“Whatever for?” Alison asked.
“To survive at Court a lass must learn such things,” Sybil said.
From what Alison heard, Sybil was a great success at Court.
“Unlike Archie, who can be shortsighted and difficult,” Sybil said, “I’ll write whatever ye need our chieftain to say.”
The more Alison thought about it, the more she thought it might work.
“Bless ye,” she said, hugging her sister again.
They went upstairs, away from the prying eyes of the men, to compose the message. There was no need for the others to know Archie had not written it. When they were done, Sybil signed it with a flourish and set the Douglas chieftain’s seal to it.
“I’ll go with ye to Blackadder Castle,” Sybil said.
“Nay, I need ye to stay here,” Alison said. “If this doesn’t go as we hope, I want ye to take care of my daughters.”
“Me?” Sybil said. “Why not our sister Maggie? Everyone knows she’ll make a wonderful mother.”
“I dislike her husband,” Alison said. “And I want my daughters to learn to be strong like you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Sybil said, gripping her arms. “But if it should, I’ll teach them to be like their mother. You’ve changed, Allie. Love has made ye strong.”
Alison felt confidence flowing through her. “Aye, it has.”
“This might come in handy,” Sybil said, holding up a thin piece of metal. “It’s a lock pick. Doesn’t work on every lock, but most of them.”
“How did ye get it?”
“From the same lad,” Sybil said with a grin, “for two more kisses.”
***
Alison rode up to the gate of Blackadder Castle surrounded by her sister’s Douglas guard, whose presence had helped persuade her Hume protectors to go along with her plan. Thanks to Sybil, who never traveled light, she wore a fine gown and elaborate headdress, as befitting her status as sister-in-law to the queen.
Alison drew her horse up a few yards from the gate and waited.
While the guards spoke among each other, she quelled the temptation to rub her sweaty palms on her skirts. A short time later, Patrick himself appeared on the wall, apparently not trusting the word of his men. He disappeared again, and her heart sank.
“Our laird welcomes Lady Alison,” one of the Blackadder men shouted down. “But she must enter alone.”
Alison swallowed back her panic. She must go inside and open the secret door to the tunnel. She was the only one who could save David.
After signaling to her Douglas guard to leave her, she heard them ride off. She sat still on her horse and kept her eyes fixed ahead. As she had hoped and feared, the gate creaked open. Patrick stood in the middle of the courtyard, his stance wide and his hands behind his back. Instinct urged her to turn her horse and gallop away as fast as she could.
Instead, she rode in alone to face Patrick and a castle full of warriors with nothing but a parchment rolled up her sleeve, a lock pick in her headdress, and a dagger strapped to her thigh.
CHAPTER 47
Alison forced herself to ride at a leisurely pace across the courtyard to Patrick. His resemblance to her former husband struck her anew, bringing her back to the day she had ridden into this castle as a young and frightened bride.
Patrick still thought of her that way. He underestimated her, and she would use that to her advantage.
“This is a surprise,” Patrick greeted her, “but a delightful one.”
She was relieved that he was choosing to be civil, at least for the moment.
“I’m glad.” She tried to hide how nervous she was with a smile. “Will ye help me down?”
