A portly man, a scowl darkening his face, waddled toward them.
On a nervous breath, she clasped her hand within Bróccín’s. “The Duke of Northbyrn is headed this way,” she whispered with urgency.
“Where is the entry to the secret tunnel?” her husband whispered.
“My chamber.” Now wasn’t the time to hesitate at revealing secrets, especially those he had aright to know.
“Good. Trust me,” he said, his eyes holding hers with fierce intent. “Whatever I say to the duke, agree.”
“I will,” she promised, and for the first time since she had realized the duke had seized her home, had a glimmer of hope that she and her people had a chance of surviving.
* * * *
Jowls sagged on the duke’s face, his eyes dark with condescension riveted on Aiden.
Far from intimidated by the arrogance pouring off the noble, Aiden held his hard glare. He’d met his kind before, born into wealth and a formidable title without proving his worth. Aye, the warriors who served him were dutiful, not out of admiration but likely from fear of repercussion if their lord perceived a slight.
The rotund duke halted before them, his well-tailored garb tinged with the stale stench of sweat. “Lord Balfour, you mentioned that once Lord Comyn confirmed the Bruce’s latest position, along with his suspicion that Welsh archers had joined his cause, he would travel to Latharn Castle.”
“Indeed,”Aiden replied.
Coldness flickered in his eyes. “The situation has changed.”
Gwendolyn’s hand tensed in his, and Aiden gave her fingers a calming squeeze. Aye, ’twould seem the situation had changed because the bastard had seized the castle. Why? With Lord Balfour’s well-known loyalty to Comyn, no doubt plans to unite with English forces had been mademonths before.
Had King Robert’s military success across the Highlands forced Edward of Caernarfon’s hand to seize control of the remaining critical strongholdsloyal to Comyn?
The reasoning made sense.
With the Bruce’s tactical strength increasing, Comyn could offer little retaliation to the duke’s coup.
But this meant the information Rónán and Cailin rode to deliver to the king was moot. Blast it, he had towarn the Bruce.
“Once we sup,” the noble continued, “you and Lady Gwendolyn will join me in the solar. I have important news to impart.”
Of that he had no doubt. Nor did Aiden dismiss their fortune in not being arrested on the spot. He owed the blunder to the duke’s arrogance. With the stronghold in his control, the bastard was doing naught but toying with them for his own perverse amusement.
“I learned you and Lady Gwendolyn were recently married.” The duke’s lecherous gaze slid over her with insulting slowness, and his nostrils flared. “If I had a wife of such beauty, I would not have allowed her out of my bedchamber for at least a fortnight.”
Well aware the duke baited him, Aiden smothered the urge to drive his dagger into his chest. “’Twould seem, Your Grace,” Aiden said, his voice icy. “England’s definition of what is proper discussion in the presence of a lady far from meets the standardsof Scotland’s.”
The noble’sface reddened.
Before he said something to incite the noble further, Aiden nodded. “As you said, we are just married, and I wish to be with my wife. If you will excuse us.” Without awaiting a reply, he led her across the bailey, his hand readynear his blade.
Several paces away, Gwendolyn’s gaze narrowed on Aiden. “The cur is fortunate I didna drive my blade into his heart.”
“Or mine,” Aiden agreed. The bastard would die before he touched her. “We will talk more inyour chamber.”
In silence they walked, and with each step he noted the changes around the castle. The number of guards posted at the entry, as well as upon the wall walk, had increased. Englishmen carried goods into the castle, along with weapons intothe guardhouse.
A short while later, thankful to have reached her chamber without incident, Aiden shut the door behind them, slammed the woodenbar into place.
“Do you think his grace will wait until this evening to arrest us?” she asked, nerves edging her voice.
On a deep breath, he stowed his anger. With the decisions ahead, he needed a clear mind. “I believe so. We must be gone before then.” He scanned the chamber. “Where is the entry to the secret chamber?”
She crossed to the wall, pushed aside the chest, and pressed her finger into a hidden indentation in the stone.
