CHAPTER TWELVE

 

Lord James stared at the messenger, certain he’d misheard. “What did you say?”

The man swallowed hard, his gaze holding fast to the rushes on the floor of the great hall. “He was caught, my lord.”

“Before or after he killed the Douglas woman?”

“Before.”

“Good Christ. How difficult can it be to stab a defenseless woman?” At the messenger’s hesitant look, James waved his hand. “I do not require an answer from you.”

He didn’t know the messenger before him or the man hired to kill Lady Sophia. This holding was only a short distance from Berwick, but he rarely stayed here and never for long. Especially not since the death of his son three years past. Most here were strangers. Being this far south, so close to England, made his blood heat, and he didn’t care for it.

However, with his new plan underway, this keep provided a good location from which to keep watch on the situation. Not that it had done him any good in this case.

“When I give orders, I expect results.” His voice was quiet. He wasn’t given to yelling. His energy was better spent doing other things. Like plotting revenge. Apparently doing so wasn’t as simple as he’d anticipated. Now he’d need to find someone else to carry out the task.

“Aye, my lord. ’Twas unfortunate that Ewan was seen prior to his attempt.” He opened his mouth as though to say more but hesitated.

“What is it?”

“It almost appeared as though the knight who stopped him was waiting for him.”

“Impossible.” James scowled. “Unless Ewan spoke of our plan to someone.”

“He denies doing so.”

“Who halted him?” Something about this didn’t feel right. The plan had been set with great secrecy. If someone else knew, he had a much larger problem on his hands.

“Sir Garrick de Bremont. Here from England to trade wool.”

Another damned Englishman in his way. That made James even more determined to rid Scotland of them no matter how long it took. “Discover what you can about him.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“Mayhap there is a way to take two or more of the family members at one time.” James mulled over his options then smiled as a solution came to mind. “Send Coilean in on your way out.”

He wasn’t about to let some English knight stand in the way of his plans. Rumor told of William Douglas’s possible release in the coming weeks. When he returned to Berwick, he’d find his entire family dead. Mayhap then Douglas would finally feel remorse for what he’d done.

 

~*~

 

Garrick waited near the stables for Iagan late that evening. Only the occasional movement from inside the wooden structure reminded Garrick that horses were inside. The city had settled down for the night as well. Most residents had sought their beds. His thoughts shifted to Sophia tucked safely in her cottage with her family. His relief that she was well knew no bounds.

But the threat to her life was not yet over.

Though one man had been stopped, another could easily take his place, especially if someone else gave the orders. The man they’d caught had a sizeable purse on his person. Garrick could only surmise that had been his payment for the deed.

Surely Sophia wasn’t the only target in this plot. The chances of her having done something to warrant such an attack seemed slim. That meant the entire Douglas family was in danger.

Who would want them dead? And why?

Sir William was far removed from the city and being held in a place of King Edward’s choosing. The rest of the family consisted of three younger siblings, two of whom were women. What harm could they cause?

Not for the first time, Garrick wondered if the motivation behind the threat was revenge. That path seemed more logical to him. And the most likely reason for vengeance was for some wrongdoing during the siege. Yet why wait two years to seek revenge?

Did the threat have something to do with his own mission? Perhaps the rumors of unrest and possible rebellion were tied to the danger to Sophia. He shook his head, unable to see the common thread between the two events. Yet he knew his feelings for Sophia influenced his thoughts, making it difficult to see clearly.

Could the Guardians the prioress had mentioned be behind this? Their intent was to see Scotland under Scottish rule, therefore lessening the hold those with English ties had in this country. From what he’d learned, while Sophia’s brother might have holdings in England, that was more a matter of simple geography than true loyalty to England. So why target the Douglas family?

He’d been relieved to receive the message from Iagan this morn, requesting they meet. His contact might be able to shed some light on recent events.

But the time for meeting had passed. Where was Iagan? Garrick decided to wait a little longer before returning to the inn. The night was cool, the moon nothing but a sliver. After what happened the last time after speaking with Iagan, Garrick was determined to be extra cautious though he’d insisted his cousins remain behind. ’Twas much easier to move unseen through the night when there was one rather than three.

Iagan had sent a second message, changing the location of the meeting, leaving Garrick to wonder why. It might’ve simply been because the stables were more convenient, or perhaps Iagan had encountered trouble. As more time passed and there was still no sign of his contact, Garrick had to believe it was the latter.

A horse’s nicker from inside the stables alerted him to someone’s presence. He shifted back, farther into the shadows, listening closely. While it might be Iagan, it might also be a foe. A slight rustling noise sounded, followed by the scuff of a boot on the cobbles a short distance away.

Garrick remained still, his senses on high alert. He didn’t think the sounds came from Iagan. If someone else was out and about this time of night, they were most likely up to no good.

As the sounds became louder, he slowly drew his knife from his belt, not wanting to give away his presence. The noises stopped. In the silence that followed, he decided to investigate. Knife at the ready, he eased forward, the darkness both his friend and his enemy.

“Bloody hell.” The whispered oath from the opposite end of the stable barely reached Garrick’s ears. “Where is he?”

