The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(55)

Another messenger had arrived. Garrick had hurried back to the castle from the training yard, eager to see if it was a missive from his mother. But instead of seeking the steward out directly, he found himself drawn to the same exact spot where he’d last seen her.

He returned to this place each day to feel closer to her.

“Pardon, my lord.”

He closed the shutters. Mable had found him instead of him having to seek her out.

“A missive from the men you sent to Scotland.” She held out the letter.

He quickly read the message and glanced up at her. The eagerness in her eyes told him she’d be reluctant to leave until he relayed the message. He knew why—Mable and his mother were nearly as close as sisters.

“The men are on their way back.”

Mable waited.

“To England.” He tried not to smile. He really had missed teasing their steward.

“I know, my lord, to England. When? With whom?”

“Posthaste. With each other, of course. Why, do you believe any of them would stay—”

“Lord Clave, you’ve got too much of yer father in you,” she scolded.

He rather hoped so. “I would expect them within the week. And my mother travels with them.”

“Very good, my lord.”

Without another word, Mable snatched the missive from his hands. The edges of her mouth had tipped up just slightly enough to form a smile, though someone who didn’t know her would not have noticed.

The sound of footsteps preceded Conrad’s voice. “Mistress Mable, you are looking quite fine—”

“Save yer compliments for the ladies who think ye sincere,” Mable said to him as he turned the corner and walked into the room.

Garrick chuckled, delighted to see there was at least one person who would not fall prey to his friend’s charms.

“Mable is wise to your wicked ways,” he said, knowing full well she could still hear.

“The men said you’d left training early. After you knocked every last one of them on their arses. Their words, not mine.”

Garrick had seen the rider and hadn’t wanted to wait for the news. But if he told Conrad as much, his friend would chide him for a fool.

“So your mother’s coming?”

“God’s blood, is there nothing you don’t know about what happens around here?”

“You forget, great Earl of Clave and master of men, I know all. About everything.”

Garrick crossed his arms. “Do you now?”

“Aye, and more than you, to be sure.”

“What did the missive say, then?” Garrick asked.

Conrad didn’t hesitate. “Your mother is on her way to England, spitting mad and ready to box your ears for delaying the wedding.”

All likely true. “And the one from earlier this morning?”

“One of the captured men from the attack is squawking like a chicken now that you’ve turned him over to the warden.”

“Then it appears, my friend, you truly do know all.”

Conrad pretended to consider his words. “Nearly all. Except one thing.” He paused. “How does a man manage to fall in love at nearly the very same moment he pledges his life to another? The timing does seem rather poor, even to—”

“You are an arse, Conrad. And I do believe your own mother has written yet again, asking for your return. I’m highly tempted to send you home.”

“How would you know if Emma appeals when you hardly spoke to her—”

“Did I not tell you? I met up with the Waryns on their ride home.” Garrick’s look would have had lesser men cowering in fear.

Conrad merely grinned. “Nay, you did not tell me.”

“I see. Well, it must have been because I had hoped you would forget about the chit.”

“Conrad—”

“Woman. My apologies. The woman who will be responsible for your downfall.”

They’d avoided the topic of Emma thus far, but it would seem his self-imposed muzzle had been removed.

“In fact, if you weren’t in love with her, I would be very interested to—”

“I will kill you.”

“If, my dear Garrick. If. But of course you are, in love that is, which makes her very much off-limits. Will you give up Linkirk for her then?” his friend pressed.

“You believe I will need to?”

Conrad’s lips flattened. “It was very likely your uncle who was behind the attack. You know it as well as I do. Even if Magnus can be persuaded, or bribed, to let you out of the agreement, your uncle’s pursuit of the title will be relentless. That he even dared the attempt on your life . . . I can only assume he sent those men before learning the betrothal was made official.”

Conrad was just getting started. “Your mother’s childhood home won’t be safe, and it might not be safe for her to return to Scotland. At best, your uncle will continue to plague you. At worst, Magnus will join his cause. Lives will be lost, your kinsmen caught in a battle between siblings, and you—because I know you well—will not allow it to happen. You’ll relinquish the earldom first. And aye, it will devastate your mother.”

Garrick wanted to disagree. To tell Conrad he was wrong, about all of it—or most of it. To explain how it could work, and under which conditions he could retain Linkirk for his mother.