Forbidden Legacy (22 page)

She stared at the words. How could her father be of the Brotherhood and wed? Marriage and children were forbidden.

Perplexed, she scanned the detailed accounts of her father's actions, along with his reports to Robert Bruce and Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

Odd. Why would her father report to both men? Intrigued, she continued to read. A line halfway down the page caught her attention.

She stilled.

Impossible? Hands trembling, she returned to the top of the page she'd skipped and read each word, each sentence, as a slow pounding built in her head.

Dates alongside entries chronicled how, over the years, Robert Bruce had been in contact with the Grand Master. The Templars' escape, in addition to where to hide their cargo, were plans long since made.

With King Philip's written order to begin the arrests of the Templars, the Grand Master had set the plan into action. The reason Bruce had welcomed the Templars, and why he'd bestowed Avalon Castle on Stephan.

Parchment scraped as she turned the page. Flickers of candlelight wavered across the top entry, penned in a bold hand. She gasped and the ledger slipped from her hand and slammed to the floor.

Nay, the words couldna be true!

Fingers trembling, she recovered the worn ledger, thumbed to the page she'd read moments before.

The words remained.

The words stamped with the king's seal.

The words penned with but a few letters that had changed her entire life.

N
umb, Katherine stared at the incomprehensible script. It seemed that penned within this secret journal, within a passage stamped with the king's seal, lay truth.

Finger trembling, she pressed the tip to her sovereign's name. “King Robert is my father.”

Dust motes sifted through the stream of sunlight as her whispered claim faded.

He'd visited Avalon numerous times over the years. Under the guise of being her godfather, his frequent visits had raised nay suspicions.

With the innocence of a child, she'd accepted their closeness without question. A familiarity the Bruce had used to build a strong bond between them, one that existed to this day, a trust he'd used to convince her to wed Stephan.

Katherine closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath, and then opened them. The chamber remained unchanged, while her life's foundation, the image of the family she'd wrapped her life around, was shattered.

The ledger lay open beneath her hand. Katherine hesitated, unsure whether she should read more. How could she nae?

Fighting for calm, she turned the pages to the life-changing script. To the right of the disclosure of her true lineage lay Robert Bruce's seal, dated and signed, his signature attesting to the statement's truth. She continued on, paused at the next entry.

“Cainnech MacIssac,” she whispered, needing to say the warrior's name, to make this real in her mind.

The next paragraph revealed that the woman who would play the part of the Templar's wife had in fact been Sir Cainnech's sister. Beaten to near death by a ruthless husband, she'd escaped and agreed to share the responsibility of raising Katherine in exchange for protection. It explained why Katherine had never seen the people she'd believed were her parents sleep within the same quarters.

Though nae her real mother and father, Sir Cainnech and his sister had raised her with kindness, ensured she received a wonderful education and, over the years, had given her their love. Humbled by their kindness, Katherine continued to read, skimming the pages for the one name still missing.

She reached the end of the ledger, and a knot tightened in her throat. Why was her mother's name missing from the entries? Her hand unsteady, Katherine shut the ledger. How long before Robert Bruce arrived at Avalon? He would come, of that she had little doubt. The questions she needed to ask him built inside her. Who was her mother? Had he loved her? Would the full truth ever be disclosed? Or had the king's intent for her return home been for her to discover her royal heritage?

Katherine dismissed the latter. A skilled tactician, a man of strength and honor, if the king had intended for her to know of her parentage, he would have explained upon her arrival at Urquhart Castle after escaping the English.

Unsure what to think, what to believe, she walked to the window. She stared at the churn of clouds moving in, the sun's rays steadfast in a valiant attempt to slip through the breaks to reach the earth.

Where could she begin to figure everything out? She shook her head. How foolish to worry about the details. At least she had a father who lived, one she loved, a man who'd earned her respect.

Stephan had naught.

But from the first, her husband had known Scotland's king was a Templar. Imperative information he'd withheld, even after she'd learned his true identity, and that of his men. He'd decided the truth about the Bruce wasna worth sharing.

Bedamned, she wasna a lass who needed tending, though her mule-headed, pea-brained husband believed otherwise. Mary have mercy, what else had he nae told her?

