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Even though she’d initially expected some sort of duplicity, her father’s cruelty still surprised her. “I’d begun to believe, though it seemed unlikely, my father was on your side. Or at least, on the side of peace. But if he’s been so bold, it can only mean he has the support of the king. They are preparing for war.”
No one spoke.
“Lawrence,” she asked finally, “where is he?”
She was fond of Aidan’s friend and worried for him. “He is with the chief,” one of the men replied. “They are burying their own. But they wanted you to know . . . to prepare. We have others to inform—”
“Of course,” Aidan said. “Give Lawrence my deepest sympathies—”
Graeme nodded. “And tell the chief of Clan Karyn they have our full support.”
They did not smile, exactly, but Clarissa could tell the men were pleased with Graeme’s words. When they turned to leave, Graeme excused himself. He would find a servant to give them food to take.
Gillian would be proud. She was always worrying if everyone around them had enough to eat.
“I am so sorry,” Clarissa said, turning to face Aidan.
“He was a good man. Lawrence must be devastated.”
She hated to think of what it would do to Aidan if something were to happen to Graeme.
“He will never recover.” He looked at her expectantly. “But you know what this means? Your father.”
“He did not need our marriage as motivation to act against us. He was already doing so.”
“It appears war is unavoidable now.” Aidan reached for her, and Clarissa gave him her hand. “You being here, with us, is not the cause.”
Once, she would have been glad for that. But the thought of Aidan going to battle . . . she shuddered.
“What will happen now?”
He thought for a moment and then stood abruptly, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him.
“Now? We walk.”
Hand in hand, she and Aidan left the hall, walked through the courtyard and toward the gatehouse.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why don’t my father and Caxton and the others reach out and grab the peace that is right before them? Why allow the border to revert back to the way it was before the truce? This strife does not seem to benefit anyone.”
“It benefits those who line their pockets collecting bribe money making lords of common men. It benefits those who take advantage of the king’s poor health to improve their own status—”
“And my father cares only for garnering favor with such men.”
They continued to walk, moving through the gates and down the hill. When she heard no sounds of clanging metal, Clarissa assumed the men trained within the walls today.
“What will happen now?” she asked.
They arrived at the very same river Clarissa had bathed in seemingly so long ago. Now she was a married woman, one who somehow felt protected despite the chaos that erupted around them.
“The clans will officially renounce the Day of Truce. Reivers will continue to take advantage, and this—” he swept his arms up toward Highgate End, “—will become our refuge. Travel may no longer be safe,” he added, the regret in his voice surprising.
“You sound sad about that,” she said.
Aidan pulled her into his arms and held her close. “You have been sheltered for too long. I had hoped to take you on grand adventures . . .”
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Clarissa wanted to be sure he understood her. “Aidan, being with you has been the grandest adventure of all. I would happily accept being locked away in Prison Tower forever if you were by my side. I love you.”
“You gave me your favor once . . .”
