Part 18 (1/2)

No doubt there was a special corner of h.e.l.l reserved for fools like him.

Simon gave a bitter laugh. ”You can count me in, too. I just have to go tell my wife what I'm about so that she doesn't banish me from our bedroom for all eternity when she wakes and finds me gone.” He indicated Julia and Bryce, who were sitting off in a corner in complete silence.

”You can leave them in her custody. As soon as the tourney ends, she was heading to Scotland anyway. We can rendezvous there.”

Lochlan couldn't believe Simon, Stryder, and Bracken were in this with him. Were they out of their skulls? They had as much to lose, if not more, than he did. ”This is more than I can ask any of you to do.”

”Nay,” Simon said with a laugh, ”we've all...” he paused before he continued, ”well, I, for one, have certainly done far more foolish things for causes nowhere near this n.o.ble.”

Stryder nodded. ”Likewise.”

Perhaps, but Lochlan was grateful to them more than he could ever express with something as meager as words. ”My thanks.”

After clapping him on the back, Simon left to speak to his wife while Lochlan stared at Stryder, whose eyes accused him of all manner of stupidity. The sad part was that he agreed completely.

What he planned was stupid.

And at the same time he couldn't make himself let it go.

Catarina needed him and he couldn't bear the thought of disappointing her.

”You know,” Bracken said, ”it never ceases to amaze me the things men will do for the love of a woman.”

”I'm not in love with her.”

Bracken scoffed. ”Of course you're not. Why else would you risk this?”

”I made a promise.” But even he was beginning to doubt his conviction. The truth was Catarina meant a lot more to him than she should have.

”I think it's romantic,” Julia said dreamily. ”It makes Lord Lochlan a true and decent hero.” She leveled a meaningful glare at Bryce. ”Would that all men were so n.o.ble.”

Bryce groaned as if her words cut through him. ”Careful, Lord Lochlan, I fear my sister may have set her sights on your hand.”

Julia slapped playfully at her brother. ”You're such an unfeeling cad.”

”And you're a ninny.”

”And the both of you are annoying,” Bracken snapped. ”For the love of G.o.d and all his saints, hie yourselves to Simon's tent and pester his wife while we think without your mewling voices and petty arguments.”

Both Julia and Bryce looked highly offended. For the first time, they locked arms in a unified front, lifted their chins haughtily in the air, and left the tent.

”Good job,” Stryder said to Bracken. ”Thought I was going to have to kill one or the other.”

”Please don't. For all their trying ways, they are the only thing I have left in this world that means anything to me. As much as they irritate me, I would truly miss them if they were gone.”

Stryder laughed. ”As an older brother, father, and husband myself, I completely understand.”

Bracken let out an appreciative breath. ”'Tis a wonder you haven't thrown yourself from the nearest turret given that load.”

”There are times...” Stryder turned his gaze to Lochlan. ”Then again, it appears I am definitely a bit suicidal to join in on this crusade.”

Lochlan joined his laughter. ”Aye and when they lead me toward the gallows, remind me again that I did this for honor.”

Bracken scoffed. ”I still say you're doing this for love, but every time I say it you dismiss me.”

”And still do.” But the more he denied it, the more he wondered if he wasn't protesting too much.

His heart did soften at the thought of Catarina and with her absence there was an ache inside him that he didn't even want to contemplate. It was as if a part of him were missing.

That was ridiculous. Catarina annoyed him to the core of his soul. She insulted him.

She'd bitten him.

Yet he considered her a friend. One he was willing to risk his life and his clan for.

Aye, there was something wrong with him, no doubt.

Cat tried to focus on what Lady Anabeth was saying as a small group of women sat sequestered in a sewing circle in the lady's solar, but honestly she couldn't. It was something to do with the trim of her gown or perhaps a gown someone else wore. The woman rattled on without pausing even to breathe. In all her life she'd never seen anything like it.

Mayhap she should have allowed Lochlan to be beaten after all...

But even as she thought that she knew better. What was a little boredom compared to what they would have done to him?

Still the lady droned on in her high, nasal tone about something garish.

Then again...

”Princess?”

She looked up at the young maid who was bowing before her. ”Please rise, child.”

The girl did, then handed her a small piece of paper. ”I was bid by a gentleman to give this to you, Your Highness.”

”Thank you.”

The girl bowed again before she left the room.

”Is it a love note?” Lady Anabeth asked breathlessly, as all the women stared at her as if she held the grail.

Cat somehow doubted it. Who on earth would send her such? A hate note, she'd believe in an instant. But it did make her curious.

Opening it, she had to force her eyes not to bulge.

My dearest, Meet me at midnight out in the gardens and I shall make all your dreams come true.

Lochlan She had to read it three times more to make sure her mind wasn't playing a trick on her. She couldn't imagine Lochlan writing something like that.

It was so...

Poetic. Gentle. Tender.