Page 15

“I don’t want to hear any more about that man,” Lion said tersely as he turned his stallion, Tabron, toward the south. “I find any comparison between him and me less than flattering.”

“And I’m sure Lion will let you know what pleases him,” Lorenzo murmured, “when he gains the courage.”

Lion’s expression was lethal. “It may please me to take a mace to your head in the very near future.”

Lorenzo clucked reprovingly. “Such violence. How can you set a fitting example for the young when you are clearly a barbarian?”

“Lorenzo, I’m going to—” Lion stopped abruptly. “Sanchia, you may ask your questions when we stop at the Inn of the Two Swords this evening. I’m in a hurry now.” He kicked the stallion into a trot. “Bring her.” A moment later he was halfway down the street.

Sanchia frowned. “I made him angry.”

Lorenzo shook his head. “The situation makes him angry, but that will change shortly. I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.

” He edged his horse closer and took the reins from Sanchia’s hand.

“However, perhaps I shouldn’t have goaded him so.

I believe we can expect to have an extremely hard and fast trip today.

Lion grew up on a horse and forgets there are others who prefer traveling on two feet rather than four.

” He grimaced as he turned his horse and began leading Sanchia’s mare in the direction Lion had taken.

“Dio , now I hate riding these foul-smelling beasts.”

The trip was as grueling as Lorenzo had predicted, and Sanchia was near exhaustion when they finally stopped at sunset at the Inn of the Two Swords.

A hundred times she had wanted to ask Lion to stop and let them rest, and a hundred times she had bitten her lip and remained silent.

It was not her place to complain, and she had little opportunity to speak to him anyway.

For most of the journey he rode at least a quarter of a mile ahead of her and Lorenzo.

The interior of the small inn appeared clean and a cheerful fire burned in the stone fireplace in the common room. The delicious aroma of roasting hare drifted to Sanchia’s nostrils from the spit that a buxom maid was turning over the fire.

The innkeeper bustled forward, a broad, toothy smile lighting his angular face. “Welcome, my lord, it’s a pleasure to have you again under my roof. How long will you be with us?”

“We leave at dawn tomorrow, Antonio.” Lion drew off his leather gauntlets and tucked them in his belt. “See that our horses are cared for and water heated for us for washing.”

“At once, Magnifico . I’ll call my son to take your horses to the stable and they’ll receive the finest care.

” The innkeeper snapped his fingers and the maid left the spit and hurried toward them, an eager smile on her lips.

“Heat water and bring it to Lord Andreas and his companions at once, Letitia.” His gaze went to Sanchia and he frowned.

“You remember, we have only the two rooms, my lord. Will the lady—”

“The lady will occupy my bed,” Lion interrupted. “Send Letitia with wine at once and with our dinner after we’ve had an opportunity to wash.”

Sanchia caught the flickering expression of disappointment on the servant girl’s face before she hurried from the room, trailing the innkeeper.

Lorenzo was already climbing the short flight of stairs. “I’m going to stretch out and rest these aching bones. When the wench brings the food call me.” He grimaced as he glanced down at them from the landing. “I don’t know why I let you persuade me to mount one of those beasts from hell, Lion.”

“Because you’re too lazy to walk,” Lion said dryly. “And you’re afraid you’ll miss something if you stay at Mandara.”

“Things were much simpler and more comfortable before you decided to save me from my life of iniquity.” Lorenzo opened the door at the top of the stairs.

“I managed very well in Naples without running from place to place jarring my bones and doing grievous harm to my person.” He glanced over his shoulder.

“By the way, you’d best care for your urchin.

If you weren’t avoiding looking at her, you would notice that she may collapse at any moment. ”

Lion’s gaze flew to Sanchia.

“I’m not tired,” Sanchia said quickly. “Well, perhaps a little.” She tried to keep from swaying. “I’ve never ridden a horse before and the sun—”

“Cristo!” Lion’s hand was on her elbow propelling her up the steps. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed to stop?”

“You said you were in a hurry.”

“So you let me drive you until you were ready to fall off the damned horse? Have you no sense?” Lion threw open the door next to the one through which Lorenzo had disappeared and half pushed her into a small bedchamber. “Lie down until Letitia comes with the wine.”

“I don’t have to lie down. I’m not ill.”

He picked her up and tossed her unceremoniously onto the bed. “And you’re not going to be ill. I have no time to be your nursemaid.”

A ghost of a smile touched her lips as she thought of Lionello Andreas in a sickroom. He was so big, his energy and vitality so great, she couldn’t associate him with illness. “I’ll endeavor to ward off all maladies so as not to inconvenience you.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

Her lashes fell to veil the glint of mischief in her eyes. “I would not dare, my lord.”

“You’d dare.” He stood looking down at her for an instant before turning on his heel. “Rest. I’ll go next door and let Lorenzo laugh at me awhile. I’m more accustomed to his barbs than yours.”

Sanchia raised herself on one elbow. “Barbs, my lord? I merely jested a bit. If you’d rather I wouldn’t laugh, you must tell me and I’ll—”

He held his hand up. “Must you be so obliging? I’m not so puffed up that I can’t laugh at myself.” Suddenly a smile lit his harsh features with rare warmth. “And I always get my own back eventually.”

The door shut behind him before she could answer.

She gazed at the door for a long time before she settled her cheek on the pillow and closed her eyes. He was difficult to understand, she thought wearily. So many hard, sharp edges and so much brutal driving force and yet his hands had held nothing but rough kindness when they touched her just now.

And his smile had been beautiful.…