Perhaps sensing that he would rather not talk about it, Jo added, “What will you do now? Will you journey with the earl to begin the siege at Stirling, or will you go with us to Edinburgh? I hate to say goodbye when we’ve only just said hello. I’m sure James could be persuaded—”
“Neither,” he said, cutting her off before she could say it. He’d rather die of boredom laying siege to a thousand castles than put himself under Douglas’s authority—one successful mission or not. “I have an errand that has already been delayed too long.”
“Ah, yes, your widow. Ella mentioned that you were considering marriage.”
His mouth fell in a hard line. Would thatEllahad been as forthcoming about her own nuptial plans. He gritted his teeth.Randolph...
Bloody hell.
“Do you care for her?” Joanna asked.
He looked at her sharply, but then realized she meant the widow. “I barely know her, but she is pleasant, attractive, and wealthy. I’m sure we will get along well enough. It is a good match.”
“I’m sure it is on parchment,” Joanna said. “But there is more to marriage than tochers, alliances, and advancement. Or there can be if you find love.” He stiffened instinctively, a steel wall dropping down before him. But Jo paid it no heed and punched right through it. “Are you certain you and Ella...?”
“Absolutely certain,” he said in a voice that brokered no argument. “There is no me and Ella and there never has been.”
He made the mistake of looking over at her, and for one perilous heartbeat, their eyes met. The bellow of heat that blasted his chest burned a hole right through him. Feelings he didn’t want, feelings that had taken years to be rid of, poured over him in a hot, penetrating wave and threatened to take hold.
He looked away sharply, breaking the connection. Breakinganyconnection. No way in hell was he going to let it start all over again. He’d had enough of his insides ripped out getting over her the first time.
Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get out of there. Rutherford Castle and Lady Marjorie were waiting for him. He pushed back from the table and stood before Jo could respond. “Carrick is calling for me.”
The earl wasn’t even looking in his direction.
Joanna knew he was lying, but nodded and stood to return to her husband. “You won’t leave without saying goodbye?”
He shook his head and leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. “I won’t.”
“Promise?”
He quirked a smile. “Aye, I promise. Although I hope you like being woken at dawn.”
She smiled back at him. “I don’t mind, although James isn’t overly fond of early risings.”
Like his sister, Thom couldn’t help remembering. Ella had always bemoaned his having to get up so early to start the fires and carry the coal when he was a lad. He hadn’t minded, but she’d thought it must be torture.
Memories, blast it. This had to stop.
He left Jo laughing with a promise to make it nice and early and approached the dais where Carrick was seated. He caught his eye and was pleased when the earl immediately called him forward.
“Ah, MacGowan, I was just going to send for you.”
He arched a brow in surprise. “You were?”
“Aye, you are a popular man.”
Thom frowned, having no idea what he was talking about. But from the glance Carrick sent to MacLeod, who was seated a few feet away from him, Thom suspected he’d been hearing about the mission.
“My lord?” he asked, seeking clarification.
The earl held up a folded piece of parchment. “Not an hour after I receive a message from my brother requesting your presence in Edinburgh, MacLeod comes to me with a similar request.” One side of his mouth lifted. “I also received a rather annoyed missive from Lady Marjorie this morning. Apparently the lady’s patience is wearing thin. She is growing tired of waiting for an escort and wonders if she should find other arrangements.”
Thom swore under his breath.
Carrick heard it and laughed. “Aye, the lady is far from subtle, isn’t she? I’m afraid you are going to have some explaining to do to her when you can convince my brother to give you leave.”
Thom pushed aside his worry about Lady Marjorie, still reeling from the news that the king wanted to see him. “Do you know what this is about, my lord?”
