“Angry?” Gavin said. “My estates are left unguarded, my men are left leaderless, my wife is held prisoner by an insane man, and you say I am angry? No, wife, I am far more than angry.”
Judith straightened her back, clenched her jaw. “There was no other way. A siege would have killed you.”
“A siege, yes,” he said fiercely, “but there are other ways to take this place than by siege.”
“But John said—”
“John! He is a knight, not a leader. His father followed mine, as he follows me. He should have gone for Miles or even Raine, with his broken leg. I will kill John the next time I see him!”
“No, Gavin. He is not at fault. I told him I would go alone if he didn’t bring me.”
The candle made her eyes glow. The woolen hood had fallen away from her hair.
“I had forgotten how beautiful you are,” he said quietly. “Let’s not quarrel anymore. We can’t change what has been done. Tell me what is happening above.”
She told him of how she’d gotten better quarters for her mother, yet had also succeeded in getting John made prisoner. “But it is as well,” she continued. “He wouldn’t have allowed me down here.”
“I wish he hadn’t. Judith, you shouldn’t have set foot in this place.”
“But I had to bring you food!” she protested.
He stared at her, then sighed. He began to smile at her. “I pity John’s having to deal with you.”
She looked at him in surprise. “He said the same of you. H
ave I done so very wrong?”
“Yes,” Gavin answered honestly. “You have put more people in danger, and any rescue now will be much more difficult.”
She looked down at her hands.
“Come, look at me. It has been a long time since I saw anything that is even clean.” He handed her the empty jar.
“I brought more food and a metal box to keep it in.”
“And a bench,” he said as he shook his head. “Judith, do you realize Demari’s men will know who has sent these things when they see them? You must take them back.”
“No! You need them.”
He stared at her. All he’d done was complain about her. “Judith,” he whispered, “thank you.” He put his hand up, as if to touch her cheek, but stopped.
“You are annoyed with me,” she said flatly, thinking that was why he wouldn’t touch her.
“I don’t want to soil you. I am more than filthy. I feel things crawl on my skin even now as you sit so close to me.”
She took his hand and guided it to her cheek. “Joan said you were little more than alive, but she also said you looked up at the guard with defiance. If you still hated, you couldn’t be so near death.” She leaned toward him and he touched his mouth to hers. She had to content herself with that; he would not contaminate her further with his touch.
“Listen to me, Judith. You must obey me. I will brook no disobedience, do you understand? I’m not John Bassett you can twist about your fingers. And if you disobey me, it will no doubt cost many lives. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she nodded. She wanted guidance.
“Before I was taken, Odo was able to reach Stephen in Scotland.”
“Your brother?”
“Yes, you don’t know him. He will be told all of what Demari has done. Stephen will come soon. He is an experienced fighter, and these old walls won’t stand long before him. But it will take days for him to travel from Scotland—even if the messenger can find him quickly.”
“So what am I to do?”