SETTING OFF
Amabel and Broderick stood on the stairs.
Amabel bit her lip.
“You must go, must you not?”
Broderick nodded. “I must. You know that.”
Amabel shook her head. She knew that she and Alina had a plan to solve this problem but she wished they would wait! It would take two days in either direction to reach the Bradley lands. And when they arrived there, it would only be courtesy to remain the night. By the time she returned with proof, Broderick and his brother would have gone.
“Can you not delay?” She turned wide blue eyes on him, hoping to persuade him with her sorrow. “I would be so sorry to miss your departure.”
Broderick smiled and stroked her cheek. “Don't fret, dear. You will only be gone three days! I am sure I will not leave before you return.”
Amabel felt a sudden irritation. If only she did not have to lie to him.
“Do not expect me to return so soon,” she said stonily.
Broderick blinked.
“Why, dearest? Do you not wish to see me off?” He smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners.
Amabel tried to resist the urge to shout at him. She could not afford for him to be slightly suspicious that they headed elsewhere. As it was he was being ridiculously protective – she had a hard time convincing him not to deploy a handful of household soldiers to accompany them.
“I may be longer,” she said carefully.
“Why?” Broderick's brow shot up. “You wish time in seclusion?”
Amabel bit her lip. Patience, patience. She wished Alina were here. She would be able to think of some neutral way out. She closed her eyes, racking her brain.
“It is a possibility,” she ventured. “Alina and I wish to purify ourselves, to bathe in the holy springs there.”
Broderick shook his head.
“What?” Amabel asked, feeling her temper fray.
“You might choose to go another time,” he said crossly. “I am about to ride off into peril. And you say you will not see me off?”
Amabel looked away. What else could she say? She was starting to get desperate. She decided the best way was to lose her temper.
“Broderick,” she said quietly. “I need to travel to the abbey. I will spend as long there as I think is needed.”
“Very well,” he said with a sigh. “If that is what you wish.” His voice was tight and distant. Amabel felt something in her want to cry, hearing it, even if the rest of her rejoiced.
Amabel closed her eyes. “Yes,” she said in a small voice. “That is what I wish, Broderick.”
“Well, then,” Broderick said. “I should say farewell.”
Amabel bit her lip, feeling as if she was about to weep.
“Yes,” she managed to say.
“Safe travels,” he said formally. He bowed over her hand. “Both for you and your sister. May your prayers be heard.”
Amabel squeezed her eyes shut. She could not afford to cry now. She wanted him to think she was angry, defiant. Then he would not hold her back.
“Thank you,” she said equally formally. “I pray so.”
Broderick clasped her hand and looked into her eyes. Then, sighing, he let his arms fall to his sides. He turned away.
“Farewell, wife,” he said, his back turned. He sounded hurt.
Amabel stiffened. She had to resist the urge to run after him, to kiss him. To tell him she was lying, that she was planning a long trip. That she would never leave him if there was any other way.
But she could not say anything to him. To do so would be to risk their careful plan.
I have to go now. If I do not leave today, there is no chance we can inform them before the forces engage.
And after that, there would be no going back. If the MacDowell won, Dunkeld would be lost, and Lochlann damaged. And her uncle, believing their enemies to be the Bradleys and the MacAdams, would spend his strength in needless warfare. Only to make all their lands a target for MacDowell hands.
“Goodbye,” she said in a small voice.
Head held high, she walked across the hallway to the door. Alina was upstairs, saying her farewells. As she waited, she heard her sister's light footfall coming down.
“Sister.” She squeezed Alina's hand and together they walked out of the castle door and to the gate, where the Lochlann carriage awaited them.
“Here you are, Lady Amabel,” the driver said, handing her up into the dark interior of the boxy carriage. Alina followed. Their chest of luggage strapped to the roof, Fergall riding behind as an escort, the carriage rolled off slowly down the road.
Amabel leaned back on the seat, closing her eyes. She did not want to weep. But she could feel a tear slide down her cheek. Another followed it. She turned away.
“Sister?” Amabel felt her wrist gripped in slim fingers.
“Alina.” She grasped her sister's hand and together they sat in silence, listening to the hiss of wheels and the clop of hooves and the high voice of the wind hissing over the window-grating.
It was dark in the carriage, the window covered by a lattice that allowed in patchy light but kept out rain. Amabel felt herself slowly lulled to sleep.
“You are worried, are you not?” Alina said quietly.
“Yes,” Amabel whispered back.
“We will return safely,” her sister said solemnly. “I know it.”
Amabel nodded slowly. Alina saw true. Ever since they were children, she had been given to flashes of insight and if Alina believed they would be safe... she knew it was true.
“Thank you,” Amabel said in a small voice. “But that is not the trouble.”
“Oh?” Alina sounded somewhat surprised.
“No. The problem is my husband. He thinks I don't care.”
Amabel felt the tears start and felt no shame as they streamed down her face. She covered her face with her hands and let herself cry.
When she looked up, sniffing, Alina wordlessly passed her a kerchief.
“Silly fool,” Alina said lightly. “Not you. Him.”
Amabel smiled. “You think so?”
Alina laughed. “My dear? You are about to risk your life to spare his home. You are interested only in finding the truth. He is interested only in charging off like a small boy on his first hunt.”
Amabel laughed at the image. It was quite fitting.
“I asked Duncan to keep an eye out,” Alina continued. “He said he would. Broderick's always impulsive.”
Amabel smiled. She was pleased to hear her sister and her brother-in-law were close. “He did?”
“Indeed. He said he'd keep that lummox of a brother out of danger, if he had to ride behind him with a flag to do it.”
They both laughed and Amabel felt the relief of sharing her worry as together the two rolled on toward the stronghold of their longtime enemy.