“I can’t see a thing.”

A horse neighed softly.

“Are ye certain this is the night?”

“Aye. No doubt. Keep yer eyes open. He should already be here. Quiet now, else he’ll hear us.”

Two voices. Which meant Garrick was outnumbered yet again. He didn’t care for the odds, but he wasn’t about to walk away. Confronting these two could provide much needed information. Obviously someone knew he was here and why. Or they knew of Iagan. Either way, Garrick wanted answers.

The horses stomped and snorted, not liking the invasion into their territory. The sound of their movements covered Garrick’s as he continued toward where he’d last heard the men. The door to the stable stood ajar but entering the dark building seemed foolish.

Instead Garrick waited just outside, listening, but heard nothing. Where were they? His tension mounted until he could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

A scuffling noise sounded at the other end of the stable. Then nothing but silence again. Worried that Iagan may have come across the men, Garrick moved forward as quickly as he dared. The horses shifted as he eased past, and he could only hope it didn’t alert the other human occupants of the stable.

“Damn me.” The man’s voice sounded just outside the stable door at this end.

As Garrick approached, he heard the sound of footsteps fleeing into the darkness. After glancing about to make certain the other man hadn’t remained behind, he hurried after them. But pursuit was futile. He couldn’t tell what direction the men had fled once the echo of footsteps faded.

Garrick paused to listen at the cross-street. Nothing. Though he walked farther, no additional noises drifted his way.

Frustrated, he turned to make his way back to the inn, moving slowly so as to avoid walking into a trap.

Each day in this city brought more questions than answers. He was gaining no ground with his mission. Doubt followed him with each step he took. Perhaps he should’ve let his brother, Rylan, come after all. While Rylan didn’t have second sight, he was an excellent judge of character and his instincts had never led him astray. At the moment, Garrick didn’t have any of those to aid him.

 

~*~

 

Sophia sat on the edge of her pallet the next morn, reluctant to begin her day. She hadn’t felt like this since the weeks following the siege. Fear did terrible things to a person, even after the threat was over. She knew all too well, having lived through it.

While facing the prospect of a man attempting to stab her with a knife had been bearable, the aftermath was more difficult. Her limbs felt heavy, as though mired in mud. Even breathing took effort this morn. Enduring the entire day while feeling so vulnerable and uncertain seemed impossible.

The image of Garrick filled her mind, bringing with it an easing of the lingering fear. Anticipation at seeing him trickled through her and had her rising to dress. She hated to think she was becoming dependent on him. But she couldn’t deny how his presence brightened her day.

How much longer would he remain here? Nay, she wouldn’t allow herself to worry about such things now. The past two days had been wasted in fear. She refused to lose another one with Garrick by worrying more.

After washing her face and putting on her kirtle and shoes, she took her cloak from the peg and opened the door. The rest of her family still slept though Alec’s pallet was empty. With a deep breath to gather her courage, she stepped over the threshold to find Garrick waiting for her, a cloth sack in hand.

“Good morn,” she said, both delighted and touched at his presence. She drew her cloak around her, her fingers seeking the slit to worry the hole. The cut was a reminder that life might be over in an instant. Wasn’t that all the more reason she should enjoy days such as this?

He smiled as he stepped forward only to pause when he noticed her finger in the tear. “Perhaps we should find a new cloak for you.”

“No need. I appreciate the reminder that each day should be lived to the fullest. I seem to have forgotten that lesson in the past months.”

Garrick nodded solemnly, his blue eyes holding hers. “Though when you need to make certain you have enough food for the winter, ’tis difficult. You’re forced to plan for future days.”

“True, but winter has passed. I declare it so.” She lifted her face to the pale sky, closed her eyes and smiled. Though the air still held the chill of spring, winter seemed a distant memory.

The unexpected feel of Garrick’s lips upon hers sent her stomach into a long, slow roll.

“How can I resist such a sight?” he whispered.

“I’m pleased you can’t.” She opened her eyes to find him so close, she could see the pale blue flecks in his eyes.

He kissed her again, longer this time, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips. She opened them eagerly, drawing even nearer as pleasure tingled in her toes. Her head spun as he cradled a gentle hand along her jaw. Heat spread through her, weakening her limbs until she wanted to cling to him and never let go.

She could only sigh in disappointment when he drew back. But when she heard his quickened breathing, she had to smile, pleased he’d been as affected as she by their kiss.

“Your night was uneventful?” he asked, his brow creased with concern.

“I slept better than I did the previous night.”

“Why are you up and about so early this morn?”

Did she dare tell him the truth? “I had hopes of seeing you.” She watched closely and saw only delight in his eyes.

“Then we are of one mind.” He smiled and took her hand in his, holding it tight.

The warmth of his palm against hers sent her heart racing and helped wash away the distress of the past two days.

“Would you care to join me for a walk this morn?” he asked.

“That would be a lovely way to begin the day.”

“I took the liberty of bringing along something to break our fast.” He raised the cloth sack he held. “Shall we begin our adventure?” He offered his arm, which she gladly took.