What of Stephan's claim that he loved her? Was it true or part of the grand scheme? With the revelations of moments before, she was unsure what to believe.

Needing time to think, Katherine ran from the chamber, walking into Stephan's chest as he started to enter.

Strong hands caught her.

“Let go of me!” She struggled to break free, hurt, aching, and at this moment needing to be alone.

“Katherine, what is wrong?”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “I know.”

* * *

At his wife's pain-filled words, shame smothered Stephan. God's blade, she knew her family's death had been served by his father's hand. Never had he meant to hurt her. As if burned, he released her, stepped back, and turned away.

“Look at me,” she rasped.

He remained still, wrestled at what to say, doubting any hope existed to save their marriage.

“Do you love me?” she asked.

Of all questions he'd prepared himself for her to ask, he'd nae expected that one. “You read the entry in the ledger.”

“I-I did, but I need to know if your claim that you loved me was true, or if I was but a pawn to reclaim your heritage?”

Furious, he whirled. “You believe I married you for Avalon?”

Blue eyes darkened. “Did you?”

“Aye . . . at first,” he admitted. “When I ran away, with my parents dead, never did I believe I would hold my father's title or rule Avalon Castle. Even if I wanted to, once I had given my vow to the Brotherhood, 'twas forbidden by Templar rule. With the dissolution of the Order, and with King Robert's offer, 'twas a chance to reclaim a forbidden legacy.

Hurt streaked through her eyes. “And why you wed me?”

“In part, but a very small one. I assured our king 'twas unnecessary to marry you when 'twas only the stronghold the Templars needed. But he knew I was desperate, that I had promised the Grand Master I would do whatever was necessary to protect the goods the ships carried. The Bruce pressed. In the end, I agreed.”

A blush crept up her cheeks. “Neither can I find condemnation. I, too, married to reclaim what I believed was my home.”

The sadness in her voice piled atop his grief. “I am sorry, Katherine.”

“As am I.” Unsure eyes held his. “Where do we go from here, or can we?”

With knowledge of his father's shame enshrouding him, Stephan shook his head. “I am unsure,” he replied, aching, terrified he'd lost her and wanting her forever.

“Is what you read this morning why you have decided to sail to Urquhart Castle?”

Guilt-ridden, he glanced toward the ledger, cleared his throat. “Aye.”

“I admit I am struggling to accept everything.” She blew out a rough breath. “Regardless of what we both learned this day, it doesna have to change anything between us. That is, if you still love me.”

Hope ignited, faded to caution as he stared at her in disbelief. “How can you still want me after learning my father betrayed Scotland, put our country's freedom at risk?”

“Did you know of your father's actions?”

“How could I? I was but a child at the time.”

“Then how can you cast blame upon yourself for any part of your father's dealings?”

Sadness weighing heavy on his soul, he shook his head. “ 'Tis nae so simple.”

“Only because you will nae let it be.”

He ached inside, a deep keening that threatened to tear him in two. “You dinna understand.”

Katherine walked to him. “Then help me.”

Mortified, however much he didna wish to expose his cowardice, he had to tell her the truth. “As a lad, during the attack, I hid. Watched as my parents were slaughtered, my hand curled around a dagger I didna dare to wield. I detest cowardice, yet at the moment when my family needed me most, I acted with naught but dishonor.”

Sympathy darkened her gaze. “You were a child. Afraid.”

He gave a cold laugh. “Afraid, aye, but angry as well,” he stated, holding her gaze, needing to see her eyes as he bared his soul. “At the onset of the attack, my father ordered me to hide. Like a spineless fool, I obeyed.”

“You did as you were told,” she said, her words firm.

“I could have fought. Instead, I watched those I loved die.”

“And have paid with guilt ever since.” Katherine lay her hand atop his. “You were a loyal son, one strong enough to obey his father instead of allowing your emotions to endanger your life.”

“It changes naught!”

“It changes everything! You dinna owe a penance for yielding to your father's request. If we had a son and our castle was under siege and the odds overwhelming, would you nae order him to hide and then escape? Allow hope that in the future your child would find a way to reclaim his heritage?”

