Free Elaine Barbieri by the Rose, the Shield Page B

that each of his liaisons was temporary—that she was the only constant in his life. She had grown more voluptuous with time. Her breasts and hips were fuller, and despite the fear that gray would soon appear in her long tresses, her need to please Guilbert had also grown until she had determined she would do anything to keep his interest.
    She had managed to succeed until now.
    Hyacinthe recalled the previous evening when she had appeared at the door to Guilbert’s quarters as he prepared for bed. He had turned her away with blatant disgust, declaring that he was tired of her, that a new, “unexpected love” would soon take her place; and that until then he needed no woman at all.
    With the memory of that statement still ringing in her ears as the new day dawned, Hyacinthe remained silent in the doorway of Guilbert’s quarters. She continued to watch his anxious pacing while holding a change of bed linens in hand as a pretext for her appearance there. A chill ran down her spine when Guilbert looked up and asked emotionlessly, “What are you doing here?”
    “I came to change your bed linens.”
    “Get out.”
    “Guilbert, I—”
    “You will address me as ‘my lord’ like the other kitchen help. I will stand for no less!”
    Hyacinthe began again, “My lord, I—”
    “Put the linens down and return later, after I have gone.”
    “My lord…will you allow me to relieve your agitation? You know how competent I am at that endeavor.”
    De Silva sneered. “You are ‘competent at that endeavor’ with any male who tickles your fancy. I am no longer satisfied to be one of many.”
    Hyacinthe’s heart pounded as she said hoarsely, “You have found a woman on whom you wish to confer your name, then?”
    De Silva stopped to glare at her as he said, “I have found another…one I am unable to sweep from my mind…one who intrigues me as no other has.”
    Hyacinthe replied boldly, “I can put this other one to shame. I am dedicated to that cause…as you well know.”
    “I know well that you are a whore and, as such, I have no further use for you.”
    Slowly lowering the neckline of her blouse, Hyacinthe bared her white, rounded breasts. She stroked the taut, brown crests as she whispered, “Can this other one offer you what I offer?”
    “Cover yourself!” Stunned at the baron’s command, Hyacinthe jerked up her blouse as the baron advanced toward her and rasped, “I await the proper moment before going out to begin my challenge…an intimate challenge that I sense will surpass whatever practiced intimacies you offer.”
    Hyacinthe gasped, “But—”
    “Go back to the kitchen and be grateful that I allowed you to consume precious time that I could havepassed with someone more worthy. What ever the outcome of this venture, I do not want you to approach me again, do you hear?”
    Hyacinthe nodded.
    “Speak to me. I wish to hear you say the words!”
    “I hear you.”
    Looking up at the bright morning sun shining through the window, de Silva added, “The time has come for this new game. I await it with a growing impatience that no one else may sate.” Sweeping up his cloak, he reiterated for her benefit, “
No one else
.”
    Thrusting her aside as she stood rigidly in the doorway, the baron thundered down the curved staircase and slipped from her sight. Incredulous, Hyacinthe took a breath, and then another. She advanced into the room and placed the clean linens on the bed that they had so often heated with their lovemaking.
    But…the baron had said their lovemaking was simple lust, and that she was a whore.
    Hyacinthe turned to her reflection in the framed mirror that hung opposite her. She stared at her image. That same mirror had often reflected the heat of their lovemaking, yet she saw in it now only an unsmiling woman who had once again been left behind.
    Hyacinthe drew herself up straight and forced herself to smile. Her features were handsome and her body was womanly beyond mea sure. There were