The Maid of Lorne (15 page)

How would things change if Robert was defeated? Would her father return here to claim everything that had once been his? Where would she go and what would happen to Sebastien?

The guards stopped at the door and allowed her to enter alone. She made her way to the front of the church slowly and waited for some sign of Eachann’s arrival. Despite the daylight outside, the stone walls and small windows did not allow much light inside.

“Ye made the right decision, cousin,” he whispered from the shadow near the altar. “I feared ye would no’ take me seriously.”

“I think I know what you are capable of, Eachann. I take everything you say seriously.” She hoped her voice did not tremble.

He walked over to her and reached out his hand to touch her cheek. She tried to stay still and not pull away, but it was difficult.

“Ye have the look of a well-ridden whore, Lara. If I were to smell your skin, I would wager I could smell his seed on ye. They say he takes ye to his bed for hours and hours.”

She stepped away then, from his touch and his disgusting words. “Stop this, Eachann. I do not have much time here.”

He started at her words and she waited for his reaction. “And, ’twould appear that ye have grown a backbone. I will enjoy watching ye be tamed once more when yer father returns. Oh, aye, it will be a sight to see.” He slid his hand down now and rubbed himself as he spoke. “Spare the rod and spoil the child, the book does say. Yer father will no’ spare the rod on ye when he finds out the filthy things ye have been doing with the enemy.”

This was becoming dangerous, and she feared she wouldn’t be able to escape if he attacked her. Lara
walked away and put the altar between them. Then she realized what he’d said. “What do you mean,
when
my father returns?”

He gazed at her as though lost in thought, and then shook his head. Reaching inside his tunic, he removed a folded parchment and held it out to her. “This is from yer father. He said to read it and then I’m to burn it so that none know about it.”

Lara took the parchment, broke the seal and opened it. Holding it close to the candle that burned on the altar, she read her father’s greetings, news of his triumphant entry into England and into Edward’s favor and his appointment as Admiral of the Western Seas.

“He be an admiral now. His fleet is growing and will give the Bruce’s allies here in the isles much to worry about.” Eachann nodded at her.

After Eachann’s frightening words, the tone and wording of the letter came as a surprise to her. First her father apologized for the humiliating scene the day of his capture; he explained that it was necessary in order to make her husband believe she’d been repudiated. Her father praised her for keeping the children safe and for the unfortunate burden she’d had to bear over these last few months as wife to the enemy. He promised a warm welcome and his favor once that same enemy was routed from their home and the MacDougalls reclaimed Dunstaffnage, as was their right.

His closing words entreated her to continue to pass information on to Eachann for their use, to undermine her husband in any way she could, and to stay faithful to the clan. He promised he would make arrangements for her safe return when the time came. She felt the
tears gather in her eyes as her doubts about what she did lessened. She had not been abandoned at all.

Something within her sent off a warning. This was too favorable to her. Too ingratiating. Too confusing. Who could she believe in this? Her father, who now stood on the brink of a return, or her husband, who treated her with respect and honor and…love? Eachann was watching her as she considered the letter.

“When did he write this, Eachann?”

“He gave it to me just three days ago. The day ye should have been here to receive it, but ye were in that bastard’s bed.” His expression changed and his words and tone softened. “But, he says he understands that ye must do such things as ye must do.”

She feared this instability in him and wanted to leave as quickly as possible. She tore the parchment in pieces and gave it back to him. Without a word about the cross she carried or what she’d overheard, Lara turned to leave.

“Here now, Lara. Ye have something for me?” he asked as he held out his hand to her.

“Why do you need something of his?”

He was around the altar before she could finish her question. With a punishing grip he pulled her to him. “Ye should no’ question my methods, lass. I do what needs doing, too.” He shook her and then pulled her to him again, holding her so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Did ye bring something for me?”

She nodded and reached into a pocket in her cloak for the cross. He tore it from her hand and held it up to look at. She thought he might let her go now, but, after placing the cross in his pocket, he smiled at her
in a way that made her skin feel as though it were on fire.

