Page 107 of Outlaw Ever After

She never paid much mind to tools, but that scythe…

She ran her thumb over the signet on her finger, the etched scythe and lyre. The tiny designs were carved into his tattoo, too.

Slower now, she moved to the next tapestry, paying closer attention to these treasures she’d inherited: a lady playing a lyre while sitting in a colorful orchard of fruits and leaves with a babe at her breast and deer surrounding her like the wood nymph Alex had once likened her to.

This orchard… She touched the embroidered shapes of trees and deer. Like the orchard described in the men’s boasting outside. They’d found that fattened stag in an overgrown orchard today. One she didn’t even realize had existed and yet, Alex had known it was there.

These tapestries were the family’s story. Their legacy, not hers. It belonged to the rightful heir, punished wrongly so long ago. Those welts across Alex’s back. God, how had he gotten them? If she was right, dare she believe Seamus capable of doing that to a mere boy?

She traced the embroidered shape of the babe in the woman’s arm as her eyes misted. So much strife, this bonny country was embroiled in. This was the child who’d run happily through these halls. Up and down these very steps with Joslyn’s son, Aulay.

She dashed up the remainder of the stairs, onto the first floor, and knocked hard upon the laird’s chamber. Seamus didn’t answer. She pulled forth her keys from her girdle and unlocked the door, pushing it open.

“Seamus?”

The chamber was dark. Shutters closed. Hearth banked. She took up a taper and lit it in the torch, shining it into the darkness. Was he perchance…asleep? Nay, the bed was empty, the curtains drawn open.

She exited and moved next door to the solar that Seamus was using as a temporary office. Knocked. Silence. She unlocked it.

It, too, was dark and cold. She shone the candle within, illuminating the desk and sideboard where he kept the castle ledgers for Freuchie. No sign of Seamus.

She moved to his desk and felt the last of her hope wane. His packs—normally stored beside the chair—were gone. He never left on overland journeys without them.

It was as Alex had said. Seamus kenned nay what he was doing! She twirled around to leave when a soft green ribbon caught her eye. The same green as the bit of ribbon that had been tied around a posy atop her lyre. The same ribbon that had been tied about his other missives…

It was attached to an opened note. Addressed to a damning name.

“Songbird. ”

Her blood ran cold. A missive addressed to her…

“—I’ve been summoned to Edinburgh, to accept the post I’ve vied for and have no choice but to go. I can nay refuse a royal summons. But I’ll be the deputy comptroller to the Lord High Treasurer. I’ll be able to lay down my sword as I vowed to you—”

Her hand trembled. Her eyes dared to read on, even though she willed them not to.

“Such an income will allow us to live well in our wee paradise. Lady Rose has agreed to provide you lodging until my return, for I will run hard and fast back to you.”

Her heart hammered as she devoured the words, confusion mounting. Where had Seamus gotten this? Her head began to shake.

Keep my promise on your finger, and ken that whilst I ask much of you to wait another sennight, such an employ will allow me to provide without worry of where our coin will come from. I cannot promise you a wealthy life. But I can promise to steal my songbird away to where we can both leave our pasts behind and forge anew.”

Alex had told the truth. He’d been telling the truth all along while she’d doubted. He’d ridden up to Freuchie after months of searching, only to find her prepared to be won in a tournament. And Seamus…

Her own brother had stood before her two days ago, interrogating her about why she’d thought to elope. Letting her believe that Alex had forsaken her, letting her entertain falsehoods about Alex’s intentions toward her, when he’d harbored this missive the whole time.

Betrayal cut, disbelief stunning her to silence. Her lungs fought for air.

Her stalwart brother. Stubborn and yet, a man she’d still trusted to be loyal despite the past, had deliberately sabotaged her. He’d known this whole time that she’d intended to elope and had thwarted her.

“’Tis unfair of me to ask you to wait longer for me, but I am coming to you with all my haste. ~ C.”

C?

“Who is C , Peigi?”

Peigi’s head whipped up. Kendrew? He stood in the doorway, eying the missive in her hand with a foreboding aura of knowing in his tone.

“Where did my brother get this?” she said, but her throat was dry.