including the spherical Keep in the center of the complex. Well-manicured and opulent, Jemma was entranced with the entire picture.

Jordan wished Analiese had joined them on their tour. They had stopped by the woman’s apartments and was told by a haughty English servant that Analiese was not at home, but they both kept an eye out for her during their walk. Jordan found herself eager to see her friend again and catch up on any news. She was sure Analiese would want to hear of her ‘adventure’ in Scotland.

They had been out walking for a couple of hours in the humid weather. Jordan took Jemma to the lovely courtyard that her bedchamber window looked out on to and Jemma delighted in the summer flowers and the pond with the big fish in it, all different colors. They sat at the edge of the pond, watching the fish and talking quietly, enjoying a day in which they were not on the back of a destrier.

Jemma was feeling normal once again after the sickness she had briefly experienced. In fact, she was much saucier than usual, as was Jordan, as if the babes they carried had somehow enhanced their sassy spirits. Jordan felt better than she ever had, ravenous and energetic.

Their husbands had been gone several hours and they were beginning to grow bored. Knowing where the king’s audience chamber was, Jordan suggested that they go there and wait for them to be done. Jemma thought it was an excellent idea. They entered the palace, traveling the smooth floors with slippered feet. Into a grand foyer and then turning down a corridor, they were faced with two familiar bodies standing several yards away.

But the bodies were not alone, for gathered in front of them were at least four female figures, giggling and laughing. Jordan’s eyebrows shot up in a fit of jealousy; Vanessa, Miranda and Charlotte were in a silly little group, laughing loudly. But now, there was another woman with them and the four of them not only had her husband detained, but Kieran as well.

Jordan was up for a fight. “Those bitches again!” she snarled.

Jemma, hearing her tone, went stiff. “What do ye mean? Who are they?”

“Court whores,” Jordan declared. “They were after William once, but I wasna strong enough to do anything but yell at them at the time. Now, I am going to thrash them within an inch of their lives.”

Jemma was ready to do battle. “ ’Tis not only William now, but Kieran. Damn, where’s my dirk?”

Jordan clenched her teeth, her pale green eyes riveted to the four women’s backs, blissfully unaware of the mortal danger they were in.

“Kill them!” She enunciated deliberately, yet it was a figurative term. Had she had her dirk, it might not have been.

They started to run towards the group. Hearing the rapid footsteps, Miranda turned around in time to see Jordan and a wild-looking brunette bearing down on them with hatred in their eyes.

She let out a little cry and the other women turned around to see the source of her fright. Vanessa and Charlotte were well aware of who the blond was and the four women instantly scattered in different directions. The fourth woman, a red-head, was dragged along simply out of panic.

William saw the look in his wife’s eyes and it startled and amused him at the same time. But she tore off after Miranda and Vanessa before she got within arm’s length of him and he found himself staring after her, stupefied, for a brief second before taking off after her.

“What are they doing?” Kieran demanded, watching his own wife run like a fox after the other two women.

William was already moving after Jordan. “You better catch her before she can do any damage, man.” he called after him. “I shall tell you the story later.”

Jordan was fast. She chased the two women back out into the small courtyard where she and Jemma had just come from, gaining ground on them as they raced down the path veering for the pond. She could hear William calling her name but she ignored him, wanting to at least get one good punch in before he dragged her away. And she wanted Miranda. She would teach the bitch a lesson she would never forget.

The path ended at the pond and for a brief moment, Miranda and Vanessa were in panicked confusion. Vanessa turned in one direction and Miranda in the other, but not before Jordan came upon them. With a flying leap, she tackled Miranda and the two of them went sailing into the shallow green water of the palace pond.

William came to a halt at the edge of the water, fighting off the urge to laugh as his wife and Miranda came up sputtering. Almost instantly, however, Jordan was on the woman and grabbing her by the hair as she dunked her head under the water once again.

“I told ye what would happen if I caught ye talking to my husband again!” she hollered in between sputters. Her luscious hair had algae in it and it clung to her face. “You little slut! I shall give ye a thrashing ye’ll never forget!”

Miranda’s screaming mouth was silenced once again as Jordan plunged her head under for the third time. As a rule, William did not involve himself in female fights, but he would make an exception in this case.