Richard was slightly disturbed that Thomas had not given his permission freely and was even more disturbed when he realised that the woman Rosamunde intended to chaperone Margaret was herself. He had found himself enjoying her company more and more and frequently forgot that he was her prisoner when he was with her. Her beauty brought light each day to the castle that was every bit as cold and damp as he had feared. But he could not afford to forget what she was and who he was. She was his gaoler and no matter how pleasant she was making his imprisonment and no matter how much she relied on him, and he was coming to believe that she relied on him as much as she did on Thomas and Guy, he could not forget that she was not the woman he was looking for, could not be the woman and he could not allow himself to imagine that she might be. At least her presence should keep the other women away. That would make it easier to keep his promise to her. It had not taken him long to realises that none of the women was suitable, even for a temporary mistress.
