The Viper (Highland Guard #4)(65)

Clearly, he couldn’t wait to get out of the Marches. Not that she blamed him. The borders were still under firm English control and were a dangerous place for Bruce’s supporters. But she wondered whether something more was at work. She’d never seen him look so wary, even when they’d been hunted across Scotland after Methven and Dal Righ.

When she tried to question him about it, however, he told her that of course he was wary—it was bloody dangerous. They could leave anytime she came to her senses. She glared at him and didn’t raise the subject again.

The full moon was still aglow in the inky sky as the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon. Wisps of mist curled off the river like dragon’s breath. A shimmering blanket of dew glistened on the grassy banks. On their right, to the north, a dense forest of trees—their branches weighed down by lush leaves and moss like a druid’s beard—hugged the side of the road, providing cover in their dark and wizened limbs should the need arise.

If danger didn’t lurk behind every tree and bend in the road, Bella might have appreciated the lush, verdant beauty of the quiet countryside. Instead the forest seemed a sinister jungle of shadows, the river seemed a brewing cauldron, and the crisp dawn air felt eerily still.

But slowly the day opened up. The shadows faded, forced to reveal their secrets under the bright glare of daylight.

Trailing off the road into the trees, Lachlan led them up a small rise and came to a stop. She gasped. Opposite them, on the other side of a valley, lay Roxburgh Castle, spread out like a small city on a triangular knoll of land between the juncture of the River Tweed and the River Teviot. It was a vast fortress of walls, towers, and heavily guarded gates, the likes of which she’d never seen. The castle was reputed to be the strongest along the borders, but she’d never imagined this. Five, six, seven … she counted at least eight towers protecting the main fortress alone.

God in heaven, how could they hope to enter such a place unseen? And how could Lachlan possibly find her daughter?

Lachlan dismounted and conferred briefly with Robbie Boyd—Sir Alex had ridden ahead to see what he could find out from the villagers (his Yorkshire accent would draw less attention)—before turning to help her down. “We wait here until Dra”—he stopped himself—“Seton gets back.”

She frowned, wondering what he’d been about to say, and nodded. But she hadn’t realized how hard it would be, knowing her daughter was near and not being able to do anything about it. The castle—so close she could practically reach out and touch it—was the devil’s own temptation.

Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long. She’d just finished breaking her fast with a few oatcakes and pieces of dried beef that Lachlan insisted she eat—God, he could be surly—when Sir Alex came riding through the trees. The dour expression on his face didn’t alarm her; she’d grown used to discontent from the once gregarious young knight. The war had changed him. As it had her. Death and suffering made the world seem a far crueler place.

Lachlan must have seen something she hadn’t. “What is it?”

“The wedding was a few days ago,” the knight said. The men seemed to take this as bad news, and she wondered if there was something they weren’t telling her. “Many of the guests have left,” he added.

Left? Bella’s heart dropped. “My daughter?”

Sir Alex met her gaze, sympathy in his eyes. “I don’t know, my lady.”

“Did you see Lady Mary?” Lachlan asked.

Seton shook his head.

Mary? Oh, dear God, no. “What has happened to Mary?”

“Nothing,” Lachlan said quickly, but the twinge of disappointment in his voice made her certain there was indeed something they were keeping from her.

Sir Alex looked at him intently. “There are rumors she was moved south a few weeks ago.”

Boyd cursed, and Lachlan’s expression turned grim. She looked back and forth between them. “What is it? What are you not telling me?”

The men exchanged looks. Boyd’s shrug seemed to serve as some kind of affirmation, and Lachlan explained. “Yours was not the only escape that was planned.”

She sucked in her breath. “You hoped to free Mary as well?”

Was that why he’d agreed to come? She’d thought he’d wanted to help her.

“Not us, but some of the king’s other men. From the sound of it, they were too late.”

Poor Mary! Bella’s heart went out to the girl whose suffering had mirrored her own. It was hard to think of her friends still imprisoned while she had enjoyed freedom for … was it only a day? “But surely they will not give up?”

“Never,” Lachlan said.

The adamancy in his voice proved oddly reassuring.

Suddenly a loud, grating sound drew their attention toward the castle. The portcullis was being raised. From their bird’s-eye vantage, she had an excellent view of the main gate and inner close where, despite the hour, a crowd of people were milling about. Horses were being led out of the stables and a large number of soldiers had gathered.

“Someone must be getting ready to leave,” Sir Alex said.

Bella spun on Lachlan, immediately panicked. “What if it’s my daughter?”

He gave her a steadying look and spoke to her with exaggerated calmness. “There’s no reason to think that. It could be anyone.”