Page 24 of Scottish Rose: Coira

“Why did ye say that, Zara?”

“It’s nothing.” Zara spread the wet clothes out around the fire. “Just remember, you chose the card that depicted a blue rose.”

“Enemies to lovers,” she said, thinking about the card. “It already happened when I married Lance to make the alliance.”

“Perhaps,” said Zara, acting very odd. “Or perhaps the enemy part has not quite emerged yet.”

“What are ye sayin’?” asked Coira.

“You’ll find out. You’ve been shaken up enough today, so don’t worry your head about it.”

“Nay.” Coira reached out and grabbed Zara’s arm. “If there is somethin’ ye need to tell me, then do so. Dinna keep things from me, Zara.”

“I don’t want to worry you anymore tonight, but I think you ought to know.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“It’s about Lance.”

“What about him?”

“Sit down.” She guided Coira to a chair. “I overheard Lance’s squire telling another knight that Lance tricked you into telling him where the Stone of Destiny is hidden.”

“Oh, that.” Coira, waved her hand through the air in a dismissing manner. “We already talked about that. I kent he wanted information, and I told him the last hidin’ place of the stone to satisfy his curiosity.”

“But there’s more.”

“What more could there be?”

“Coira, I know the real reason Lance asked you those questions.”

Coira’s stomach clenched into a knot as the feeling she’d been betrayed entered her mind. “Tell me, Zara. I need to ken the truth.”

“He gave the information to Sir Philip and that’s where the man went – to collect the Stone of Destiny and give it to King Edward to gain favor in his eyes.”

“I see.” Coira’s knuckles turned white since she gripped the edge of her chair so hard. “Why would Lance do such a thing?”

“It seems that Liddel Castle should have gone to Sir Philip after the death of Lord Ralston’s wife. But Lance swooped in and claimed it as his own. Now, Sir Philip means to take it back and fight to do it if he has to. But he told your husband that if he got you to divulge the secret whereabouts of the stone, he would take it to the king and the castle would be Lance’s after all.”

“My husband betrayed me?” She stood up, feeling that Lance was not the husband she thought him to be.

The door to the room opened and Lance walked in, followed by Jack. Both of them were sopping wet.

“Oh, good, there’s a fire,” said Lance, looking toward the hearth. “I am so cold and wet that this is a sight for sore eyes.”

“My lord, I’ve been trying to tell you something,” said Jack.

“Ye betrayed me!” shouted Coira, feeling furious. “How could ye?”

“What?” Lance stood at the fire warming his hands, looking up in confusion.

“I ken ye told yer uncle about the hidin’ place of the Stone of Destiny only because ye wanted to keep Liddel Castle for yerself.”

A shadow crossed Lance’s face and he came closer to her. “Coira, I wanted to tell you about it but was waiting until you had calmed down from the storm.”

“Calmed down? How could I calm down? I trusted ye and yet ye betrayed me.”

“I understand how you feel, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”