Lord Liar Part 20

"But that doesn't stop you from taking my brother," she pointed out, her jaw jutting out pugnaciously as she indicated the excited boy beside her.

"I don't like you exposing him to danger" -- "Aldyth!" her brother cried in anguished embarra.s.sment.

"He's my page. He's a boy," Ranulf po'mted out, guessing from the sparks flas.h.i.+ng in her green eyes that his deliberate tone was maddening to her.

The real danger was of Aldyth ever guessing the fantasies his mind had been spinning about her accompanying him on the journey. He could picture them together, compelled to share a tiny room with a single bed at some harbor inn at Honfieur. The idea was enough to make him throb with need.

Perhaps it would be better if he made her angry enough that she would be glad to see him go. "S-so am I, as far as anyone else would know," she sputtered, putting her arm protectively about Warin. "Aldyth!" Warin squirmed out of her sisterly embrace.

"I'm not an infant in swaddling bands!"

"I'm sorry, Warin," she said, her voice contrite.

"Of course you're not. But I want to go, too! I can't bear the idea of being left to dust relics and scratch out Latin writs under Brother Osbert."

"I have given you another option, that of staying with Lady Vivienne's babes," Ranulf reminded her.

"They'll have their nurse, of course, but I'm sure old Marie would appreciate help with those lively children."

"Oh, they love you, Aldyth," Lady Vivienne said encouragingly, "and I'd feel better knowing you were with them." Lady Vivienne, of course, was going; it was expected that Lord Ranulf would want to take his "mistress" along.

"Please, sister, don't take it so hard," Warin pleaded, laying a hand beseechingly on her arm.

Aldyth clutched her head and seemed about to make an angry outburst when there came a pounding on the heavy oak door.

"Lord Ranulf! Are you within? Lord Ranulf!"

Ranulf looked at Aldyth, who had gone white as a winding sheet. She stared at the door, then at him, her lips shaping the word G.o.dtic.

She obeyed instantly as Ranulf motioned her into the in her bedchamber and directed her to conceal herself under the bed. The pounding began again.

Lady Vivienne went to the door, and a moment latgx Aldyth heard the sounds of booted feet entering the room-two pairs of booted feet.

"G.o.dricl" she heard Warin shout in welcome. Oh, J6su, had Warin believed her when she'd said that G.o.dric would not have helped her escape Turold? Would he be able to keep the secret of her presence from his older brother?

"Greetings, G.o.dtic. This is a surprise," she heard Ranulf say in his lazy, drawling manner.

"I hope you bring no ill news of my lord father or my lady mother?"

"Nay, my lord. They are well, and I am here with the Carol's leave. Lord Ranulf, I would present Turold of Swanlea to you, the betrothed of my sister."

Turold was here, in the next room! Her blood froze in terror. She inched forward beneath the bed until she had a narrow view of the outer room, and she could see the two pairs of dusty, booted feet and a few inches of their bmies.

"My Iord," she heard the hated voice murmur respectfully. She could not hear Ranulf make a reply.

"My lord, are you aware that my sister disappeared from Sherborne keep on the night of her wedding? We come seeking her," Aldyth heard G.o.dtic say.

"We had word, of course, from my father, who felt Warin should be aware. But why come you here? Surely your runaway bride would be found closer to home, Turold."

"My Aldyth did not run away, my lord," Turold corrected him defensively.

"We were in love. I fear the worst."

"The worst?" she heard Ranulf murmur in languid tones. "Surely the worst is being shackled to one woman forever.

You have had a lucky escape, my good Turold! " " You are pleased to make jests, but I mean I fear foul play," she heard Turold respond stiffly. The scoundrel, to try to paint himself as the grieving lover!

"If she's been abducted, then surely they would not bring her here,"

Ranulf drawled.

"Unless, of course, you are accusing me of stealing your bride? G.o.d's toenails, the idea is ludicrous!"

Did he have to make it sound as if she were the last woman on earth he'd want? Aldyth thought wrathfully from her hiding place under the bed.

"My lord, I accuse you of nothing," Turold said hastily. "I merely thought she might come here seeking her younger brother."

Ranulf pounced on the remark.

"Ah, so you don't feel she's been abducted after all. You really do feel she's bolted from your marriage bed."

"My lord, we're just trying to find her, to make sure she's all right,"

G.o.dtic put in.

"Turold and I have combed the area around Sherborne and Kingsclere, so 'twas natural to come to Winchester next. Not only is our brother here, but I'm aware that once my sister had... feelings for you..." G.o.dric's voice trailed off. Aldyth wondered if Ranulf heard the undertones of hostility and defiance. "Feelings? For me? That pure maiden? What an astounding idea!"

Ranulf said, laughing.

"I can a.s.sure you gentlemen that I had not guessed."

"Would that I could share my 1ord's merriment," Turold said in a pompous voice, "but as I have told you, I am a worried bridegroom bereft of his bride. Am I correct that you would have me believe you have not seen her?"

"I don't care what you believe, fellow," came Ranulf's voice with silky insolence.

"But nay, the maid has not sought sanctuary with me."

"Warin?" she heard G.o.dric ask, and she could picture the piercing gaze her elder brother would be leveling at this moment at their younger sibling.

Jsu, please forgive him for the lie, but make him able to tell it. She held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut. G.o.dric had always been able to pry the truth out of Warin, whose guileless eyes held no secrets.

"Of course I haven't seen her!" she heard him respond stoutly.

"Why wouldn't I tell you if I had?"

She dared to breathe again.

"But I'd like to know why my sister ran away from you, Turold of Swanlea,"

she heard Warin declare with defiant boldness.

"You must be an evil man if Aldyth won't have you as husband."