Highlanders (32 page)

“Then we should stay and watch.”

“Nay,” Rhoslyn urged. “It is cold and drafty.”

She ignored Rhoslyn and crossed to the window. “You are wrong, child.” Taresa looked at her. “Talbot has arrived.”

* * *

Talbot sent Lochland to the west and Seward to the east. Sir Derek caught up with Talbot after delivering Lady Taresa safely to Castle Glenbarr. Her stubborn determination to join Rhoslyn reminded him of his sister.
“Determination runs in our family, Talbot
,” Taresa had said, and he’d half wondered if she’d read his mind.

She had pointed out that he would need Sir Derek to lead the men from Narlton Keep, so it would be easy for Derek to deliver her to Castle Glenbarr first. Talbot intended to refuse, to the point of locking her in her room, until she reminded him that Rhoslyn was very pregnant, and it would be a comfort to have family nearby while he dealt with the English.

Talbot sent Sir Derek south, while he approached from the north. Beside him, rode the warrior carrying the only lit torch amongst their ranks. As expected, when they neared the castle and the English camp, men mounted horses and met them before they reached camp.

Talbot brought his men to a halt.

“Who goes there?” called a man.

Talbot recognized the voice of the captain, Sir Ronald. “It is I, Sir Talbot.”

Ronald urged his horse forward. He drew near and squinted at Talbot. “You did not leave through the front gate, St. Claire.” The man’s voice dripped with accusation. “Who are these men?”

“My men,” Talbot replied. “Go back to England, Ronald. Tell Edward I know of his plot.”

“Plot? What plot?”

The man’s surprise sounded genuine. Talbot could easily believe Edward hadn’t chosen his captain as his assassin. If Talbot refused to return to England, Ronald would try to force him, while the assassin waited for an opportunity to kill him. That doubled Edward’s chances of making sure Talbot left Scotland.

“Return to England,” Talbot said.

“I cannot leave without you.”

Talbot glanced at his warrior holding the torch and nodded. The man lifted the torch high above his head. Three companies of men emerged from the trees beyond the field, from the shadows beyond the camp. They seemed to bleed from the darkness.

Shouts went up in the camp.

“You had better stop them,” Talbot said. “You do not stand a chance against my army.”

Sir Ronald stared at him for an instant, then called, “Evan, return to camp. No man is to draw a sword.”

Evan turned his horse. The beast lunged forward, then broke into a gallop.

“How many?” Ronald demanded.

“Sixteen hundred,” Talbot replied.

“You could be lying.”

“I am not. When the sun rises you will see.”

“Why not kill us?” Ronald asked.

“If you do not leave at dawn, I will.”

* * *

“It had to have been St. Claire.” For the dozenth time, Rhoslyn stalked to the window in her solar, despite knowing she could see little of the men camped beyond the wall.

After the two groups of riders met and talked, the English returned to their camp, and the riders followed, then camped beside them.

“Why is he staying out there?” she said.

“You did not think the English army would leave because he asked nicely?” Taresa said.

Rhoslyn looked at her. “Ye think they mean to fight?”

“No. I think they mean to wait until the light of day to be sure they are outnumbered. It will not be easy for them to tell King Edward they did not raise a single sword. They will have to be certain they are vastly outnumbered.”

Rhoslyn glanced at the window. “But ye do think they will leave quietly?”

“Everything is quiet, Rhoslyn. Have faith in Talbot. He does not want to fight his countrymen. He is giving them every opportunity to leave peaceably.”

“That does no’ mean they will.”

“Come, sit with me.” Taresa patted the bench beside her. “You do not want to overexcite yourself.”

Truth be told, Rhoslyn was tired. But she couldn’t think of sleeping. 

“Come,” Lady Taresa urged. “Talbot will not be pleased if he returns to find you overwrought.”

Rhoslyn did as she asked and sat beside her.

“It is kind of you to come to me,” Rhoslyn said.

“You are my family. I would not be anywhere else.” She smiled. “Family is what matters, yes?”

“Aye,” Rhoslyn agreed. “There is nothing more important.”

“Tell me,” Taresa said, “have you and Talbot decided upon a name for the baby?”

Rhoslyn shook her head. “St. Claire has said nothing.”

Taresa snorted. “Men. Never mind. Have you a name in mind?”

“We could name him after his father.”

“Talbot is a fine name,” Taresa agreed.

“My grandfather’s name is Hugo. My father was named Henry.”

Taresa’s brow rose. “You are certain it is a boy? What if you have a girl?”

“I do no’ know. St. Claire seems to want a son.”

“All men want sons. But they love daughters, as well. An older sister will keep her brother in line.”

Rhoslyn laughed. “No’ if she is like me. I was always in trouble.”

“Not you,” Taresa said in a teasing tone.

“Aye.” She recounted the tale of how she had left Banmore Castle in search of her puppy. The animal had gone missing and Rhoslyn was sure he’d gotten lost outside the castle.

The evening wore on, and Rhoslyn at last was forced to give into Lady Taresa’s insistence that she sleep. Her eyes grew heavy, and despite her best efforts to continue watch through the solar window, she knew it was best for the baby if she rested.

“If ye hear anything, you will wake me?” Rhoslyn asked of Taresa, once she’d agreed to retire.

“I promise,” the older woman said. “But let us hope it is Talbot who wakens you in the morning, and not me.”

“Ye dinna’ have to go.” The words were out of her mouth before she could catch herself and she dropped her gaze.

“This bed is certainly large enough for two,” Taresa said. “Would you mind very much if I stayed with you?”

Rhoslyn lifted her eyes. “I would be very pleased for you to stay with me.”

Taresa leaned close and said, “It will teach Talbot a lesson if he decides to visit you in the middle of the night. He will think twice about leaving you alone, yes?”

