Pushing herself to her feet, she came toward him. “I can steal the children from Faegerleigh and take refuge in one of the village cottages with them until you send word that you’ve secured Eduard and his forces.”
“’Tis an idea, Gray,” Alban said, turning completely away from the window to face him. “Eduard would never think her bold enough to attempt such a rescue.”
“Nay,” Gray shook his head. “’Tis too dangerous.”
“No more dangerous than what my children have faced alone for all these months,” she answered. Her eyes seemed to pierce him to his soul. “You trained me to wield a sword yourself, Gray. I’m no master, but you know that I can defend myself. If it makes you feel better, send two or three of your knights with me. We’ll move quickly and quietly, perhaps without anyone even knowing we were there. ’Tis our best chance for getting the children to safety before Eduard’s return.”
A bolt of fear shot through Gray at the idea of Catherine sneaking into her old home and facing its countless dangers without him. To stall for time to think, he said, “What about Montford’s message? Your bargain with him accorded that you would be the one to clear the way for his man to slip the poison that would kill me into my food. If you’re not waiting for him in the courtyard when he rides through these gates, he’ll know something is amiss.”
“There’s no help for it,” she countered. “We’ve known all along that I would have to take part in Ian and Isabel’s rescue. No one else here can successfully navigate Faegerleigh’s intricate corridors.”
She frowned, adding, “’Tis true that Heldred knows Faegerleigh’s design as well as I do, but his health has been precarious of late, and ’twould be dangerous for him to attempt the rescue.” She shook her head. “There’s no other way but for me to go while you stay here to take care of Eduard. I’ll trust you to keep him contained so that I can get to my children without his interference.”
“I don’t like it,” Gray said, getting up to pace around to the front of his table. “There must be some other way.”
“There’s not,” Catherine said. “None that will ensure Ian and Isabel remaining alive and safe, and that must come first. ’Tis the only way.”
He gazed at her, fear for her warring with love and pride. “What you plan will be dangerous, Catherine. Too dangerous.” He clenched his jaw, battling with himself as he added more quietly, “I don’t know if I can let you go.”
Her fierce expression softened a little; the shadow of a smile teased her mouth. “If you’re worried that you’re going to lose me, Gray—don’t.” She stepped closer to him and cupped his cheek, stroking his skin with her cool fingers. “If the truth about my real identity didn’t tear us apart, I’m certainly not going to allow Eduard or his men to do it. Trust me to be strong, as you’ve taught me to be. Strong as I know I am.”
Gray placed his hand over hers, pulling her to him, and Alban pretended to be very interested, suddenly, in the wooden joints of the window casement. Turning her palm up, Gray kissed the tender, now lightly callused skin there. She leaned into him, and he held her close, soaking in the warmth of her touch.
“All right,” he finally conceded, cursing softly as he released her. “I give up. You’ll go with a group of my men to Faegerleigh to get your children, and in the meantime, I’ll plan a surprise attack to contain Montford. We’ll give him no time to suspect anything. We’ll just charge in and restrain him until King Henry arrives. Montford has enough men with him that there will likely be a battle before we can subdue him, but at least we’ll have the advantage of being on Ravenslock ground.”
“What do you want me to do?” Alban asked, leaving his study of the window to join them at the table.
“Go with Catherine. Damn Montford for keeping me from her, but if I can’t be at her side, then I’ll feel better knowing that you’re there.” Gray dragged his hand through his hair again. “I wish there were another option. Letting you both go with so little protection—it seems wrong, somehow.”
“I’d say ’tis the best plan,” Alban countered. “We cannot have too many with us, or we’ll draw notice. Your task will be far more difficult, keeping Montford and his men contained.”
Gray clenched his jaw, worry ripping through his gut as he considered all that could go wrong.
“Everything will be fine, Gray, you’ll see,” Catherine said, taking his hands in hers.
Gray met her gaze, saw the purpose and fire burning anew in their blue depths. Another burst of pride and love shot through him. When had she changed so completely from the timid, frightened woman he’d first known into this virago, ready to confront their enemies single-handedly?
As if she’d read his thoughts, she added quietly, “I’m not afraid of Eduard any longer. His tyranny over me is done, thanks to you. But my children remain at his mercy; they need me, and I intend to be there for them. I’ve waited too long already to bring them to safety.”
Leaning closer, she brushed her lips over his. He felt the warm, sweet caress of her mouth and yearned to deepen it, to let it escalate again into the passion they’d shared last night. But what lay ahead couldn’t wait.
Pulling away with a sigh, Catherine gave him one more loving glance, then gestured to the door. “Come and help me prepare for the journey. We must leave soon if we wish to travel at least part of the distance to Faegerliegh under veil of darkness.”
Nodding, he followed her from the chamber. A short hour later all seemed ready for their departure. Standing in the courtyard, he watched Catherine, Alban and two more of his best knights ride through the gates. The feel of her parting kisses lingered on his lips, haunting him with self-doubt. He fought back the panicked sensation that threatened to overwhelm him, the feeling that said he was making the biggest error of his life. He suppressed it forcibly, reminding himself that this was what they’d decided together. He and Catherine. Together.
She had a task to accomplish, and so did he. If she was successful in stealing back her children, it would damage Montford’s position in the evil game that he played, but it wouldn’t stop him. Capturing and destroying the wretch once and for all would be Gray’s duty alone.
It was a moment he looked forward to with every breath that filled his lungs. A task he would take great pleasure in completing at long last.
A night owl called from the stable rafters as Heldred settled with a sigh into the fresh straw. His bones ached more than ever, curse them. And his heart…Jesu, his heart was skipping enough beats lately to make him see stars thrice daily. It was because of his damnable weakness that Mistress Catherine had not asked him to join her in rescuing her children.
Oh she’d discussed it with him, introducing him to her husband anew and acknowledging that they’d known each other for years. She’d even told Lord Camville that they shared a friendship, bless her kind heart. But in the end, when she’d needed help, when she’d needed allies and supporters, she’d been forced to leave him behind. He was naught but an old and useless man.
Good Lord Camville had tried to make him feel needed; he’d asked him to keep an eye open to discern who among those at Ravenslock might be Lord Montford’s spies. But it seemed so paltry compared to all he should have been able to do. And yet he would do it. Anything to aid mistress Catherine in getting her children back.
Punching at the hay-stuffed ticking that served as his pillow, Heldred rolled over and breathed deep. The stable was quiet now, but for the occasional snuffle of horses and a few grunts from the other men sleeping inside. Lord Camville had done well in closing off the castle to prevent anyone entering or leaving; in fact the whole place had been almost unnaturally still since Mistress Catherine set off.
He heard Hugh the tacksman growl a warning to one of the stablelads, threatening to bury him under the straw if he snored again this night. Another man coughed, and Garth Digby, the blacksmith’s apprentice, called out for quiet, as he did every night. Then all fell silent. Heldred began to drift off, lulled by the rustling sounds of the animals settling down in their stalls. The warm, earthy smells of sunshine-dried hay, horse and leather filled his senses, and he closed his eyes…
