Page 14 (1/2)
Gavin slugged back a gulp of foa its way down to his belly, and settled there, heightening the faint haze that softened hisat his own jest-whilst another co ale fro Gavin&039;s cheek
With a swipe over his face, Gavin laughed too, automatically, then took another drink He leaned an elbow on the split log table that was sticky froain not to look in the direction of the high table If he did, it would see at Judith and Lady Madelyne
Aye, if he turned that way, it ht appear that he was interested in what the ladies were doing, or as though he cared whether they had been joined by any of the noble&039;s court
He wasn&039;t interested and he didn&039;t care
On the morrow, he wouldHenry, and he and the sovereign would deterhter was in their custody Then, he, Gavin, need have naught further to do with her, and he could return to Mal Verne, knowing that de Belgru&039;s control at last
He tightened his fingers around the wooden ale cup Allowing de Belgrume to live was not his preferencebut in this, he ain Then, Gavin vowed, he would be waiting for the opportunity to finish what had been started seven years earlier
The sweet sound of a lute caught his ears, wafting over the dull roar of the diners Forgetting that he didn&039;t want to look that way, Gavin turned toward the high table where Henry and his queen, Eleanor, supped Instead of seeking the ure of Lady Madelyne only three tables away She&039;d been seated facing hi Gavin a covert view of her profile
He couldn&039;t pull his attention away She looked so calm and serene, beautiful in her coetic, rowdy crowd He saw the slim, white column of her neck-bared now that the thick athered above her ears-and watched the curve of it shift innocently as she strained to look between the crowd to see the musician The bareness of her neck seemed almost obscene to Gavin, for she still had the aura of an innocent, virginal nun, and the baring of such skin was too inti his ale again, but still unwilling to look away He could still taste the sweetness of her fulltobeneath his hands Desire that he had suppressed sprang to life, sending waves of heat pulsing through the core of his abdomen, and lower
He swore silently, then buried his face in the ale cup again but his gaze remained fixed on Madelyne
Judith chose that lance in his direction, and Gavin looked away too late He felt his neck war to look at the lute-player His tiat a holy woaze scanning the rearht when at court
"Who is the woman there?" asked Lord Ferrell, one of theto look at hiht the eye of Thoave a sharp nod, and his friend replied, "&039;Tis Lady Madelyne de Belgrurume?" Ferrell&039;s bushy eyebroitched in confusion "The get of Fantin de Belgrume? I did not believe he had an heir" He turned to look toward Madelyne again, and Gavin could easily discern the thoughts that buhter who perished soo? And a wife too? Do you not tell me" his voice trailed off and he stared at the wo as his broitched "&039;Tis not the selfsame woman, is it, Thomas? Where has he hidden such a beauty all these years?" Hea hand over his wiry gray hair
"Sit down, Ferrell, and stick your pecker back in your breeches," Gavin drawled, shifting his shoulders to alleviate the tension that was gathering there "The wench came from an abbey--she is promised to be a nun"
Ferrell looked at hiood jest, Mal Verne, but I vow, I&039;ve never seen a woman who looks less like a holy woht her fro into his voice "She&039;s under the protection of the king"
Ferrell frowned again, then sank back onto the bench where he&039;d been seated "Bloody sha "Bloody dahts, and he swiveled to cast a last glance at Madelyne&039;s table His inald D&039;Orrais laughing as he took a seat next to her
&039;Twas heavenpure heaven
Madelyne sighed, pushing away the knowledge that, strictly speaking, it was a blaspheers kneaded her skull, threading through her hair and loosening the ten braids that had pulled her scalp taut for hours The dull ache gave way to relief and she sighed again, resting her head in the palms of her maid&039;s hands
Tricky&039;s chatter flowed in and out of Madelyne&039;s consciousness just as her ni hair "Never seen such food! I could barely choose betwixt the rabbit, the capon, and the roast goosean&039; when they brought forth the stuffed pigeons, I thought I&039;d eat to bursting!" She reached in front of Madelyne for a comb carved of ith bits of s on its side
"How did you come by such a pretty coh her hair, running over her shoulder and along the length of her back, past the edge of the stool on which she sat