Rhoslyn laughed and hugged the woman.

* * *

“You look as if you need sleep,” Talbot said to Seward.

The old baron didn’t look up from campfire he stared at. “Ye worry about yourself, St. Claire. I am well enough.”

Morning light nipped at the edges of the east horizon. None of them had slept. Some men lay sleeping, some talking in low tones, but Talbot listened to noises from the English camp. The sounds suggested men rousing and tending their horses. Unless Sir Ronald intended to attack, his men were preparing to leave. Talbot wasn’t a religious man—Rhoslyn was religious enough for the two of them—but if he thought praying would speed Edward’s army on their way, he would have passed the night on his knees.

Talbot glanced at the castle. From here, he couldn’t see Rhoslyn’s room or the chapel. He hoped she’d had sense enough not to spend the night in the chapel. If Lady Taresa directed any of her determination upon Rhoslyn, she might, at some point, have gotten his wife to go to bed.

“If they leave, it isna’ the end,” Seward said.

“Nay,” Talbot agreed.

“It seems ye have taken a stand against your king, after all,” Lochland said. He lay on the ground on the other side of the fire. “I wonder why.”

That does not mean I betrayed him,” Talbot said.

“Despite the fact he betrayed you?” Lochland said.

Talbot looked sharply at him. It was an obvious guess, but caught him off guard nonetheless.

“Do ye consider it a betrayal to protect yourself?” Lochland asked.

“Nay,” he said, but the knowledge didn’t stop the sting.

“Good.”

Seward remained silent, but Talbot knew the man still seethed. Edward’s desire to grab power by forfeiting a loyal knight’s life confirmed his worst beliefs about the English king.

“It has been a long night,” Lochland said.

“You and your men are welcome in Castle Glenbarr once Sir Ronald and his men leave.”

The earl grunted. “‘Tis the least ye can do.”

They fell silent as the sun lifted slowly and dawn finally made an appearance.

Lochland broke the silence. “We have company.” He stared at something beyond Talbot.

Talbot twisted and looked over his shoulder to see Sir Ronald approaching with one of his men. Talbot rose and turned as they neared. Lochland and Seward stepped up alongside him.

“We are preparing to leave,” Ronald said, when they reached Talbot. “You know what Edward will do when I return without you.”

“Would you prefer to fight now?” Talbot asked.

“So you can slaughter my men?” he sneered. “Have you any message for Edward?”

“As I told you last night, tell him I know of his plan.”

Sir Ronald hesitated. “Think of what you do. This is treason.”

“Is that what Edward told ye?” Seward interjected.

“Quiet,” Talbot commanded.

Ronald looked from the old man to Talbot. “I would speak with you alone.”

“Ye can go to the devil,” Seward growled.

“I must speak with you,” Ronald insisted of Talbot.

“Dinna’ be a fool,” the baron said. “Ye know what a snake Edward is.”

“Enough,” Talbot said. He nodded at Sir Ronald and started away from the two men.

“Remember your duty to my granddaughter and great grandson,” Seward called after him.

“Remember your vow to me,” Talbot replied. He hoped Seward kept his word and didn’t tell Lochland or anyone else about Edward’s plan to kill him.

They walked until they left the larger clusters of men behind. Up ahead, Ronald’s army prepared to leave, though, to Talbot’s frustration, they seemed in no hurry. Some were saddled and mounted while others still saddled their horses. Others still sat in groups talking. 

“You are Sir Talbot St. Claire,” Ronald said. “You have been Edward’s favorite from the beginning. What have these Scots done to turn you against him?”

“Return and deliver my message,” Talbot said.

“Return with me, I beg you. Whatever has happened, Edward will forgive.”

“Edward will forgive?” Talbot shot back. “You know nothing of what Edward has to forgive.”

Ronald stepped closer. “He is our king
Your
king.”

“Aye,” Talbot said. Just as Talbot was his knight. But that hadn’t stopped the pontiff from trying to kill him—all so he could seize Talbot’s newfound power. “Have your men ready to leave within the quarter hour.” Talbot started to turn, then stopped and added, “Tell Edward this. I will be sending him my brother’s head.”

Shock shone on the knight’s face, then his gaze shifted past him. Talbot glanced over his shoulder. Seward and Lochland approached.

“I beg you not to listen to them,” Sir Ronald said in a low voice. “They have poisoned you.”

“It is not them who poisoned me,” Talbot said in a growl, “but the faithless king you say I serve.”

“Faithless? You speak treason.”

Seward and Lochland reached them.

“Your wet nurses have come to lead you home,” Ronald said. “I suppose I should not be surprised that you are allowing me and my army to leave instead of fighting. You have turned craven, St. Claire.”

“This one doesna’ know good fortune when it stares him in the face,” Lochland said. “If ye have an itch to fight, my men will oblige.”

“While Sir Talbot stands aside and watches,” Ronald sneered. “You are not afraid we will attack when you return to Castle Glenbarr? I was certain you would ride with us clear to Edinburgh just to be sure we left. Or is there an army hidden somewhere along the way to ambush us? Or is it that the Scottish whore has bewitched you into betraying your king?”

“Is this how English knights speak of a man’s wife?” Lochland demanded.

“Nay,” Talbot said. Then he thought of Dayton.

Dayton was a master strategist—a strategist who would have a secondary plan. When he saw the army Talbot was able to amass, he would realized that Talbot had no intention of leaving with Edward’s army. And he would have set into motion his secondary plan.

Talbot took two steps and stopped inches from Ronald, “Tell me where my brother is and I will let you return to England unharmed.”

Surprise flashed across the knight’s face.

Seward swore. “By God, the whoreson has hatched a plot.”

“Tell me now,” Talbot demanded. “What Dayton has planned is not in accordance with our law. He intends to kill me then take my wife and child.”