I asked, “Ye forgive me?”
His head brushed up and down against my hair. “Dost ye forgive me, Lizzie? I am so sorry for what I hae done.”
“Aye, m’lord.”
He said, “Thank ye, now we need tae keep ye from the gallows.”
He pulled away and held me by the shoulders.“Wilfred has done his best, I hope we can trust him?—”
There was a knock on the door, and Kaitlyn’s voice, “Lizbeth, can I speak to you?”
CHAPTER 31
LADY MAIREAD
YE HAE BEEN A GOOD HUSBAND
The thick door drew shut with a thud. The rain outside was loud, making it difficult tae hear.
The guards had allowed me tae come speak tae Wilfrey, who was sitting uncomfortably on the stone ledge.
I took one look at him, and went tae the door and called out. “I need some wine and two cups.”
A guard approached. “Wine? I canna give the prisoner wine.”
“Ye are going tae tell Lady Mairead that ye winna give her husband a cup of wine when he has been nearly killed in a duel? I hae had an appalling day, ye ought not cross me.”
The poor guard nodded and left for wine.
I sat down beside Wilfred on the bench. “We will need tae speak verra quietly, there may be people around listening.”
“I agree.” He swung his legs off the bench and sat up.
The guard returned with a bottle and two cups.
I took them through the window, pulled the cork on the bottle, and poured wine in both cups.
I passed him one and sipped from the other.
He drank and moaned happily. “I needed that.”
“Aye.” I raised my cup, and said, very quietly, “Tae Wilfrey, ye hae done me and m’family a great service today.”
He chuckled and raised his arm and looked down on the bandage. “And almost got killed. Will I survive it?”
“Likely.”
“It is cold in here.”
“Dungeons are constructed tae be a trial, and though tis summer, the weather is dreich.”
“I did not expect to be in a dungeon, when I offered….”
“What did ye think would happen tae ye?”
He chuckled again. “I have no idea. I will have a lot to think about my decision-making skills when I am shivering down here and everyone else is warm in the castle.”
I sipped from the wine. “Here is the good news, Wilfrey, upstairs will be chilled and damp as well. By now all the windows hae been opened for the Earl’s soul tae depart, else we will be haunted dreadfully. That is the last thing anyone wants.”
