Warwolfe (de Wolfe Pack Book 0)(116)

Gaetan shook his head. “I realize that, but it is more important to me that you remain with Ghislaine.” He could see that Jathan didn’t understand, so he sought to clear up the man’s confusion. “It is far more important for her to remain here so that her leg may heal. Moreover, I am giving you a very important task of protecting my future wife. Will you do this for me?”

Jathan’s eyes widened. “Wife?”

A glimmer of a smile appeared on Gaetan’s lips. “Aye,” he said. “I know it is shocking, but believe me when I tell you it is the truth. The lady and I intend to wed, so it is very important to me that you remain with her while I go to retrieve Kristoph. Please, Jathan… will you do this?”

Jathan still wasn’t over his shock that Gaetan and Ghislaine were to be married, but he nodded. “Indeed,” he said. “If you wish it.”

“I do,” Gaetan said. Then, he looked to Lygia. “I would thank you for the great care you have taken of Lady Ghislaine and for the great care you will continue to give her while I am away. Please assure her that I will return as soon as I can. And I am leaving the dog here as well. I am assuming he is in the cottage with her?”

Lygia nodded. “Passed out like a drunkard on the bed next to her, my lord.”

Gaetan’s grin spread. “That sounds like my dog,” he said. Then, he looked at the door of the cottage. “May I take a look at her before I go? I promise I will not wake her.”

Lygia nodded and very quietly opened the door, allowing Gaetan to stick his head inside. He immediately spied Ghislaine over on the cozy bed, sleeping so heavily that she was snoring. His gaze upon her was warm, wishing with all his heart that he could speak to her before he left, but it was not meant to be. He hoped she understood. It only made him want to return to her that much faster.

With a sigh, he backed out of the cottage and carefully closed the door behind him.

“It is good that she is sleeping,” he said. “She needs to rest. Jathan, I will take my leave of you here. Make sure she knows I will return.”

Jathan was well aware of the determination of Lady Ghislaine. “And if she tries to follow?”

Gaetan turned to look at him. “Tie her to the bed if you have to. Do not let her come after me. That is a command.”

Jathan nodded his head, watching Gaetan head back in the direction he had come. He wasn’t particularly thrilled at being left behind when the rest of the knights were going to rescue Kristoph but, in a sense, he understood. Someone had to stay behind to protect Lady Ghislaine and he was the logical choice.

But he wasn’t happy about it.

As Jathan wrestled with his disappointment, Lygia was watching Gaetan until he disappeared from view. Then, she turned to Jathan.

“Would she really try to follow them?” she asked.

Jathan picked up his cleaning rag and resumed cleaning his blade. “My lady, you have no idea what Ghislaine of Mercia will do. I have never in my life seen a more determined or courageous woman.”

Lygia thought of the rather pale woman sleeping the sleep of the dead in the cottage. Other than being quite beautiful, Lady Ghislaine didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary to her. She was curious.

“Truly?” she asked. “Will you tell me why you say such things?”

Jathan looked at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Lady Ghislaine is worthy of the great tales told about her,” he said. “In fact, some day I may write them all down. Here, now; sit down and listen. I think you will be amazed.”

Jathan had been right. After the story of their trip north from the battle near Hastings, she was amazed.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR




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Distraction is Deadly


Later that morning

Outside of the village of Rock Cross; Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

“We are on the right path,” Gaetan said as he dismounted his horse, speaking to his knights who were either on the ground resting or standing near the cold clear stream he’d left them by not an hour earlier. “The priest said that we are to continue up this road until we come to a larger road. The path to Tenebris will be to the east along that larger road, about half a mile. We will see the fortress on the rise through the trees.”

It had taken little more than half a day since leaving the Tertium village to come within a few miles of Kidderminster. They knew that Tenebris was nearby but without Ghislaine’s direction, they weren’t sure, exactly, where it was. They needed help. Passing a farmer on their way north, the farmer directed them to the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, a relatively new church as far as churches went, but the only one in the area other than a larger church in Kidderminster. Gaetan thanked the farmer, threw him a coin, and then continued on to the church as they’d been directed.

Coming up the road from the south, the block-steeple of the church came into view and Gaetan left his men by a stream in a thicket of trees and proceeded onward to ask the priests if they knew where Tenebris was located. His concern was that the priests might know of, or be loyal to, Alary and he didn’t want word to reach Alary that nine Norman knights had been seeking him.

One knight making an inquiry would seem far less threatening.

Therefore, Gaetan went on alone, forcing himself to keep his mind on his task when all he wanted to do was think of Ghislaine. It was strange how much he missed her, considering he’d only known the woman a matter of weeks. Now, he couldn’t even remember traveling without her. His arms ached to hold her but he comforted himself with the knowledge that the sooner they regain Kristoph, the sooner he would return to Ghislaine.