Lord Gawain's Forbidden Mistress. Carol Townend

back to the manor and tell Sir Bertran I need half a dozen horse soldiers to be at the ready.’ He measured Vivienne’s travelling chest and the two cots with his eye. ‘And ask him to organise a cart for tomorrow. Vivienne, do you ride?’

      ‘Not well, my lord. We have a cart. I usually travel in that.’

      ‘Pity. We need to be discreet today, so we can’t use your cart. We’ll have to get you and the babies as far as the Preize Gate. The rest of your belongings can wait until later.’ Gawain shot Elise a look. ‘After I have spoken to Raphael and André.’

      Gawain went on issuing commands. Something about borrowing a cart and a couple of guards from the garrison. Elise didn’t hear much of it, her mind was in turmoil. She held Pearl to her and all she could think was that Gawain was about to take Pearl from her. Heart pumping, she stroked Pearl’s hair. Somehow, she must stop him. Whatever happened, she was not going to be separated from her baby.

      ‘Yes, my lord.’ Aubin was repeating his orders. ‘I am to take a cart and some guards to the Preize Gate, where they will wait. Then I am to come back here and escort Vivienne to the cart on foot. With the babies.’

      Saints, Gawain was taking Pearl away and she could think of no way of stopping him. Elise’s head began to pound. For the first time it really hit home that since Gawain was the Count of Meaux, he could do anything. Against him, she was defenceless.

      She found herself clutching at the flimsiest of straws. ‘Gawain, you can’t take Vivienne back to your manor. She acts as my maid.’

      Dark eyes bored into her. ‘Are you telling me you cannot manage without her?’

      Her cheeks warmed. ‘Naturally I can manage, but this is Vivienne’s home. You can’t simply uproot her.’

      ‘Watch me.’ He glanced at Vivienne, who was frantically rocking Bruno from side to side, and his voice softened. ‘Elise, you must see that I cannot let this slide.’

      Unfortunately, Elise did see. Gawain, as an honourable knight—as a count—was bound to uphold the law. However, there was also André to consider. What would he do when he got back this evening and found Vivienne and Bruno gone? And what exactly was the nature of his involvement with the sword? ‘André might be completely innocent.’

      The fair head nodded. ‘For your sake, I hope that he is.’

      Elise bit her lip and shot Vivienne a look. Was she entirely innocent? She must be. There was no way that Vivienne would be involved in anything underhand. But she was not certain she could say the same about André. The previous autumn, Elise hadn’t been able to rest until she’d found out how her sister had met her untimely death. She hadn’t wanted to leave André and Vivienne to fend for themselves, but it had been obvious she couldn’t take them with her. She’d hoped that leaving them to manage without her would encourage André to grow up. And when she had rejoined them at the turn of the year, she’d been pleasantly surprised to see how well they had coped.

      But what if they hadn’t coped? Recently, André had actually had plenty of money, whereas before he’d always been short. Where had it come from? Had he fallen in with felons in his efforts to provide for Vivienne? She stared at Vivienne, heart like lead, and prayed that neither of her friends had done anything wrong.

      ‘If you’re taking Vivienne to your manor, you will have to make room for me too,’ Elise said. Yes, that would answer very well. She need not be separated from Pearl. She would go with them to Gawain’s manor.

      Gawain’s eyebrows lifted. When he simply looked at her, tension balled in her stomach.

      I will not be parted from Pearl. Clutching Pearl to her, Elise rushed on. ‘Vivienne can’t go on her own, she...she’ll need help with the babies.’ This wasn’t true, Vivienne was a wonder with the babies, but Elise couldn’t stomach the idea of Vivienne being thrust into a strange environment where there would be no familiar faces. Vivienne might have become used to the wandering life, but for years she’d always had either Elise or André with her. We are a family.

      Not that she could expect a man like Gawain—a loner—to understand that.

      Gawain nodded a dismissal at his squire. ‘Thank you, Aubin. Carry on.’

      ‘Very well, my lord.’ Aubin ducked out of the pavilion.

      Elise stared at the father of her child and bit her lip. Gawain Steward, Count of Meaux, was ignoring her. He had taken Vivienne into custody and she wasn’t sure he was going to take her to his manor. Heaven help them.

      She drew in some air. He must take her with him! ‘My lord, I insist on accompanying Vivienne and the babies back to the manor.’

      He looked sharply at her. ‘You insist?’

      ‘Yes, my lord, I insist.’

      Vivienne shifted. Her eyes were huge with concern. ‘Be careful, Elise.’ Muttering under her breath, she took Bruno outside.

      ‘Gaw...Lord Gawain.’ Elise turned to face him squarely. ‘I am sorry if this inconveniences you, but I feel most strongly about this. Vivienne needs me with her. If you insist on taking Vivienne to your manor, I shall have to come too.’

      ‘I understand.’ Gawain grimaced. ‘In your shoes I would feel the same. However, much as I would personally enjoy offering you hospitality at the manor, I have to tell you that I cannot entertain you there.’

      Her jaw dropped. ‘You would offer space for Vivienne and the babies, but have none for me?’

      ‘I’m afraid not. My circumstances have changed since your last visit to Troyes, and I suspect you don’t know the full extent of the changes.’

      Her brow puckered. ‘Enlighten me.’

      ‘After my uncle’s death I left Troyes—this was a few weeks ago. I have returned to meet my betrothed.’

      She caught her breath. ‘You’re to be married? You’re right, I hadn’t heard. Congratulations, Lord Gawain.’ A cold stone lodged in her chest.

      ‘My thanks. The marriage is a political one, to the daughter of an old ally of my uncle. It has the blessing of the King of France.’

      Elise nodded. She bent over Pearl to hide her expression. Heavens, could matters get any worse? If he was going to be married there was no way he would want her at his manor! ‘May I enquire the name of the lady you are to marry?’

      ‘Lady Rowena de Sainte-Colombe. Her father has estates near Provins.’

      ‘I wish you both well, Gaw—my lord. Now I understand why my presence at the manor might be awkward.’

      He gave her a mocking bow, tapping the sword against his thigh. ‘I thank you for your understanding.’

      Her jaw worked. Her mouth was dry. ‘None the less, I will not be separated from the babies.’

      ‘Don’t be difficult, Elise.’

      ‘I’m not being difficult! I am merely telling you that I will not be separated from the babies.’

      He shoved his hand through his hair. ‘Elise, for God’s sake—’

      ‘Gawain, Pearl is my daughter!’

      Gawain’s face went blank. He stared at Pearl. ‘Your daughter? Are you telling me that this baby—Pearl—is yours?’

      ‘Aye.’ Elise closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Gawain was looking at Pearl as though she’d dropped from the sky.

      ‘Elise...’ He cleared his throat. ‘This cannot be.’

      ‘Pearl is my daughter. I won’t be parted from her.’

      Gold gleamed as he dropped the sword on to a bedroll. He reached a hand towards Pearl and let it fall back. ‘I thought both babies were Vivienne’s. You let me think they were twins.’