He did not wait for her to ask. Without knowing what Eachann had revealed, he would tell her the truth. Then, he knew, she would lie to him.
“’Tis true, Lara. I do spy for the king. I have since the beginning of my service to him nigh unto three years ago. Although I have some talent for fighting, Robert discovered that I could gather information. I have men all over Scotland, in cities, villages and in the countryside, who provide Robert with the most accurate information about his enemies, their troops, their plans.”
Lara sat unmoving in the chair. From his place by the window, he could see that her whole cheek was bruised.
“So you kill as he does? He said those villagers were murdered by you.”
“I do not kill innocents. I do not turn away from doing what must be done in carrying out the king’s orders, but those not involved in the fight need not fear me.”
He thought she glanced at him then, but she lowered her gaze quickly if she had. What was her part in this?
“Was Eachann there when you arrived?”
“Aye.”
“How did he come to be there?”
“Sebastien, he was here in the castle this morn. He told me to meet him there or he would come back to harm Malcolm.”
“He was here and you did not tell me?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“I could not,” she said.
He faced her now and asked again. “Could not or would not?”
Lara met his gaze and repeated, “I could not. He threatened the children if I did not meet him in the chapel.”
“He only has the power you give him, Lara. If you could have trusted me and told me, he would never have gotten close enough to do that—” he pointed to her cheek “—to you. And he would not get to the children, either.”
“I do trust you, Sebastien. But he is family….” She stopped and looked away when she realized what she’d said.
“And I am still the enemy.” His heart hurt as though stabbed. She was holding on to the past with both hands, and there was no way to move forward in their lives, in their marriage, when she did so.
“For each step we take ahead, we seem to stumble two back. I thought you were becoming accustomed to our marriage. I thought you might even be accepting it. Was it Eachann’s visit that make you doubt again? What did he tell you that is making you look at me with such fear?”
“Eachann said that you killed those villagers as a warning to him.”
“Look at me, Lara. Who is lying in this? You know my ways. You have witnessed how I run this castle and how I carry out my duties to Robert. Have you ever known me to kill without reason? I could have slain every man and woman the day I came here. ‘No quarter asked and none given’ is the battle cry. I could have, but I chose another way to get in the castle.”
“Yes, you lied to me to get in.”
“Lied, yes, and bluffed, and humiliated you as well, but you and those you care about the most are alive, when most who refuse the king’s orders are not.”
Lara stood now and walked to the other side of the room, as far as she could go. “And if you’ve lied to me all along, why should I believe you in this? It will be easier if you can convince me to accept your words over my cousin’s.”
His anger flared, so much he wanted to scream it out at her. But, he realized that she was doing the same thing she had in the past when afraid of her own feelings or of something she faced—striking out so that she could be driven away. Did she even know she did it?
“What is behind this, Lara? What else did Eachann say that has made you doubt me?”
She did not answer quickly, indeed she crossed her arms over her chest and for a few minutes appeared to be thinking over her answer. She still kept her secrets, the ones he knew about and the ones he prayed he was wrong about.
“Tell me of my father,” she whispered.
Ah, so Eachann had told her of her father’s return to the fight. “Your father is now serving as an admiral in Edward’s forces. Although he has returned to Scotland, his activities so far have not been in this area. Mayhap he does think to protect the ones he left behind as hostages?”
“So you did know?” she asked.
“Of course I knew. I was the one who informed Robert of it. Eachann was right about one thing—I am the king’s spy.”
