The Viper (Highland Guard #4)(34)

He tried to keep his wariness from the countess, not wanting to wipe the relieved smile from her face as they passed under the gate.

But his instincts were validated the moment they rode into the courtyard. His eyes found Gordon’s in the subdued crowd that had gathered to welcome them. The other man shook his head.

Damn.

Lachlan quickly dismounted and helped Bella down, taking care for her ankle, though it seemed to have healed.

After Nigel Bruce greeted his sister-in-law, his sisters, his niece and nephew, and Bella, the young knight turned to him and extended his hand. “MacRuairi.”

Lachlan returned the firm grasp of forearm to forearm. Much like Gordon and MacSorley, Nigel Bruce was a hard man not to like. Bruce’s favorite brother had wit, charm, and the kind of even-keeled temperament that people gravitated toward. He’d impressed Lachlan on the battlefield as well, fighting with a ferocity not typically seen in his noble counterparts.

“I’m glad to see you,” the young knight said, “but I fear it will not be for long.”

Though he spoke in a low voice, Bella had heard him. The momentary relief Lachlan had glimpsed when they’d entered the castle gates was gone. “What is it?” she asked.

Nigel gave her a somber smile. “Come,” he said, taking her hand. “You must be hungry and exhausted. You can eat and sit in comfort by the fire in the Great Hall while I tell you what is happening.”

But Lachlan already knew what young Bruce was going to say: The English were coming.

Bella listened to Robert’s younger brother with a growing pit in the bottom of her stomach. The safe sanctuary she’d hoped to find at Kildrummy had proved a cruel mirage. A nightmare from which she could not wake. How much more of this could she take? The constant danger. Living on the run. When would it ever end?

“The Prince of Wales landed in Aberdeen the day before yesterday,” Nigel said. “Even hauling their siege engines, it won’t take them longer than a few days to cover less than forty miles. When the scouts return we will know for sure, but I expect they will camp near Alford tonight and be outside our gates before the sun has set tomorrow night.”

Only Bella, Christina Bruce, and the queen had remained on the dais after the meal to hear the men discuss their plans, and the three women exchanged distraught glances.

“We’ll leave for the coast in the morning for the journey to Norway,” Lachlan said.

Bella bit back a cry. Norway! It was so far away.

Nigel shook his head. “You can’t go by ship. At least not from here. They’re expecting my brother to escape by sea, and Edward has his fleet patrolling the east coast from the Knuckle of Buchan to Berwick.” He cut off MacRuairi’s protest. “I know what you Islanders can do in a galley, but you will have women and children to man your ship, not seasoned warriors. I can’t spare many men. We’ll need all the soldiers we can get to hold the castle for my brother. It’s safer to travel by land, at least until you’ve reached the Firth. Once you’ve past Buchan you can secure a galley.”

Bella couldn’t stand silent any longer. “But why must we leave at all? Why can’t we just stay here with you?”

Lachlan pinned her with his gaze. She saw the hint of compassion in his eyes and knew he saw too much. He’d guessed her reason for not wanting to flee to Norway. The separation the past few months from Joan had been hard enough. But leaving Scotland …

“It will only be for a little while,” he said quietly.

Tears sprang to her eyes. This time they both knew he lied. “But this castle is one of the strongest in Scotland. Built to withstand even Edward’s Warwolf,” she said, referring to the King of England’s infamous trebuchet. “Surely it is safer to stay behind these walls than to be hunted across the countryside?”

Nigel might not know the source, but he’d sensed her distress. “Have you ever been through a siege, my lady?” She shook her head, and he continued. “You would not wish to. I need to hold the castle for my brother’s return. It could take months.”

Bella swallowed. Or longer.

“My orders were to take you to Norway if the English drew too close,” Lachlan said.

Her fists clenched. Every bone in her body recoiled at the idea of leaving the castle. At leaving Scotland. At leaving her daughter—again.

The queen put her hand on hers. “It’s what Robert wished,” she said gently.

Bella held the other woman’s gaze for a moment, seeing her own fear reflected there, and nodded.

Forgive me, Joan. I swear it will not be much longer. The distance might be greater, but her goal would never change: to have her daughter back in her arms as soon as possible.

She felt Lachlan’s eyes on her again and when she turned, was surprised to see the flash of anger before he shifted his gaze back to Nigel.

What had she done now?

“We do have an advantage,” Lachlan said.

“What advantage can we possible have?” Christina Bruce asked.

“Nigel said there are spies and roving war parties all over the area, and that they probably have marked our arrival. If we can get out of the castle without being seen, they will think we are still inside and won’t be hunting us.”

“But how can we leave without being seen?” the queen asked.

Lachlan turned to Nigel. “Is there still a passage to the well-house on the other side of the riverbank through the old cistern chamber?”