“Ye have been entertaining some important people there. Surely ye heard something when the Black Douglas was sitting at yer table?”

How could he have known that? Did he come and go freely, with no one noticing? She knew he’d done it at least once, when he approached her in the yard in the full light of day, so ’twas possible he’d done it before or since. Or…?

“You have other contacts within the household?” she asked.

“Aye. A few well-chosen, well-placed, faithful MacDougalls are there with ye. But ye are the best placed by far, with the most
intimate
access, shall we say?”

Now that she thought on it, it made sense to her. Lara suspected that she knew at least one of those who still reported to Eachann. And who probably gave an accounting of her behavior as well.

“The sun is going down and I must be on my way, so tell me what you know. What did the Douglas say?” Eachann twisted her arm tighter, until she gasped, and then asked again, “What did he say?”

She did not answer fast enough, for he backhanded her across the face and she fell to the floor. “He is not worth it, Lara. You are trying to protect the Bruce’s spy and it’s no’ something ye need worry about.” He yanked her to her feet and spoke quietly now. “What are they planning?”

“Spy? He is not a spy,” she said, so dazed from the blow she could not focus her thoughts. “He is a warrior.”

“Ye are sleeping with the man who controls all the spies used by the Bruce. Sebastien of Cleish and I are old acquaintances and have faced each other many, many times, Lara. ‘Tis like a game now between us. I leave him signs and he answers them in kind. ‘Tis fitting somehow that ye should be his downfall.”

“Signs?” She covered her cheek with her hand. It burned from his blow. “Like those people you killed?”

“Just so. Yer husband does the same when he gets close to my trail. ‘Tis just sport among those of us in the game. But ye’re wrong in this one—he left them for me, no’ the other way round. They died at his hand and bear his mark.”

“You think this is some kind of game?”

“Oh, aye, ’tis that. Tit for tat. He makes a move, I counter it. He found out about the ambush at Brander Pass. I found out about the gathering at Kilcrenan, but the bastard changed the location and we missed our opportunity to capture the Bruce himself.”

“So, he did not go to Kilcrenan?”

“Nay. The bastard used St. Modan’s instead. He defiled our own priory. But dinna worry, for he will pay dearly for that sacrilege.” He turned his gaze back to her. “Dearly.”

Eachann leaned her back against the altar and faced her, his hands free and menacing before her. “This is the last time I will ask ye. If ye do not give me what I want, I will fetch sweet Catriona and we can finish this with her to spur on yer words.”

“No!” she cried.

“Good. Then speak yer piece and ye can go.”

“The Douglas said that they need to take but three
more keeps to control this area. Invercreran is to be last, Glen Gour and the southern tip of Loch Awe first.” She could see him thinking on her words.

“When do they make their move?”

“By early next month. Then the Bruce will seek out the Earl of Ross.” She related to him the details of the attacks and the specifics about how many would be involved in the plan.

“Verra good, lass. Next time do no’ make me waste time waiting for ye to come or to tell me what I need to know. I will tell yer father that ye are glad to hear of his return.”

He stepped back and disappeared into an opening in the wall before she could agree or not. Before she could tell him that she would not do this again.

Lara gathered her cloak around her and wondered how she would ever conceal this from Sebastien. From the pain in her face, she knew it would be obvious that she’d been struck. What could she say? How could she explain it?

She stumbled to the door and pulled it open, for the need to breathe fresh air was overwhelming to her. The two guards stood a few yards from the entrance and they turned as she left the church. Positioning the hood of her cloak over her head, she tried to keep her face hidden in its folds. When they arrived at the path that went up the embankment to the drawbridge, she stopped.

“I am not ready to go in just yet. I would like to walk on the shore there for a few minutes.” They glanced at each other and looked as though they would argue, until she pointed out the guards on the battlements and
at each corner of the castle, on the beach. “I will be observed every moment and will be quite safe. I need only a short time.”

With a nod, they allowed her to go on, and she walked to the water’s edge. Crouching down and dipping her hand into the water, she knew its chill would soothe the growing pain in her face. Taking the end of her cloak, Lara wet it and held the cold cloth on her cheek. When it warmed, she dunked it again and repeated the action until the pain lessened.

