Page 288 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Rhoslyn laughed. “No’ if she is like me. I was always in trouble.”

“Not you,” Taresa said in a teasing tone.

“Aye.” She recounted the tale of how she had left Banmore Castle in search of her puppy. The animal had gone missing and Rhoslyn was sure he’d gotten lost outside the castle.

The evening wore on, and Rhoslyn at last was forced to give into Lady Taresa’s insistence that she sleep. Her eyes grew heavy, and despite her best efforts to continue watch through the solar window, she knew it was best for the baby if she rested.

“If ye hear anything, you will wake me?” Rhoslyn asked of Taresa, once she’d agreed to retire.

“I promise,” the older woman said. “But let us hope it is Talbot who wakens you in the morning, and not me.”

“Ye dinna’ have to go.” The words were out of her mouth before she could catch herself and she dropped her gaze.

“This bed is certainly large enough for two,” Taresa said. “Would you mind very much if I stayed with you?”

Rhoslyn lifted her eyes. “I would be very pleased for you to stay with me.”

Taresa leaned close and said, “It will teach Talbot a lesson if he decides to visit you in the middle of the night. He will think twice about leaving you alone, yes?”

Rhoslyn laughed and hugged the woman.

* * *

“You look as if you need sleep,” Talbot said to Seward.

The old baron didn’t look up from campfire he stared at. “Ye worry about yourself, St. Claire. I am well enough.”

Morning light nipped at the edges of the east horizon. None of them had slept. Some men lay sleeping, some talking in low tones, but Talbot listened to noises from the English camp. The sounds suggested men rousing and tending their horses. Unless Sir Ronald intended to attack, his men were preparing to leave. Talbot wasn’t a religious man—Rhoslyn was religious enough for the two of them—but if he thought praying would speed Edward’s army on their way, he would have passed the night on his knees.

Talbot glanced at the castle. From here, he couldn’t see Rhoslyn’s room or the chapel. He hoped she’d had sense enough not to spend the night in the chapel. If Lady Taresa directed any of her determination upon Rhoslyn, she might, at some point, have gotten his wife to go to bed.

“If they leave, it isna’ the end,” Seward said.

“Nay,” Talbot agreed.

“It seems ye have taken a stand against your king, after all,” Lochland said. He lay on the ground on the other side of the fire. “I wonder why.”

That does not mean I betrayed him,” Talbot said.

“Despite the fact he betrayed you?” Lochland said.

Talbot looked sharply at him. It was an obvious guess, but caught him off guard nonetheless.

“Do ye consider it a betrayal to protect yourself?” Lochland asked.

“Nay,” he said, but the knowledge didn’t stop the sting.

“Good.”

Seward remained silent, but Talbot knew the man still seethed. Edward’s desire to grab power by forfeiting a loyal knight’s life confirmed his worst beliefs about the English king.

“It has been a long night,” Lochland said.

“You and your men are welcome in Castle Glenbarr once Sir Ronald and his men leave.”

The earl grunted. “‘Tis the least ye can do.”

They fell silent as the sun lifted slowly and dawn finally made an appearance.