Annaleigh thought of Talus and Anthony and how they were going to take such news, but she couldn’t manage to feel sorry for them. She was too busy feeling thrilled for herself. But it occurred to her that War knew.
“And how would ye know that?” she asked.
His determined expression wavered slightly. “I heard such things,” he said. Then he hesitated. “That is not exactly true. I had one of my men ask around to see if you were betrothed or married. I was told about the two de Wolfe knights who have intentions towards you.”
A smile played on her lips as she realized he’d been asking around about her. “Did ye find out everything ye wanted tae know?”
“Not everything.”
“What more is there?”
He bit his lip to keep from grinning. “That will come in due time between us, my lady,” he said. “Now, back to those two knights. I intend to have a word with them both.”
Annaleigh shook her head. “Mayhap ye should let me tell them,” she said. “A woman will be gentler. Ye might only succeed in creating hard feelings and ye dunna want that. Not if ye ever face battle with these men. Ye dunna want them looking at ye and feeling resentment. Not if yer life depends on their allegiance.”
She was right to a certain extent, but he wasn’t so certain. “I’ve never had to face this situation before, you know,” he admitted. “I feel as if I should tell them personally.”
“Ye dunna even know them. I do.”
“Point taken.”
They stood there and looked at each other for a moment, each of them feeling such glee, such delight. It was such an unexpected moment and, truth be told, War had never intended to ask her if he could return to see her. To court her. God help him, he’d even mentioned marriage. But it had all come about so naturally that he’d never doubted it for a moment. No regrets, no second-guesses.
This was what he wanted.
Nothing had ever seemed so right.
“May I kiss your hand before I go?” he said softly. “I want to find William before we depart.”
But Annaleigh shook her head. “Of course ye may not,” she said. “What if someone saw? The gossip would spread quickly and we dunna want that.”
She was right. He sighed in resignation. “You are correct,” he said. “I would not wish to put you in that position. Letting a man kiss your hand who is not your betrothed or your husband.”
She could see that he was disappointed and she found it quite sweet. “If it matters, it doesna make me happy tae deny ye,” she said. “But for now…”
He conceded. “I know,” he said, putting up a hand to silence her. “You are right. But I look forward to the day when it is my right to take you in my arms and kiss you.”
“As do I.”
A smile spread across his lips. “Do you truly?”
“I do.”
That was good enough for him. “Then I will take my leave for the moment,” he said. “If I stand here and look at you any longer, I may forget myself. In fact, I…”
He was abruptly cut off by shouts from the wall. There was a great deal of activity at the gatehouse and both War and Annaleigh turned to watch a group of men on horseback racing in through the gatehouse while the sentries on duty scrambled to lower the portcullis.
More men began shouting.
Monty and Clement, who had been dealing with their imminent departure, wandered over next to War as they watched the men of Castle Questing mobilize. Even Christian came bolting out of the keep along with Kieran, heading for the gatehouse, as Talus and Anthony appeared.
Everyone was rushing for the gatehouse.
“What is happening?” Monty asked curiously.
War shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he said. But he hadn’t forgotten Annaleigh, standing next to him. He turned to her. “Mayhap it is best you go into the keep now, at least until we know what the activity is about.”
Annaleigh nodded. She was a little concerned, too, because the soldiers at Castle Questing didn’t panic for no reason. She’d been around long enough to know that. Not that they were panicking but, clearly, something was happening. Politely, Wartook her elbow and walked her out of their small area out into the bailey. He turned her towards the keep as men began shouting again and William emerged from the keep, moving swiftly past Annaleigh on his way to the gatehouse. He was shouting to the gatehouse and the reply was something they all heard.
