Because of a dog?
It made no sense.
The hound made for the brazier, clearly aware of its purpose even though it was unlit as yet. It circled half a dozen times before lying down beside it to sleep. Leila struck a tinder and lit the coals, patted the dog cautiously herself when it lifted its shaggy head to watch her. Anna wished she had saved some meat from the board for the hound did look thin and the meat had been plentiful.
“Oh!” Leila pivoted to face Anna, her hands rising to her lips in dismay. Genuine or feigned? Anna could not say. Truly, the other woman was far better at disguising her true intent. Perhaps Anna could learn from her. “My lady, you have not made your prayers this night.”
Anna was uncertain why the other woman had made this suggestion and was momentarily uncertain of what to say. She was supposed to be a woman raised in a convent, after all. Perhaps Leila meant to reinforce the tale.
“I would not trouble our host and hostess,” Anna said with a smile. “I can pray here.”
“Nay,” Bartholomew said with unexpected heat. “There is a chapel in this keep. I will escort you to it that you might pray as is your custom.”
Before she could agree or disagree, the knight claimed her elbow and led her from the room. He set a sharp pace and seemed to know his destination. Anna could only scurry along beside him, wondering at his intent. “I do not need to pray,” she whispered.
“Of course, you do,” he whispered back. “I believe I have found Percy, but we still have to find the contents of Duncan’s saddlebag.”
Anna’s heart thrilled that he had discovered her brother’s location. Hehadbeen using Lady Marie to orient himself!
She considered his words but was confused. “And you think to find those contents in the chapel?” What had been in the bag? Anything of value would have been taken the treasury. Any foodstuff would have gone to the kitchens or pantry. Anna frowned.
“Without doubt,” Bartholomew murmured with conviction. “The difficulty will lie in retrieving it from there.” He spared her a quick sidelong glance as they stepped out into the bailey. “You may need saintly intercession this night, my lady.”
Anna felt her lips part in surprise. Saintly intercession? That could only come from a saint’s bones.
Which meant Bartholomew’s party had been carrying a holy relic.
Whowerethese knights?
Chapter Five
Cenric. The dog had his father’s middle name.
It could not be an accident.
And the dog itself was the image of the hound Bartholomew had known as a toddler. Hours before, he could not have described the beast for he recalled only its loyalty, but one glimpse of this dog, and he knew it to be his Whitefoot’s twin.
Perhaps his descendant.
He had to take the dog with him on the morrow.
Along with Percy and the reliquary. There would be cause for celebration if their party managed all three, that was for certain. He knew more of the keep’s defenses, which was good, though he still had need of a plan.
Leila’s suggestion had been a most sensible one. He hoped that taking Anna to her prayers on this night would give him the opportunity to discover the location of the reliquary, which might provide a better idea of how to retrieve it. He spoke to a servant of their scheme, and that man ran for the priest. He took Anna to the chapel, and they found the heavy wooden portal locked securely.
“Too many keys,” he said under his breath.
“She will have them,” Anna replied, flicking him a hot glance. “You might put her interest to good use.”
“I already have learned the layout of the keep from her, sweet wife,” he murmured, then bent to kiss her forehead. “She wishes for more, but I fear you will exhaust me with your passion this night.”
Anna stiffened as if dismayed by this prospect, but Bartholomew had no opportunity to reassure her. Again, he sensed that she had known abuse by a man and would have reaffirmed his own intent, but he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He had to content himself with squeezing her hand, then turning to greet the priest.
*
Anna was disconcerted by Bartholomew’s words, and might have argued his assertion, but they were no longer alone. When Bartholomew released her from his embrace, he turned a smile upon the approaching priest.
Anna caught her breath. It was Father Ignatius.
