Which was four hours ago. Quite a bit could happen within four hours, but he was positive the keep had not been breached within that amount of time. Yet the one seed of knowledge that blossomed in his mind was the fact that Stoneley had built the keep and, therefore, would know all of her weaknesses. If there were a fault to be exploited, then Guy would know it. He began to feel distinctly uneasy with that thought.
Dismissing the soldier, he turned to Remington. “You shall stay here and keep Lady Anne entertained.”
She blinked, dashing her tears away as they fell. “My sons are within the walls. What will happen if Guy…?”
“He won’t,” Gaston insisted firmly, grasping her by the shoulders. “You know the keep, too, Remi. Are there any tunnels or passages I should know about? Any secret caves?”
She shook her head. “There is no way in or out except the drawbridge,” she paused thoughtfully. “Except… except there is a seldom used servants entrance in the wall next to the kitchens. A postern gate. But the servants rarely use it because it is so dangerous.”
“I know of the door, I have seen it,” Gaston nodded. He’d made note of it on his security sweeps of the kitchen storage areas. “As I recall, it was blocked off by heavy barrels of wheat and had not been used in some time.”
She was trying to compose herself, her eyes focused on him as he thought. After a moment of pondering the unlikely possibility that Guy could capitalize on the entrance, he gathered her quaking form against him tightly.
“Do not worry, angel. At least we know where Guy is now and I can do what I should have done a year ago.”
“Off to war again. I hate it when you go off to fight,” she sniffed.
“I know,” he smiled gently and kissed her nose. “I get the same speech from you every time. Have I ever gone back on my word and not returned to you whole? You worry overly.”
She threw her arms around his neck and he pulled her off the floor, embracing her sweet body reverently. Actually, he was relieved that Stoneley was attacking Mt. Holyoak. Gaston would be in his glory in the middle of a battle, striking Stoneley down as he would any other enemy soldier. Then it would not matter if the church intended on granting Remington’s annulment petition or not; Guy would be dead and there would be nothing to prevent Gaston and Remington from marrying.
The thought brought a smile to his lips and she caught it. “Why are you smiling?”
He kissed her, smiling broadly now. “Because I am happy.”
She looked shocked. “Happy. How can you say that? Guy is attacking Mt. Holyoak, our sons are inside, and you arehappy?”
He laughed and lowered her to the ground. “Aye, I am. Don’t you see, Remi? Guy has lured me into a situation where I am more at home than anywhere else. I shall find Guy, strike him down in a fair fight, and we shall be rid of him. I should thank him for making it so easy for me to dispose of him.”
She looked at him dubiously. “You are mad. The smell of battle is making you insane.”
“Mayhap,” he kissed her loudly. “But I am always right. I shall make short work of Lord Stoneley and we shall bury him next to Mari-Elle so that they may rot in hell together.”
She shook her head, still upset but growing more relaxed with his easy manner. If he wasn’t truly concerned about the battle, then why should she be? He was the authority on warfare, was he not?
“You are sure there is nothing to be concerned over?” she asked insistently.
He shook his head. “Roald is a fine warrior and will hold the keep strongly. With Ingilsby and Brimley attacking from Botmore’s rear, he will be fighting on two fronts and it should be a decisive victory. Even so, Nicolas and Antonius are riding north at this very minute with five hundred more troops. Guy and Botmore do not stand a chance in hell, Remi.”
She still looked doubtful, but the tears were gone. Frowning, she crossed her arms and eyed him. “I want the battle done by the second morning. And do not linger any longer than you must; I want you to bring me home when the fight is concluded.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Aye, general. Any other orders?”
“Yes. I do not want you to bury Guy. I want you to burn his corpse and spread his ashes to the wind. I want nothing left of his evil.”
His expression softened hearing the frightened woman speak. He touched her cheek gently. “Anything for you, angel. Anything at all.”
A smile creased her lips and he smiled in return. He knew the men were beginning to mobilize in the bailey; Alex and his soldiers had long since vacated the foyer and he and Remington had been alone for quite some time. He took Remington’s arm, intent on settling her for the night before retreating to the bailey to join Ingilsby.
“Gaston, I have decided something,” she said decisively as he led her up the stairs.
“What’s that, love?”
“That I am going to take a switch to both Dane and Trenton for getting themselves into such a predicament.” They topped the flight of stairs and headed down the corridor. “I know you said that a reprimand oft works better than a welted backside, but in this case, I’d feel better if I spanked them myself.”
“Is that so?” he raised an eyebrow at her as they approached the door to their room. “If you feel it necessary, then I will hold them for you myself.”
“You do not need to. I shall do it.”
