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“My lady?” he responded.

She smiled at him. “I am sure Jemma was glad to see ye this morn, even if she neglected to say so.”

He almost blushed. “Simply doing my duty, my lady. Sir William asked me to return her to her rooms.” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but stopped himself.

Jordan eyed the man. Stubborn as Jemma was, she would probably never give gentle Kieran a fighting chance to woo her. She decided that Jemma needed some help.

“Kieran,” she purred mischievously. “Jemma thinks ye’re handsome. She told me so. I know she was glad to see ye.”

He did blush then, running his finger along his collar of his tunic as if he thought it was too tight. He struggled with his composure for a moment before she took mercy on him.

“I just wanted ye to know,” she told him. “She is a stubborn, willful wench but she has got a heart of gold and could make God himself laugh. Do not be put off by her demeanor.”

She went into the room and shut the door. In the vacant corridor, Kieran grinned broadly and shook his fists triumphantly in the air. The smile split his face in two as he descended the stairs two at a time.

Jordan went to Jemma’s smaller bed chamber, noting that her cousin was already moving to undress.

“Are ye all right?” she demanded earnestly.

Jemma looked angry and tired. “Aye, my body is sound,” she replied. “But I have a greater hatred now for the English than I ever had before.”

Jordan began to help Jemma strip off the heavy silk. “I am sorry,” she apologized. “Had I not returned Analiese’s insult, ye might not have felt the need to offend Alexander. I know ye were only defending me.”

Jemma shrugged out of the dress. “He deserved it, Jordi, and I dunna regret the insult for a moment. Just as I told yer precious captain.”

“He came to ye?” Jordan asked.

“Aye, this morning before the sun was up, he was standing in my cell with a tray of porridge and ale,” Jemma replied. “He stood there while I ate the whole thing, asking me only once if I regretted my words. Big brute, he is.”

Jordan stiffened. “What do ye mean he is a brute? Did he try to harm ye?”

“Nay,” Jemma was out of her undergarments and standing stark naked. “I meant that he is so big he seemed to fill up my entire cell. He never lifted a hand nor raised his voice, but I felt…I felt a-feared of him just the same. The man has a power about him that none of the other knights do.”

Jordan smiled faintly. “Not even Kieran?”

Jemma lifted her eyes to meet her cousin’s. “Kieran is larger than the captain, but he does not radiate the same presence. ’Tis difficult to explain, but in the cell I actually felt safe and frightened at the same time.”

Jordan knew exactly what she meant. She stood up and put her arm around her cousin’s shoulders. “Come on, lass,” she said softly. “That tub out yonder is big enough for the two of us.”

They bathed each other and dressed carefully. Jemma selected one of Jordan’s yellow brocade surcoats with shortened sleeves while Jordan opted for a pale green silk that matched the color of her eyes. The bodice clung to her like a second skin while the full skirt cut away to reveal snatches of an ivory satin sheath. She pulled the front of her hair back away from her face and secured it with a crystal clip, leaving the back falling softly to her waist.

Jemma looked at herself in the mirror. “This dress is too long, too,” she observed. “Can ye see about getting me some dresses made?”

“Aye, I was thinking on it just now,” Jordan agreed. “I shall ask the earl when next I see him.”

Jordan went to the window and inhaled deeply the rapidly warming air. “I think we shall go for a walk this morn,” she said decisively. “I would see this kingdom I am to be countess over.”

“But what about the incident yesterday?” Jemma reminded her. “Do ye think it wise to go out so soon?”

Jordan cocked her eyebrow. “I will not be a prisoner in the castle,” she told her. “I intend to meet the people and show them that they have nothing to hate. Might as well start today. Are ye coming?”

“Ye know I am,” Jemma said.

Jordan gathered her handkerchief and moved to the door. “Let us see who my watchdog is today,” she remarked passingly, then glanced at Jemma. “And I expect the best behavior from ye, no matter what might be said or done. Understood?”

“Aye,” Jemma said as if she was insulted by the question.

Adam stood in the hall with three men-at-arms. His fair young face lit up when he saw Jordan open the door.