Page 10 of Highland Guard

“Because ye are going to gut the bastard?”

It was not easy but Harcourt ignored the choked laughter of his companions. “Best not to speak so to your mother.” When the boy nodded, he added, “We will stop Sir Adam and make him go away. That is our plan.”

Benet nodded again, grabbed up the last few slices of apple, and ran out of the hall. Harcourt shook his head. The ones who would have to watch the boy were going to have to be very alert and fast-footed. The boy did not like the idea of being restricted in any way and that would make the job of watching him even harder.

“He will fight against the leash we put on him,” said Callum.

Harcourt nodded. “Just as I was thinking. And so says Nicolas. Warn everyone picked to guard him closely. He may nay e’en slip the leash intentionally, merely out of habit. The lad has ne’er been held back because everywhere he went there were ones watching o’er him but only gently as one would do with any wee lad. Now, with someone within the clan giving aid to Sir Adam, that peaceful freedom needs to be reined in.”

“We will make certain everyone understands that,” said Nathan. “That will mean the one helping Sir Adam will ken it, too, but that may nay be a bad thing.”

Satisfied that the whole of Glencullaich would soon understand that a very close watch needed to be kept on their future laird, Harcourt decided to wander around the keep and make certain there were no weak spots. Sir Adam would not continue simply trying to push Annys into a corner, to make her walk away, for long. The time for an open attack, to take what he coveted by open force, was drawing near. Glencullaich needed to be prepared for that.

David had been a clever man and a good laird but it was soon apparent to Harcourt that the man had been too accustomed to peace. The keep was secure enough for repelling some raid by reivers but would never stand up to a determined attack. The gates were strong but he could see that the men were not well trained in the swift closing of them. The portcullis was of such fine work that it was a perfect study in the combining of strength and beauty. The works needed to lower it or raise it and secure it in place were in need of repair, however.

Harcourt was making a list in his mind as he rounded the corner of the keep and found Annys. She sat beneath a leafy bower at the far edge of the flower garden, a pleasurable spot that was a rarity in the keeps he had been to. David had boasted of it, having read of it, and even having visited one in France when he had been younger. The practical side of him saw it as a waste of space that could have been taken up with something more useful even as a part of him deeply appreciated the peace and beauty of it. He walked over to where Annys sat, moved by the sadness in her expression.

“Have ye accepted what must be done yet?” he asked when she looked up at him.

Annys sighed. “I have accepted that we must do all that is needed to save this place from falling into Sir Adam’s greedy hands.”

“I dinnae think ye will be talking him out of trying to take it.”

“I ken it. Doesnae mean I like the truth I have to face or willnae try to do this without the spilling of blood. What I also ken is that one cannae stop Sir Adam with strength of arms without a few of the people here suffering for it. I dinnae wish for e’en one of them to spill a single drop of blood.”

“But ye must ken they are willing to fight for this place, for ye and wee Benet.”

“Och, aye, most certainly. That doesnae mean I wish to have them do so.”

She stood up, knowing her quiet time had come to an end. Doing her mending had helped some but she had suddenly needed to be out in the air and come to the garden. She realized it had helped her understand what would need to be done, and what was at risk if she lacked the courage to do it, far better than hiding in the solar. Now that moment was over.

Annys studied Harcourt, fighting to ignore the allure of him, and see him as only a warrior. He had been the right one to call to her side to help her and her people. She knew that. It annoyed her, however, that all those years away from him had not killed her attraction to him. He would be staying at Glencullaich until her troubles were over. Of that she had no doubt. The temptation of that was going to be difficult to fight. That had been yet another matter she had tried to come to some decision on but it was still fraught with confusion, which she was more than content to keep pushing aside.

“But, we will fight if we must,” she said. “It is nay something we have done much and that is what worries me.”

“We can strengthen the men’s skills. I have also just had a good look at your fortifications and seen where they can be strengthened.” He took her by the arm and walked back toward the keep with her.

“Is there a lot that must be done?” Annys forced herself to pay heed to the importance of their conversation and not the all-too-welcome warmth of his hand on her arm.

“Nay, but I fear David was nay interested in making certain the keep was fully prepared for an attack. Weel, I doubt there e’er was one in his life here.”

“Nay, I dinnae think there was, or, naught of any great consequence. Ye truly believe Sir Adam means to try and take Glencullaich by force, dinnae ye.”

“I do. There may be time yet that he tries to just keep picking at ye, causing wee troubles here and there that keep ye busy, but I believe that now any of that will be done to slow your preparations to withstand an attack.”

Once inside the keep, Annys stopped and stepped away from him. The loss of the warmth of his touch caused her to feel a pinch of sorrow, but she clasped her hands in front of her to stop from reaching out to him. What she wanted to do was burrow into his strong arms and hide for a while. She would not, could not, give in to that weakness.

“Aye, that makes sense. So, best we prepare as soon as can be. I suspect Nicolas needs no direction from me to heed what ye say and we are nay without funds if they are needed. I hate this and, God forgive me, I loathe Sir Adam for bringing us to this, but I will see it done.”

Harcourt nodded. He could see how troubled she was and admired the way she was looking past her own qualms to do what needed to be done. The temptation to pull her into his arms and offer some comfort was strong, but her stiff posture told him such a gesture would not be welcome. Instead he gave her a small bow.

“Then I shall set to it, Lady Annys.”

Annys watched as he walked away. She was both lonely and proud. Proud of herself for being strong but finding that being strong made her loneliness sharper.

As she made her way to the kitchens to oversee the preparations for the next meal, she finally admitted to herself that she had been lonely since the day he had ridden away from her. Anger and hurt over the way he had not taken even a moment of his time to exchange some private words before leaving had dimmed that sense of loss for a long time.

It would be all too easy to reach out for Harcourt to ease that loneliness. Annys suspected her people would think nothing of it. There were many small reasons not to do so but the one that truly held her back was the fear of being hurt. The way he had left her without a word after the many times they had been together, the many sweet words he had whispered to her as they had made love, had cut her to the bone. Even knowing he had had no right to claim her, that she could not be with him openly, had not eased her pain. Annys did not think she could survive it a second time.