Thom nodded. “I am indeed, sire.”
Tomorrow Thom would be knighted by the king himself, admitted into the Guard with a private ceremony, and formally be given his barony. A barony that had gotten richer when the king learned of his role in saving his nephew. He was going to be a wealthy man.
By refusing him, she’d given him the means of achieving not only fame but also fortune.
Irony was a cruel bastard.
Elizabeth watched Thom walk away with her heart in her throat. She wanted to go after him, and might have tossed propriety aside and done exactly that, had Randolph not been speaking to her.
Since she’d arrived at the castle with the other women from the abbey, she’d been fighting for a chance to speak to Thom. But he’d been surrounded by hordes of townspeople who all seemed to want to be near him—to touch greatness.
Especially the women. Watching them fawn and flirt had made her heart ache and her stomach turn. What had she expected? That he would become a monk? He was swoon-worthy handsome, tall, with a body that was as hard and impressive as the famous Rock he’d just climbed. Just because she’d been too blind to see it didn’t mean others wouldn’t.
She’d been unable to approach him until they were seated for the meal, but even then he’d barely spared her a glance and cut off any attempts she made to talk to him.
She’d known it wasn’t going to be easy, but it was difficult being patient when every moment felt like his heart was growing harder and harder against her. Soon, nothing would be able to penetrate.
And then there was Randolph. She’d wanted to speak to him as well, but he was sohappy, she couldn’t stand the idea of tarnishing what was sure to be one of the greatest days of his life.
Oblivious to her torment, Randolph had regaled her with a moment-by-moment replay of the battle. Her horror on hearing about his fall—and Thom’s crazed rescue—was real. Mistaking the source of her distress, he’d apologized for scaring her, telling her he was perfectly hale. He’d finished the tale—which was a magnificent one indeed—just as Thom was leaving.
Randolph couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off his face. “I’d love to see your brother’s face when he hears the news. I daresay he won’t be happy.”
Jamie wouldn’t be, but not just because of the castle. Had her note reached him yet? She’d sent it with a messenger this morning.
She smiled. “I fear what he will do next to try to top you.”
Randolph laughed. “I’d like to see him try. I think this feat will stand for a while. Your friend MacGowan’s idea for those spikes was ingenious. Good thing he wasn’t born the son of a baker.” He laughed, and then suddenly sobered. “You were right about him; I owe him my life.”
It seemed like the perfect opening. Her voice wobbled a little. “My lord, might we speak in private for a moment?”
He took her hand to help lift her from her seat as they stood. “I should like nothing more, but might it wait? My uncle has put me in charge of the destruction of the castle, and the men are waiting for me.”
She smiled wanly. “Of course.”
“You are a gem. I knew you would understand.”
But wouldhe? Elizabeth had to admit she was not looking forward to Randolph’s reaction on hearing that she wished to break the betrothal. She did not delude herself that he had any real feelings for her, but appearances mattered to him, and his pride would no doubt suffer.
Both Joanna and Izzie looked at her expectantly as she rejoined them for the walk back to the abbey—they’d been seated at a different table.
When Elizabeth shook her head, they couldn’t hide their disappointment.
Izzie asked. “What happened?”
“Neither of them would talk to me. Thom barely looked at me, and Randolph was too happy—and too busy. He said we could speak later.”
“Perhaps it would be best if you waited for James to speak to Randolph?” Joanna said.
“But you said that you didn’t know when Jamie would be back.”
“I don’t. Although I imagine once he receives your note, it won’t take him long. If he wasn’t away when it arrived, I’d wager we’ll see him sometime around midday tomorrow.”
Which was even more reason to have things settled with Thom. The last thing she needed was her brother interfering. When Jamie came back she and Thom needed to be a fait accompli.
But how was she going to manage that when he wouldn’t even talk to her?
Her mouth pursed with frustration. He could be so blastedlystubborn. Prying him out of one of his dark moods had always been difficult, and this was much worse than a dark mood. She was going to have to come up with something far more than a silly jest or two. She needed a plan. A sure way to get him alone.
