‘Perhaps the guards found me handsome,’ Balor said drily.
Thetánaistegave a rough laugh.‘Do you know, I could almost like you, Ó Phelan.’
‘It’s probably not a good idea.’But Balor drew up his knees and added in a low voice, ‘Are you feeling well enough to break out of this prison tonight?’
‘Possibly.Are my father’s men here to help us?’
‘Not yet,’ he answered.‘But soon.King Patrick followed when I escorted Mairead here.’
Liam let out a slow breath.‘That was a mistake.My father will kill you slowly for taking Mairead.’
‘It washeridea to search for you,’ he pointed out.‘And you wouldn’t be alive if I hadn’t agreed to it.’
Thetánaistegave a nod.‘You’re right.I apologize for that.’
‘Save your apology.What I want is Mairead’s hand in marriage.’He saw no reason not to be honest with her brother.‘I’ll help you escape, and in return, I want your support.’
‘Mairead can make her own decisions,’ Liam said quietly.‘I don’t speak for her.But you have a greater problem with her betrothal to Lord Lowell.’
‘And what if she doesn’t want to wed him?’Balor demanded softly.When Liam gave no answer, he added, ‘You don’t think Mairead should have a choice in her marriage, the way you did?You would force her to sacrifice her future?’Balor fully understood the risks to her family, but she deserved a choice.And if she truly loved him, then he would move the world to keep her with him.
‘Lowell is here right now,’ Liam said softly.‘He came on King John’s orders.And they are planning the wedding as we speak.’
‘How do you know this?’
‘I heard the soldiers talking about it.And the earl came to speak with me.King John has demanded a marriage alliance between Lord Lowell and our family.’
‘And you’re going to stand back and let that happen?’Balor asked softly.His mind began shifting through the possibilities.The more he thought of it, the more he realized he needed Gerald’s and Sir Edward’s help.
He didn’t know how powerful Lord Beaumont’s influence with King John was, but perhaps the earl could intervene, if the English king would allow Balor to marry Mairead instead.Or possibly, his father could grant them both sanctuary in England for a time.
His father.The words held a weight to it, even though Balor knew better than to trust a man he didn’t know.He’d lived with Lord Beaumont for years, but the man had remained apart, keeping to himself.It could have been loneliness.Or indifference.
He shouldn’t rely on one man.The earl might not have influence with King John, or he might refuse to speak with the monarch.
Balor knew it was better to solve his own problems.And maybe that meant abandoning everything and taking Mairead away to build their own lives.
A voice inside warned him that she might refuse to leave with him.It truly did mean asking her to choose between her family and him.And if she chose the MacEgans, their fragile relationship would be over.
Though he was inwardly prepared for it, he couldn’t suppress the hollow ache.He wanted her, more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life.
But in the end, it had to be her decision.If she chose to marry the earl, he would respect her choice.
Balor moved in closer to Liam.‘Listen to me.There are two Norman guards who can free both of us.They are the ones who kept me alive.’He described Sir Edward andGerald, adding, ‘After we break out of this prison, we will leave with them.They will take us back to Laochre.’
‘No,’ Liam said at last.‘You need to escape first.If you trust these guards, then let them help you.’
He was about to protest, but thetánaistecontinued, ‘My father is going to bring Mairead here.If you truly want to wed her, then you’ll need to be free first.And, if anything goes wrong, you can help from the outside.’
Liam was right.If King John was planning to witness a wedding between Mairead and the earl, then Balor had to leave tonight.
And find a way to stop it from happening.
Chapter Eleven
Mairead rode alongside her cousin Finn while a small escort of MacEgan soldiers accompanied her to Blarnan.The summer morning air was crisp, and the wind brushed against her face, trying to pull her hair free from its arrangement.Her aunt Aileen had given her a deep blue silk gown to wear—and it felt like wearing another kind of armour.
Her emotions were barely held together, twisted with worry and fear for Balor.She’d tried to go back to the ruins after he hadn’t returned, only to be stopped by her father.
