Page 31 of One Knight
“That is why the king said …” She trailed off.
“Said what?”
“That I must lose any loyalty I have to anyone but you or him.”
Henry cupped her cheek. “It is imperative. If your Saxon blood—” he started.
“I have no loyalty to Goddard, and my brother left me here to die at the hands of those he claimedwere murderous barbarians. Do you really think I could be loyal to them? I assure you, I am not.”
“Thank God,” he whispered before taking her mouth with his.
She pulled back from his kiss. “Wait. You think they will fight the king?”
He would rather taste her than talk. “We will not know until we know.”
She touched his face. “I can’t lose you. Not now. We’ve barely gotten started.”
“So, your concern is for me?”
“Of course. I rather like having you as a husband.” She scooted closer alongside his naked body. “There are definite advantages.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded, and he dipped his head to press a kiss to her forehead.
“Like this?”
“Among other things.”
“Then we should definitely explore those advantages before I leave.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” she said, the playful tone of her voice absent.
“I will always do my duty,” he replied. “But, God willing, I will always come back to you.”
“See that you do.”
“I told you, I am exceedingly hard to kill, and that was before I had this much incentive to stay alive, my lady.”
His lips took hers, and neither of them spoke again for hours.
CHAPTER 16
Watching Henry ride away was harder than Elisande had anticipated. He left Sayer and Rolf and several soldiers, but the rest of his men rode with him and the king. Many of the king’s entourage stayed behind as well, which meant the manor was full to bursting.
Baldwin saw her standing in the courtyard as the gates closed behind the knights. “Are you well, my lady?”
“I am fine. I’d best go make sure the kitchen staff has everything they need to keep this many people fed.”
“We have gone through more food than planned, but thankfully, the king’s men brought much of their own. We should be fine.”
“It will keep me busy at least.”
The steward had known Elisande her whole life. He smiled at her with a knowing look. “My lady, have you come to care for His Lordship so quickly?”
She looked down at the ground beneath her feet. “Is it so obvious?”
“Truth be told, my lady, I am glad for it. From the first, he seemed a decent man. You deserve that. He has not treated a single person poorly to my hearing. I hope that includes you.”
