Temptations, Jealousy and Choices

Giles Davis rode into Camelot, his heart tight in his chest. Coming here was a mixed blessing. He wanted to see the Lady Melissa, but there was only so much rejection a man could take. He was hopeful, after she'd danced with him at the party in Edan, that she was getting to be less fearful of him and his touch, but she was still an iceberg as far as he was concerned. Then again, she was a bit frosty to everyone.

After being let into Camelot, Sir Patrise met Giles in the frontcourt as a groom took his horse. "My Liege would speak to you, Doctor. It is a matter of some importance."

"Is there something wrong with Melissa?"

"My Lady Melissa is well in body, if not in spirit. Your patient is another Lady. Please?" he asked, urging Giles to follow him.

He was taken directly into the King's private chambers, where His Majesty was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the hand of a beautiful woman. Looking up at Giles, he managed a tired smile. "My Queen," he said simply.

Seeing that Arthur was distraught, Patrise explained, "On Earth, when Lady Guinevere was on her way to Camelot, she and her ladies in waiting were attacked. I was there with my men, and we chased them off, but without me there . . ." His face fell miserably.

Giles nodded, and approached the bed. "My Lady," he said politely.

She opened her eyes and smiled sweetly. "Hail, kind physician. My beloved betrothed worrieth his kingly head over much. I am but tired. I did not but take a chill running through the mists to escape the villains who would do me harm."

Giles looked at her closely, though he hoped his skill as a doctor - bedside manner was a skill, and so was being observant without seeming to gawk - was not failing him when he decided she was not quite telling the truth. "Still, milady," he smiled, "I believe I should examine you without your good betrothed in the room. Your ladies may stay to see that I remain a gentleman and a physician; I know in your days doctors were celibate, but that custom, fortunately for myself, has gone by the wayside."

"How happy for you then, kind sir," she said. Looking at Arthur, she squeezed his hand and smiled. "Leave me now, dear heart. But do not stray far. I could not bear to go without a glimpse of your stalwart face for very long."

Arthur looked from Guinevere to Giles. Then he nodded. "You have proved yourself in the past, Doctor. But this is my Queen."

Giles nodded back. "I understand, Your Majesty." Finally, Patrise took him out of the room, and Giles sat on the edge of the bed. He took her arm in his hand and said, "Bumped into a tree, perhaps?"

She sighed. "One with many wicked branches and thorns, kind physician. I am sorely bruised from head to toe." A trace of a tear escaped her tight control.

"And you did not want your husband to be to know." He paused. "How far did he get?"

"He kept aiming his weapon at the target, but methinks he is a poor marksman. Apparently moving targets are beyond his level of skill. I stuck my thumb in his eye, and as he howled like the whipped cur that he was, I fled."

Giles could not hide a smile at her frankness. "Well," he sighed, turning serious, "I must see what damage his weapon did nonetheless. With your permission, of course. He might've done something that needs medication."

"Of course," she sighed. With gentle fingers, the first thing Giles did was to check her jaw and cheekbone. It looked like the lady had been hit with a rounded fist several times to try to make her hold still.

"It's a wonder your betrothed did not see these," he said. "Love is blind?" Then he looked at the finger marks and scratches on her arms and neck, and finally, Guinevere's Ladies were called to help her undress. Giles asked one of them for water and he opened his medical bag to get whatever else he needed.

"I told him that I fell down a hill, and bruised my face on a rock," she said quietly. "Which was not an untruth, because verily, I did fall as I ran. Not once, but several times." Once she was undressed, the servants covered her with a sheet. Even though the room was warm, she was shivering in reaction to her near rape.

Giles was very considerate of her situation, and the fact that women from her time were not normally examined the way he was used to doing. So he proceeded carefully, allowing his patient time if she was nervous, and of course, relying heavily on her servants. In the end, he sat back, nodding to the girls to help their lady dress.

Getting up, he washed his hands and said, "It appears you were lucky. There is some bruising in the area, but no tearing, and you are still a virgin."

She seemed pleased and relieved. "Verily he was a poor marksman then, and now that he only has one eye, he will be even less of one."

"If he survived the bleeding and infection that no doubt followed your retaliation. Fortunately, here, we have some medications that will prevent that - though we're far from what I am accustomed." He looked at his hands as he washed them. "I am used to wearing latex gloves when doing a pelvic." He smiled. "A few days rest, and you will be up and around. I've no doubt of that, with a woman as spirited as yourself."

"Thank you, Physician, you have been most kind." She slid off a beautiful amber ring that she was wearing and pressed it into his palm. "For your time and your services. And for the gentle way that you touched me that helped but to remind that not all men touch a woman with violence and intent to hurt."

He flushed and opened his mouth to refuse, but the look on the Serving Girls' faces made him stop. Who knows, one day he might have someone to present it to. "Thank you, milady. And now, I have other patients to see in the castle."

She smiled at him, and as the girls gathered around with scented water to bathe her, and a warm gown to dress her in afterwards, Giles left the room.

***

When Temperance woke from her fitful nap, she knew she'd have to face the MacInnes twins. No one but Blessing had known of her illness - and she had preferred it that way. But now her secret was out.

