Page 286 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“It isna’ safe,” Rhoslyn insisted.

“It is quite safe,” she replied. “The English army has no interest in me. I could have passed through their ranks and entered through the front gate, but to open the gate was too risky.”

Rhoslyn shifted her attention to the housekeeper. “How did you know I was in the north tower?”

“Ye were no’ in your apartment. It was an easy deduction.”

Rhoslyn nodded, then said to Lady Taresa, “Come, let us sit in my solar.”

Taresa’s gaze shifted to the window. “You can see the battlefield from here?”

“You can see the men. The battle hasna’ begun. St. Claire has yet to arrive.”

“Then we should stay and watch.”

“Nay,” Rhoslyn urged. “It is cold and drafty.”

She ignored Rhoslyn and crossed to the window. “You are wrong, child.” Taresa looked at her. “Talbot has arrived.”

* * *

Talbot sent Lochland to the west and Seward to the east. Sir Derek caught up with Talbot after delivering Lady Taresa safely to Castle Glenbarr. Her stubborn determination to join Rhoslyn reminded him of his sister. “Determination runs in our family, Talbot,” Taresa had said, and he’d half wondered if she’d read his mind.

She had pointed out that he would need Sir Derek to lead the men from Narlton Keep, so it would be easy for Derek to deliver her to Castle Glenbarr first. Talbot intended to refuse, to the point of locking her in her room, until she reminded him that Rhoslyn was very pregnant, and it would be a comfort to have family nearby while he dealt with the English.

Talbot sent Sir Derek south, while he approached from the north. Beside him, rode the warrior carrying the only lit torch amongst their ranks. As expected, when they neared the castle and the English camp, men mounted horses and met them before they reached camp.

Talbot brought his men to a halt.

“Who goes there?” called a man.

Talbot recognized the voice of the captain, Sir Ronald. “It is I, Sir Talbot.”

Ronald urged his horse forward. He drew near and squinted at Talbot. “You did not leave through the front gate, St. Claire.” The man’s voice dripped with accusation. “Who are these men?”

“My men,” Talbot replied. “Go back to England, Ronald. Tell Edward I know of his plot.”

“Plot? What plot?”

The man’s surprise sounded genuine. Talbot could easily believe Edward hadn’t chosen his captain as his assassin. If Talbot refused to return to England, Ronald would try to force him, while the assassin waited for an opportunity to kill him. That doubled Edward’s chances of making sure Talbot left Scotland.

“Return to England,” Talbot said.

“I cannot leave without you.”

Talbot glanced at his warrior holding the torch and nodded. The man lifted the torch high above his head. Three companies of men emerged from the trees beyond the field, from the shadows beyond the camp. They seemed to bleed from the darkness.

Shouts went up in the camp.

“You had better stop them,” Talbot said. “You do not stand a chance against my army.”

Sir Ronald stared at him for an instant, then called, “Evan, return to camp. No man is to draw a sword.”

Evan turned his horse. The beast lunged forward, then broke into a gallop.

“How many?” Ronald demanded.

“Sixteen hundred,” Talbot replied.