The sun dropped behind the trees and she knew she could not remain much longer. She shivered, both with cold and with trepidation over the coming scene with Sebastien. Now that she knew his true role in the Bruce’s campaign, how could she face him? If he and Eachann were involved in some personal war, did he know
her
role?

Her legs were tired from being in this position for too long, so she immersed the edge of the cloak one more time and then stood with it against her cheek.

“Tell me what brings you to the water’s edge? Surely you cannot mean to swim now?”

Sebastien’s voice was light, even playful, but his face when he saw hers was nothing like that. He wore a deadly expression and she watched him change into the forbidding warrior he was. “Give me his name,” he ordered. “Give me his name!”

S
ebastien strode to her side and took her by the arms. When Lara winced, he released her but did not move away. She was shaking and the dark, spreading bruise on her face told of her being struck. But she would not meet his eyes, so he summoned the two guards assigned to her.

“Explain this,” he ordered as he pointed at her. The two men paled at the sight and said nothing. “You were guarding her. How did this happen?”

“Sebastien,” she called out in a weak voice, “it was not their fault.”

“I will speak to you both later, but now summon Hugh and go back and search that chapel for anyone, anything suspicious.” They seemed frozen in place, so he raised his voice. “Now!”

They turned and ran at his orders. Lara watched his every move as though she would bolt. The terror, fresh in her eyes, overpowered her and her body shuddered. He approached her slowly now and spoke softly. Suspecting he knew the culprit, he needed her confirmation of it.

“Lara, who did this to you?”

“He said that you two know each other. Is that true, Sebastien?”

“Aye, Lara. ‘Tis true.” He did not bother to question her or to deny the identity of the person they both knew was responsible for this.

“He said that you are in charge of the Bruce’s spies.”

Before he could respond—and he was candidly not sure of how to answer her—Hugh and a small contingent of men ran down the shore from the castle with swords and axes drawn. They needed to move quickly if they were to find or follow him.

“Jamie, escort the lady back to our chambers. Do not leave her side until I am there,” he said. The young soldier moved forward and took Lara by the arm. To another soldier, Sebastien said, “Search the north tower before the lady enters it and take the children there as well. Let no one join them but her maid.”

He watched as Lara moved with Jamie, not resisting his orders. When they were far enough away that she could not hear him, he turned to Hugh. “Search every inch of that church. Eachann MacDougall was in there.”

Hugh nodded and turned to do as ordered, but Sebastien stopped him for a moment. “I suspect there is another entrance there. Find it, Hugh.”

He needed to secure the castle and make certain that Eachann was gone. If he knew the man, Lara’s cousin would not be found here. Munro had been having no luck in tracing Eachann’s movements over these last weeks. How long had he been this close? Shaking his head, Sebastien recognized that Lara was at the center of this.

It took nearly an hour to accomplish, but the keep and the castle, as well as the surrounding grounds and chapel, were searched completely. Once satisfied of this, Sebastien made his way to the north tower to face Lara and the questions that hung between them.

He stopped in the solar and checked on Malcolm and Catriona before climbing the stairs to their chambers. A guard stood at the top of the steps and another inside the doorway. Jamie took his orders seriously, for he was in the same room as Lara. She sat in the chair and stared at the flames in the hearth. Sebastien did not say a word, but the guard and Margaret left.

He walked to the window and looked out at the deserted yard. No one he did not know personally was inside the walls now, and the same restriction would continue until he was certain Lara and the children were not in danger.

He did not wait for her to ask. Without knowing what Eachann had revealed, he would tell her the truth. Then, he knew, she would lie to him.

“’Tis true, Lara. I do spy for the king. I have since the beginning of my service to him nigh unto three years ago. Although I have some talent for fighting, Robert discovered that I could gather information. I have men all over Scotland, in cities, villages and in the countryside, who provide Robert with the most accurate information about his enemies, their troops, their plans.”

Lara sat unmoving in the chair. From his place by the window, he could see that her whole cheek was bruised.

