ance God wished him to stay nearby the king and his whore, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Of all the women on this earth, she-with her sultry beauty and beckoning smile-had tempted and turned many. She had divorced her first husband, the king of France, a holier man than Henry could ever hope to be. The Whore Queen had led women on a farce of a Crusade to the most Holy of Lands, dressed in breeches like a man. Rumor had it that she and her uncle had fornicated whilst she was married to Louis of France. . . .
A bolt like lightning struck him, and Fantin stilled. The thought shot through him, and his breathing hitched faster, yet his heart rate slowed. The trembling of his hands ceased as the surety, the knowledge flowed through him.
'Twas so clear, so perfect, so attuned to his calling that Fantin knew this would be the final step in his work.
At last his God had spoken. He understood why he must stay at court. And how his daughter could be of help to him. And why he had not managed to seize her yet.
His lips shifted to one side. With one achingly beautiful act-and in the name of God-he would destroy Mal Verne and commit the final task in this journey on which he'd been sent.
And then at last the secret of the Stone would be made clear to him.
The stone floor was cold and hard beneath her knees, and Madelyne shifted yet again to relieve the pressure. How long she'd been there, in the chapel, she did not know. . . but the rays of light that had been a dim moonbeam through the narrow windows were now strong golden streaks staggering across the uneven floor.
Her beads were a comfort in her hands, but there was little else to bring her ease. All that lay before her was the darkness of unknowing, uncertainty, and fear.
"Dear Father," she prayed again, as she had so many times those last hours, "I wish only to do Your will. . . to live to serve You. I place my life in Your hands. . . I ask that you show me forgiveness for failing You and the vows I have made to You. . . . "
Madelyne's voice trailed as despair and fatigue overcame her. Now, as had been the case for hours, there was no lifting of response in her breast. . . no certainty that her prayers had been heard. . . no fulfillment of knowing that her life was strong and had meaning.
Had God turned from her, knowing that she'd failed to abide by the vows she'd meant to make? Or was this a test, challenge for her to overcome. And at the end of the challenge, should she meet it, would there be the comfort of knowing that she'd done His will-whatever it would be?
Could it be that He wished for her to wed? To love a man and wed with him?
A faint scuffle reached her ears, and a booted foot stepped into the realm of her downcast vision. She raised her head without hurry, swallowing the first innate fear that it was her father, and looked into the slightly shadowed face of a man too slim to be Gavin Mal Verne.
"Lord Reginald," she said, tempering the surprise she felt. "Do you come here to pray?" As he extended his hand, she accepted it and allowed him to assist her to stand.
He smiled, a soft quirk of tenderness. "Nay, my lady, I but came in search of you. Your maid directed me to you here. . . she lamented that your absence had been noted but that she had a fear of leaving the chambers to come in search of you. "
Madelyne raised her brows in surprise. "Tricky had a fear of leaving the chamber?"
"A large, burly man had been posted out side of the door," Reginald told her, slipping her hand smoothly into the crook of his arm. "'Twas only because your maid had sent for me that I gained audience with her. She called him Clem, and he allowed me to speak briefly with her. "
"My maid sent for you?" Madelyne felt a flush rise over her cheeks and pulled her arm from his, clasping her hands in front of her abdomen. Whatever Tricky's purpose in doing such a bold thing, she would receive a tongue lashing from Madelyne at the first opportunity. Such a transgression was not to be tolerated, even from the sunny-faced Tricky. "Please accept my apologies, Lord Reginald, for my maid's interference-"
"Nay! 'Twas no fault of hers. She but responded to a missive I sent when I did not see you at supper last evening. " His smile was gentle and friendly. "I merely missed your presence and wished to have the opportunity to walk with you in the garden betimes. "
Disconcert flitted through her, and Madelyne did not know where to look-anywhere but into the warm, searching blue eyes. "Lord Reginald, I-"
"Forgive me, lady, but you are finished with your novena? I should have asked you first-I have no wish to disturb your prayers. "
She allowed a small smile at his concern. "Aye, I have made my petitions many times. . . whether they will be heard begs yet to be known. " Her smile faded, and she felt for the prayer beads that hung from the kirtle around her waist.
"Surely you are hungry. Your maid appeared to be much concerned about your lengthy absence, bewailing that you had not broken your fast. " Now he took her arm again, and pulled it into the warmth of his elbow. "Please, let me help you to find something to eat. "
"My thanks, Lord Reginald, but in truth, I have no wish for food. I fast today. "
"And my thanks to you, D'Orrais, as well. "
The deep voice coming from the shadows of the chapel caused Madelyne's heart to surge into her throat, where it settled, thumping with fervor. "Gav-Lord Mal Verne," she said, turning toward him, pulling her hand again from Lord Reginald's arm.
Mal Verne came forward, and she saw from his stony face that he was angered. When he spoke, however, his words were simple and even. "I do thank you, D'Orrais," he said again, "for seeing to Lady Madelyne's safety. 'Though she is under the protection of the king-and myself-" he spared a quick, meaningful glance at her, "she appears to need some direction to cease wandering through the keep of her own volition. "
Lord Reginald nodded his blond head briefly, glancing at Madelyne as though to assure himself it was permissible to leave her with Gavin. "I didn't know that the king had a special interest in Lady Madelyne. "
Gavin's eyes were steady and cold. "Aye, the king and myself have great interest in her well-being. . . and, as well, there are other parties who have interest only in her non-well-being. I thus warn you that she will be well-guarded until such time as a permanent protector is chosen for her. "
Now, he turned to look fully at Madelyne and his words were for her. "Have you finished your prayers, my lady? If not, I beg that you will complete them in the privacy and safety of your chamber. Come with me. " Gavin did not wait for her assent. He grasped her wrist-albeit gently-and she had no choice but to allow him to direct her to the place he wished her to go.