Coira stood with Zara the next morning looking out the window, watching as Sir Philip loaded the cages onto a cart.

“Why would he be takin’ the cages?” asked Coira. “Lance told me he was goin’ to get rid of them. I thought he would break them up and throw them away.”

“What does it matter?” asked Zara, running a brush through Coira’s hair. “Your husband is taking care of the problem. Besides, it looks like Sir Philip is preparing to leave. See? You have nothing to worry about anymore. Now you can leave the past alone.”

“Perhaps,” said Coira, watching as Lance conversed with Philip. “But I dinna think Sir Philip is leavin’.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that my husband was askin’ about the Stone of Destiny and where the Scots hid it.”

“What did you tell him?” Zara pulled the brush away.

“I told him it was buried where the Annan River and the Even Waters meet.”

“Coira, you told the English where to find the stone? How could you? I may be English, but I know that is the coronation stone of the Scots and dates back to Biblical times.”

“Dinna worry, Zara. I told him where it was hidden at one time, but no one but the MadMen MacKeefe ken where it is now.”

“Then you knew he was searching for information?”

“I did,” admitted Coira. “Zara, we spent a wonderful night together. I started thinkin’ Lance was different than the Englishmen I’ve encountered, but now I am no’ so sure.”

“He’s your husband, Coira. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the alliance.”

Coira thought about it for a moment. Zara made sense. Mayhap, Lance was only asking the questions out of curiosity, and she was being too suspicious. “I’m sure ye’re right. He is my husband, and I should trust him.”

“Do you?” Zara looked up in question.

“I’m no’ sure,” said Coira, finding it hard to trust any Englishman after what she’d been through in the past.

“Are you sure that’s where I’ll find the Stone of Destiny?” asked Philip, preparing his men to leave.

“That’s what she said.” Lance felt a heaviness in his heart. Why did he feel like he was betraying not only his wife but also the Scots? Perhaps, he shouldn’t have told Philip anything. Then again, if he hadn’t, he would be giving up the castle and he couldn’t do that. His head swarmed with confusion. He wanted the castle because what man wouldn’t? And he wanted to impress his new wife, giving her everything she deserved. He’d had no idea what his Uncle Ralston had done to Coira and her sister. If the man wasn’t already dead, he would have hunted him down and killed him for his actions.

“The stone better be there! If not, I am returning to claim what is mine.”

“Go already,” said Lance, looking over his shoulder. He eyed up the cages loaded onto the back of the wagon, his jaw clenching in the process. Just thinking of Coira locked inside and hanging on display in the courtyard made him angry – and sick. He would do anything to protect her and make sure nothing like that ever happened again. She was his wife, and he would protect her with his life.

“My, you seem in such a hurry to see me leave,” stated Philip. “Is that any way to treat a guest?”

“Guests are invited, and I don’t remember inviting you here. Besides, you scare Coira, looking just like Ralston. Why didn’t you tell me what he did to Coira? I’m sure you knew.”

“I did know,” said Philip with a chuckle. “I thought it would be more exciting to let you find out on your own.”

“You bastard! I don’t think any of this is funny. I gave you the information you wanted, now get out! And never return.”

Philip leaned toward him, speaking close to Lance’s face. “If I find out this is a lie, you can bet I’ll be back. And if I return, you will be the one leaving instead of me.”

Lance turned on his heel and headed back to the keep, wanting to walk away before he ended up punching his uncle in the face. He hoped to hell the information Coira had told him was right. If not, there was going to be trouble. Lance had no intention of handing over Liddel Castle to his uncle and would do whatever he had to in order to keep it. He was not giving up the castle and would not go down without a fight.