“But she never belonged to you to begin with. Can you not see that?”
“I do. So I am supposed to let her go and marry this man she has no interest in?” Brogan could see the strange expression on William’s face. “Could you?”
William’s strange expression grew even odder. “That is not a situation I would ever face.”
“Nor did I ever think I would, either. But I am. You know Aubrey. Do you think she will be happy with him?”
William lowered his gaze, shaking his head after a moment of reflection. “She has little choice.”
Brogan exhaled heavily, his fatigue returning full-bore. He knew what he wanted to do, but he was effectively corralled bythe lady’s message. She wanted him to stay away until she could think of a way out of their predicament.
“What if she cannot think of a way out of this?” he asked softly, not to anyone in particular.
“Then you will have to move on with your life without her,” William answered.
“Do you believe she will be able to save herself from this marriage?”
William looked at him, his round blue eyes full of honesty. “Nay.”
There was a soft knock on the door. From the angle of the windows, Brogan could not see who stood in the archway. He rose from his chair, motioning to William and St. Alban to fall back out of sight. The men moved into the shadows as Brogan unbolted the door and cautiously opened it.
Avalyn’s flushed face greeted him.
CHAPTER NINE
Avalyn threw herselfinto Brogan’s arms before either of them said a word. Her flight had been so panicked that her only thought had been to reach Mama Starke’s shop. Now that she was here, emotions were close to the surface and she wept softly as he held her tightly in his arms. Her feet dangled several inches above the ground, wrapped up in Brogan’s enormous embrace. He smothered her with his body, his lips on her ear.
“Avalyn,” he breathed into the side of her head. “How is it you are here? I was told that…”
She cut him off, her voice brimming with relief and fear and joy. “I escaped,” she pulled her face from the crook of his neck and he began pelting him with kisses. “I ran as fast as I could and prayed that I was not followed.”
As they indulged in a joyous and tender reunion, William stood from his stool, his expression one of quiet distress as he watched the kisses, the affection. It cut through him like a dagger, but in the same breath, it was of no consequence. He knew, as he had always known, that he could never have her. But it had never stopped him from wishing.
“My lady,” he cleared his throat quietly.
Avalyn stopped in her kisses to Brogan’s cheeks, turning to look at the man she had known most of her life. She could read his expression, the indecision, the confusion. They both knew that her presence here was in no way acceptable, but the fact remained that she was indeed here. If William still possessed an ounce of loyalty to Warwick, he should do his duty and take herback to the Tower. But that was not going to happen. Slowly, Avalyn pushed herself from Brogan’s arms.
“William,” she did not let go of Brogan even as she walked towards the knight. “I am not quite sure what to say to you. But for the simple fact that you are here, you have my undying gratitude.”
William’s gaze was unchanging. “How did you escape?”
“Through the servant’s entrance.”
“How long ago?”
“Not more than a half-hour.”
William’s jaw ticked. His gaze moved between Brogan and the lady before charging towards the back door where his charger was tethered. Avalyn ran after him.
“Where are you going?” she demanded. She put a hand on his arm as he reached the door, forcing him to stop. “William, where are you going? What are you going to do?”
His round face was flushed with emotion, with fury. He struggled to maintain his calm. “Your aunt and uncle are no fools. Your absence will have been discovered by now and they will be looking for me to search for you. If I am not found also, there will be suspicion on me.”
Avalyn hadn’t thought of that. She had only thought of herself. The hand on his arm squeezed gently. “Oh, William,” she breathed. “I did not stop to think… clearly, you must return immediately otherwise they will think you have aided my escape somehow. But what are you going to say if they question you?”
William focused on her beautiful face, knowing he would have faced a thousand such interrogations simply to aid her again. He was a fool and he knew it.
“I will think of something,” he said, throwing open the door. But his last sentence was firm. “Get out of the city, now. Run as far as you can and as fast as you can, for Warwick will undoubtedly be on your heels. There are enough hunters in thistown that will gladly take the price to track you, and track you they shall. If I were you, I would take passage to France and stay there.”
