He gasped. “Lady Mary! What are you doing here?”
The blood slid from her face. Oh God, this couldn’t be happening. The boy thought she was her sister.
“You know this woman, John?” Sir Thomas said.
The lad frowned, staring at her. He must have seen something that made him question his first impression. “It’s me, Lady Mary. John Redmayne. I was friends with your son at court. You remember—we met at Bamburgh Castle last year. I came with Lord Clifford.”
Sir Robert Clifford was one of Edward’s chief commanders in the battle against the Scots. Fear curdled like sour milk in her stomach.
After a moment, Janet finally found her voice. “I’m afraid you have mistaken me with someone else.”
The boy’s frown went askew.
“Step forward where I can see you,” the knight ordered. “If you are not the woman my squire believes, then who are you?”
“Kate, my lord,” she said softly, using the name she’d given the merchant.
The knight’s eyes narrowed. “Pull back your hood.”
She did as he bid, she hoped without showing as much reluctance as she felt. The moment the plaid fell back, a collective silence fell over the knight and his men. They stared at her in shock and unmistakable masculine admiration.
Except for the squire. He smiled broadly. “Itisher. Lady Mary, the Countess of Atholl.”
The lad had obviously not heard of her sister’s defection and second marriage. But the knight had. The way his dark eyes gleamed as his mouth curved in a slow smile chilled her to the bone. “And what is the rebel Lady Mary doing in Melrose?”
Janet forced a shy smile to her face. “I’m afraid the boy is mistaken, my lord.” She batted her lashes up at him with what she hoped was just the right amount of innocence. But something told her this man wasn’t going to be easy to fool. “I am—”
“Our daughter, my lord.”
Janet startled and hoped she didn’t look as surprised as she felt, when the merchant came up beside her and claimed her by the arm.
Ewen fought the lulling force of darkness, which sought to drag him under.You can’t sleep. He tried to open his eyes, but the lids were too heavy. Someone had put a weight on them.
Try. You have something to do. He didn’t know what it was that he had to do, but he knew it was important. Very important. The most important thing in the world.
Get up. You have to go after her.
Oh God, Janet!
He flailed blindly in the darkness, trying to sit up. But something wrestled him down. Powerful, steely hands clamped his wrists and ankles, pinning him to the bed.
He cried out, writhing in pain and frustration as he tried to fight his way free. But the steely hands seemed to multiply like some kind of hideous spider.
Have to get up. Danger. She needs me.Oh, God, Janet…sorry.
“…Tie him down.” A soft voice penetrated the edges of his consciousness. A woman’s voice. Anangel’svoice. “…Getting worse…Take leg.”
“No!” He lashed out, fighting with everything he had until the pain overwhelmed him and the darkness dragged him under.
Ewen was dreaming again, running through the darkness looking for something—for someone.
Have to find her…
He startled and opened his eyes, quickly closing them again as the light stabbed them like a dagger.
He groaned, turning, surprised to feel his arms moving freely at his side.
“He’s awake,” a familiar voice said.
