He was being far too complacent; she knew how he felt about her part in this war. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“I thought you were sure that once you explained it to the king, he would agree?”
She bristled, knowing he was challenging her but unable to resist. “I am.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
She pursed her mouth, thinking that it wasn’t like him to capitulate so easily.
She was about to question him further, when he said, “Don’t bring me into this. It isn’t my fight. It’s between you and Bruce.”
He was right, not that she liked being reminded of how he wasn’t interested. “How much longer of a delay do you think this will cost us?”
She couldn’t be late. Something important was brewing; what if she missed it?
The dark shadow of his broad shoulders shrugged. “Once I am sure they have taken the bait and followed MacKay and MacLean, we will find some horses. Hopefully by morning, so not more than a half-day, I should think.”
She heaved a sigh of relief.
They walked for hours, eventually reaching the end of the stream near a small village. By that time, her feet were no longer cold; they were too numb to feel anything.
Ewen was talking to Sir Kenneth. “There’s an old Roman road that runs through the village. We can take that until we catch another river—”
He stopped suddenly, catching a glimpse of her shivering, and muttered an oath that she heard quite distinctly. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were cold?”
After slogging through the water and snow for hours at a pace she would consider more running than walking, Janet wasn’t in the mood for his overprotective male attitude. In spite of what he would like to think, she wasn’t going to break like a poppet made out of porcelain. Nor was she going to feel blame for chattering teeth. Jerusalem’s temples! Anynormalperson’s teethshouldbe chattering.
“Of course, I’m cold,” she snapped back. “I’ve just been walking through a freezing river. Anyone normal human being would feel a little chilly, but it isn’t anything I can’t handle or haven’t done countless times before.”
The sky had cleared and there was just enough moonlight to make out Ewen’s slightly taken-aback expression.
Her brother by marriage gave a sharp laugh. “I daresay, I’m cold as well, my lady. Despite all appearances, Lamont is quite human, and I imagine he is as well, although I suspect he’d rather eat nails than admit it.” He gave her a roguish wink. “Mary told me that you could stand toe-to-toe with anyone and weren’t easily cowed. I can see she was right. My friend over there isn’t exactly known for his tact—especially around ladies’ delicate sensibilities.”
“I noticed,” Janet said dryly.
“Delicate?” Ewen scoffed under his breath. “The lass doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
She knew he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, but she took it as one. “Thank you.”
He scowled at her with that same why-won’t-you-fit-in-the-nice-box-that-you-are-supposed-to look that her brother Duncan used to have.
“Your sister will be happy to have you back,” Sir Kenneth said. “She’s missed you terribly.”
Janet paled, the familiar anxiety gnawing at her. “I-I missed her as well.”
“She never gave up looking for you. I think she must have visited every church and hospital between Berwick and Newcastle.”
Janet looked at him, startled. “She did?”
He nodded. “Aye, she said she always sensed you were still alive. She said she would have known if you weren’t.”
Emotion suddenly gripped her throat. Was it true? Had Mary forgiven her? Had she not blamed her for what had happened?
Janet could only nod.
She glanced at Ewen. He was no longer scowling but watching her with a puzzled look on his face. Fearing she’d revealed more than she’d intended, she lifted her chin and said, “Are we going to keep moving?”
She thought he smiled, but no doubt it was a trick of the moonlight. With a bow, he said. “As you wish, my lady. Don’t let me slow you down.”
