That secret that gnawed.
Love.
The word roared in his mind. She had been honest when she told him she wanted a marriage of love, but then he had wanted the same. He wanted to love the woman he wed, or he would not wed at all. If that was so, then why did he seem not to object to this marriage? Why did it not seem like a forced arrangement but actually one he looked forward to? Could he have deep feelings for Hope?
Nonsense.
He shook his head again.
He didn’t really know Hope, or did he?
At first when he was sent in search of her he was annoyed that a spoiled woman of such sterling heritage should be causing so much difficulty for so many, but as he discovered more about her character he realized she was living the strength and courage of her heritage. And she continued to do so, no matter the consequences of her actions.
Hope was not an ordinary woman and that fact appealed to him. She would not be a boring wife, and her demands would be ones he could certainly handle, deal with and perhaps enjoy. An adventure or two would suit him well, especially sharing them with a wife.
He was content with his decision in regards to this union. He actually felt that Hope belonged to him. He was not certain when he had made that discovery or whether it involved the fact that he felt so heavily responsible for the lad, but Hope and the lad being the same person made his responsibility even weightier.
He ran a hand through his hair before downing a generous gulp of ale.
“Heavy thoughts?” Eric asked, joining him on the bench with his own full tankard.
“Are not thoughts of a woman always heavy thoughts?” he asked with a grin.
“They are a trying lot,” Eric agreed.
“But a lot we cannot do without.”
“Aye, I will drink to that,” Eric said and raised his glass in a toast.
Colin clinked his tankard to Eric’s.
“Are you certain you want this marriage?”
Colin grinned. “I was waiting for you to ask that of me.
“I will not have you in a forced union. You have fought hard by my side and protected my back many a time. While I think this union is a good one for you, I will have it only if you wish it.”
“You are a true friend,” Colin said with a hardy pat to Eric’s back. “But I find that I do wish this union. Why?” He shrugged. “I do not know and I do not think it is important. I only know that I wish Hope to be my wife.”
“I am glad to hear that you wish to wed Hope.”
“So do I,” Borg said, joining the two with his own tankard of ale in hand and raising it in another toast. “To a joyful, prosperous and loving union.”
Eric raised his tankard.
Colin raised his, clinking it with the other two, love heavy on his mind.
Hope huddled beneath the wool blanket, feigning a horrible headache. She squinted her eyes and moaned softly, feeling guilty about lying, while Faith hurried quietly around the room preparing an herbal brew to help alleviate the pain.
Colin entered the room quietly, and Hope caught his entrance from the corner of her eye, hoping he would speak with Faith and take his leave. But she was not that lucky.
He approached the bed.
He leaned down beside the edge of the bed that she clung to and spoke in a whisper. “I am sorry you are not well, but I feel confident that Faith will help ease your pain and bring you comfort.”
He reached out and gently brushed her hair out of her eyes. She moaned, feeling guilty with her deceit.
“Rest,” he urged. She heard his distress and wondered if he actually felt love for her. “Tomorrow we will spend time together and the following day we will exchange vows and seal our fate forever. Then, Hope, you will be forever mine.”
She shut her eyes tightly and though he assumed it was from the ache in her head it was the ache in her heart that caused her pain. She recalled how he had wanted a woman to love and one he could call forever his. She had wanted so very badly to be that woman. But he would marry her out of honor and duty. Love had nothing to do with their forthcoming union, and she would have marriage no other way.
He kissed her gently on the forehead and she moaned softly, knowing this was their final farewell. “Rest, I will see you on the morrow.”
She whispered a gentle goodbye and forced her eyes shut against the tears that threatened to spill. When she heard the door close behind him she could not stop the flood that rushed forward.
Faith was instantly at her side. “Drink this and the pain will ease.”
“Will it make me sleep?”
“Aye, you need to rest.”
She could not sleep. She needed her wits about her for her journey. She pretended to shiver. “I am so cold.”
“Take this and drink. I will get another blanket to warm you.”
As soon as Faith’s back was to her, she spilled the contents of the cup beneath the bed, bringing the empty cup to her lips as Faith turned and approached her.
Faith spread another blanket over her and then took the empty cup from her. “You have been through much in the last few days. Rest now, for in a day’s time it will be over and life will finally begin for you.”
Hope fluttered her eyes as if they were too heavy to keep open and wished to drift shut. She waited while she felt Faith tuck the blankets around her, clean up around the room then check on her one more time before extinguishing the candle and quietly leaving the room and closing the door softly behind her.
Hope did not waste a moment. She hurried from the bed, changed into Harold clothes yet again, gathered the stash of food she had squirreled away over the past couple of days and alerted a sleeping Lady that it was time for them to leave.
The only problem she did not count on was that Rook intended to join them. He refused to leave Lady’s side and no amount of prompting or coaxing would change the fact. The dogs were obviously inseparable and in love. She had no choice but to take Rook along.
She made her way safely out of the keep, off the castle grounds and into the dark night, praying that her journey would be a safe one.