“So you kill as he does? He said those villagers were murdered by you.”

“I do not kill innocents. I do not turn away from doing what must be done in carrying out the king’s orders, but those not involved in the fight need not fear me.”

He thought she glanced at him then, but she lowered her gaze quickly if she had. What was her part in this?

“Was Eachann there when you arrived?”

“Aye.”

“How did he come to be there?”

“Sebastien, he was here in the castle this morn. He told me to meet him there or he would come back to harm Malcolm.”

“He was here and you did not tell me?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“I could not,” she said.

He faced her now and asked again. “Could not or would not?”

Lara met his gaze and repeated, “I could not. He threatened the children if I did not meet him in the chapel.”

“He only has the power you give him, Lara. If you could have trusted me and told me, he would never have gotten close enough to do that—” he pointed to her cheek “—to you. And he would not get to the children, either.”

“I do trust you, Sebastien. But he is family…” She stopped and looked away when she realized what she’d said.

“And I am still the enemy.” His heart hurt as though stabbed. She was holding on to the past with both hands, and there was no way to move forward in their lives, in their marriage, when she did so.

“For each step we take ahead, we seem to stumble two back. I thought you were becoming accustomed to our marriage. I thought you might even be accepting it. Was it Eachann’s visit that make you doubt again? What did he tell you that is making you look at me with such fear?”

“Eachann said that you killed those villagers as a warning to him.”

“Look at me, Lara. Who is lying in this? You know my ways. You have witnessed how I run this castle and how I carry out my duties to Robert. Have you ever known me to kill without reason? I could have slain every man and woman the day I came here. ‘No quarter asked and none given’ is the battle cry. I could have, but I chose another way to get in the castle.”

“Yes, you lied to me to get in.”

“Lied, yes, and bluffed, and humiliated you as well, but you and those you care about the most are alive, when most who refuse the king’s orders are not.”

Lara stood now and walked to the other side of the room, as far as she could go. “And if you’ve lied to me all along, why should I believe you in this? It will be easier if you can convince me to accept your words over my cousin’s.”

His anger flared, so much he wanted to scream it out at her. But, he realized that she was doing the same thing she had in the past when afraid of her own feelings or of something she faced—striking out so that she could be driven away. Did she even know she did it?

“What is behind this, Lara? What else did Eachann say that has made you doubt me?”

She did not answer quickly, indeed she crossed her
arms over her chest and for a few minutes appeared to be thinking over her answer. She still kept her secrets, the ones he knew about and the ones he prayed he was wrong about.

“Tell me of my father,” she whispered.

Ah, so Eachann had told her of her father’s return to the fight. “Your father is now serving as an admiral in Edward’s forces. Although he has returned to Scotland, his activities so far have not been in this area. Mayhap he does think to protect the ones he left behind as hostages?”

“So you did know?” she asked.

“Of course I knew. I was the one who informed Robert of it. Eachann was right about one thing—I am the king’s spy.”

She flinched at his words. “What else do you know about him?”

“Lara, he fights for England, hoping to recover all he has lost. He wants to use you as a wedge—causing enough trouble to distract me from my duties to Robert and using you as a figurehead to draw his allies into the fight.”

“Me? How is he using me?”

Apparently Eachann had not revealed the whole plan to her. “His aim is to, in his own words, free the Maid of Lorne from her captor and return her and this castle to their rightful place.”

“His own words?”

“I have one of the letters he sent to several of his former allies, all of whom have sworn allegiance to Robert now. He is using you as a rallying cry and nothing more. This is not about him caring for you, ’tis about his own goals.”

She looked confused. But she did appear to be considering his words. That was a good sign, but not enough to remedy this situation, which put all of them and especially him and his men and their mission for the king in danger. He could not and would not do that, not even for the woman he loved.

“Every good spy has a contingency plan. Situations change, allies become enemies and enemies become friends,” he explained. “’Twould appear that we have need of one now.” Her eyes widened at his admission. “Sit and let us discuss mine.”

