“Aye,” Baird said sharply. “Tighten the shift rotations. Double the number at the north wall. Naebody enters or leaves without me direct approval.”
The guards exchanged glances. “Aye, me laird.”
“And send word tae every gate captain,” Baird added. “Visitors are banned until further notice.”
His tone left no room for argument. The men hurried off.
Kenny followed him still. “Me laird, this’ll rattle the whole keep.”
“Good,” Baird snapped. “Let them be rattled. Mayhap they’ll stop whispering and start paying attention.”
Kenny lowered his voice. “The people will think ye’re expecting war.”
“Maybe they should.”
He didn’t slow as he strode through the hall toward the stairs leading to the private wing. The castle suddenly felt too open and too unguarded. He felt every breath of air moving through the passageways, every door ajar, every shadow that stretched longer than necessary.
When he reached the chamber he shared with Davina, he paused only long enough to school his expression. He would not bring the dungeon stench or his fear into her world.
He stepped inside. Davina was standing stood by the window, with her hair half-braided and the morning sun painting her in soft gold. When she turned, concern etched her features instantly.
“Baird,” she asked gently. “What happened below? Ye look?—”
“I’m fine.” He walked past her, shrugging out of his coat.
She blinked. “Clearly ye’re nae. Please just tell me what the prisoner said.”
“Nay.”
The single word hung sharp in the air.
Davina took a step toward him. “Baird, I’m only trying tae understand. Ye came back pale as a wraith?—”
“I said nay,” he repeated, not raising his voice, but hardening it. “There are matters ye dinnae need tae carry.”
She flinched barely perceptibly, but he felt it, like a shift in the room’s temperature.
“I’m yer wife,” she reminded him softly. “I wish ye’d trust me enough tae?—”
“This is nae about trust.” He turned away, facing the hearth. “It’s about safety.”
“Mine?” she asked.
“Aye.”
“And ye think keeping me at a distance is safe?”
He clenched his jaw. Silence answered for him.
Davina’s voice lowered. “Ye’re shutting me out.”
“I’m protecting ye.”
“From what?”
He didn’t dare answer. How could he, when the truth was that danger breathed through every crack of the keep? And it was he himself who had invited it by failing to see what had been happening tae Malcolm.
“Stay in the chamber today,” he said instead. “Until I say otherwise.”