And praying that her broken heart would someday heal.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“She is gone?” Colin asked as if he did not hear or understand Eric.
“She probably left sometime last night,” Eric confirmed his annoyance obvious.
Faith hurried into the solar, her hands gripped tightly together. “I cannot find Rook anywhere, Eric.”
Eric was instantly at her side, his arm going around her shoulder and hugging her solidly to him. “He more than likely went with Lady and Hope.”
Tears spilled from Faith’s eyes and tore at her husband’s heart. “I never thought he would leave me.”
“Love causes foolishness,” Colin said, his heart heavy for Faith.
“But I raised him since he was a pup. He has never been away from me.”
Eric looked ready to kill when he cast a furious eye on Colin. “We go to find her and that coward of a dog of hers that Rook insists on protecting.”
Faith pulled out of her husband’s grasp. “I will join you.”
“Absolutely not.” Eric knew his remark was unwise as soon as he spoke the words.
“I will go find my dog with or without your approval,” Faith said with a childish stamp of her foot.
“You will not jeopardize the safety of our unborn child,” Eric insisted, knowing full well she would never do such a thing but not knowing what else to say to dissuade her.
“You know me better than that, my lord.”
Eric and Colin winced. Whenever Faith referred to Eric as “my lord” it was on purpose and with intention.
Eric attempted to reason with her. “I will see to returning Rook safely to you. It is not necessary that you accompany us.”
“Not necessary, but I wish to,” Faith said with a firmness that meant she was not to be dissuaded.
Eric decided it was time to put his foot down. He reached o
ut and grasped her chin. “You are not going.”
Two hours later Eric, Colin, a band of six men and Faith were ready to travel.
Eric was not in a good mood; Faith, however, was in a fine mood. Colin was simply furious.
He could not still his growing anger. He had assumed all was settled between him and Hope and that there would be no further problems. He had not expected her once again to disappear. And when he found her, he intended to—
“Calm your anger,” Eric ordered as he rode up beside him. Colin looked ready to rebel. “You will do yourself and us little good if you do not possess a clear head.”
Colin understood the truth of his words and attempted to calm his warring emotions. “I do not understand why she ran away. Does she so oppose this union that she takes flight?”
Faith joined them, guiding her horse between the two men, and answered his disturbing question. “She fights for what she wants.”
“What does she want?” Eric asked.
“Love,” Faith and Colin said in unison.
Faith smiled. “You begin to understand her.”
“Only begin,” Colin said. “I realize from dealing with Harold that he was tenacious when he thought himself right or was firm in his beliefs. He would place himself in jeopardy to prove himself or to defend his actions. I admired his courage.”
“And do you admire that same courage in Hope?”
“Watch how you answer that,” Eric warned him with a smile.
“I do not need to,” Colin said confidently. “I admire Hope’s courage, yet it worries me, for she takes risks she should not take and places herself in dangerous situations.”
“And this worries you, you say?” Faith asked with a rub to her back.
“You are uncomfortable?” her husband asked, slowing his horse and forcing all those around him to do the same.
Faith hated to admit that she already grew weary. She did not wish to slow them down, and she herself was worried about Rook and wished to find him. “I am fine.”
Eric focused narrowed eyes on her and she attempted to avoid that knowing glare of his by insisting Colin answer her question. “About your worry.”
Eric answered. “Any man involved with a stubborn woman who does not know any better than to do what she is told is doomed to worry endlessly.”
“Thank you for that bit of wisdom, my lord. Now may Colin answer the question?”
“His answer sounds good to me,” Colin said with a grin.
“Men,” she said, feigning annoyance and trying to move and alleviate the dull pain in her lower back without notice from her husband.
It was useless. He took immediate note of her discomfort.
“That is it—we stop now for the night,” he ordered firmly.
“We are barely away from the castle,” Faith said, feeling guilty she had disrupted their search mission.
Colin put her at ease. “Hope could not have gotten far on foot, especially if she left in the dark of night. We would do well to search the surrounding area while you rest.”
She did not argue, wanting desperately to get off the horse and ease her back pain. “If Rook is close by he may sense our presence and find us.”
“If I were not familiar with that big ugly dog—”
“He is not ugly,” Faith insisted, and seemed hurt by his remark.
Her obvious reaction upset Eric and he halted his horse along with hers, dismounted in haste and gently scooped her off the horse into his powerful arms. “Nay, Rook is not ugly, but you are weary and need rest.”
She snuggled her face into the crook of his neck. “Aye, that I do and I am sorry for being stubborn and not listening to you. Now I will slow your progress down in finding Hope.”
Colin intervened. “My lord, though your presence and skills are appreciated, I do not require your help. I have sufficient help in finding her. We are still close to the keep; I would suggest you return there tomorrow morning with Lady Faith.”
“A wise suggestion and one I will follow,” Eric said. “For now I will see to her comfort while you search the area.”
Two men remained behind to help set up camp and for added protection. Eric never took chances, especially where his wife was concerned.