Lara moved back to the chair and sat. He noticed her favoring her arm. “He hurt you there, too?” At her nod, he went to the door and called for wine to be brought. “Has Gara seen to you yet?”

“Nay. You ordered that no one could enter and Jamie took your instruments very seriously.”

“Good. I do not like to have my orders disobeyed or ignored.”

He stood at the door and took the pitcher and goblets from Margaret when she returned with them. After telling the maid to summon the healer, Sebastien filled the cups and handed one to Lara. She accepted and drank most of it in one swallow.

“Go slowly or you will be asleep before I finish telling you of my plan.”

He’d thought on this for many weeks. The future, one with her as his wife, was just ahead of them if he could only make her see the rightness of it. If only she could trust him or if she wanted to trust him, it could work out well. But, without her full support, it would not work at all.

“As Robert’s commander here, I perform many duties for him. His decision to leave this castle standing when his tried-and-true method is to destroy such keeps is based on my ability to carry out my orders. My first responsibility is to hold this castle and area in his name. My second is to organize and maintain supply lines from here on the coast to many locations. My third task is to continue to gather information and use it against his enemies.”

He paused and drank some of his wine. “Your
inclination
to favor your family over me is causing problems and preventing me from successfully carrying out those duties.”

“Me? I do not understand. How do I interfere here? I have no power, nothing with which to stop you.”

He smiled at her. “If I have to worry that you are being dishonest with me, or giving aid to your cousin, who is my bitterest enemy, or that you are in danger here, I cannot be effective.” He drank down the rest of his wine. “And I must be effective or it will cost lives.”

“Am I to be a prisoner again? As in those first days and weeks?” She shivered and he knew she was at the end of her endurance.

“Nay, not a prisoner. You have a choice to make and not much time to make it.”

“I made my choice—I have been trying to be a good wife to you. I have begun taking over the duties that should be those of the lady and chatelaine. What more do you want?”

“I want your unconditional surrender.”

She was about to take a sip of her wine but stopped and stared at him. “What do you mean?”

“In battle, when one side is overwhelmed by the enemy, an unconditional surrender is the only way out. I told you that I want everything I never had, Lara. I want it with you. But, you must give yourself to me, in mind and body and soul and, most especially, in heart. I must be the family who claims your loyalty, your trust and your support.”

“You ask much of me, Sebastien. Do you know the cost of this to me?”

“Aye, love, I do. But the rewards will be great.”

“And if I cannot give you what you ask?” She frowned and he was pleased that she wanted to know all the conditions before accepting or rejecting his offer. She was thinking, which was better than acting in haste.

“You have two options. If you want to remain my wife, but cannot stay here in the thick of things, I can send you to a cousin who lives in the east. You and Malcolm and Catriona can live with them until this is over, and be safe there.” He paused and then explained the next part. “If you do not wish to remain my wife, if you wish to return to your clan, I will send you back to them.”

“You will put me aside?”

“Aye. Robert has enough bishops on his side that I am certain one or more could be convinced to annul the marriage. You can go on as before and your father can choose your husband.”

“Malcolm and Catriona?”

“They must stay in my control, but I will send them to my cousin for safety.”

“You will not allow them to return with me?”

“Nay, they are in the king’s custody and not mine to release. Your father will have no compunction about attacking here if they are returned to him.” Sebastien stood and walked to the door. “Since I leave on a mission for the king in four days, you must decide by then which you choose.”

“Four days?” she asked, shifting on the seat. It was such an uncomfortable chair, he wondered why she’d chosen it for their chambers.

“Aye, four days and then I must handle some matters for the king.”

He watched for any reaction to his words, for he suspected that she did know the details of the upcoming battles. Other than looking paler than a few minutes ago, she revealed nothing. They would hold to the plan; however, there were additional precautions he would put in place to prevent Eachann from benefiting from anything he’d forced from Lara. Sebastien opened the door and nodded to Gara, who stood waiting there.

“Come and give assistance to your lady,” he said.

When Gara and Margaret entered, he stepped aside to let them tend to her. It was obvious that he was not needed, so he left to find Hugh and Etienne. There was much to do and little time in which to accomplish it.