It gave him immense pleasure to know that she was wrong.
Kathryn watched his slow-growing smile with mounting trepidation. It betrayed vast amusement, though for the life of her, she didn't understand what he found so entertaining.
A few of his troops had departed yesterday. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that another thirty or so appeared to be ready and waiting.
She stepped back. "Well," she said crisply, "the hour grows late. I'm sure you're anxious to take your leave. Why, Somerset must be several days' ride from here."
"Four," he corrected. "Which reminds me, Lady Kathryn, I think you should know that I'm leaving Sir Hugh in charge here, as well as a number of my knights."
Kathryn held fast to her temper. Meanwhile, the earl's disturbing smile widened further.
Beside her, Elizabeth grew increasingly uneasy.
His manner was wreaking havoc with Kathryn's nerves. Damn him anyway, why didn't he just leave! She was about to say something—anything!—to speed him on his way. But she'd barely opened her mouth when she spied her small palfrey being led from the stable.
Guy's gaze followed hers. "Your mount," he said politely.
Her heart began to hammer. What was going on here? she wondered frantically. Whatever it was, she'd not be a part of it!
She turned to the groom. 'You must be mistaken, Donovan," she said with a shake of her head. "I didn't ask that Esmerelda be saddled—"
"But I did," interjected the earl from behind her.
Kathryn whirled, noting with satisfaction that he only narrowly escaped a jab in the stomach by her elbow. 'Tor what purpose?" she demanded.
"I should think that would be obvious. You, Lady Kathryn, are coming with me."
'To Somerset?" Disdain mingled with incredulity.
"Aye. To Somerset—and Sedgewick." He leisurely crossed his arms over his chest and awaited her reaction.
As he'd expected, it wasn't long in coming. Her eyes narrowed. Her jaw snapped shut, only to open a scant instant later. "I have no intention of going with you to Somerset."
"And I have no intention of leaving you here at Ashbury. You and your Roderick could form an alliance that would be dangerous to my health, my lady fair, which is why you go where I go."
His utter calm was infuriating; his audacity knew no bounds. Kathryn's gaze swept around the bailey, seeking and coming to rest on Roderick, who stood near the entrance to the hall. She had no doubt that he'd heard every word she and the earl exchanged. He looked angry but he said nothing. Kathryn rebelled at the reluctant helplessness she sensed in him. A part of her raged at his acquiescence, yet another part of her understood that to challenge his new lord was to forfeit his life.
Her gaze swung back to the earl. "You do this only because I have no knightly protector!" she cried.
Guy hadn't missed the look exchanged between the two. So, he noted angrily, she sought salvation from her lover.
His gaze flickered briefly toward Roderick. "Indeed you do not," he taunted softly.
His mockery cut deep. Kathryn dimly noted Roderick retreat into the hall; never had she hated the earl more.
She lashed out unthinkingly. "I'll not play nursemaid to your brat, do you hear?"
"I've not asked you to.” Scorn lay beneath his tone. "You've Richard's blood in your veins, girl. I'm not sure I want you anywhere near my son!"
Shattered inside but determined not to show it, she met and matched the fiery hold of his eyes. If it had been anyone but the earl, she might have cried and pleaded for indulgence.
But she hadn't counted on Elizabeth. Wrapped in a red haze of fury, she was scarcely aware that Elizabeth had stepped forward.
"My lord!" Elizabeth clasped her hands together as if in prayer. "Surely you will not take my sister from our home!"
Guy's harsh manner softened ever so slightly. Elizabeth's blue eyes were huge, her expression utterly stricken.
His tone was gentleness itself. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. But I fear I must, at least for now."
She cried out sharply, "But you cannot. Oh, please, you cannot take her from here. You cannot!"
Those devilishly arched brows rose high in silent question.
Elizabeth swallowed hard. The devious plan Kathryn had once thought to use against Richard leapt into her mind. Oh, Mother Mary, did she dare? Would she burn and rot in hell for bringing about such a lie? Yet she could not bear to be without Kathryn. Never in their lives had they been separated. Never!
Dimly she heard his voice. "Elizabeth," he inquired, "why do you insist Kathryn remain here?"
"Because—because she is with child!"
Kathryn gasped. Guy sucked in a harsh breath; his eyes immediately cut back to Kathryn. Her gaze swiveled to lock on her sister. So shocked was she that she failed to notice the grim mask that descended over Guy's features.
"Kathryn!"
She actually jumped at the sound of his voice.
"I asked if the child has made you ill!"
Too stunned to be thinking clearly, Kathryn shook her head.
'Then my decision stands," the earl stated flatly. "Since obviously the child will not be here for many months, you come with me to Sedgewick.”
Though she was shaken and distraught, Kathryn quickly recognized his determination was as relentless as hers.
"I—I need a cloak," she said desperately. "I'll not keep you waiting long, I promise." A moment alone was all she sought, for she knew the keep better than the earl or any of his men. She could flee and hide and they would soon tire of searching for her and be off. . .
But alas, it seemed he had anticipated everything! Before she could spin around, Helga appeared, her cloak thrown over one arm. Another servant followed in her wake, balancing a small chest on his shoulder. Kathryn's heart sank as she recognized it as her own.
Guy's patience was nearing an end. 'Take your leave of your sister," he advised curtly.
A painful ache tightened Kathryn's throat as she turned to her sister. By now Elizabeth was openly sobbing. Kathryn wrapped her arms around her. "Shhh," she attempted to soothe her. "Be strong, Elizabeth... no, do not say me nay. You are strong, sister, stronger than you know. 'Twill not be so bad, you'll see. And I'll be back soon, I promise."
Elizabeth clung to her even more tightly.
Witnessing their painful good-bye, there was a slight easing of the hard line of Guy's mouth. He found himself stung by a prick of conscience. It wasn't because of Kathryn, he assured himself, but Elizabeth.
Kathryn forced back the burning threat of tears. She drew back, caught Elizabeth's hand, and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Wish me well, now, sister," she whispered. "And may God be with you."
"Kathryn—" She choked. Kathryn squeezed her fingers, unable to manage any more. Then with a strangled cry, Elizabeth reeled and fled.
It was a moment before Kathryn was able to turn to Hugh, who still hovered nearby. Overwhelmingly conscious of the earl's all-seeing presence, she began to speak, her voice husky and low.
"I do not know you, Sir Hugh, and yet I sense that you are a kind man. I hope that you are, for I have no one else to turn to."
She paused to draw breath. "I've not yet told you how sorry I am about your sister." Her smile was a trifle watery. "And now, it seems, I must ask you to take care of mine." She gazed beseechingly into his eyes. "Will you do this for me, Sir Hugh? Will you watch over Elizabeth?"
A faint smile creased his lips. "I will, but I think it only fair to warn you, my motives are not entirely without selfishness."
His meaning was not lost on her. Kathryn was keenly aware of his flare of interest in her sister. She hesitated, a shadow flitting across her delicate features.
"Then there is something you must know," she said slowly. "Sir Hugh, it may not be possible to woo and win my sister, for Elizabeth is not comfortable with a man's attention. Indeed, she is afraid of all men." She went on to hurriedly confide how Elizabeth had witnessed their mother's rape years earlier. "I fear," Kathryn ended, "that the memory has never truly left her."