Alana froze, actually feeling the blood drain from her face. “What?”
Joan whirled. “The gossip is rampant, Alana. Everyone knows you are sleeping with Iain of Islay.”
She swallowed hard. “And you believe the gossip?”
“Of course I do—not because he was at Brodie all winter long, but because you are your mother’s daughter.”
She felt as if she had been stabbed. “And my father?”
“He refuses to believe it—but he refused to believe that you had taken an oath of fealty to Bruce, too. Your confession sent him into his cups.”
Alana walked away from her. She felt defeated. Joan had hated her mother and Joan hated her, but worse, Joan was making her feel ashamed.
“Will he come back here?” Joan demanded. “Are we in danger from Iain MacDonald? Will you protect us from him?”
Alana faced her. “I promised my father I would keep you safe, and I mean to do just that.”
Joan stared searchingly now, with fear. “We must go to England as soon as possible,” she finally said. “Before Iain learns we are here, before Bruce hears of it.”
Alana nodded. Joan was afraid of being taken captive. In spite of her hostility, Alana felt sorry for her then.
“I am going to retire with my daughters,” Joan said. “Good night.”
Alana did not speak, watching her leave. Godfrey got up and walked over as she vanished from their sight. Alana began to shake.
“Well, she certainly hates your mother,” Godfrey said.
“She hates me.”
“Yes, that is obvious. Alana, what will you do if Iain appears here? I am fairly certain that, if he hears you are harboring Lady Joan and his daughters, he will attempt to take them all captive.”
Alana stared in dismay. She did not want to add to the conflict between them, but she had promised her father that she would keep his wife and her sisters safe. “Let’s hope they are gone before he finds out.”
* * *
AMAIDHADstoked the fire in her hearth so it was roaring. Alana stood before it, clad for bed in a long linen shift, her hair in two braids. The sooner she sent Joan and her daughters to England, the better, she thought. Joan despised her and Alice was hostile, as well. At least Margaret was friendly.
A knock sounded on her door. Alana tensed. After the terrible interview with Joan, she did not know who or what to expect. She went apprehensively to the door and opened it.
Margaret stood there, clad in a sleeping gown, her long blond hair in a single braid. She smiled shyly. “I couldn’t sleep. Can I come in?”
“Of course,” Alana said, surprised. She stepped aside and Margaret hurried in. She sat down on the bed, tucking her legs beneath her.
“You are so beautiful!” Margaret exclaimed.
Alana sat down next to her. “So are you.”
“You look so much like Alice, but you are the prettier one,” Margaret exclaimed.
“I doubt that,” Alana said, suddenly thinking again about the fact that Alice was a great heiress, and that Bruce was interested in marrying her to Iain. How the notion sickened her. “Alice is beautiful...and she is a great heiress.”
“Yes. One day, she will be the Countess of Buchan. Even if Bruce fights this war for years, Father advised her to never give up her rights to the earldom.”
Alana flinched. Did that mean that Alice would seek to claim the Buchan lands, even if Bruce defeated her uncle? Even if he defeated King Edward and remained King of Scotland? Slowly, she said, “She is his true and only heir.”
“Yes.” Margaret studied her frankly. “I was so excited to learn that we had a sister, Alana. Of course, I hate this war, and I am afraid for Father, being at Balvenie while it is besieged. But I was eager to meet you—and when he said we must come here, I was pleased.”
Alana knew that neither Joan nor Alice had been pleased, and she remained silent.
