Page 25 of Warrior’s Lady

The bishop's lips pulled up into a sardonic smile. Fortunately, he had all the skill necessary to take the mighty Lockhart down. Then the Charm Stone and the little girl who knew its magic would be his to command. He needed that stone. His position in the Church depended on it.

The bishop thrummed his fingers on the surface of the desk. Performing miraculous healings with the aid of the Charm Stone would guarantee that the Council would select him as the new archbishop over the other five contenders.

He needed a miracle. The Stone would give him that and more.

A shuffling at the door interrupted his thoughts. The chamberlain reappeared. He turned to the peasant beside him. "You may take three steps into the room, then bow. Wait there for his grace to recognize you by offering his hand and ring for you to bow over. Only then may you speak."

The peasant did as directed. The bishop flinched as the peasant nearly touched his hand with his filthy body. "Report," the bishop commanded, stepping a safe distance away from his earthly subject.

The man's face was alive with eagerness. "The wee one is at Lee Castle. I saw her wee little head of yellow-gold curls myself." A brownish-yellow smile followed the divulged information.

The bishop took another step away, wishing he had his perfume bottle nearby to freshen the air with anything other than the man's foul breath. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Is that all you have for me? Any sign of the Charm Stone?" The bishop waved his hand before his nose instead.

"Nay, no stone. But Lord Lockhart has taken in a chit whom no one seems tae like. Someone named Ruthven."

A jolt of pure satisfaction rode through the bishop. He dug into his robe and pulled forth a silver coin that he tossed at the peasant. "You did well. Keep watching. I want to know the moment the Stone surfaces."

The man caught the coin in mid-flight and slid it hastily into the pocket of his tattered wool coat. "Aye, Your Grace." He bowed once, then again before heading out the door.

A Ruthven? Surely it was divine intervention. Her family had been loyal to him since he'd been appointed bishop.

He need not deal with pesky undisciplined peasants any longer. Nay, he had a new spy, one who would be more pleasant to his eyes and his nose. The Ruthven girl would tell him whatever he wanted her to.

She would betray her country and her new protector. She would have no choice in the matter.

A smile of satisfaction crossed his lips. And he allowed it to form, knowing that his cheeks looked less angular and more in the popular vogue when he did. "Perhaps it is time I pay my new neighbor a visit."

Chapter Eight

He had hurt her. Camden had seen the angry expression on Rhiannon's face at the sight of the two burly warriors he'd posted outside her bedchamber door. He would make it up to her.

Striding down the long corridor, he chastised himself for the thought. He had nothing to feel guilty about. He was doing the only thing he could given the circumstances.

Or was he?

Could he trust her? Trust. One nebulous and dangerous word that could either bring him the peace he so desperately sought, or send him spiraling to his end. Had James trusted the Ruthvens? Is that how they had managed to get close enough to him to circumvent his guards?

Camden continued down the stairs and outside to where his niece rode through the orchard on his most docile horse with Thomas and a full contingent of guards.

Orrin broke away from the others and came toward Camden. "The men do not seem to mind 'protection' detail. Although they are curious as to why they need to guard the littlest Lockhart with their lives."

Camden gazed out at the young girl as she rode her horse down one long line of trees then up yet another, pushing the animal faster and faster. Thomas chased after her, his face grim with disapproval.

A smile came to Camden's lips. A bit of Clara's adventurous spirit existed in her daughter. "I cannot tell them why," Camden said, his smile fading.

"No one would question your actions. They saw what happened to James."

"I cannot risk it." Camden allowed an edge of steel to enter his voice.

"You can't risk Rhiannon learning the truth," Orrin corrected.

Camden paused before saying slowly. "It's too dangerous for any of them to know the truth. I will not allow the bishop to use any of my people as his puppets. Knowing nothing makes them innocent." Camden frowned. "If our last meeting with the bishop was any indication of events to come, the man will scrutinize every detail of our lives until he finds what he wants."

"What does he want?"

"The Charm Stone."