A Dishonorable Knight(59)

"At court," she began hesitantly, interrupting his thoughts, "nothing ever happens. I mean really happens." She paused clearly searching for words. "We change clothes a lot. We whisper about newcomers, we gossip about those we don't like, we try to become the king or queen's favorite and we--everyone, men and women--try to marry to better our position at court. There is no substance to what we do or how we live. We do not build anything, we only tear down. We do not help the king run the country. He has a small group of advisors who do that and the rest of us simply exist. I think ‘tis why, when you take us out of that world, we treat you like you are nothing--to make ourselves seem important, seem necessary.

"And then, the more I was away from that world, the more time I spent in your world, the more I realized that what you were doing really counted. Whether Henry Tudor be wrong or right for England and Wales is beside the point. At least you are doing something to affect your world. Even those people we first stayed with--Gruffydd and Catrin--they make things, they produce wool, food--"

"And many, many children," Gareth cut in, trying to lighten her expression.

Elena smiled, but the flow of words did not lessen. "They don't live off the work of other people, they support themselves. And Enid. No one has ever been nice to me like she was. I know your father told her to wait on me, but she went beyond that. I felt like she was my friend."

"I'm sure she thinks the same of you."

"And finally at the abbey, when I heard that old crow telling the English soldiers to go after you, and I decided to ride and warn you, I felt alive! I felt that I was finally doing something that would mean something!" Elena looked at her hands as if embarrassed at what she had just said. "I--I mean, I knew it wasn't much, but it felt important. Really important, not pretend important." Her words exhausted, Elena fidgeted with the cuff of her sleeve, refusing to meet his eyes.

For himself, Gareth was overwhelmed. Elena had never spoken in such depth about her feelings. Neither had she ever spoken critically of her life at court. But what affected him most was her glowing commendation that he was working for a better country. Realizing that the silence between them had continued, and that she might be feeling awkward at having revealed so much, he quickly said, "In the first place, what you did was more than 'not much.' You saved three lives and since mine was one of those three, I think what you did was very important." He paused and smoothed the hair off her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. "I also apologize for not being more understanding in those first few days. I should have realized that it would take a while for you to get used to sleeping on the ground and bathing in a stream."

"Mistake me not!" Elena said, some of her old spunk returning, "I'm still not used to waking up with bugs in my chemise, and I would take having my luncheon served to me in bed any day over that disgusting stuff you call dried beef."

Gareth smiled and succumbed to the temptation he had been feeling since she started talking. Turning her head gently with his thumb and forefinger, he leaned forward and placed a warm, soft kiss on her lips. When she did not pull away, he intensified the kiss, slanting his lips across hers as her mouth opened. Slowly, Elena began responding to the kiss, matching his firm pressure with sweet movements of her own. With a groan, Gareth pulled away, conscious that they were only moments away from the city walls.

"My lady," Gareth began and then cleared his throat. "I vow that before we leave Aberystwyth you will have a new gown."

Elena laughed shakily and responded, "And with what shall you buy this new gown, Sir Gareth, your good looks?"

Gareth wondered if she was serious about his looks, but refused to be sidetracked. Before he could answer, she offered another possibility.

"Perhaps you mean to add thievery to your crime of abduction!"

Gareth frowned and said sharply, "Though I may not have coin to throw away as your suitors in court do, I am not without means. What I wonder is if you'll even have the decency to thank me." Had the woman no common courtesy? Surely if she ever made it to heaven, she would snub St. Peter when he opened the gates for her. As they entered the city, however, he was ashamed at how easily she riled him—both to passion and to anger. He was a fool to take every comment from her as a slight.

He realized he owed her an apology, but told himself it was more important he search for the shop he was supposed to meet his father in front of. He would apologize as soon as they arrived, he promised himself. Lord, but the town had grown since the last time he had been here as a child. As they wandered up one street and down the next, Gareth realized that, late as they may be, his father might have no one waiting for him once he did locate the meeting place. Gareth figured the days in his head. They were two days late. His father may have assumed that they had been captured or met with some other accident. He wondered if the planning meetings had already been held or if Henry's representatives were still awaiting the arrival of Welsh lords from the furthest corners of Wales.