Harriet was first to notice him and pull away. “Good morrow to you, Sir Lucan. Everyone is gathered inthe courtyard.”
“Already?” He felt foolish at having blurted the question.
Thomas nodded. “Effie thought it best that we were off at once. For wee George’s sake. You had already retired when it was decided.”
“I’ve packed you a fair meal to break your fast on the road,” Harriet offered, and the compassion on her face was almost too much forLucan to bear.
“Of course.” Lucan was nonplussed, but tried to cover it. “I thank you, Mistress.” He stood for a moment longer before he realized that the older couple was likely saying their goodbyes here in a bid for privacy. He quickly gave a stiff bow. “I do hope we see each other again.”
“Oh, now,” Harriet scoffed, leaving Thomas and striding over to Lucan in her efficient manner. She took both his hands and leaned up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You take care of my Tommy now, you ken?” she whispered near his ear before she pulled away. “And yourself, as well.”
“On my honor, I shall do all in my power to see that no harmcomes to him.”
“I know you will,” she said with a smile. “Send my Tav and Glenna home to me soon.”
“Fare thee well, Mistress Harriet,” Lucan said. He looked past the woman. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard, Thomas.”
Tommy only raised his hand in acknowledgement as Harriet hurried back to him.
Lucan felt the stares of Myra and Tenred Annesley from the portrait as he quit the hall. Neighbors to Castle Dare; friendsof his parents.
It sent Lucan’s thoughts tumbling.
Iain Douglas, longtime keeper of the Tower for hisfriend, Thomas—
—Archibald Blair. Murdoch Carson. Jessie Boyd. Adolphus Paget. Vaughn Hargrave.
All of them now dead. It seemed a trail of the dead followed him wherever he went.
Or perhaps it was a trail of the dead hewas following.
He skimmed down the curving staircase, made his way across the stones of the entry hall toward the rear archway of the towers and emerged into the sunshine ofthe courtyard.
A group of Roscraig servants along with the party from the Warren gathered within the low stone walls of the courtyard. Gorman noticed Lucan’s approach and hailed him.
“I’ve had Agrios brought out and packed for you.”
“My thanks, Gorman.” Lucan at last let his gaze go directly to Effie.“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” she replied, but her eyes did not meet his.
“Here he is,” Chumley called out gruffly. “Mount up.”
Lucan at first thought that Chumley was speaking of himself, but a glance over his shoulder showed him Thomas Annesley striding into the courtyard on his rolling gait, wearing his fisherman’s bonnet and his sturdy costume, a small bag across his back. He kept his gaze straight on as he approached his horse, his whiskery jaw set.
Lucan again felt that this was a private moment on which he was intruding, so he turned back to Agrios and pulled himself into the saddle. Without waiting for word, Lucan urged Agrios toward the postern gate and leftthe courtyard.
A village man was just making his way past the bridge on the tower road, his belts lashed tight across him, his deep hood drawn up, and Lucan felt a tingle of recognition as the man rode past without looking in Lucan’s direction. The villager urged his mount into a trot and disappearedover the rise.
Recognition turned to suspicion: Could it be the same man he’d seen last night?
How would you ever know?Lucan asked himself. A man dressed for winter travel, nothing specific to recommend his place in society. Likely he was nothing more than an alderman, off to do the council’s business while the lord was away. He knew well that Tavish Cameron only surrounded himself with the most capable of men. Lucan put himself down to a superstitious fool, touched by too little sleep and a foul humor.
The sound of riders approaching swelled behind him. Lucan glanced over his shoulder and saw Tommy giving him a wave. He spurred Agrios forward on the road, their first destination west to the bridge over the Firth and then to Edinburgh; then south east to the White Swan; then ever south, through the wasteland that had been the Northumberland of his birth and onward to London.
To his fate.
Chapter 15
