“You’re not going, are you?” She grabbed his hands. “Please, don’t go. I…I don’t feel safe.”
“Nothing will happen to you, I swear it.”
“Susanne probably thought the same.”
He winced and she noticed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“No, I’m sorry,” he replied. “I should not have left you alone. I will sleep outside your door tonight.”
“I would feel much safer if you slept inside.”
He shook his head. “It is not proper.”
“Please, just for tonight. I couldn’t bear to be alone. Everytime I close my eyes, I see her there, all that blood.”
“All right, I will sleep in here but just for tonight. Now come, you must rest. The hour is late. You need your sleep.”
“I do not think I will ever sleep again.”
She was wrong. By the time Gavin helped her into bed and wrapped the blankets around her, she was yawning. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You will be safe, I promise.”
Her eyes closed slowly. He watched her for a few moments until a knock at the door disturbed his thoughts.
Crossing the room he unlocked it, peering out to find Bruce looking in at him.
“The body is in the chapel,” Bruce said. “Is it true? Did she kill Susanne?”
“I thought you knew better than to listen to gossip,” he replied. “She is no more a killer than I am a seamstress.”
“John said she had the bloody knife in her hand.”
“And do you think a killer would stand over the body for so long holding the murder weapon?”
“It did sound rather odd, I must admit. Poor Susanne.”
“She will be in Heaven by now. Her troubles are over. Ours are just beginning.”
“But if Heather did not kill Susanne. Who did?”
“That is what we need to find out. How goes the siege?”
“The outlaws settle for the night. A few more Frazers have come but no more than a dozen. I have guards in each tower. If they try anything overnight, we shall know quick enough.”
“Make sure no guard is alone. The killer is still out there somewhere and until they are found we must be cautious.”
“What about you?”
“I will remain here for the night.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows and Gavin waited for the inevitable accusation but it didn’t come. “Very well,” Bruce said instead. “I will return to my post.”
“Come to me at once if anything happens.”
“Of course.” He looked as if he was going to say something but he merely stood there looking past Gavin at the sleeping form of Heather in the bed.
“What is it? You want to say something, I can tell.”
“Be careful. You cannot be certain she is who she claims to be and people will talk.”
