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“Nay, Paris, remain,” William instructed him quietly.

William kissed Jordan’s temple and sat her in the high-back chair. He knelt before her, gripping her hands in his large ones. He lowered his head a little, catching her gaze, to make sure she looked at him. He smiled sweetly at her and she gave him a wan smile in return.

“That’s my girl,” he cooed softly. “Now I need you to listen to me. Agreed?”

She nodded, sniffling. He squeezed her hands.

“I am sorry about the king, love,” he said softly. “I had no knowledge of the man’s intent, believe me. ’Twas as much a surprise to me and it was to you. Even now, I am sure the earl is at the king’s door begging audience on my behalf. He certainly does not want to see me go.”

She was calmer, staring back at him with loving eyes. He loved the way her eyes seemed to reach out and caress his face. He could almost feel her touch.

“But there is more, things you must know,” he went on. “ ’Tis true I have been keeping much from you, information that directly concerns you, but news that the earl and I decided not to divulge to you right away. We received a missive from your father three days ago.”

She straightened. “My Da? Why?”

He continued carefully. “It seems that he has been having trouble with certain border clans, namely the Barrs, McKennas and the MacPhersons. He has reason to believe that the border clans are intending to unite into one massive army to gain control of the border.” He was caressing her hands, as if his touch could ease her troubles. “They have given your father an ultimatum: break ties with Northwood or prepare to defend yourself against your former allies. They have as much as told your father they will destroy him unless he breaks the treaty with de Longley and Henry.”

Jordan’s eyes widened. He fully expected her to break down again and was surprised to see that she remained quite calm, her only expressions those of concern and anger.

“Those stupid people,” she shook her head. “Their hate is consuming them. They consider my Da a traitor for trying to maintain a peace. What is my Da planning to do?”

“He has asked for a commitment of alliance from Northwood and her allies,” he said. “He seems to have no intention of breaking the treaty but he wants to make sure he will have support should he rebel against his fellow lairds.”

She smiled faintly. “Ye see, English? ’Tis what I have told ye all along. My Da dinna attack yer army when ye were bringing me to Northwood those weeks ago. I knew it was the McKenna all along. He is an honorable man. Ye’re going to support him, of course.”

“We would like to,” William said. “In fact, the messenger was sent back last night telling your father that we would support him in any manner requested. But the earl made the decision without consulting the king. He was hoping to keep the king out of this. However, now that is not possible. If I am to stay at Northwood, we must give the king the reasons why I cannot go with him to London.”

She looked closely at him. “The king would not support an allied earl? He would send me back instead?”

William met her gaze. “ ’Tis not out of the realm of possibility and, of course, I would not allow it. Which would bring up an entirely different set of difficulties, the foremost of which we cannot divulge to the king. Yet.”

She tilted her head and gave him a wry little grin. “Ye mean that we lied to him, to the entire population of Northwood, and that I am a baron’s wife instead of an earl’s?”

He smirked. “Something like that,” he muttered. “The next few hours should prove to be most interesting if, in fact, de Longley can gain audience with Henry immediately.”

Her smile faded. “Will he tell him everything, English?”

“I do not know, love,” he said honestly. “The earl is a very smart man. You needn’t worry about his diplomacy.”

She looked at him a moment before shaking her head slowly. “Seems to me that ’twould be much simpler to send me back.”

He shook his head in disagreement. “Nay, love, because whether or not you return to Langton, the border lairds still intend to band together and wage an all-out war. ’Twill only be a matter if Thomas Scott is fighting with them or against them.”

She looked thoughtful a few moments. “Mayhap if I returned and spoke to the earls, they would listen to me and know that fighting the English is futile.”

“A noble gesture, but useless I say,” he said. “You are now English, Jordan. You represent the enemy.”

She bit her lip. When she remained silent, he rose and stretched his long legs, pleased she had taken the news of her father so well, but he was wondering how de Longley was progressing with the king. He was becoming increasingly desperate to speak with the man. Paris moved from the shadows and, whispering something into William’s ear, headed for the door.

“If ye stay here ye’ll be fighting my kin,” Jordan said softly, staring at the floor. “If ye go with the king, ye’ll be fighting Welsh. Either way, English, ’tis battle for ye. I dunna know if I like that. Nay; I dunna like it at all.”

Paris and William passed glances at each other before Paris silently quit the room.

William gazed over at Jordan a long time. She was staring dreamily off into space, still dressed in her magnificent ivory and gold wedding surcoat. She looked so lovely and so fragile, and the depths of his love for her went beyond words. He was suddenly seized with an urge to hold her, to take her, to make her his again and again, as he had so many times.

He went over to her, his body beginning to tingle with anticipation. When he held out his hand, she gazed up at him and put her small hand in it without a word.

“Come, wife,” he said hoarsely. “I would bed you as mine own now.”