The Eternal Shadow

Chapter 11

XI

She instantly knew who it was.

She would know that voice anywhere.

Every inch of her body sighed in relief and an intense giddiness overcame her.

OH, THANK GOD!

Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

Thank you guardian angel, lucky charm, spirit of mercy, goddess of poor defenceless females and whoever else I owe on this one...

Most of all, thank you Sir Guy of Gisborne!

(You excellent, wonderful, ridiculously handsome and fortuitously punctual man!)

As happy as Francesca was at this interruption, Prince John wasn't pleased at all. He reluctantly removed his hand from her and fixed the interloper with an exasperated stare. "Ah Gisborne," he spat, his voice tight with displeasure, "What are you doing here?"

Francesca took a deep breath and turned to face Guy, trying as best she could to hide her elation. Guy chanced to look at her to check she was alright and was relieved to find that she was; her face was flushed, her head bowed but he caught the small smile that she was fighting to repress and it pleased him greatly to see that she welcomed his interruption.

"I was on my way to the stables your Highness; I have errands to run for Lord Vaisey." He replied in his usual curt manner, Prince John's ire did not give him cause for concern; he was used to the disapproval of his superiors.

"Ah yes, Vaisey... where is he today?" Prince John narrowed his eyes, silently cursing the man for not being present to keep his guard dog in check.

"At the hunt being held in your honour sire."

"Oh yes that." He sniffed, a bored expression on his face. Guy wasn't surprised that the prince wasn't in attendance, there were always events in his honour and his fickle temperament ensured that he decided on a whim whether to attend or not.

"Sir Guy?" Francesca began timidly; she did not want to interrupt the conversation between the two men, feeling that it was bad mannered of her but as Prince John was still in close proximity, she would take any opportunity she could to get out of there. "I thank you for presenting me to your Highness and I was wondering if you would escort me to the stables, I was hoping to talk to Joseph about something."

She was holding her breath as both men turned to face her, terrified above all at how the prince would respond; he was renowned for his mercurial temper and she did not wish to provoke him by speaking out of turn but if the alternative was to stand there meekly and have him eyeing her up as a potential mistress then she was willing to take the risk.

To her relief, he looked surprised, as if during the brief interruption he'd forgotten she was there. She risked a glance at Guy who was looking at her with a coy smile of amusement that turned her legs to jelly.

She had little time to think on this before it was her turn to be surprised as the prince began to chuckle, smiling at her indulgently, as if what she'd said was charming.

He then directed a knowing look at Guy, "So... it's like that is it?" He spoke slowly, his voice thick with innuendo, one eyebrow hitching skyward, a sly smile creeping over his lips. Guy frowned. Francesca blushed.

"That's what they are calling it these days is it Gisborne? 'Running errands'?" His smile was wicked and his laugh dirty. Guy looked to the floor feeling strangely guilty though he'd done nothing wrong. Francesca was mortified: she had only yesterday sworn to leave him alone in order to prevent situations like this one and now in her eagerness to get away from Prince John, she had laid him open to the kind of insinuations that had already caused him to be so angry with her.