Hugh’s gaze snapped to hers. Her eyes were filled with determination, fear, confusion. She was so open, innocent. And he had allowed Edward close to her. To make her part of his manipulations. When he had had her in his arms at Court—he should have held on and escaped with her. Damned the consequences and the outcomes and simply gotten her out.
But he hadn’t known what was expected of her. How could he guess Edward wanted her to spy?
Now Eldric was watching them both for their vulnerabilities. He had waited until this moment to reveal his intent. True, Eldric still stood casually, but his hand wasn’t far from his sword.
‘How much danger is she in?’ he asked, not expecting an answer.
‘I want an explanationnow,’ Alice said.
He wanted to answer her, but that could only come from Eldric. He needed to comprehend exactly what Eldric knew. Since Eldric suspected Hugh had the Seal, did he know of Robert?
None of it mattered if Alice wasn’t safe.
‘I’d say she’s in a lot of danger,’ Eldric drawled, ‘more than you alone can protect her from.’
‘Now,’ repeated Alice.
When had she grabbed her comb again?
‘Edward’s need for power is vast, Alice. So vast he wouldn’t ask three spies to go to this wreck of a town to find one traitor.’
‘A king always has more than one traitor,’ Eldric added. ‘He couldn’t waste the resources of you, HughandI. Therefore, there was an ulterior motive at play here.’
Alice eyes darted from Hugh to Eldric, and then she shook her head once, twice. As if trying to answer questions.
‘Which means he suspects one of us,’ Hugh said.
Eldric’s eyes narrowed. ‘You guessed, and yet you didn’t throw your blade at me?’ he replied.
It still didn’t mean that the King had proof of Robert, and he had to protect Alice. ‘Since you’ve held back your sword, I don’t suppose you want to negotiate?’
Eldric drew his lips in, made a dismissing sound. ‘You’ve seen the slashes on my arm. I have my own burdens to bear. Can’t be taking on any unnecessary ones.’
‘But she’s not unnecessary. I’m asking, as a friend, if you know how to protect her.’
Alice gasped at the same time as Eldric laughed.
‘You think it’sherthat needs safety?’
No bluff. Eldric did know about the Seal, was about to reveal all.
‘The King suspects you, and guessed you had some weakness here in this town, given your less than stellar lineage. I don’t think he suspected it was her. But it’s ironic, isn’t it? That he chose her to be a spy...on you...and she’s your greatest weakness. If it was planned, Edward must have some divine given power from God. It has to be luck.’
‘Just don’t do it in front of her.’
Alice clenched the comb, felt the bite of the teeth into her palm, but none of it was holding in the pain in her heart.
Eldric was a spy, watching,threatening, them both. Hugh now wanted to keep her safe.
‘What, not in front of me?’ she bit out.
Eldric gave a tsking sound. ‘Hugh thinks I’ll kill him in front of you.’
‘Won’t you?’ Hugh asked. ‘You have to kill me or be hanged yourself. I know what is done with traitors.’
She wouldn’t allow it. ‘You think he’s the traitor with the Half-Thistle Seal?’
Eldric shrugged. ‘I don’tthinkit. I—’