When she left her bedroom, her sister and the twins were still talking quietly amongst themselves, but stopped as she appeared. "Prancy, do you feel a little better now?" Patience asked, her eyes holding only sympathy.

"You should still be in bed, sister," complained Blessing.

"You would have me spend my life in bed," said Temperance sadly. She went to the kitchen to get some tea. Blessing got up to get it instead, but Temperance's frosty glance stopped her. Prudence got up boldly, however, and pushed past the older girl.

"You sit and I will make the tea!" Since Prudence never volunteered to do anything like cooking, Temperance was in too much shock to argue!

Following her sister's lead, Patience also got up and smiled, "And I'll make up a plate of those little biscuits you like so much. Your sister told me you made some only this morning, and all they need is to be placed on a plate and brought in."

"Please stop treating me as if I am already dead."

Prudence sighed and, taking Temperance's hand said, "On the contrary. We were just discussing how to make the rest of your life full and happy. With Father McBain."

Temperance gasped, going even paler. Before she could pass out, Patience added, "Prancy, we know you care for him. We've seen your eyes whenever you look at him. I know he's shy, but how do you know he might not feel the same for you, but cannot get up the courage to say it?"

"But what is to be done for it? I do not have time to wait." Prudence agreed, and repeated her plan. Blessing and Patience had to hold the poor girl up. "Go into his bedroom? Like a common trollop?"

"No . . . think of it as sort of speeding up the process of getting you and he together. A courtship could take months, and that would be after we even get him to make the first move! Think of it as helping him to realize things that much sooner." Patience was trying hard to think of things that would relax the poor girl enough to even consider their idea.

Blessing took her sister's hand, and Prudence urged, "And by then . . . Don't you think you should spend what time you have in his arms?"

"But what if he rejects me? My reputation . . ."

Her sister reassured her, "He's too good a man to tell anyone else. And then, if it was not meant to be with him, then it will be best knowin' it now, and you can find someone else."

"Prancy, please . . . we're only trying to help you make every day count. That's something even those of us who are not ill try for, though we don't always manage it!" Patience smiled slightly, trying again to ease her friend.

Temperance thought for a long time. Finally, squeezing her sister's hand, she nodded slowly. "All right. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I can't live knowing I gave up the chance for happiness."

All three of the other women breathed a sigh of relief; the only thing to do now was to figure out when to put their plan into effect.

***

Giles left the King's chambers and started toward Melissa's. But he had not gone far when one of Guinevere's girls followed him out. "M'lord Physician," she said meekly. "Might one of the servants beg some of your time?"

"Of course," he said, wondering why he had been so dense. "They took you, too."

She nodded, blushing. "And my sister servants. But they were a mite more successful."

Giles sighed. "I am sorry. Let's go back . . ."

"No," she said quickly. "As our Lady does not want her King to know of her shame - had there been any - we do not want her to know of ours."

"Of course. There must be empty rooms . . ."

"I will show you to one," she said, somewhat less covertly. "You will need chambers for your stay here; one cannot expect you to return to Edan without a night's rest."

Good plan, he thought, following the girl. After a quick exam, he found her to be slightly torn, but healing. It had to be uncomfortable, though, and he gave her directions as to how to relieve the discomfort - if she could manage it without alerting her mistress. "And the others?" he asked.

"Will be serving your domestic needs, one at a time," she said. He understood. One by one they would show up on some sort of errand. One to bring him dinner, or water for a bath. This way no one would know.

She was leaving when he asked, "Shall I wait here, then? I wanted to check on Lady Melissa."

"The Lady said she was well, and not in need of your services."

Giles flushed, trying not to berate himself. Of course. Melissa was with child, but healthy. He had other patients that really needed him. He had to put his own desires aside.

After each of the girls had visited him, Giles was full of such frustrated rage at their attackers that he went out of his room and walked the halls. He was angry with the men who had abused the girls - they each told the same story of running once the men had finished with them, finally meeting up with their Lady once they arrived here, but they all thought their attackers had remained behind - but also himself, for pining for a woman who was obviously not interested. Taking the ring from his pocket, he looked at it reproachfully. "Yeah," he said, "right. Like I have a snowball's chance in Edan."

"Ohh," trilled a voice, "let me see that. It's lovely, where did you get it?"

Giles turned to see a lovely woman, dressed as a harem girl. She had thick dark hair and a pretty face. "The Lady Guinevere. She gave it to me as payment for services rendered. Do you want it? I was thinking of giving it to someone, when I finally won her heart, but I doubt I'll ever get the chance."

Amanda looked at the ring, and then him. "You know, you look just like an old, old friend of mine. And he never gave up." She closed his hand around the ring. "As much as I love pretty things like that, I think maybe you should keep it. I think you're going to need it."

Giles laughed. "What makes you say that?"

"Because whoever she is, she is a fool to turn you down!" She snuggled up to him teasingly. Giles laughed again, enjoying her attentions. Sure, they had made him feel useful as a doctor, but this one was making him feel attractive as a man.

