“My lady.” Giles seemed to materialize out of the shadows. He put a hand on the door to Mirielle’s bedchamber, preventing her from closing it. “You are indeed lost, Sir Giles, to find yourself in this part of the castle.” Mirielle pushed on the door, trying to force it closed. Giles pushed harder, keeping it open. He was the stronger. Within a heartbeat he was inside Mirielle’s room with his back against the door, blocking her escape. “I wanted to be sure you were safe,” Giles said. “I was afraid of what Alda might do to you.” He must have seen the tears she was trying to blink away. He left the door to move to her side, to gather her into his arms and hold her against his chest. “Mirielle, what’s wrong? What did Alda say?” “She accused me of lying with you in the crypt. And also of lying with Hugh in my workroom.” Mirielle had not meant to tell him, but she had been keeping too many conflicting emotions bottled up for much too long. It seemed altogether right to her that she should reveal her feelings to the man whose presence most disturbed her.
