“Father James?”
“Aye.He said the father was already suspicious about your presence at Kildunan.”
He’d felt that.Father James’s eyes missed nothing, and his mind seemed as keen as his gaze.If the father learned what Hew was investigating, it wouldn’t be long before the king found out.
“So,” she said, her eyes gleaming with intrigue, “what are we to do?”
“Weare to do naught.”This had become too close for comfort.“Iwill look into matters more deeply.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.Ye’re bedridden.”
“I’m not bedridden.”Indeed, after he shook off the last of his sweating, shivering need for opium, he intended to get up and around and make himself useful.
“Ye need someone on the outside.Someone with unlimited access.Someone who can dig up more information.Someone,” she said, raising her brows meaningfully, “they’ll never suspect.”
He hesitated.He hated to admit it, but she was right about that.Nobody would question Carenza’s motives or suspect she was assisting him.Not only was she a woman.She was the laird’s irreproachable daughter.Itwouldhelp to have her poking her nose into things.
“Ye know I’m right,” she added.
“What about the monastery?”he challenged her.“The second thief has to come from there, aye?They’re not about to let a woman within the walls of Kildunan to question all the monks.”
“The second thief doesn’t have to come from the monastery.Peris has access.He goes there all the time.The second man could be the one who stashes or sells the valuables.”
Hew narrowed his gaze.“Which one said Father James was growing suspicious—Peris or the other man?”
“The other man.”
“Right.So he’s the one with the knowledge o’ what happens at Kildunan.”
“Och.Aye.”She thought for a moment.“Then I could find out who ’tis by questionin’ Peris.”
“He’s going to wonder why.And eventually he’ll know you suspect him of something.He’s anxious and impulsive.If he tried to killme…”He let the sentence hang.The idea of Peris hurting Carenza was too awful to think about.
She scoffed.“He won’t touch a hair on my head.My father would…string him up by his ballocks.”
Hew choked back a laugh.He doubted the delicate maiden had ever voiced such a crude phrase aloud before.It amused him.It also flattered him that she felt safe enough with him to mince no words.
Still, it didn’t feel right, getting Carenza involved in such a perilous game.She didn’t understand the kind of men and the desperation she was dealing with.Hew did.He saw it every day, defending the border and keeping the peace.
“My lady,” he decided, “this is not like reiving a coo.This is thievery on a grand scale, perpetrated against the church.Those involved will be severely punished.Maybe even hanged.That kind of threat will drive a man to do unspeakable things.”
“I can look after myself,” she assured him.“Trust me.Peris wouldn’t hurt me.”
“You didn’t believe Peris would intentionally try to kill me either.”
“I do now.”
He shook his head.“I don’t like this.If something were to happen to you…”
“If somethin’ were to happen to me,” she said with irritating practicality, “ye’d go to Kildunan and take your vows, the same as before.”
That was the lie he’d told her.And to be honest, if something happened to her, he might decide to withdraw into the life of a monk and make his vow of chastity permanent.But that wasn’t the way he felt now.
“I couldn’t live if I lost you,” he murmured.
When her eyes widened, he realized he’d bared too much of his heart.
So he amended his words.“For a knight to lose the lady he’s supposed to protect is a disgrace.”
