By Right of Arms by Robyn Carr

found no problem with his injury and tied a new linen strip around his thigh. She rose to repeat the task on his upper arm, again avoiding his eyes.
    “I will avenge your husband’s death,” he whispered.
    “My husband is Sir Hyatt. Were you not told?”
    “You coddle the bastard?”
    “I obey, since I cannot fight.”
    “Do you invite him to stay? Here?”
    “Nay, but he requires no invitation from me. He will not be beaten by any army, much less a single knight. Do not be foolish.”
    “He has taken your husband’s place. He deserves to die.”
    “He will kill you, Verel. I cannot protect you.”
    He grasped her arm in his good hand, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Long ago Giles said that if he fell, I would take De la Noye and rule, since there is no heir. Guillaume was to be my seneschal.”
    Aurélie saw the vicious gleam in his eyes, and though she was unaware of any such arrangement, she reasoned it was possible that Giles had made such a promise. In any event, Verel was the most likely, even if he was among the newest to join Giles’s men-at-arms. “And me, Sir Verel? Did Giles bequeath me?”
    The young knight’s eyes softened. “I have always been your protector. Have I ever lacked honor in my treatment of you? I would not have wedded and bedded you before your husband was cold in his grave.”
    “That has all changed,” she said softly.
    “I cannot bear to think that he …”
    He was stopped in mid-sentence by the startled gleam in Aurélie’s eyes. “You speak like a lover, Sir Verel. Our conversations have been few; nothing ever bound us but Giles.”
    “I have
worshipped
you! I could not come closer, for my honor was at stake.”
    “Oh, Verel, stop! Say no more! I cannot endure these words. You must believe me when I say that Hyatt will surely harm you if he thinks you harbor jealousy for his place in my bed. God help us, I did not know of this greater bond, this desire. Swear you will never speak of it again.”
    “But my lady, the English swine does not please you. I know you wish to be free of him, even at the cost of life.”
    “Swear!”
    “How can I? I …”
    “I shall ask them to tie you, Sir Verel. I shall tell Hyatt of your desires.”
    “You couldn’t do that. You wouldn’t.”
    “To save you, Sir Verel, I would tie you myself. You are the best that remains of De la Noye’s knights. I want you to
live.”
    She was certain that she had not reached his better sense, for his eyes were aglow with both hunger and agony.
    “I will do nothing. For now.”
    “Oh, Verel, I am afraid for you.”
    “Do not worry about me, Aurélie,” he said, using her name for the first time in her recollection. She was shocked by the passion in his voice, the unconscious flexing of the muscles in his arms. She had not known this knight desired her. And she had not been aware that Giles valued him beyond his warring skills and that he had made promises regarding De la Noye. The shock of this revelation was almost as intense as the heartbreak of being overthrown.
    She tore her eyes away from his and swallowed hard. She picked up a linen bandage with trembling fingers and tied it around his arm. “Your injuries are minor. You need not remain in the hall.”
    “Protect yourself, Aurélie,” he whispered.
    “I will not try to advise you past today, Sir Verel. I have warned you; that is all I can do.”
    “I expect nothing more.”
    She rose to leave his side and found she could not face any of the men. Without raising her eyes, she ventured to the stair. She nearly collided with Hyatt’s broad chest. With a startled gasp she looked up into his suspicious eyes. She had no idea how long he had been standing there and she watched as his gaze drifted slowly from her face to Sir Verel’s, then back to hers again.
    “Your wounded are tended, my lady?” he asked.
    “Yea, they are being cared for.”
    “Good. Are there any problems among them of which I should be aware?”
    She shook her