“Is there some place in particular you’d like to explore this morn?” She looked up at him, noting the way he continually glanced about as though on watch. Perhaps he wasn’t here simply to enjoy her company. Her heart sunk at the thought.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to go to the river again. ’Tis peaceful there and offers some privacy. This city has too many eyes and ears.”

“Has something else happened?” She felt rather than saw his hesitation. Did that mean he wasn’t being completely honest with her?

“After the last two days, I thought we could both use some time alone.”

“Excellent notion.” She decided to be patient and wait for him to tell her what else had happened. “I was surprised by the number of people who inquired about my wellbeing after you stopped that man.”

“Did anyone appear overly interested?” he asked as they passed through the city gate, nodding at the guard there.

She frowned as she considered the various conversations she’d had. “None that come to mind.”

“You’re certain you’ve never before seen that man?”

“Nay. I’ve thought on it and am certain I don’t know him.”

“I’ll request a meeting with Sir Gilbert and ask to speak with the man again. Perhaps he’ll be willing to talk after a night or two spent in the dungeon.” He frowned as he stared down toward the river.

She turned to see what he looked at. Several people had gathered at the riverbank, including a few fishermen she recognized. “I wonder what that’s about.”

“Chanse and Alec are down there. Perhaps we should see what the problem is,” he suggested.

Sophia walked with Garrick down the hill, surprised that Alec was again with Chanse. That made her worry even more. The threat to her and her family must not have ended with the capture of her attacker if Chanse was guarding her brother again. She couldn’t believe they were merely planning on some early morning fishing.

The two greeted them, but Sophia knew from the look on their faces that something was terribly wrong.

“What’s happened?” Garrick asked his cousin.

“You’d best come and see for yourself.”

Sophia braced herself for more bad news.

 

~*~

 

Garrick’s unease grew as they neared the group gathered on the riverbank. He could see someone lying on the ground. From the stillness of the body, he assumed he was dead.

“Why don’t you wait here?” he asked Sophia.

“I’ve seen more injured or dead than most,” she said. “I would like to know who it is.”

She had a valid point, but he’d prefer not to have her upset. She’d been through enough of late.

“Good morn to you, Warren,” she greeted one of the men standing in the group.

“And to ye, Lady Sophia.” He glanced at Garrick and Chanse warily.

“What’s happened?” she asked.

“A man washed up on the bank. Lawrence found him when he untied his boat this morn.”

Garrick moved around one of the men to gain a better look. His stomach lurched as he recognized the man.

Iagan.

Though he’d only seen him in full light the first night they’d met in the tavern, there was no mistaking his identity. Oblivious to those gathered around, he knelt beside him. His throat had been slit nearly ear-to-ear. His brown eyes stared unseeingly up at the sky, his mouth slightly ajar. Nasty rope burns marked his wrists.

Chanse squatted down beside him. “What the hell could’ve happened?”

Garrick shook his head, suddenly aware of the people surrounding them. Now was not the time or the place for conjecture. He had to think of his and his cousins’ safety. They were strangers here and drawing suspicion wouldn’t benefit them nor would it help Iagan. They dared not risk revealing their association with the dead man. “Does anyone know this man?”

Chanse frowned for a moment before he seemed to realize what Garrick intended.

“Not I,” Warren said.

“I’ve seen him afore,” Lawrence said as he frowned at Iagan. “He’s passed through Berwick several times. Uses a boat to move up and down the river. I don’t think he lives here though.”

“Warren, can you alert the baliff?” Sophia requested. “He’ll want to know about this, especially since the man was murdered.”

“Of course, my lady.” He gave her a nod and strode toward the city gate.

Garrick watched Sophia closely, amazed at how calm she seemed. But upon closer inspection, he noted the way her lips were pursed, how she looked everywhere except at Iagan. She looped her arm through her brother’s and turned him away from the body.

With a glance at Chanse who nodded at his silent request, Garrick rose and went to her and Alec. Chanse would await the baliff and see what the man had to say.

Alec’s eyes looked a bit wild and his face was pale. Garrick could only assume the sight of a dead man had brought back far too many memories. In all honesty, Sophia didn’t look much better.

“What were you and Sir Chanse doing so early this morn?” Sophia asked Alec.

“He asked to come with me to fish again. We’d only arrived at the river when we heard Lawrence calling for help.” The boy spun away, bent over, and retched.

Sophia said nothing, only patted her brother on the back. He rested his hands on his knees for a long moment then wiped off his mouth before at last turning back to face them.

“Gruesome sight so early in the day, is it not?” Garrick asked.

Alec nodded but looked away, obviously embarrassed by his body’s reaction.

“No need to be shy over it,” Garrick reassured him as he watched Warren speak with the guard at the city gate. “That isn’t a sight any of us should grow used to.”

The boy appeared to take comfort from his words, and Sophia sent him a grateful look.

Garrick did his best to hide his own disquiet. The knowledge that his contact had had his throat slit and been tossed in the river made Garrick more than uneasy.

His entire mission was now in jeopardy. With Iagan gone, so was Garrick’s tie to the world outside Berwick. Where did that leave him?