Part 56 (1/2)

Wynda nodded.

”I need them taken out. Skelley and the others can handle the rest. Can you do that for me?”

”Not to worry. We've the situation in hand. I sent all the guards some of me specially spiced ale this morn, just to be spiteful, see, as they wilna leave me la.s.sies alone. But I'll send down more straightaway.”

Alex grimaced. He'd had some of Wynda's ”special” ale before and found himself unable to stray far from a closestool or garderobe for several days for fear of ruining his breeks.

”Aye, thank you. That'll do fine.”

”They won't notice a thing, too busy squattin' in the rocks, they'll be!”

The guards near the kitchen door roused themselves to wander over by Alex and Wynda. Alex made the sign of the cross over the birds turning on the spit and moved away, to join Father Rae who still droned on and on.

”That's enough,” Alex hissed.

Father Rae stopped abruptly and cleared his throat. ”Ah... Amen.” He turned and gave Alex an expectant look.

He urged the priest out of the kitchen and back into the great hall. ”Now you will offer to hear Mistress Graham's confession before her wedding. I cannot go with you. At the very least Lord Graham will have us searched, I cannot chance it. So you must do this.”

Father Rae nodded.

”Tell her I am here. Give her this.” He reached under his robes and into his s.h.i.+rt, yanking the bead from around his neck. He pressed it into Father Rae's palm. ”Tell her to be ready.”

The priest started to turn away. Alex caught his shoulder. ”When I took Laine from the monastery he told me everything. I swore to him I would never tell a soul so long as I lived. But I wrote it down. It's safe for the moment, but if aught happens to me, it goes straight to the abbot of Dunfermline. Do you understand?”

Father Rae swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and nodded. Alex released him and watched him cross the room to address one of the guards. A moment later the guard led him up the steps and out of sight.

Alex turned away, surveying the hall. Now he must find a way to get into the tunnels below the larder and speak to Skelley.

Fayth didn't acknowledge the knock on her door. She stood at the window, staring down into the bailey. A cloud of dust billowed through the gate, followed by a score of mounted riders, bearing Ridley's crest. Fayth recognized the rider at the front. Wesley. Her heart leaped, only to drop sickeningly. He would not help her.

She turned away as the door opened. A priest entered wearing a shabby alb and tattered vestments. He had a long face and close-set eyes. He tried to close the door behind him, but Ridley shoved the door open and followed.

The priest frowned. ”It is not seemly for you to be present.”

”Nevertheless, present I am.”

The priest seemed genuinely fl.u.s.tered by Ridley's insistence on staying.

”Can I not give my last confession in private, Brother?”

Ridley rolled his eyes. ”It's hardly your last confession.”

”It's my last as a maiden woman. My last before this evil deed is done.”

”I suspect you've not been a maiden for some while,” Ridley sneered. ”Get on with your papist rituals! It's time to get this over with. I cannot tarry here another day.”

”Hot on Mona's trail, eh?”

The priest cleared his throat and stepped forward. ”Come to the window, child.”