“But how could that be?”Enguerrand asked.“If you and your father had the sole keys, only you could have entered the solar and the treasury then.”
Calum wagged a finger at him.“But the knot in the cord of mine was retied that day, for it was different when I awakened from my nap.I wondered at it at the time, but saw no reason why it should be so until now.”
“But still, any soul could have taken it...”
“The girl was particularly attentive that day.I wondered at that at the time, as well, but was content to let her serve me.”
“She wanted the key,” Fergus concluded.
“Alas, it is not my attention she covets,” Calum said.
Fergus did not understand.“What do you mean?”
“I would wager that she has a scheme to better her position, by ousting Leila from your marriage and stepping into the vacancy herself.”
“What madness is this?”Fergus demanded.
His father chuckled.“I have seen her watch you when she thinks herself unobserved.That one never planned to labor all her days, and if you would wed a Saracen, why would you not wed a peasant?”
Fergus swore.Enguerrand looked shaken and Yvan hid a smile behind his hand.Calum looked most pleased with himself.“And what is your scheme now?”
“We shall pretend to fall for her ploy,” Fergus said.“Enguerrand and Yvan can search the solar and we will ensure that Leila is believed to be guilty so that Agnes reveals the fullness of her plan...”
His father raised a hand to silence him.“I have a better idea, one that will not discredit your wife in the least.”
“I should be glad to hear it,” Fergus said, and the older man dropped his voice to a whisper.The Templars and Fergus leaned close to hear his suggestion, which was a vast improvement, indeed.
Calum knewhe was going to enjoy this feat.Agnes had tricked him and he was not a man to let such an insult pass.That she meant to discredit Leila, the lady she served and the wife of the laird, was a breach of everything Calum held dear.The scheming girl would be taught a lesson and soon.
He had a wager with Fergus that Agnes would flee and he intended to win it.
“It must be here!”Enguerrand roared from the solar above him, then audibly tipped a chest to its back.
“My wife is innocent,” Fergus shouted back.There was a great sound of a scuffle in the laird’s chamber, one loud enough to draw the attention of all in the hall.Furniture was tipped and Calum had no doubt that the contents of the various chests were scattered.He made his way down the stairs to the hall, pretending that the task was more difficult than it was.
Of course, there was a small cluster of souls awaiting him at the foot of the stairs.Iain was there, but Calum raised a hand to halt him from climbing to the solar.“I would have a cup of hot milk, Iain, if you please,” he said firmly.“Lady Leila, your husband would speak with you in solitude.”
Leila nodded and climbed the stairs quickly.
Agnes smirked, turning away to hide her expression as she returned to her sweeping.
Enguerrand and Yvan passed him, noisily demanding a search of the entire keep.“To the smithy!”cried Enguerrand.“She must have hidden it there!”
In truth, they were going to make their way toward Agnes’ hiding spot to ensure she could not retrieve what she believed was the relic.
Enguerrand paused on the threshold of the hall and turned back, fixing his glare upon Agnes.“You!”he cried and the girl looked up.“Do not even think of leaving this hall before I speak to you again.”
“Of course, sir.”Agnes curtsied, her satisfaction with this most clear.She evidently thought she would have the opportunity to condemn Leila, but Calum would help her to see otherwise.
Calum returned to his abandoned seat and sat down heavily, passing a hand over his eyes as if he were more tired than he was.He considered the chess pieces on the floor and bent with painful slowness to pick up a pawn, drawing her to him like a fish on a line.
“My lord, let me assist you in that,” Agnes said, easing him back to his seat before she bent to gather the errant pieces.In truth, if she were as dutiful as she would have him believe, she would have picked them up already.
Calum sniffed.She did smell like onions.
“Thank you, Agnes,” he said, as if exhausted beyond compare.“I shall miss you, to be sure.”
“Miss me, my lord?”She smiled at him.“Why would you miss me?I have no plan to leave Killairic.It is a most fine keep.”