Remorse weighing heavy on his mind, Stephan assessed her every word. Her reasoning made sense, yet shame and condemnation lingered. “I dinna know.”

“I think you do.”

He shot her a cool look. “Mayhap, but 'tis nae a simple task. Years have passed that I have lived with my disgrace.”

Her hand gently squeezed his. “Years have passed with you condemning yourself for a false belief. 'Tis time to accept that the guilt wasna yours to bear.”

“I . . .” He muttered a curse.

“'Tis much to take in, but if you still love me and want me, we can move forward. Together.”

If he still loved her? He did, but she deserved more in life than a man whose father left dishonor as his legacy.

At his silence, hurt darkened her gaze. “I see.” She stepped back. “As you know where the catacombs are located, you and your men can move everything within them before you depart.”

Still trying to accept that she'd still want him, Stephan caught the last of her words. “Know where the catacombs are? How could I?”

“You read the ledger, saw the map hidden within the pages.”

“Map?”

A frown touched her brow. “You didna see it?”

He shook his head.

With quiet steps she retrieved the ledger, turned the pages. Near the end, she paused. “Here.” Parchment crinkled as she opened it.

Stephan stared at the drawing, awaited the exhilaration of knowing where each hidden chamber was located with details of how to enter. In addition to securing the Templar treasure, leaving a force to keep this strategic stronghold secure, he and his men could sail without worry in support of King Robert's efforts to reclaim Scotland.

Pain twisted inside him. Stephan set the book aside. “I always dreamed of one day reclaiming Avalon. Never did I believe 'twas possible.”

“ 'Twould seem you have your wish,” his wife said, her words remote.

“Mayhap, but now I find that 'tis nae my wish after all.”

Wary eyes held his.

Stephan stepped closer. “You asked me if I loved you.”

Eyes wrought with turmoil held his. “A question you didna answer.”

“Because you leave me humbled,” he said, his words rough. “I canna understand how you could want a man whose father was a traitor.”

Tenderness softened her gaze. “Do you think me so shallow that I would hold your father's duplicity against you?”

“I prayed you wouldna.” Taking the greatest risk of his life, he set aside the map and cupped her chin. “I love you, Katherine; you are my heart, my life, and I canna live without you.”

“You still love me?” she asked, as if nae daring to believe his claim.

“After everything,” he said, aware he needed her to say the words, “I need to know if you still feel the same.”

Her eyes warmed with love. “How could I nae? You are the man I have given my heart to.”

Humbled, Stephan drew her into a kiss, one layered in passion, steeped in need, and rich with his love. At her soft moan, he drew her against him, held her tight, because he could, because she let him. “II thought I had lost you.”

“Never.” Dismay flickered in her eyes. “Mary have mercy.”

“What is wrong?”

Face pale, Katherine withdrew from his arms. “You said moments ago that you hadna read all of the entries.”

He nodded.

“You dinna know?”

“Know what?”

Katherine hesitated and then handed him the ledger. “ 'Tis best if you read them yourself.”

Dread spilled through him as he continued reading from where he'd stopped earlier. God's blade, what else was there to learn? He thumbed past a page, then another.

Stilled.

In disbelief, Stephan reread the finely crafted lines, lingered on the seal signed by their king.

Incredible.

Unbelievable.

But true.

His fingers tightened on the page as he lifted his eyes, noted the worry in her own. “Your father is King Robert.”

“I never knew,” she whispered. “I always believed the people who raised me were my parents.”

“I-I dinna know what to say.”

The soft tap of footsteps echoed from outside the chamber. “Stephan,” Thomas said as he halted at the entry, urgency in his voice.

Body tense, he glanced up. “What is it?”

“King Robert's ship has been spotted on the horizon,” he said.

At Katherine's gasp, Stephan folded his hand around hers. “Ensure all is prepared to welcome him. We will join you momentarily.”

With a nod, Thomas hurried out.

The soft tap of leather upon stone faded.

Katherine looked at him. “My . . . father is here.”

Stephan smiled. “Aye. Your father. And nay doubt to discuss plans of an upcoming attack.”

“He knows me, but in the guise of my godfather.” She withdrew her hand, walked to the window, and turned. “I—I canna act as if I dinna know the truth.”