Would he always find her in hallways, sharing secrets with princes and troubadours? Good Lord, she even admitted to passing her lover’s child off as her husband’s. Yet, this same woman welcomed William’s young brother into her household with an open heart. She forgave William his harsh words, his lack of trust, and accepted on faith his promise to do better.
And she said she loved him.
Though he did not fully understand her, he knew for certain he could never be content without her.
A sense of well-being came over him when he saw Ross Castle in the distance. Even now, the lookouts would be reporting his arrival to the household. He looked forward to seeing Jamie and Stephen as well. He had grown attached to the boys.
He shook his head. Odd how life could change so quickly. Two months ago, he came here with no real ties. Now, for the first time in his life, he felt as if he had something to lose.
He remembered Catherine’s uneasy stomach the day before he left and felt anxious. He spurred his horse ahead of his men and rode through the open gate.
Most of the men he had left at the castle were waiting for him in the bailey. Catherine was not. Scanning the group, he saw that Stephen was missing, too. And where the devil was Edmund?
As he dismounted, a small figure shot out from between the men. He tossed his reins to a waiting stable boy and lifted Jamie into the air.
“Where’s your mother, big boy?”
“Didn’t you find her?”
Fear ran like ice through his veins.
“Lord FitzAlan.” He turned to see Hugh Stratton, one of the men he left with Edmund.
“What has happened?” William said, his heart beating wildly in his chest. “Where is my wife?”
“Lady FitzAlan wished to go to the abbey,” Hugh said. “Edmund and Stephen escorted her.”
William sagged with relief. His relief dissolved a moment later when Hugh could not meet his eyes.
“What is it? Out with it, man!”
“They were attacked.”
God, no!
“When they did not return when expected, we went out looking for them. We found Edmund, but he’s in bad shape.”
“What of Catherine and Stephen?” Would the fool not tell him if they were alive or dead?
“They must have been taken captive. Except where Edmund was, we found no blood, no piece of torn clothing…”
God have mercy. “When was this?”
“Two days ago. I had the men out searching for them all of yesterday and today,” Hugh said. “Edmund can speak now, if you wish to see him. Alys put a bed up for him in the keep.”
William was so intent on questioning Hugh that he forgot the boy in his arms until Jamie yelled, “I want my mother!”
Jamie looked at him with eyes big and wet with tears. “I want Stephen, too.”
“I shall bring them home,” William promised.And if either one is harmed, I will track the villains down and kill every one of them.
Jamie leaned heavily against his chest as William carried him to the keep. After handing the boy off to his nursemaid, William went with Hugh to see Edmund.
William paused at the door. He’d seen more than his share of wounded men. But, God’s blood, Edmund looked as if he’d been trampled by horses. Everywhere he wasn’t bandaged, he was black and blue.
When William knelt beside the cot, Edmund opened one eye. The other was swollen shut.
“I did my best, but there were six of them,” Edmund croaked. “I killed one before another caught me from behind.”
