Page 3 of The Treasure
"You know you are. You've been watching her all evening."
"And you've been watching me." One side of his lips lifted in a half smile. "I was wondering whether you'd decide to attack me or Selene."
"I have no intention of attacking anyone." She stared directly into his eyes. "Do you?"
"Not at the moment. I've just told you how patient I am."
Relief surged through her. "She doesn't mean anything. She's just amusing herself."
"She means something." He glanced back toward the hearth. "She means to torment and hurt me and drive me to the edge." His tone was without expression. "She does it very well, doesn't she?"
"It's your fault. Why don't you offer for her? You know Ware and I have wanted the two of you to wed for this past year. Selene is ten and seven. It's past time she had a husband."
"I'm flattered you'd consider a humble bastard like myself worthy of her."
"You are not flattered. You know your own worth."
"Of course, but the world would say it was a poor match. Selene is a lady of a fine house now."
"Only because you helped us escape from the Holy Land and start again. Selene was a slave in the House of Nicholas and only a child when you bought her freedom as a favor to me. She was destined to spend her life embroidering his splendid silks and being given to his customers for their pleasure. You saved her, Kadar. Do you think she would ever look at another man if you let her come close to you?"
"Don't interfere, Thea."
"I will interfere. You know better. She's worshipped you since she was a child of eleven."
"Worship? She's never worshipped me. She knows me too well." He smiled. "You may not believe in my devilish qualities, but she does. She's always known what I am. Just as I've always known what she is."
"She's a hardworking, honest, loving woman who needs a husband."
"She's more than that. She's extraordinary, the light in my darkness. And she's still not ready for me."
"Ready? Most women her age have children already."
"Most women haven't suffered as she suffered. It scarred her. I can wait until she heals."
"But can she?" Thea glanced toward the hearth again. Oh, God, Selene was no longer there.
"It's all right. She and Lord Douglas just left the hall and went out into the courtyard."
How had he known that? Sometimes it seemed Kadar had eyes in the back of his head.
"Kadar, don't--"
He bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go and bring her back."
"Kadar, I won't have violence this night."
"Don't worry, I won't shed blood on the fine new rushes you put down on the floor." He moved toward the courtyard. "But the stones of the courtyard wash up quite nicely."
"Kadar!"
"Don't follow me, Thea." His voice was soft but inflexible. "Stay out of it. This is what she wants, what she's tried to goad me to all evening. Don't you realize that?"
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Where was Kadar? Selene wondered impatiently. She had been out here a good five minutes and he still hadn't appeared. She didn't know how long she could keep Lord Douglas from taking her back to the hall. He was a boring, stodgy young man and had been shocked when she'd suggested going out to the courtyard. "It's a fine night. I do feel much better now that I've had a breath of air."
Lord Douglas looked uneasy. "Then perhaps we should go back inside. Lord Ware would not like us being out here alone. It's not fitting."
