Page 21 of Lionheart

"Aha,so now you are admitting guilt. How did you do it?"

Her lipsclamped tightly together, Vanora shook her head.

"Youare the most stubborn female I have ever met. Because you are unlikely to bendunder pressure, I will withhold punishment until I learn how you made itpossible for your men to escape. Even as we speak, men are searching for asecret exit. The truth will come out, my lady, and when it does, naught willsave you from my wrath."

"Thereis no secret exit."

"Ibelieve you not. Heed my warning, Vanora. Punishment has many forms." Withthose cryptic words, he opened the door. "Come, 'tis time to sup. We shallshare a trencher and a cup."

WhenVanora hesitated, Lionheart placed a hand on her back and firmly guided her outthe door. She preceded him along the gallery and down the stairs, pausing whenshe reached the hall.

"Sitbeside me on the dais, lady," Lionheart ordered curtly.

Vanoraknew not what to expect from Lionheart, and that confused her. He was being tooaccommodating, too gentle. She had anticipated a beating at the very least;confinement had also occurred to her as a possible punishment. Yet Lionhearthad done the opposite of what she had expected. Caution was called for. Shetrusted him not.

BeforeVanora reached the dais, Mair intercepted her. Her old nursemaid took bothVanora's hands in hers and searched her face. "What did he do to you,Iambic? Are you hurt? Has he touched you improperly?"

Vanorasqueezed Mair's hands. "I am fine. Do not worry, I can take care ofmyself."

"Aye,I know your capabilities better than anyone," Mair said. "Does heknow?" she whispered, rolling her eyes toward Lionheart.

"Mair,hush!" Vanora warned. No telling what Lionheart would do were he to learnshe was the mystery knight he sought. His foe would not receive the sameleniency he had afforded Lady Vanora, she guessed.

"Findyour seat, Mair," Lionheart said dismissively. "As you can see, yourmistress is unhurt. But I am not done with her. Someone must be punished forreleasing the prisoners."

"Thenyou must punish me, master," Mair said. " Tis I who unlocked thedoor."

"Whatare you saying, Mair?" Father Caddoc said from behind the old woman." 'Tis I who unlocked the door."

Dismaywidened Vanora's violet eyes. Were they both mad? "Nay! I alone am toblame!"

"Enough!"Lionheart roared. "The one who returns the spare key to me will be heldresponsible and duly punished."

Vanorarealized a spare key would not be forthcoming, because there was none."Please, say no more," she warned Mair and the priest, her eyesconveying her fear for them. "I will speak with you both later."

Wringingher hands, Mair hurried off, but Father Caddoc lingered, his eyes full of righteous

fury."Touch her and the wrath of God will fall upon you."

"Idoubt it not, Father," Lionheart said. "Rest easy. I left your lady'smaidenhead intact."

"Iwill await you in the chapel to hear your confession, child," FatherCaddoc said to Vanora in parting.

"Howoften do you feel the need to confess?" Lionheart asked her with a hint ofamusement.

"Moreoften than you, I wager," she retorted. "Do you forbid me to seekabsolution from my confessor?"

"Nay,confess to your heart's content. Be sure to tell him you lie on a regularbasis." He slanted her an appraising look. "Methinks Cragdon aboundswith liars. You, your priest, your tiring woman, all of you are withholdinginformation. But I am a patient man."

Lionheartpulled out a chair and waited until Vanora was seated before seating himself.Immediately his squire filled his cup with wine. Then Lionheart piled food onhis trencher and offered Vanora a tender morsel of succulent veal.

"I amperfectly capable of feeding myself," Vanora said, whipping out her eatingknife and spearing a piece of meat.

"Aye,you are capable of many things," Lionheart said meaningfully.

Vanoragave him a smug smile. "You have no idea, sir knight."

The churchbells were tolling compline and all was quiet in the keep when Vanora departedher chamber. Wrapped in her cloak, she left the hall and traversed the shortdistance to the chapel nestled against the curtain wall that rose above theriverbank. Father Caddoc was waiting for her.