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The king, his entourage, and three hundred soldiers waited in the outer bailey of Northwood. The entire castle population had gathered to see William off; the haunting chant of ‘Wolfe’ filling the air as it had for the past half-hour. Women and children were crying, and men looked sad to know that their beloved Wolf was leaving them.

William was in Jordan’s apartments. He stood by the window, gazing out into the bailey, hearing his name being called. He was bathed, shaved and combed, and dressed in his battle armor. Jordan was in the other room; he could hear her banging around.

“What are you doing, love?” he called out to her. “I have to leave.”

She bustled back into the room, carrying something in her hand. She smiled up at him as he turned to her.

“I was getting something for ye,” she said. “Something to remind ye of me while yer in London.”

His brow furrowed. “What is it?”

She extended her hand and he saw immediately that it was a lock of her hair tied with a strand of pale green silk from his favorite dress. His heart softened as he took it from her, lifting it to his nose and inhaling her Lavender scent. The smell brought tears to his eyes but he chased them away sternly.

“ ’Tis wonderful, my lady,” he said softly, lifting up her hair to see that she had taken the bunch from the very nape of her neck. There was a large section gouged out unevenly.

“No one will see it,” she knew what he was thinking. “Besides, my hair grows quickly. If I cannot go with ye, then this is a part of me that ye can take.”

He kissed her softly, lingeringly, before tucking the strands into his glove. “I shall place it in my vest and always wear it next to my heart. Thank you.”

There was a knock at the door and William answered it. Kieran stood in the hall, his face somewhat drawn and Jordan knew he had just come from Jemma.

“The king awaits, William,” he said.

“I am coming,” he told him.

He turned to Jordan, standing alone and still in the center of the room. They had already said everything that needed saying and done everything that needed doing. To say anything at all would be rehashing a fine goodbye. If he took her in his arms one more time he was afraid he would never let her go.

Jordan saw the indecision and grief in his eyes and took charge. She marched over to him and kissed him on the lips firmly.

“Be off with ye,” she said briskly. “Send me word when ye reach London. And ye, Sir Kieran,” she reached up and pecked him on the cheek, “I shall watch out for Jemma until ye return. Dunna worry about her.”

They looked at her and each other. Jordan gave William a little shove. “Well, get going. Ye shouldna keep the king waiting.”

Without a word, William left with Kieran and the door closed softly behind them.

Jordan stood there, staring at the closed door, feeling all of the grief and loneliness she had suppressed welling dangerously within her. She fought off the emotions, knowing that if she gave in she would be destroyed.

She was already dying inside but did not want to admit it. Her pain was manifesting itself into an aching in her heart that was tearing her apart. She clutched at her chest as if to grab the pain and rip it from her.

The door suddenly opened again. She startled and stepped back, only to see William standing before her once again.

He drew her against him, kissing her ferociously. All of her resolve broke then and she began to cry, returning his kisses and tasting him one last time.

“I love you with all of my heart,” he said between kisses.

“I love ye, English,” she whispered in return. “Return to me safe, I beg ye.”

He pulled away from her and was gone again, this time for good. Jordan’s sobs overtook her and she let them. She had given up the fight. She crumpled to the floor, letting the cold stone wash with her tears of pain as she prayed to God to protect her husband.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Dunbar McKenna received a missive from Langton shortly before dawn. Awakened, he kicked the serving girl out of his bed and yanked the vellum from his son’s hand. Somewhere behind Abner hovered Malcolm, and Dunbar silently waved the lads in as he broke the seal and read the message. It was no time at all before he exploded in a fit of anger.

Abner and Malcolm pressed themselves against the wall, hoping for invisibility as Dunbar kicked over a table and smashed a chair into a wall.

“Damn them!” he raged. “Damn Thomas and his bastard brothers!” He whirled to the young men. “Do ye know what they have gone and done? Do ye?”