The walls had ears and eyes, and from two separate parts of the hall, two very different heads slipped back behind doors. One was a tall, lean man, who had seen Lady Guinevere arrive with some confusion - he knew and loved the Queen of Camelot, and that was not she! Then again, the King himself was odd in appearance; he just did not mind that as much. This exotic beauty called to his heart more loudly than a woman named Guinevere of Camelot, and that was strange indeed. In the opposite direction, a beautiful but confused Lady Melissa cringed to see a woman all over her doctor . . . the one she swore she would not allow her heart to love.

But that was like telling the sun not to shine.

***

All this activity had not made it better on Prudence - she was excited now and could not sleep. So, after making sure her twin *was* asleep, she got up, dressed as quietly as she could, and then slipped out of the house. She did not know what she was doing, exactly; she just wanted to be out and about.

She did not consciously know that she wanted to see that soldier again, just that her mind kept going back to the look he had given her. She experienced a thrill every time she relived it. Unconsciously, now she wanted more of the same.

Unlike a day or two before, when the sailors of the Bounty were in town, the street was deserted. Still, the town was not really quiet. There was music and laughter coming from the Cantina, and lights and more laughter from the saloon. Which should she try? Something told her the Cantina was the more respectable place - a woman tended bar there - but it was also more modern. The saloon was much more familiar to her, though it was definitely taboo. Maybe that's what was drawing her to it.

While she was still trying to decide, a man on horseback came down the middle of the wide street. He was dressed in a long coat, with a fine suit underneath. Although technically from the latter part of her century, the clothing was close enough to what she was accustomed, and she was instantly interested in which place he chose.

He rode up to the saloon and dismounted. Setting her chin defiantly, Prudence began walking across the street.

The man noticed her and stopped. She was lovely, though not as lovely as his late wife, Mary. Still, a man cannot pine forever, can he? As she neared, he held his ground and then, tipping his broad-brimmed hat, said, "Good evening, Miss. Ah am new in town. Colonel Francis Clay Mosby at youah service. May ah ask the name of this settlement?"

"You are in Edan, Colonel Mosby," she said. "I am Prudence MacInnes."

Mosby smiled. "Do ah detect an accent, Miss MacInnes?"

"Do I?" she retorted smartly.

He laughed. "That you do. Ah hail from Virginia. Ah was in the recent wah."

"Wah?"

"Between the states."

"Ah. Well, I never got to the states. I was headed there to marry a man I'd never met. But we ended up here, and now I can choose my own husband."

He was smiling at her. "Yes. Yes you can." He looked behind him and said, "But surely you ah not headed for the Saloon? A woman of your breeding?"

Prudence bit her lip. "You were going in there."

"Yes, but ah am a man."

She frowned. "I know for a fact that there are women in there!" she said in a suddenly defiant tone and, turning on her heel, she marched into the saloon.

Mosby followed her in. Due to her pregnancy, Lupe did not stay downstairs at night; she retired early and was usually up at the crack of dawn. But she left a pot of stew on the warm in case anyone was hungry. Nathaniel handled the bar. The first thing Prudence noted was that she was the only woman in the room.

So did the men. There were a few card games going on, and all of them stopped when the vivacious redhead walked in. There were a few catcalls from the soldiers were lounging about on leave. Both Zane Cooper and Brett Maverick, who were each hosting a card game, stopped to eye the delectable goodie, and then they went back to their play.

Mosby was still at her back. "My dear, I really think . . ."

"This is a hotel, as well as a saloon, Mr. Mosby," she said tartly, purposely leaving his rank off as a matter of disrespect. "Women are permitted inside."

Mosby shrugged, giving up, and removed his coat as he made his way to a gaming table. He still did not understand where he was, not really. But to him, this was just another town.

With him gone, Prudence felt stupid and alone, but she did not remain so for long. "Well hello," said a voice.

Turning, she saw "her" soldier smiling at her. "Well, hello," she echoed back.

"Colonel Marcus Grisham, at your service. Can I get you a drink?"

Mosby was back on his feet. "Can't you see that is a Lady, not a saloon trollop?"

"I can see lots of things. Like, she's with me, not you. Stranger." Grisham turned to Nathaniel. "Weakling, get us something to drink."

Nathaniel growled at the word "weakling", but decided not to show him how weak he could be. The captain was good with a sword, and he healed slowly for a lycanthrope. "What does the Lady want?" he asked politely.

Prudence liked being called a Lady. And he had pretty eyes. "Just some soda water," she said.

"And a beer for her date."

Mosby simmered, but Cooper stood and put his hand on the Virginian's shoulder. "Come, finish the hand."

"You'ah not even betting for money."

"Yeah, but it amuses me." Mosby gave him a look, and Cooper explained, "When the sailors come to town, they lose a bundle. You wanna stay here, you need to hone your skills, boy."

Pru's laugh cut the air, and Mosby winced before turning back to his game. Prudence and Grisham kept talking at the bar, obviously getting along well, and finally, when their drinks were done, he offered to "walk her home".

Mosby watched helplessly as she went out into the night with him.