Susan Spencer Paul by The Brides Portion

lodge us elsewhere.”
    Alexander of Gyer’s face held honest surprise. “Because of the door? Why?”
    “Why!” she half shouted in disbelief. “How could—how—how could you put us in a place where almost anyone could walk in at any moment and—and—well!” She clamped her jaw shut tightly and didn’t notice that she had dropped everything she’d been holding. Fine silk thread and cloth fluttered noiselessly to the floor.
    “Anyone?” Alexander of Gyer repeated, his voice deepening with anger. “You mean me, do you not, my lady? You think that I would come into your chamber unannounced simply because our rooms are joined?” He was clearly insulted, and for a brief moment Lillis feared him. He was a big man, and seemed bigger in his fury. “If you’ve not noticed,” he continued curtly, “there is a bolt on your side to keep you safe from any such intrusion. And there is one on my side to keep me safe, as well. And, Lillis of Wellewyn—” he bent, speaking close to her face “—I will have you know that I am the lord of this castle. If ever I want to come into your chamber unannounced I will do it! Without your permission. Not—” he leaned even closer “—that I would ever want to enter your chamber, for any reason, in the first place.”
    Lillis could have done without his last sentence and its most obvious meaning. She knew full well that she was odd looking and unattractive. She didn’t need Alexander of Gyer to tell her that. The nuns at Tynedale had spent ten long years making certain she understood it. And yet it hurt deeply, hearing the truth from the mouth of such a man, and Lillis felt young and angry all over again, as if she’d never left Tynedale at all.
    “What a good thing it is, Alexander of Gyer, that you’d never have reason to do such a thing,” she said between clenched teeth, praying that she wouldn’t start crying and make a perfect fool of herself in front of him. “If I ever thought you’d come to my room with that intent, I would most certainly be ill!”
    But this only enraged him more, and the expression that contorted his handsome features made Lillis’s hands clench in quick fear.
    “Have no fear, my lady,” he assured her, “you shall never be subject to such an incident. But even if there were any danger of that event taking place, I would not move you to another chamber. I feel much safer at night knowing that you are so close by. I am a light sleeper, you see, and would know of it instantly were you to attempt an escape. You’d not get past the hallway before I caught you again.”
    Lillis laughed at him contemptuously. “Of course you would. The guards outside our door would alert you. Do you think us complete idiots, my lord?”
    How long this exchange might have continued, no one would ever know. Willem had been standing by, horrified, watching his brother speak to a lady in a manner he’d never before heard him speak to anyone.
    “Alex,” he said, stepping between his brother and Lillis of Wellewyn, “I should be most pleased to offer my chamber to these ladies, if they are unhappy with Mother’s chamber.”
    Alexander frowned at him. “I have said they will stay where they are. There is no need to make such an offer.”
    “This is so,” Willem agreed diplomatically, “but perhaps it would be best to consider the idea. Lady Lillis and her companion are already being kept at Gyer under unhappy circumstances. It seems a small thing to make them as comfortable as possible.”
    Driven by a demon that she, herself, didn’t approve of, Lillis said oversweetly, “Thank you kindly, Sir Willem. You are truly a noble and chivalrous man. It is certain that you’ve taken your vows to God quite seriously.”
    Alexander of Gyer’s eyes narrowed. “And I have not? That is what you mean. I have done all that I can to make your confinement at Gyer pleasant, yet you would make me a villain who has no right to call himself knight. I was fool enough to