“Aye,” he continued heartily, “I found it passing strange that men would follow her without question. She seems not a one to breed such loyalty as I have seen in you.”

“And yet our loyalty lies with Ruardean, without question.” It was Madog, of course, as it ever was when things were ripe to go ill among the men. But Ranulf rejoiced to himself to see him step quietly into the fray. This was the sword he would so like to cross.

Their eyes met across the fire, and Ranulf leaned back on his elbows, legs spread wide in a lazy sprawl as he surveyed the other man. “I have always thought that a woman should never be obeyed, save for when her legs are spread and she’s demanding more.”

He was glad to see that even Madog found it a trial not to laugh at that. Many of the men, making free with the mead, shouted with laughter. Well, if he could not fight them, he might persuade them to doubt their lady and her commands. “I have journeyed to Jerusalem and visited many lands twixt here and there, yet never have I found the woman who deserves such obedience as I see among you good men. Let a lady command your heart, but for honor let her never decide where you spend your strength.”

“You have lived with that device as your guide, my lord?” asked one, in good humor.

“Aye,” he answered with a grin, “and find me no lack of women to comfort me. Is soft comfort a woman is made for, not the command of men. That woman of yours who healed me, Madog ap Rhys – she served well a woman’s purpose. I’ll not forget her mouth soon.”

That was too much, he knew at once. Unexpectedly, there came the feeling that one word wrong would send them all at his throat, or at each other’s. He could not understand why all of them would take such grave offense, nor did he care when he saw the fire it brought to Madog’s eyes, in particular. At last, he’d found the words to goad the man, and of course it was about his lady cousin. Stupid, to not have thought of it before now.

“You’ll not speak of that lady here, if you value your life, my lord.” It was not Madog who said it, nor one of the handful who looked to be his kin. Instead it was a man who looked and sounded English. But all of them were in clear agreement with him.

Ranulf cast a significant glance around the fire, at the anxious men who had been arrayed to keep watch on him and deliver him safe to Windsor. “I think Ruardean values my life more than do I.”