By nightfall a fire burned, a rabbit roasted over the spit and Colin seemed more irritated than ever.
“I cannot understand how the woman just disappears in clear sight. She could not have gotten far, and yet there is no sign of her or her cowardly dog.” He looked regrettably to Faith. “And no sign of Rook.”
“He can take care of himself, I am sure; I just miss him so.” She rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.
“Find them all,” Eric ordered, not caring to see his wife so upset and certainly not accustomed to it, since she possessed a spirited nature of her own. But he knew the babe was beginning to take its toll on her and he wanted her where she could have rest and care—and that was the keep.
Colin nodded in understanding, his own concern for Faith obvious. “I will return them all safely to Shanekill.”
His confident remark brought a smile to Faith and they were soon eating and enjoying a lively conversation about the perils and pleasures of wedded bliss.
Faith suddenly sat straight up and cocked her head as if to listen.
Eric was about to ask her what she heard when Rook burst out of the surrounding darkness and headed directly for Faith. He licked her face, wagged his tail and bounced around her in excitement.
“Calm down, calm down,” she said mildly.
Colin and Eric immediately stood and the men went to walk the perimeter of the small camp at close attention.
“The others cannot be far off,” Colin said.
“Aye, but why is Rook separated from them?” Eric asked the question more to himself than to the others.
“I think something disturbs him, Eric,” Faith said, alerted to the dog’s eagerness for her to follow him.
“We cannot race off into the dark,” Eric said, noticing how agitated the dog appeared.
Colin grew alarmed. “Hope could be hurt.”
“Eric,” Faith said in alarm and fumbled to stand, her rounded stomach not making movement easy. He immediately reached down and assisted her up with one powerful arm. “We cannot leave her out there all night.”
“We cannot search the darkness,” Eric insisted.
As much as Colin hated the thought of not immediately searching for Hope he had to agree with Eric. “He is right, Faith. It would be foolish to attempt a search now.”
“But Rook can direct us,” she insisted.
“And if we lost him in the dark?” Eric asked.
Faith watched how Rook anxiously looked to her to follow him and she grew worried. “Something is wrong, Eric, dreadfully wrong.”
Eric suddenly felt the hair on the back of his neck go up and he looked to Colin, but before he could issue a command their camp was rushed by a band of zealous thieves who surrounded them in an instant.
Eric and Colin took a guarded stance in front of Faith, their hands braced on the hilt of their swords. Rook stood at her back, a warning growl for all to keep their distance.
A tall man with confident strides stepped from the darkness. He was a sinfully handsome one and astute, his eyes taking in his surroundings in a quick yet studious glance. He spoke with an eloquence that belied his trade and bordered on arrogance, and he carried himself with the pride of one accustomed to privilege.
“Please forgive our intrusion. We will take only a moment of your precious time.”
“Speak your piece then and be gone,” Eric ordered in a commanding voice that the band of thieves immediately respected.
The man acknowledged his worthy opponent with a gracious nod. “I seek a donation for the needy. Whatever you have on you I am sure you will be willing to share with those less fortunate.”
Colin realized that if it were just the men there, Eric would waste not a moment putting the thieves in their place,
but because of Faith the Devil would relent and give the thief what he asked, though he doubted it would be the last the thieves saw of the Devil.
“Be generous, men,” Eric ordered and stared straight at the thief in charge. “My wife has nothing to donate. She will be left undisturbed.”
The man wisely nodded in agreement. “I will take your word, my lord, for I know you yourself will be generous. And I”—the man said with a wide smile—“have a helper who will collect your donations.”
Rook whined and Colin felt dread grip the pit of his stomach.
“Lad,” the man called out. “Make haste.”
Colin and Eric both shook their heads when Hope, dressed in the lad’s garments, stepped out of the darkness. Lady followed close by her side, whining pitifully with fear, which caused Rook to growl all the more.
“Be done with it, lad,” the man instructed. “We do not wish to keep these fine people waiting when they are so willing to share with the needy.”
Hope walked the perimeter of the camp first, collecting from the men who stared at her with wide eyes and grins. They seemed entertained by her plight or was it the consequences that entertained them?
Hope finished up and with steps that were far from hasty approached the trio in the center of the camp. Did she step up to the Devil first or did she face Colin? She somehow thought that in this situation it would be easier to face the Devil.
The choice was not left to her. As soon as she was in close distance of them both, Colin reached out, grabbed her arm and yanked her to his side. Lady hastily hurried to Rook’s side where she leaned against him and whimpered.
“One word,” he warned her, “and I will throttle you.”
The tall man took quick steps toward Colin.
Colin halted him with a raised hand and a firm voice. “The lad belongs to me.”
Though startled by his words and the strength with which they were issued, Hope remained silent, displaying no emotions and hoping no one could hear how wildly her heart beat.
“How so?” the man asked, his hand cautiously resting on the hilt of the knife tucked in his leather belt.
Colin stood with a warrior’s pride and arrogance and a tight hold on Hope. “First tell me whom I address.”
Lords of the Kingdom Page 97
