Gretna couldn’t even be upset with her, not any longer. While Trista’s jealousy had caused her a great deal of woe right now, Gretna knew that none of that mattered as long as it worked out for the both of them. “I forgive ye.”
Trista surprised Gretna by dipping her head. “I dinna think. He’s who ye are in love with isn’t he?”
“He is,” Gretna said softly, her cheeks burning as she admitted her feelings aloud. She was in love with Remy.
“And he’s coming back for ye?”
Gretna nodded again, her chest tightening. Remy would be back. That she was sure of.
Trista wet her lips, looking away. “If I knew something that could help ye, wot would ye do with the information? Would ye destroy the clan?”
“Nay,” Gretna said firmly. “I donna care tae destroy yer home.” She didn’t want to bring down the McCellan clan. That was not the person that she wished to be. The only thing she wished to do was to live her life as she saw fit and with the person she cared for. “I only wish tae break the marriage contract and go home. Ye will never have tae see mah again.” She was no threat to the young maid or to anyone who would finally capture James’ heart. The only thing she knew for sure was that she was not that person.
Seeing the indecision on Trista’s face, Gretna softened her expression. “I swear tae ye, no one will know that ye gave mah the information. I donna wish tae cause ye any strife with James nor do I wish for a war between our clans. I only wish tae be happy and I willna if I have tae remain here.” She knew in herheart that she could never be happy with James and he wouldn’t be either. He just couldn’t see how disappointing his life would be.
Trista stepped forward, shutting the door behind her and Gretna held her breath. “I’ve heard things,” Trista started her voice low. “I’ve been around when James and his da were speaking after some of their council meetings. They have gone into an alliance with the English.”
For a moment Gretna thought she had heard the maid wrong. “The English?” she echoed.
Trista nodded. “James was worried aboot it one evening when I, er, when we were together. He thinks his da is making a mistake, but they havena stopped their alliance. Tis has made both of them verra wealthy.”
Gretna heard the worry in Trista’s voice, knowing that if the other clans knew that the McCellan clan had the backing of the English, they would attack out of spite. An alliance with the English was a sentence of death to all of Scotland. They would be labeled as traitors.
“I’m worried,” Trista finished, true worry on her face. “The clan, they will suffer if anyone knows.”
“I willna say a word,” Gretna promised her. “Only tae James and his da so that I can get mah freedom.” While her brother or the others would love to know the information she had just gathered, Gretna was not going to betray her promise.
Trista gave a firm nod, her hand on the knob of the door. “Then I wish ye well, Gretna Wallace, and a hasty departure from this keep.”
Gretna watched as the maid departed, leaving her alone in the study once more. She couldn’t believe what the maid had just shared with her but it was what she needed. Now Gretna would have to find the right time to corner James and threaten toexpose him and his da, but it had to be timed perfectly or else she would be thrown into the dungeon until James would wed her.
That evening, she was waiting in the great hall as the men started to traipse through, smiles and laughter filling the air. Her hands clenched into her skirts as James and his father came inside, their clothing smeared with blood from some unknown animal.
“Mah intended,” James remarked, pulling away from his da to greet her. “Ye are looking lovely. Did ye miss mah?”
His da joined him before Gretna could answer, clapping a hand on his son’s shoulder and giving Gretna a wink. “Ye mean did she miss mah?”
James’ expression grew clouded but it blinked away quickly. “Aye, I’m sure she did, but she’s wedding mah. Donna forget that.”
The laird chuckled, releasing his son’s shoulder. “Aye, I willna forget. Come, donna touch the pretty lass until ye have cleaned yerself. We donna want her tae think we are animals in our own right.”
James didn’t move with his da, his eyes searching Gretna’s. “I trust ye stayed out of trouble?”
“Wot could I get into?” she asked pleasantly.
His gaze narrowed, but he didn’t reply, stalking off a moment later. Gretna maintained her smile, realizing that others were glancing her way, but inside she let out a small sigh of relief. James thought he had her trapped in this marriage, but what she learned today would keep her from sacrificing the future she wanted and be forced to wed him. Silently, she begged Remy to hurry back and do exactly what he had promised.
She needed for him to come and save her.
Meanwhile, in Wallace territory
Remy tightened the strap on his bag before slinging it over his shoulder, looking around the room one final time. He felt a little like Gretna having checked his bag twice, but the ride back to McCellan land was going to be difficult and he didn’t want to leave anything behind.
Satisfied that he got all his things, Remy strode out of the room and down the hallway, where Ian lounged at the high table, the remnants of his dinner before him.
“Are ye ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I am ever going tae be,” Remy responded, giving him a swift grin. “I just hope the weather holds or it will be a wet journey home.”
