Lord Gawain's Forbidden Mistress. Carol Townend

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СКАЧАТЬ Knights had been showing an interest in the pavilion. I thought I’d better be careful.’

      ‘You were going to sell that sword for more than it is worth.’

      ‘I’m not selling it. Someone else is going to do that.’

      ‘Saints, André, it makes little difference who actually does the selling. If you are involved and that sword is passed off as—’

      ‘Elise, how do you think we’ve been living all these months? How do you suppose we are going to live in the winter when pickings are slim?’

      Wine fumes hung about him. He was swaying slightly.

      ‘You’re drunk.’

      ‘How clever of you to notice.’ Wearily, he scrubbed his face. The shadows made his face grey. He looked twice his age. ‘Lord, Elise, I’ve had all I can take. I’ve made mistakes, I admit it. I didn’t want to get involved. But last winter when you left, I worried. I worried about Vivienne. About what might happen if you never returned.’ His mouth twisted. ‘My earnings have always been better when Blanchefleur le Fay is with me. And then you came back.’

      ‘I told you I would.’

      ‘Aye, but you were sick all the time, you couldn’t perform. And then you got large, you couldn’t perform.’ Again he scrubbed his face. ‘I worried. I still do.’

      A clunk outside had his head turning sharply. ‘You say Vivienne is in town?’

      ‘In the Rue du Cloître.’

      His brow creased. ‘Why?’

      ‘Lord Gawain. He–’

      ‘Lord Gawain’s in Troyes and you brought him here?’ André looked appalled. ‘So it’s your fault the Guardians have the sword. Why bring him here? In heaven’s name, why?’

      ‘I had no idea he was in town. He’s shortly to be married and he returned to meet his betrothed. André, we ran into each other by accident. He insisted on bringing me back here.’

      André looked at her, shaking his head. ‘It was he who took the sword?’

      ‘Yes. André, I’m sorry it happened, truly.’

      ‘What the hell am I going to do? I’m supposed to pass it on.’

      Elise hesitated. She had no clear idea what André was mixed up in, but she was wondering whether to suggest he made a clean breast of it with Gawain. Gawain might be able to help him. The Count of Meaux would have influence. However, André was still swaying slightly and she wasn’t sure he could be reasoned with until he had sobered up. ‘Gawain might speak for you.’

      Impatiently, he shook his head. ‘Not likely. Vivienne is in the Rue du Cloître, you say? Where, exactly?’

      ‘Look for the stone-built house. You can’t miss it. There’s only one. I’m told that Count Henry uses it as a storeroom.’

      ‘The babies are with her?’

      Elise nodded.

      ‘Tell her...tell her I love her. And that I’ll be back.’ André’s expression was tortured. ‘I’ve done wrong, Elise, and I’m sorry that you and Vivienne have been dragged into it. I shall put things right and then I’ll be back.’

      He reached for the slash in the canvas and looked at her, eyes luminous in the lamplight. His mouth tightened. ‘By the way, this could mean that Blanchefleur le Fay will have to find another lute-player to accompany her when she sings at the palace.’ Glancing at the entrance, he grimaced. ‘Someone’s coming.’

      With that, André slipped through the rip in the canvas and was gone.

      Elise stared frantically at the pavilion entrance, pulse racing. Was Gawain out there? With luck, André would be out of Gawain’s line of sight, running down the back of the tents. She wasn’t confident that the Guardian Knights—or Gawain for that matter—would give him the benefit of the doubt.

      A distraction was needed. Noise, plenty of noise. Well, that was no problem for Blanchefleur. Elise took a deep breath and began to scream. She really put her heart in it.

      * * *

      The scream turned Gawain’s blood to ice.

      ‘Aubin, with me.’ Snatching out his sword, he sprinted to the pavilion. Lord, what a voice, it cut like a knife.

      Elise was holding on to the central tent post, staring at a gaping hole in the back of the canvas. The instant Gawain stepped inside, the screaming stopped. Dark eyes looked at him.

      ‘You’re hurt?’ Puzzled, Gawain ran his gaze over her. He couldn’t read her, but she didn’t look hurt. The lantern gave enough light for him to see that her hair was neatly braided. Her clothing hadn’t been disordered in any way. She looked fine. Slightly flushed, perhaps, but it was a warm night. Otherwise, she looked fine. ‘Elise, what happened?’

      She opened her mouth as Aubin raced in, panting.

      ‘Aubin, take a look outside. Round the back.’

      ‘Yes, my lord.’

      When Elise touched Gawain’s arm, the temptation to cover her hand with his was strong. When she bit her lip, the temptation to kiss her on the mouth was stronger still.

      ‘Gaw—my lord, you will think me such a fool.’

      Gawain looked speculatively at her. ‘What happened?’

      ‘A knife.’ She gestured at the tear in the canvas. ‘I was waiting for André. I...I didn’t expect to see a knife cut through the back of the pavilion.’

      ‘Did you see who it was?’

      Her hesitation was brief, but Gawain marked it. ‘It could have been whoever forged that sword,’ he said, slowly. ‘But I don’t think it was. It was your lute-player, wasn’t it?’

      She lowered her gaze, seeming to speak to the ground. ‘I...I am sorry, my lord. I think my scream scared him away.’

      ‘Don’t lie to me. You warned him,’ Gawain said in a cold voice. Sliding his sword back into its scabbard, he took her by the wrist. ‘Your lute-player must have noticed the extra patrols and thought he’d be clever. And you, Elise, you warned him. You weren’t the least bit afraid, were you?’

      She swallowed and kept her gaze on the ground.

      ‘Elise?’

      She looked up, eyes fierce. ‘Yes, I warned him. You would have had him arrested!’

      ‘Not necessarily. I merely want to question him.’

      Grip firm on her wrist, Gawain pulled her closer, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of ambergris. ‘Did he stay long enough for you to speak to him?’ Her lips tightened. ‘Well?’

      ‘I... Yes!’

      ‘And...?’ СКАЧАТЬ