He put it aside and focused on his lovely wife. They would share a quiet meal this eve with his mother, and he had to admit, that prospect was most welcome considering the events of late.
“There you are, my dears,” his mother said. “I thought we would be a party of five this evening but have just learned Elspeth and Connor have made for some entertainment in the village.”
His mother couldn’t hide her expression well. She was disappointed as any mother would be when a child has left home and returned for a visit regardless of the circumstance.
“I must admit,” William said as he pushed in Agnes’s chair and then his mother’s before taking his own, “I was quitesurprised to see her. What was her expression as she left after her wedding?”
“It will be some years before I return,” her mother said quietly.
Those words had cut his mother more than him.
“But I am pleased to see her now and such a confident woman she’s grown into.”
William exchanged a glance with Agnes who watched his mother with her brows drawn together. Did she sense something was off as well? He would be sure to probe her about it later. For now, he would enjoy the quiet meal and accept a peaceful respite.
It didn’t last long.
Shouts from outside drew their attention to the entrance of the hall. He jumped to his feet and with one backward glance said, “Stay here,” to his mother and wife.
Before he could reach the door, Elspeth and Connor burst through, clearly full of drink and stumbling around singing some sort of what he supposed was to be a melody. They both held bottles in their hands from which they drank heavily then proceeded to try another tune, apparently unaware there was anyone else in the hall.
“Elspeth!” he shouted.
They both stopped and looked at him then burst into laughter. By God, this was ridiculous. She was the sister of an earl, not some scullery maid cavorting about the country.
He grabbed her shoulders and shook. “Elspeth. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She stopped then and swatted his hands away. “I’m doing whatever the hell I want,” she said and took another long swig from the bottle.
William grabbed it from her and then Connor grabbed it back. “Do not touch my wife or her bottle,” he said and handed it back to her.
“What is wrong with you two? I told you we have had a threat here and that we are trying to remain vigilant until this business is resolved.”
They exchanged a glance and then burst into gales of laughter again.
William scratched his head and turned around to see what his mother and wife thought. He shrugged his shoulders. “Any ideas?”
When he turned back the two were staring at him hard. All mirth left the hall, and he had the foreboding sense the roof was about to blow off the place.
“I have an idea, brother,” Elspeth said. “Why don’t you hand over that wife of yours and maybe we will leave the family and the castle intact.”
Her words took a while to sink in. When he looked at Connor it was to find him staring hard at Agnes and slicing his finger across his throat.
“Elspeth, you had better explain yourself and now, before I have you both run through.”
“Well, I thought she was rather obvious,” John Sinclair said stepping through the door and into full view. Near the door, he closed it and slid the bolt into place locking them in. How long had he been in the hall?
Behind him, Agnes shrieked as his mother whispered, “Who is he?”
“How did you get in here?” William said as he drew the dagger he kept at his side always.
“Are you really that daft, brother? Do you not think I know every nook and cranny of this place and of the many holes you left in your formidable security detail.”
“So what now?” William asked. “Do you really think the three of you can best me to get to Agnes.”
“No. We don’t,” John said. “And we don’t have to. If she wants to see her parents again, she will come willingly, otherwise they will be dead before daybreak.” To Agnes, he said. “And you. You lying bitch. I will have my vengeance upon you. To think you could outwit we who have been plotting for years. You think you can outsmart and unravel a network that goes beyond a handful of rebels. You poor little daft wench. Never fear, niece. Your precious queen will get what’s coming to her too.”
To his horror, Elspeth grinned and nodded her head. He looked at the three and the threat they posed. He glanced at the door. Where the hell were the king’s guard.
