Courtly Love by Lynn M. Bartlett Page A

most women, that would be enough. What was she searching for?
    When she surfaced, the first sound Serena heard was Gyles calling her name. Did his voice sound frantic or was her mind—already confused by the questions that chased each other around—playing tricks on her? She paddled easily to the shallow water and then walked to the bank. Gyles waited for her, his legs slightly apart, arms folded over his chest. His eyes were flashing angrily at her, and Serena wondered what had caused him to lose his bantering mood.
    When Serena neared Gyles, his hand shot out and she was pulled roughly against him. "What were you playing at out there?" Gyles asked angrily. He lifted Serena off her feet until their eyes were level with each other. "I thought you had taken a cramp and could not gain the shore."
    Serena looked at him in wide-eyed astonishment. When she gazed into those green eyes, all defiance drained from her and the questions that had plagued her earlier seemed completely unimportant. "Did I frighten you, m'lord?" Serena asked softly.
    Gyles did not reply, but Serena felt his arm tighten around her. His free hand rose and brushed an errant strand of hair from her face. When Gyles spoke, his voice was oddly strained. "Never . . . ever ... do that again, Serena. I'll not allow you to escape our wager so easily."
    But I do not wish to escape, Serena wanted to say. Why couldn't she speak those words? Why did pride chain her tongue, when Serena's heart told her that the words would greatly ease things between herself and Gyles? And why was he staring at her as if he could read her thoughts?
    "You will carry out your part of our bargain." It was a statement, not a question, and Gyles searched Serena's face for a sign that she would refuse.
    Serena's eyes dropped away from his; surely he could look directly into her soul and see the inner turmoil there. "The bargain will be met, m'lord, though I daresay Beda will prove most difficult."
    Gyles returned Serena to the ground, then gently cupped her face between his hands. "If Beda proves troublesome, I shall deal with her. Take no chances, Serena. Remember her dagger."
    "You need not remind me, m'lord. I remember full well her anger." Serena glanced behind Gyles to see Alan running toward them. Reluctantly, Serena pulled Gyles's hands away from her face. '"Tis time we left, m'lord, the day grows short and I fear we have neglected Alan."
    Alan threw himself into his father's arms. Gyles lifted the boy to his shoulders and offered his hand to Serena. A small smile curved her lips as her ringers interlaced with her husband's and the trio walked back to the picnic site. Serena's kirtle was still wet and she debated removing the garment before she donned her gown, but Gyles and Alan were waiting impatiently for her, so she quickly shrugged the garment over her shoulders and hurried to the horses. Gyles lifted Serena into her saddle, then mounted his own horse and seated Alan before him. The ride back to the castle was spent answering Alan's questions, and he soon had Serena and Gyles laughing at his inquisitiveness. They were still chuckling when they reached the stables, and the grooms who ran out to hold their mounts glanced at their Norman lord in surprise. The grooms were not the only people who were interested in the return of the lord and lady of the manor. Nellwyn and Beda waited on the steps of the castle— the old nurse with a satisfied smile on her lined face, and Beda with her face contorted into an ugly mask.
    Serena noted the killing looks Beda gave her, and she was suddenly overcome by a feeling of pure terror. Serena's legs trembled and her hands turned to blocks of ice. She retained enough control to send Alan off with Nellwyn before the confrontation with Beda. Gyles sensed Serena's fear and slipped an arm around her shoulder, readying himself to intervene should Beda threaten Serena in any way. Her uneasiness receded a bit, and Serena drew a deep breath to steel herself