Page 52 of Forgotten Secrets

Morag was sure her father wouldn’t conspire against Richard. Then again, he did have a temper and that could work against him. Still, she wouldn’t tell Bedivere how much Reed despised the English because she didn’t want to put doubt in his mind. “Nay, my faither would never do that. Plus, he is no’ even in England so that should prove his innocence.”

Now Morag regretted sending Branton with a missive calling her father to England to compete for the late earl’s holdings. She never should have added his name to the list. He would be walking right into a lion’s den and it was all her fault.

“Morag, there is something else I haven’t told you.”

She felt the lump in her throat, not wanting to hear more. “What is it?” she asked, not wanting any more secrets between them.

“Whitmore thinks I am still taking out one last man in exchange for the release of my mother.”

“Who does he think ye are goin’ to kill?” She held her breath, waiting for the answer.

“Reed Douglas. Your father,” he answered, not able to look at her when he told her. “Whitmore thinks I am still targeting him while his other assassins go after Rook and Rowen.”

“Nay! Ye canna hurt my da,” cried Morag. “Dinna do it, Bedivere, please!”

“Shhh,” he told her, holding up a hand and looking over to the door. “I understand that.” Then his hands balled up into fists and his jaw tightened. “However, I don’t know what to do. You need to understand, I have to protect my family as well as free my mother.”

“Well, dinna hurt my family in order to do that.”

“I don’t want to.” He hung his head, shaking it slightly. “There has to be another way.”

“Do ye think Whitmore is somehow really involved in tryin’ to kill the king?”

“I don’t think so. He has too much to gain by keeping the king alive.”

Morag walked across the room to join him. “How is he findin’ out that all these men have bad intentions?”

“There are spies everywhere,” he explained. “That part doesn’t surprise me. But what does surprise me is how rich Whitmore has become in the past two years.”

“What do ye mean?”

“Every time I make a kill, Whitmore ends up claiming the dead man’s holdings. I didn’t think much of it at first, but it does seem a little suspicious.”

“So, Richard is thankful to him, and that’s why he gives him the dead man’s castle and land?”

“Exactly.”

“He sounds greedy.”

“He is. Being advisor to the king, he is constantly whispering in Richard’s ear and getting everything he wants and more.”

Morag’s nerves stilled as she now understood Bedivere’s dilemma. She wanted more than anything to help him free his mother. “Do ye think the men ye killed were guilty of plottin’ against the king or no’?”

“We’ll never know. But I’m sure my father was innocent.”

Morag paced back and forth in thought. “Mayhap, because my uncles are close to Richard and often advise him unofficially, that has somethin’ to do with Whitmore wantin’ them dead.”

“Possibly.” Bedivere crossed the room and stared out the window in thought. “But why would he order me to kill your father? As you said, he’s in Scotland and doesn’t want anything to do with the English.”

“My faither and uncles would die for each other. They are verra close,” explained Morag. “If anyone killed my uncles, Rook and Reed, I am sure my faither would avenge their deaths.”

Bedivere turned to her. “You’re right. I think that is it. Morag, you are amazing at this.”

“I am?” Morag felt the blush rise to her cheeks. It felt good to be told she was good at something in her life, and this was the first time she ever heard it.

“I think my last kill should be the head of the snake,” he told her.

“Whitmore?” asked Morag, a small part of her still hoping he didn’t mean her father. “But if ye kill the king’s advisor, it is only goin’ to bring ye and yer family more trouble.”