“I think it would be best if you retired, lady,” he said, breaking the silence. “Seek your chambers now.” He strode to the door and pulled it open with such force that it crashed against the wall after slipping from his grasp.
Margaret and his man Hugh jumped to their feet and stared in at them. Surprised to see them together and obviously in each other’s company, Lara censured her maid with a warning glance. Apparently, Margaret was suffering from the same weakness that her lady was damned by—an attraction to the enemy. Taking her arm, Lara pulled her away and up the stairs to her room to safety.
“I cannot tell if you are feeling victorious or not.”
Sebastien stood back and allowed Hugh entrance to the solar. His friend immediately sat at the table and began picking food off the plates still there. Although the dishes were now chilled, Hugh did not hesitate to taste all he could. Too many days and nights without food trained warriors to eat when food was available.
After allowing his anger to dissipate, Sebastien closed the door and joined Hugh at the table. Choosing a joint of rabbit that had been braised in a rich broth, he tore off and passed to his friend a chunk of bread to use on the juices. They dipped the bread, chewed it thoroughly and swallowed, almost in unison.
“Indeed, Hugh. I do feel the victor in this.”
“From the expression on her face, the lady does not feel the same way.” Hugh poured wine into both goblets and drank from the nearest one. “I would hide my sword, if I were you, and not leave it within her reach. You might be missing some body parts that are best kept, if you take my meaning?”
Sebastien laughed then, confident in the results of the encounter with his wife. “As you will be if she discovers your attentions to her maid.” Hugh flinched at his words. “There is not much that goes on here that I do not know about, friend. Have a care if you only dally with the lass.”
Holding out the goblet, Hugh offered a mock salute. “So what did you learn?”
“She wants me.”
“That was the purpose of this whole escapade, then?” Hugh asked, looking over the remnants of the supper and the room. “To see if you could make her desire you? You may need my counsel if that was your aim.”
“That would have been too simply done,” he said with a laugh, knowing it for the boast it was. “Her world has been torn down around her and she has been left to pick up the shattered remains.”
Hugh shrugged. “This is war.”
“Ah, but she is mine now.”
“And this changes everything?” Hugh frowned as he thought on what Sebastien said. “Please do not say that you plan to keep her after all? A wife, Sebastien?”
“Aye,mywife.”
Hugh let out a loud exasperated breath. “So, pray tell me, sir knight, what is this plan of yours?” He slammed down the food in his hands and wiped his palms across the cloth on the table in a deliberate move to aggravate him and remind them both of their origins.
“She handles challenges best when angry, so I angered her.”
“And that will accomplish what?” Hugh stood and sought another pitcher of wine. Finding only ale, he poured that in his goblet this time. Sitting back down, he drank from the cup.
“It will make your life more difficult while I am away.” Sebastien nodded a salute to him. “And it will give her the backbone needed these next days while I am with the king.”
“My thanks for your kind consideration, friend.”
“Ah…come now, Hugh. Surely you can manage one angry woman? So long as she never discovers what you and her maid are up to, you should probably remain safe. Well, at least alive.”
“As you wish, Sebastien. Although I confess I do wish you’d change your thinking on this matter and ask the king’s permission to dissolve this union when you have his ear.”
“I will consider your words,” Sebastien said, ending the discussion. “Now, has Etienne met with the old man yet?”
“He has and not gotten too far, I fear. Callum is just as obstinate as his lady.”
“That is another of your duties then while I see to the king.”
“Sebastien,” Hugh whined. “This is conveniently timed for you.”
“Come now, Hugh. Use your skills as a negotiator and have this in place before I return. Do not fail me in this.” Sebastien stood and gestured for Hugh to come along. “The lady is agitated and will take some time to fall asleep. I want to show you my plans for a new building along the south wall.”
Chapter Nine
He left a day earlier than planned, and led his men under cover of night and by boat rather than marching the entire distance. Sebastien felt confident that the change in location for the meeting was warranted. If Eachann was indeed in the area, his spies were watching every move made by the king’s forces, and he would know of the plans to meet in Kilcrenan. At the last moment possible, Sebastien had moved the king’s gathering to the priory of St. Modan’s in Ardchattan and sent out trusted messengers to inform those involved of the change.
