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“You understand,” Allie added tentatively, “I would never presume to interfere—”
Juliette stopped. “Please never say such a thing. How could you interfere when this will be your home too? Do you know how wonderful it will be to have female companionship, someone to help run Brockburg Castle who understands that even when the world around our castle walls is crumbling, especially then, some semblance of normality must be preserved?”
Allie’s chest swelled with gratitude. “I only meant—”
“I know what you meant.” Juliette’s firm tone did not allow for further discussion on the topic. “And we will never again discuss such matters. This will be our home, and together, we will see our clan flourish.”
Our clan.
A blanket of warmth spread over her body at those two words she never imagined hearing.
“Well, I may have a clan, but I do not have a husband,” she said. “Or even a betrothed.”
They looked out across the vast fields, silent.
The idea came to her in a flash. “Oh no.” Allie shook her head. “No, Reid—”
“What is it?”
He would not . . . could not. She would kill him! If Reid made it back alive, she would kill him.
She looked at Juliette. “I may know where he went. I fear he’s gone to the Day of Truce.”
How had it not occurred to her earlier? “He firmly believed that to skip the Day of Truce was the same as a declaration of war. And with no word yet from Douglas . . .”
Oh dear.
“No!” Juliette’s panic-laden voice was not making her feel more at ease. “He would not. Not against the wishes of his chief. He will be taken, put on trial for the recent raid . . .”
Every word she said sent a fresh jolt of fear through Allie. It struck her that her father’s warning was what had spurred him into action. Without the confirmation that Caxton was indeed attempting to goad the clans into rebellion, he may not have acted.
Allie looked out at the horizon. How had this all gone so terribly wrong?
Do you trust me?
She did. And despite the feeling that everything was crumbling around her, Allie would stay strong and trust that Reid knew what he was doing. She had no other recourse.
Please, God, keep him safe. Please, please bring Reid back to me.
* * *
This had been a mistake.
He’d been wrong to come. And now he would pay with his life.
Reid chided himself yet again for his foolish, rash action. How would Toren react when he saw him in chains?
No sooner had he arrived than he had been arrested for Clan Kerr’s counter-raid into England. The day had already been officially underway at the time, and Reid had noticed two things.
First, Caxton himself was not in attendance. It was highly unusual for one of the wardens to fail to attend the monthly event that held the tentative peace together. It set a strange tone, as if both sides had already given up.
More importantly, Reid noted that all of the clans were represented. He spied de Sowlis in the distance, Graeme’s imposing height not difficult to miss, and he was not the only chief in attendance. The clans had agreed to come, to await word from Douglas, but Reid had assumed at least some of the other leaders would make the same decision as his brother.
Little consolation now that he was being brought to trial against witnesses who’d seen him with their own eyes. Oddly, or perhaps not so, the men who’d instigated the counter-raid were not present. And neither were the ones who had attacked his brother.
The council’s assessment of Caxton had been accurate. He grew bolder, his bribes bigger, and even in his absence his treachery was present.
Reid listened dispassionately as his list of crimes was read from a short distance away. It was only when the crowd parted and his brother appeared that he felt fear.
