The Recruit (Highland Guard #6)(114)

David wouldn’t betray her. Her heart squeezed. Would he? Whatever filial devotion he had to her was new and unproven. Could he say something to make it look bad for Kenneth?

She should never have spoken to him of his father and Bruce. The decision whether to return to Scotland was too complex for a boy of thirteen.

For a time, it seemed her fears might have been for nothing. Davey ran off, presumably to gather his belongings, and Sir John returned to overseeing his men. But a short while later, when the search had come to an end, Sir John strode toward her with a look on his face that did not bode well.

His gaze was harder and colder than it had ever been before. “Gather your things. We will be returning to the castle soon.”

Mary blanched.

“What are you talking about, Felton?” Sir Adam said. “Lady Mary is staying here.”

Sir John shot him a glare. “Not anymore. It seems Lady Mary has been contemplating a return to Scotland.”

Sir Adam didn’t look to her for confirmation or denial. “And what proof do you have of this?”

“She’s been having some interesting conversations with her son.”

Mary’s heart squeezed. Oh Davey, what have you done?

“I said nothing about leaving for Scotland,” she said.

It was true. But Sir John appeared unmoved. “Under the circumstances, I think it is better to exercise an abundance of caution, don’t you agree, Sir Adam? For her safety, of course.”

“Are you arresting me?”

“Not if I don’t have to.” But his men had gathered around him. She could feel Sir Adam’s men behind her. They would defend her if she asked them to. But what purpose would it serve, other than to put Sir Adam in an even worse position if the truth were discovered?

At that moment Davey burst into the room. Looking back and forth between the two groups of soldiers, he quickly appraised the situation.

“What are you doing?” he asked Sir John, betrayal stark on every inch of his handsome young features.

“Your mother will be coming with us, isn’t that right, Lady Mary?”

“But I didn’t mean … You aren’t supposed to …”

Mary looked at her son’s pale, horror-stricken face and knew he’d misjudged the effect his words to Sir John would have. He hadn’t intended to harm her.

She put her hand on his arm, telling him silently that it was all right. “I will go and gather my things.”

Sir Adam started to argue, but she stopped him. “Please. I don’t want there to be any trouble.” She put her hand on her stomach meaningfully. Anything could happen if violence broke out. “We will straighten this out at Berwick.”

Kenneth would do something. She had to trust him. But the idea of entering one of the most heavily defended castles in the Borders took every ounce of her faith.

Sir Adam held her eyes and nodded.

“I will leave some of my men, just in case Sutherland attempts to return here,” Sir John said.

They understood his meaning: if Sir Adam thought to warn Kenneth, he wasn’t going to be able to do so.

But wherever he was, Mary knew Kenneth would find a way to get them out of this. He would not leave her to face danger alone. She only wished it hadn’t taken this to make her realize it.

Despite the urge to race through the gate to reach Mary, Kenneth forced himself to watch the appropriately named Huntlywood Castle from the safety of the surrounding forest. His atypical caution was rewarded when he saw the increased guard at the gate. Closer inspection of the arms identified at least one of the men as Felton’s.

Damn. He knew Felton couldn’t have beat him here from Berwick, so he must have already been here—which meant Kenneth had just lost whatever advantage he’d had in time.

He thought quickly. Not knowing what awaited him inside, he would have to sneak his way past the guard. He decided to employ one of the Highland Guard’s favorite tactics: diversion and speed.

After removing anything he might need from the bags tied to his saddle, he gave the trusty steed a fond stroke on his muzzle and thanked him for his faithful service. Even though he knew the stallion was spent and would be of no further help to him tonight, it was with much regret that he gave him a smack on the flank and urged him to the castle.

The horse shot off through the trees, heading for the gate. Kenneth circled around to the opposite side of the castle on foot, waiting for the cry to go up when the horse was sighted before making his move.

He had just reached his position when he heard, “Rider approaching.”

He hoped it would cause just long enough of a distraction for him to climb over the palisade wall. He was more than a little grateful for all the times MacLeod had forced him to lift himself up from a dead hang. Still, without a good grip and laden down with weapons and mail, it wasn’t easy to propel himself over in one smooth—and silent—move. He was just fortunate that Sir Adam had yet to build the much higher stone wall that he had planned.

He’d chosen a place in the wall opposite the gate, in a dark corner between the stables and armory. Slipping into the shadows, he drew his sword and waited to see whether anyone had noticed him.

But his ruse had worked. He could still hear the commotion at the gate where the riderless horse had arrived. As he slid around the armory, he could tell that something indeed was wrong. There were too many people around. Too many soldiers. He counted at least a half-dozen of Felton’s men. But interestingly, they weren’t interacting with Sir Adam’s men. Indeed, it seemed as if the two groups were eyeing one another suspiciously.