Margaret took her hand. “I hope you can forgive my mother. She cannot accept that you are Father’s daughter. She has said so. She told us that, once, she and your mother were friends. She felt betrayed when she learned that your mother loved the man she meant to marry.”
Alana was grim. “It is hard to blame her. What about Alice? She doesn’t like me, either.”
“Alice did not want to come here. She did not want to meet you,” Margaret said. Her blue eyes held Alana’s. “She is still upset that our father was with another woman, even if it was before his marriage to Mother.”
“I would probably be upset, too,” Alana said.
“I’m not upset. It was so long ago. I think it’s wonderful that I have another sister!” Margaret grinned. Then her smile faded. “Alice is a wonderful sister. Truly. I pray you will become friends soon. But...we are on opposite sides of this war.”
Alana hesitated. “Margaret, maybe if you try, you could understand. My mother died when I was born, and I was raised by Lady Fitzhugh, who isn’t even my blood grandmother. And because I am illegitimate, I had no status here, or anywhere else. Brodie was my mother’s, but it was given to Duncan, who was also made my guardian. I have grown up a bastard with no means and no dowry; you have grown up with everything, including two parents who love you. We are on opposite sides of this war because I found a way to get Brodie back. But you are my sister, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe from my liege lord, and to get you to England.”
“I am so glad we are sisters,” Margaret said, squeezing her hand. She then yawned and stood up. “Mother doesn’t trust you, but I do. And I hope we do not leave too soon!”
Alana stood, smiling. “I hope so, too. That way, we can become better acquainted.”
Margaret hugged her impulsively. “I am suddenly tired. I had better go back to bed before I am discovered.”
Alana walked her to the door, joy filling her heart. “Suddenly I am tired, too,” she said, and hugged her youngest sister in return.
* * *
“HOWCANWEget them safely to England?” Alana asked tersely.
It was the next morning. The sun was high, but she was alone at the table in the hall with Godfrey. Her guests had yet to arrive, and Eleanor was sleeping late, as she had begun to do recently.
“You cannot spare any men.” Godfrey was final.
Alana began shaking her head. “They are frightened. Having been a prisoner, I do not blame them. Bruce is at Balvenie—why can’t I spare a dozen soldiers?”
Godfrey reached across the table and took her hand. “I am afraid that your uncle would seize the opportunity to attack you, Alana.”
The Earl of Buchan might or might not be able to march on Brodie, and she did not want to take a chance that the former might happen. “They cannot wait out this war here. Iain will learn of their presence—so will Bruce. Alice would be a valuable hostage.” And it would be worse than that—she could then become Iain’s wife. If Bruce wished it, she would not be given a choice.
“I would go to Banf and speak with my father but he will not want to spare any men, either.”
Alana’s mind raced. “It would probably be too dangerous to send them with a guide, in disguise.”
Godfrey gave her an incredulous look.
“So we will remain here—very much as if we are prisoners?”
Alana leaped to her feet, whirling at the sound of Alice’s voice. Her sister stood on the threshold of the room, her face starkly pale. Clearly, she had been eavesdropping.
“You are not prisoners,” Alana said.
“If there is a choice,” Alice said, coming forward, “then I would flee south in disguise as farm women with a single guide.”
“That would be terribly dangerous!”
Alice’s eyes were wide. “And why would you care? Because we are sisters?”
“I would care because we are sisters,” Alana said. “And I promised Sir Alexander to keep you safe.”
“Even as you went over to the enemy—even as you bed the enemy,” Alice said harshly.
So her sister had heard the gossip, too. She squared her shoulders. “Unlike you, I am a bastard, and had no hopes of ever marrying.”
Alice folded her arms across her chest. “And that justifies your becoming Iain of Islay’s lover? That justifies your treachery to our family?”
