on his back, the horse beneath him, and the promise of gold coin and a keep from King Henry. The weapons and armour he could always count on. The promise, however, was nothing more than words and counted for little. He’d not yet seen the gold, or the keep.
He kept a tight rein on his voice as he answered, ‘Oh, aye, Lady Sarah, that is all a wife is to me. Simply another possession. One to use when, and how, I see fit.’
A red haze clouded her vision. Sarah parted her lips to spew curses at him. Just then she caught sight of a glint of humour in his eyes, and she knew instantly that he’d baited her. She closed her mouth, giving him her fiercest scowl and watched in disbelief as he burst into laughter.
When his mirth calmed, she said, ‘You did that on purpose.’
He cocked an eyebrow at her, and asked, ‘Me?’
‘Yes, you, William of Bronwyn.’
‘Perhaps I did. But teasing you is a far cry from keeping secrets from your husband.’ He reached over and caught her chin before she could turn away. ‘Would you not agree, Sarah of Bronwyn?’
She wanted desperately to close her eyes. To shield herself from the accusation and distrust in his unwavering stare. But to do so would give proof to her guilt. She couldn’t do that. Not yet.
The pouch Lady Elise had delivered from the Queen contained more than a measure of gold. A brief missive had been included. One that only reconfirmed the importance of gaining the information Queen Eleanor wanted.
Sarah willed her eyes to stay open and her breathing to remain calm. It would not be the first time she’d been forced to lie; she could only pray it would be the last time.
For the moment, instead of lying, she thought it best to feign dull-wits. ‘Do I not agree with what?’ She pulled free of his hold. ‘Are you accusing me of something?’
‘You were so afraid I might have overheard Langsford and Arnyll that you thought to distract me with your charms. A dangerous distraction considering you don’t know me well enough to feel that safe in my arms. You can’t deny it.’
The man was far too quick-witted. Sarah realised that staying one step ahead of him was going to prove difficult at best. Eventually, if she did not keep her wits about her, he would discover her guise of whore was nothing more than a fabrication.
She didn’t fear that overmuch, because she doubted if William would be offended to discover his wife was not a harlot. But instinct warned her his reaction would be far from accepting if he learned she continued working for the Queen. Forcing an affronted tone to her voice, she asked, ‘Deny what?’
‘That you are keeping secrets from me.’
‘I can, and do, deny it. What could I possibly gain from doing so?’
‘I know not. I’m waiting for you to tell me.’ He leaned back in his saddle as if content to wait all day for her answer.
He’d wait longer than that. Sarah wasn’t about to tell him anything. She stared directly between her horse’s ears and set her jaw.
William chuckled softly. ‘You can ignore me now, Sarah. But some night in the future, when it’s dark…’ he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers ‘…after the fire has burned low…’ he deepened his voice to a spine-tingling timbre ‘…and we’re wrapped in nothing but each other…’ William leaned across the distance separating them to promise ‘…you will tell me.’
Chapter Four
The campfire crackled, providing light and warmth in the small clearing where they’d settled for the night. After their weeks at court, William and the Earl had decided to spend the night some place quiet, and less confining. So, they’d made camp just off the side of the road instead of seeking shelter in the next town.
Stiff from hours on the back of a horse, Sarah would have preferred the softness of a bed. But she’d no wish to argue something so minor. Instead, a blanket on the hard ground would have to do.
Seated on a log facing the fire, she stretched her legs and savoured the warmth. Without appearing too interested, Sarah returned her attention to the men’s conversation about Arnyll.
Earl Hugh snapped a dead tree limb, and then tossed it on to the flames. ‘I am surprised you did not slay him in his tracks.’
William shrugged. ‘I didn’t think that would much please the Queen.’
‘True.’ Hugh laughed softly.
Adrienna, seated on the log next to her, leaned over to ask, ‘Remember Lady Waltrop’s reaction upon discovering that old man’s body in the Great Hall?’
Even though the man’s unexpected demise had been far from humorous, Sarah laughed at the memory. ‘Queen Eleanor thought Lady Waltrop would perish of shock.’
Adrienna’s burst of laughter sent Sarah into another bout of giggles. When she caught her breath, she admitted, ‘I fear I would have been more than surprised myself had I been the one to find the man slumped in the corner staring at me over my morning repast.’
Hugh asked, ‘How did he die?’
‘No one knows.’ Sarah explained further. ‘He was far beyond his prime and there were no signs of any injury.’
‘I could not help but feel sorry for him,’ Adrienna mused, then she asked, ‘Did anyone ever discover his identity?’
‘I can’t remember his name, but he had been one of the Queen’s guards in his younger years. Since he was so ancient and had no place else to go, she had kept him in her service doing small details for his…food…and…’ Realising the other three were staring at her, she let her explanation trail off, and instead asked, ‘What is wrong?’
‘Nobody else seemed to know who he was.’ Adrienna asked, ‘So, how did you know?’
William’s stare pierced her through the fire. ‘It is a little odd that you would know those details.’
‘Odd? How so?’
Earl Hugh said, ‘A man’s position, his wealth, or lack of wealth, isn’t something the Queen, or any lady of the keep, would openly discuss with one of her ladies-in-waiting.’
‘Oh.’ Sarah swallowed a curse. How could she have been so careless? She quickly sought an explanation. ‘I told you that I had been acting as a spy for the Queen. She must have mentioned it to one of her men when I was present.’
Adrienna relaxed at the admission, but said, ‘It must be a relief not to have to perform such vile tasks any more.’
Without taking her gaze from Adrienna, Sarah knew William was watching her closely. She could feel his attention burn across the distance. She was well aware that he had sensed something was wrong—he hadn’t figured out what that something was, just yet. He was waiting for her to make a mistake that would give him the hint, the clue he needed to put it all together.
Sarah let her shoulders slump as she sighed. ‘Oh, yes, it is a huge relief.’
‘I don’t know which
