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“So my father and,” she lowered her voice, “the king had cause to question your loyalty after all?”

“Undoubtedly,” Holt said.

“They did,” Haydn agreed.

The four of them watched as a range of emotions crossed his lovely wife’s face. From surprise, to doubt. And finally, resignation. She shrugged and picked up her mug. “Then it is good I wrote to Catherine advising her to come north. Haydn said you were successful,” she said to Holt, “in finding a trusted messenger with the letter and coin?”

When his wife asked how much she should send so that Catherine could hire safe escort to join them, he told her he would take care of the matter. And he had.

“Aye,” his brother said, smiling. “In fact, I believe the messenger to be an extraordinary choice. He is both loyal and strong, more than capable of escorting your sister to Rymerden safely.”

“I do not worry she will arrive safely, Holt,” he said dryly. “I worry she will arrive uncorrupted.”

“Uncorrupted?” Phillipa looked from him to Holt and then back.

“Did I mention handsome?” he said. “In fact, the messenger—”

“Oh no,” Phillipa shook her head. “No, Holt.”

His brother simply grinned.

She turned to Haydn, her eyes imploring.

“I trust no one else with the task,” he explained. “Holt will go with Hamon as we continue to Rymerden. I’ve already sent word to Hillstone that your maid should rest briefly there and then continue on to join us.”

Phillipa gave such a look to his brother that Haydn was sure Holt would behave. Besides, he was no despoiler of innocents. At least, Haydn didn’t think he was. And certainly he’d not lay a hand on Phillipa’s sister. Phillipa’s letter was convincing, but Holt would ensure Catherine understood the need for her to escape her father and the king’s clutches.

But they all understood the consequences. Neither Sherfield nor the king would be very pleased.

“If I did not trust and love you as I do, I would cease this plan immediately.”

“But you do, and know all will be well. The Brotherhood will protect you, and protect your sister, at all costs.” He reached for Phillipa’s hand, held it, and squeezed. “I vow it on my life.”

Epilogue

“This will be the last inn of our stay. In two days’ time, we should be at Rymerden Castle,” Haydn said.

Phillipa was grateful for it. Though she knew her husband, and she at times, would be forced to travel again, she was very much looking forward to staying in one place. Amice would arrive, and they could wait for Holt to bring Catherine north.

After that, they did not know.

It seemed likely her father would not seek retribution, even though Haydn had offered to pay a bride price for her sister on behalf of his family. Would he involve the king as well? But Haydn had alleviated any worry she had of bringing unwanted attention to the Waryns by Edward. He assured her, if they were to be on the receiving end of the king’s wrath, it would not be because of Catherine.

Indeed, since the night she’d learned of the Brotherhood, Phillipa’s eyes continued to be opened. If King Edward truly knew how involved the Earl and Countess of Kenshire and their family were with Wallace—even if they themselves hadn’t fought for him—he would likely send an army against them. Enraged at how few of his earls sent men to Annandale and Galloway, he’d already threatened or warned most of them on some level. But for a man who’d been forced to take a wife as a repercussion of his family’s decision, and one who had fled with all haste to Bristol to tell his aunt and uncle and cousins of King Edward’s renewed focus on them, Haydn seemed remarkably undisturbed about the fallout likely to come because of her sister.

He’d echoed her own thoughts. Come what may, Catherine was best off away from a man who would buy and sell her to the highest bidder. He’d been brutal with Phillipa, but even worse with Catherine. She would be better off in the North. But would the Waryns?

“You’ll not recognize me in my own gowns,” she said, dismounting. A stableboy met them to take their mounts. She patted Lady on the neck and watched as Isaac and Haydn relieved the packhorse of its supplies.

“Do you not have a squire?” she asked. The thought had occurred to her in the past, though she’d never asked him before.

“I did, but he earned his spurs just this summer. I suppose I will need to find a new one.”

“I will take these inside,” Isaac said of her trunk and the men’s bags.

“Thank you.” Haydn walked toward her. “Shall we see if they can draw a hot bath?” he asked, his arms encircling her.

Phillipa laughed. “You bathed in the stream just this morn,” she reminded him. They’d stayed the night at an abbey, and though Haydn attempted to get her to come with him to the stream he’d spied as they arrived the night before, she shooed him away. Phillipa might be more outspoken than she’d been when they met. But she wasn’t quite ready to be caught naked by an abbess who seemed rather strict. There were few trees to shield the stream located just behind the walls of the abbey.