upbringing. Charles had sometimes dealt with the Signes in Alexandre's absence; they were vipers who wouldn't rest until they saw Alexandre dead. Now one of them lay in his lord's bed. Charles strongly suspected that Liliane had merely saved Alexandre for another day in order to gain his trust. She might simply be ensuring that he completed the worst of the repairs on his fief before her family appropriated it.
Charles half slid his dagger from its sheath, but one thought made him hesitate. What if Liliane had acted honorably? She professed little love for Alexandre, yet she'd spared nothing for his care. Such dispassionate diligence might be expected if she had an ulterior motive, but what if he was wrong in his assessment? At times, he had glimpsed a tenderness in her, almost as if she wished for a like response from Alexandre. If Liliane were good, to destroy her would be heinous wickedness, yet to let her live posed a great danger to himself. She now knew that he was her enemy. If she gained sway over Alexandre, she might bring about his dismissal, even his destruction.
Finally, Charles shoved his dagger back into its sheath. He would give her a little time to show her spots before he flayed them off her.
* * *
Liliane aweke to find Alexandre's blue eyes gazing drowsily upon her. His heavy black lashes had subtle lilac glints that made his irises such a deep blue, it was as if he regarded her from an underwater grotto. Those eyes were so like Jean's, with the same sleepy intensity, that she jumped as if she'd seen a ghost. "I am sorry; I did not mean to startle you," he murmured.
Liliane gave a slight laugh. "I am just unaccustomed to being stared at while I sleep."
"It is rude, I know . . . but you are an extraordinarily beautiful woman."
She smiled. "One you seem well able to resist."
He grinned. "You are not quite real to me as a wife. I might resist you less as one of Philip's mistresses."
"Wouldn't seducing one of Philip's mistresses be dangerous?"
"Very . . . but worth the risk, perhaps, in the case of a woman who could dazzle Merlin.''
"You are certainly complimentary this morning."
"I am alive this morning. Finding that one has escaped being fertilizer to a colony of mushrooms cheers one up." Thoughtfully, he tucked his hand under has cheek. "My nose tells me I have you to thank for my affability. No one else would have thought to put such stinking herbs in steampots. A Moorish remedy, is it not?"
Liliane put her hand on his forehead. "Do not talk so much. You are not up to it."
"I am not up to a great many things just now; however, only one is regrettable." His blue eyes followed the long curve of her, then slowly closed.
As his breathing grew regular and steady, Liliane eased the covers higher about his neck. Like Jean, he was boyish in sleep, very quiet. Although his face was worn and gaunt from the fever, he captured all her attention. When he was not suspicious and supercilious, he was most appealing. Liliane smiled wistfully. She had not expected to have the rare fortune of finding a new husband as enlightened as Diego. Alexandre was merely acting as an average male. She and Alexandre both had adjustments to make, especially since they now realized that neither of them was a fool. Still, Alexandre must have a weak spot, otherwise Charles would not have been so afraid that she might gain control of him. If Alexandre proved manageable, her task of foiling Jacques would be much easier. However, she found the idea of a manageable husband quite repellant. She might as well be wed to a sheep! Liliane peered down at Alexandre. He had survived years in the military service with Philip, the murderous brazier of the Holy, Land, and now half a night in an icy river. Such feats did not speak of weakness. With growing affection, Liliane gently ruffled Alexandre's hair. He might even survive her and Jacques!
By evening, however, Liliane began to wonder if Alexandre would survive his own overzealous
Charles half slid his dagger from its sheath, but one thought made him hesitate. What if Liliane had acted honorably? She professed little love for Alexandre, yet she'd spared nothing for his care. Such dispassionate diligence might be expected if she had an ulterior motive, but what if he was wrong in his assessment? At times, he had glimpsed a tenderness in her, almost as if she wished for a like response from Alexandre. If Liliane were good, to destroy her would be heinous wickedness, yet to let her live posed a great danger to himself. She now knew that he was her enemy. If she gained sway over Alexandre, she might bring about his dismissal, even his destruction.
Finally, Charles shoved his dagger back into its sheath. He would give her a little time to show her spots before he flayed them off her.
* * *
Liliane aweke to find Alexandre's blue eyes gazing drowsily upon her. His heavy black lashes had subtle lilac glints that made his irises such a deep blue, it was as if he regarded her from an underwater grotto. Those eyes were so like Jean's, with the same sleepy intensity, that she jumped as if she'd seen a ghost. "I am sorry; I did not mean to startle you," he murmured.
Liliane gave a slight laugh. "I am just unaccustomed to being stared at while I sleep."
"It is rude, I know . . . but you are an extraordinarily beautiful woman."
She smiled. "One you seem well able to resist."
He grinned. "You are not quite real to me as a wife. I might resist you less as one of Philip's mistresses."
"Wouldn't seducing one of Philip's mistresses be dangerous?"
"Very . . . but worth the risk, perhaps, in the case of a woman who could dazzle Merlin.''
"You are certainly complimentary this morning."
"I am alive this morning. Finding that one has escaped being fertilizer to a colony of mushrooms cheers one up." Thoughtfully, he tucked his hand under has cheek. "My nose tells me I have you to thank for my affability. No one else would have thought to put such stinking herbs in steampots. A Moorish remedy, is it not?"
Liliane put her hand on his forehead. "Do not talk so much. You are not up to it."
"I am not up to a great many things just now; however, only one is regrettable." His blue eyes followed the long curve of her, then slowly closed.
As his breathing grew regular and steady, Liliane eased the covers higher about his neck. Like Jean, he was boyish in sleep, very quiet. Although his face was worn and gaunt from the fever, he captured all her attention. When he was not suspicious and supercilious, he was most appealing. Liliane smiled wistfully. She had not expected to have the rare fortune of finding a new husband as enlightened as Diego. Alexandre was merely acting as an average male. She and Alexandre both had adjustments to make, especially since they now realized that neither of them was a fool. Still, Alexandre must have a weak spot, otherwise Charles would not have been so afraid that she might gain control of him. If Alexandre proved manageable, her task of foiling Jacques would be much easier. However, she found the idea of a manageable husband quite repellant. She might as well be wed to a sheep! Liliane peered down at Alexandre. He had survived years in the military service with Philip, the murderous brazier of the Holy, Land, and now half a night in an icy river. Such feats did not speak of weakness. With growing affection, Liliane gently ruffled Alexandre's hair. He might even survive her and Jacques!
By evening, however, Liliane began to wonder if Alexandre would survive his own overzealous
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