She flinched at his words. “What else do you know about him?”
“Lara, he fights for England, hoping to recover all he has lost. He wants to use you as a wedge—causing enough trouble to distract me from my duties to Robert and using you as a figurehead to draw his allies into the fight.”
“Me? How is he using me?”
Apparently Eachann had not revealed the whole plan to her. “His aim is to, in his own words, free the Maid of Lorne from her captor and return her and this castle to their rightful place.”
“His own words?”
“I have one of the letters he sent to several of his former allies, all of whom have sworn allegiance to Robert now. He is using you as a rallying cry and nothing more. This is not about him caring for you, ’tis about his own goals.”
She looked confused. But she did appear to be considering his words. That was a good sign, but not enough to remedy this situation, which put all of them and especially him and his men and their mission for the king in danger. He could not and would not do that, not even for the woman he loved.
“Every good spy has a contingency plan. Situations change, allies become enemies and enemies become friends,” he explained. “’Twould appear that we have need of one now.” Her eyes widened at his admission. “Sit and let us discuss mine.”
Lara moved back to the chair and sat. He noticed her favoring her arm. “He hurt you there, too?” At her nod, he went to the door and called for wine to be brought. “Has Gara seen to you yet?”
“Nay. You ordered that no one could enter and Jamie took your instruments very seriously.”
“Good. I do not like to have my orders disobeyed or ignored.”
He stood at the door and took the pitcher and goblets from Margaret when she returned with them. After telling the maid to summon the healer, Sebastien filled the cups and handed one to Lara. She accepted and drank most of it in one swallow.
“Go slowly or you will be asleep before I finish telling you of my plan.”
He’d thought on this for many weeks. The future, one with her as his wife, was just ahead of them if he could only make her see the rightness of it. If only she could trust him or if she wanted to trust him, it could work out well. But, without her full support, it would not work at all.
“As Robert’s commander here, I perform many duties for him. His decision to leave this castle standing when his tried-and-true method is to destroy such keeps is based on my ability to carry out my orders. My first responsibility is to hold this castle and area in his name. My second is to organize and maintain supply lines from here on the coast to many locations. My third task is to continue to gather information and use it against his enemies.”
He paused and drank some of his wine. “Yourinclinationto favor your family over me is causing problems and preventing me from successfully carrying out those duties.”
“Me? I do not understand. How do I interfere here? I have no power, nothing with which to stop you.”
He smiled at her. “If I have to worry that you are being dishonest with me, or giving aid to your cousin, who is my bitterest enemy, or that you are in danger here, I cannot be effective.” He drank down the rest of his wine. “And I must be effective or it will cost lives.”
“Am I to be a prisoner again? As in those first days and weeks?” She shivered and he knew she was at the end of her endurance.
“Nay, not a prisoner. You have a choice to make and not much time to make it.”
“I made my choice—I have been trying to be a good wife to you. I have begun taking over the duties that should be those of the lady and chatelaine. What more do you want?”
“I want your unconditional surrender.”
She was about to take a sip of her wine but stopped and stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“In battle, when one side is overwhelmed by the enemy, an unconditional surrender is the only way out. I told you that I want everything I never had, Lara. I want it with you. But, you must give yourself to me, in mind and body and soul and, most especially, in heart. I must be the family who claims your loyalty, your trust and your support.”
“You ask much of me, Sebastien. Do you know the cost of this to me?”
“Aye, love, I do. But the rewards will be great.”
“And if I cannot give you what you ask?” She frowned and he was pleased that she wanted to know all the conditions before accepting or rejecting his offer. She was thinking, which was better than acting in haste.
“You have two options. If you want to remain my wife, but cannot stay here in the thick of things, I can send you to a cousin who lives in the east. You and Malcolm and Catriona can live with them until this is over, and be safe there.” He paused and then explained the next part. “If you do not wish to remain my wife, if you wish to return to your clan, I will send you back to them.”
“You will put me aside?”
“Aye. Robert has enough bishops on his side that I am certain one or more could be convinced to annul the marriage. You can go on as before and your father can choose your husband.”
