When Gareth turned and motioned to her, she went without haste into his arms.
“I’ll return to you shortly.” His lips moved against her ear, sending warmth and yearning coursing through her veins. He withdrew from her embrace and cupped her face in his palms. “Madoc has fallen ill and will not be joining me. Tanon,” he said, his gaze fastened on hers. “When he’s well, I trust him to keep you safe.”
“Hereward is here as well,” she reminded him, wanting to ease the disquiet in his eyes. “I’m not afraid. I’ll do as they say, and I’ll pray for you every eve until you return to me.”
Gareth looked at her and swallowed. He ground his teeth, looking like he wanted to say something more, but chose against it. He dipped his mouth to hers instead, his lips needful, his breath ragged. “Would that I was in bed with you now. A peasant with no other care but to please you.”
“You’re a prince who pleases me well,” she told him, kissing him again. “Godspeed, husband.” She pushed him away before she surrendered to the need quaking her heart and clung to him, refusing to ever let him go.
Before he mounted, Gareth spread his gaze over the many faces staring back at him. “If any stranger enters this village, kill him. Entertain no one. As always, be watchful day and night. Carry your daggers with you at all times and remember what you’ve learned in the practice circles.” He vaulted to his horse and set his sapphire eyes on Tanon. “All will be well.”
He flicked his reins and rode out of the village with Alwyn, Tomas, and the rest of his men at his side.
A deep sense of foreboding swept over Tanon while she watched them go. She turned, scanned the crowd and then called out. “Has anyone seen Cian?”
*
“Are you goingto go back to Winchester when Gareth returns?” Tanon asked Hereward later that day as she set a trencher on the table in front of him. She cut a quick glance to Rebecca, snipping the stems from the lilies she’d gathered by the stream.
“That depends.” Hereward broke off a piece of bread and dipped it into his stew.
“Oh?” Tanon raised a curious brow at him. “On what?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders but smiled slightly at Rebecca.
Tanon looked toward her nurse, who was pretending not to pay attention to the conversation. “It depends on the lilies, then?” she asked innocently, quirking a teasing brow back at Hereward.
“Oh, stop it!” Rebecca snapped and swatted Tanon with a flower. “You can just cease this confounded scheme of yours to see us together. Hereward has already asked me to marry him.”
Tanon almost leaped into Rebecca’s arms. “Oh, I’m so—”
“I haven’t given him my answer yet.”
There came a knock at the door. “Come!” Tanon called out. Then scowled back at her nurse. “And why not?”
“Good day, Madoc.” Rebecca ignored Tanon and smiled at the sable-haired warrior when he entered the cottage. “You’re looking much better. Your illness has passed?”
“Bore da,”Madoc returned her greeting with a slight nod. “Aye, and I have your honey and chamomile brew to thank.” He glanced at Hereward, his expression unreadable. “Take a moment from your meal to escort me to the stable. There’s something I’d like you to take a look at.”
“Of course.” Hereward rose from the table and excused himself. “Something worrisome?”
“Let’s hope not.” Madoc flashed him a smile, then followed him out the door.
“Heis worrisome.” Tanon frowned after they left and began clearing the table. “Something happened between him and Gareth that made them both brooding and sour.”
“Mayhap Gareth discovered how much his friend cares for you,” Rebecca said with certainty.
“Madoc?” Tanon stopped to laugh at her nurse. “That’s absurd. He cares for no one.”
“He conceals his heart well because of his affection and loyalty to Gareth.”
Tanon stared at her without saying a word, but she didn’t have to. Rebecca knew what she was thinking. She sighed deeply, then finally admitted what Tanon had known for years. “I was coming down the stairs one day shortly after your father came to Avarloch. He smiled at me. That was all he did, but from that moment on, he’s held my heart.”
Tanon listened without judgment, understanding love because she had grown up enveloped in it, and because she wanted it so badly with Gareth. “I cannot fathom how difficult it’s been for you. But now you have a chance to have your love returned. I think Hereward has cared for you for a long time.”
Rebecca laughed. “Aye, the poor fool.”
“I think he came here to be rid of you.”