“I thank you,” Cailin said.
The earl met Elspet’s gaze. “You will remain here, where youwill be safe.”
She angled her jaw. “I willaccompany you.”
His instincts urged Cailin to deny her participation, but ’twas right to honor her wishes. “After all she has endured, as well as fighting alongside me during my uncle’s attack, ’tis her right to face the man who murdered her parents. Nor, surrounded by my troops and yours, is there a chance she will be harmed.”
“Aye, she will be safe, but I would rather she remain here until Tiran Castle is seized. But—” Pride twinkled in the man’s eyes—“well I remember your stepfather speaking of your stubborn streak. If I am correct, unless I return her to the dungeon, shewillna remain.”
Shedidn’t deny it.
“Indeed.” Cailin agreed, “’tis a fool who tries to stop her. Truth be told, without her, we would not have achieved this much.”
A blush burned her cheeks.
The earl gave her a tender smile as they started up the turret. “Sir Angus was soproud of you.”
Her lips trembled. “I–I loved him so much.”
The earl glanced at Cailin, shook his head. “You look so much like your father. If I hadna been informed ’twas you in the cell, when I saw you, I would have known.”
At the third floor, Lord Odhran paused at the first chamber, turned to Elspet. “This is where you stayed when you and your stepfather last visited. I thought perhaps being here would ease your loss.”
“’Tis thoughtful of you.”
“’Tis the least I can do. ’Twill be several hours before we sup. A warm bath has been readied for you, then you can restuntil we eat.”
“I thank you.” She gave a long look to Cailin, then slipped inside.
Once she’d closed the door, the earl continued down the corridor, strategically placed torches illuminating paintings of a lord from his ancestry. “A warm bath awaits you as well.” He paused. “I didna want to upset her, but when I heard of my steward’s perfidy, I had the traitor flogged. Nor will your uncle’s runner be allowed to depart until my master-at-arms receives word that Tiran Castle is inyour control.”
“I thank you for allyou have done.”
“Your father helped me on many occasions, ’tis an honor to aid his son.” He halted before a chamber several paces from Elspet’s. “Rest now. We will speak further about the best way to seize Tiran Castleafter we sup.”
* * * *
Hours later, with supper behind her, an exhausted Elspet sank onto her bed, tuggedup the covers.
A soft tap sounded at her door
Lids heavy with sleep and lured by the softness of the feather mattress, with a groan she glanced toward the entry.
Another knock sounded, this time louder.
As the castle lay silent, with no gongs from church bells warning of an attack, they were safe, so who could it be?
“Elspet, let me in,” Cailin whispered.
At the urgency in his voice, she shoved from the bed, hurried across the chamber, and tugged opened the door.
Her heart thumped. Bathed with torchlight, his rugged good looks and muscled body stole her breath. Loving him, ’twould always be so. “Is something wrong?”
“Weneed to talk.”
Chapter 17
At the look on Cailin’s face, Elspet stepped back into the chamber. Once he’d entered, he closed the door. “What did you needto talk about?”
