Maira stood in the stable with Morag and Branton, waving to Fia and Willow as they left along with their husbands and their fathers. Willow’s wedding celebration had come to an end. Sadly, everyone was going their separate ways. Lord Beaufort and some of his men had left yesterday on their journey to campaign for the king. Even Maira’s father, having commitments to attend to, said his goodbyes and headed back to Whitehaven. Already the castle seemed quiet and vacant. But unfortunately, Maira wouldn’t have long to enjoy the solitude. At this very moment, her things were being packed and her traveling party was preparing to take her to Durham where she would live for a fortnight with the High Sheriff who was, sadly, her betrothed.

Lady Ernestine, the earl’s wife, was in charge until his return. The woman headed into the great hall with her ladies-in-waiting, followed by a group of soldiers that would be protecting her while the earl was gone.

“It seems so empty and lonely here with Fia and Willow both gone now,” said Morag.

“It’s only going to get worse when we leave in an hour for Durham,” Maira told her cousin, feeling sick to her stomach about this whole situation.

“Mayhap it willna be so bad,” said Morag, trying to comfort her. “Perhaps like yer faither and the earl said, ye’ll get used to the High Sheriff and willna mind marryin’ him after all.”

“I would rather be strung up from the battlements and have my eyes pecked out by crows than marry the High Sheriff – or any man for that matter.” Maira turned and stormed toward the keep to make sure none of her weapons were forgotten. Even if she couldn’t use them in front of the High Sheriff, she’d sneak off to the woods with them to practice when he didn’t know it.

“Lady Maira.” A young pageboy ran up to stop her.

Maira halted abruptly and turned toward the boy. “What is it?”

“The guard at the gate sent me over to fetch you.”

“Whatever for?” she asked, anxious to get to her chamber.

“He said one of the travelers has asked for you. They want to sell their wares and they say that they know you and that you will vouch for them.”

Maira’s eyes shot over to the front gate. There was a traveling party of peasants on foot. Behind them was a cart. A young man drove the wagon. Beside him on the bench was a man covered by a cloak. His hood was up and hid his face from her view.

“Peasants?” asked Maira. “I don’t know any peasants. Tell the guard to send them away.” She turned to go back to the keep but Morag stopped her with her hand on her arm.

“Are ye no’ even a little curious as to why they ask for ye or how they ken ye?”

“Nay, I’m not,” snapped Maira.

“I think we should go over there and see who they are.” Morag stretched her neck to peruse them, always making everything her business.

“If you’d like to go, then go right ahead but I’m not interested.” Maira was about to leave until the man sitting in the cart called out to her and waved his hand.

“Lady Maira, would you like to buy our wares?”

“Nay,” she called back. “I’m not interested.”

“I think I have something you want. It’s a heart with your name on it.”

“Maira, ye’ve got to go look.” Morag urged her to join the strangers as she tugged on Maira’s sleeve. “It sounds intriguin’.”

“Let go of me, Morag.” Maira shook out of her hold. “I am sure the stranger is just making it up. He doesn’t have a heart with my name on it. Why would he?”

“Lady Maira, look at this.” Branton walked over, inspecting something clutched in his fingers. “That traveler asked me to show it to you.”

“Branton, I am not interested in anything that –” Maira stopped in midsentence when she saw the item in Branton’s hand. It was a small wooden heart with holes on each side. In the center of the heart was Maira’s name carved right into it. “Let me see that.” Maira snatched it out of Branton’s hold to inspect it.

“He sent this one over, too. It has Willow’s name on it.” Branton held up a second wooden heart.

“It does?” asked Morag excitedly. “What about me? Does he have a heart with my name on it, too?”

“Nay, he said these were the only two,” said Branton, inspecting the heart with Willow’s name on it.

“I’ve seen this before,” said Maira, feeling anxious.

“That looks like the heart that was on the bracelet we made for Fia,” Morag told her.

“Aye, it certainly does.” Maira knew exactly where this came from. Her attention flashed back to the man sitting in the cart. He noticed and reached up to lower his hood so she could see his face. Maira’s jaw dropped open.

“Maira, are these the hearts that Imanie made?” asked Morag, inspecting Willow’s heart. “Ye ken what I mean. Are they the ones ye said she was makin’ into bracelets that ye’d each get someday?”

“How could they be?” asked Branton. “Why would that peasant have them?”

“Branton, go to our chamber and get our bags. Please load them on the cart,” Maira instructed. Her eyes stayed fastened to the man on the wagon who was none other than the thief she met in the secret garden.

“Did I tell you that the earl is sending me to Durham with you two?” asked Branton.

“That’s nice,” said Maira, not even listening to him.

“Let’s go talk to the stranger,” said Morag. “I want to find out if he has a heart for me, too.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t, and you’re not coming with me. Now go,” Maira commanded, not wanting Morag to know the thief was inside the castle walls. If so, she would tell Lady Ernestine. Maira didn’t want that. She needed to know what he wanted first.

“I’m always forgotten,” pouted Morag, leaving with Branton and heading into the keep.

Maira hurried over to the wagon, nodding to the guard to let the traveling party enter. Once they were inside, the peasants started pulling things off the cart to sell. It was odd since they only had a couple of buckets of berries and a few odd trinkets.

“Lady Maira, we meet again.” The man swung down from the wagon and landed right in front of her. Her eyes interlocked with his. Instantly, she felt the same attraction she’d experienced when he’d almost kissed her in the garden.

“What is the meaning of this?” she sniffed.

“We’re peddlers and here to sell our wares. Thank you for vouching for us.”

One of the men took a few things off the hay-covered wagon. He dropped something and it went clattering to the ground. Maira looked over to see him picking up the poker that had been stolen from Imanie’s cottage.

“These things are not yours to sell, and you know it,” she said in a low voice. “Now leave Imanie’s items, and get out of here at once.”

“My, you are feisty in everything you say and do.” The man took her by the elbow. “Shall we go for a little walk?”

“Nay, we shall not.” She pulled out of his grip. When she did, she dropped the wooden heart. He bent over and picked it up, caressing her name on the heart with his thumb. For some reason, a shiver ran through her. It was such an intimate action and she felt as if he were doing it to her physically.

“If you don’t want to buy this, then I think I will give it to you as a token of my appreciation for letting us inside the castle walls.”

“I’m sure it was a mistake,” she retorted. “I already regret it. Now pack up your cart and leave at once.”

“That, my lady, is exactly what I intend to do. However, my friends are hungry. Since we haven’t had any real food in days, I ask that you allow us to stay for a meal before we retreat.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” He reached up and yanked at a leather tie holding back his long hair. His dark mane spilled down, loose, around his shoulders. He was very handsome and she tried to push the thought from her mind because she wanted him to leave.

He took the wooden heart with her name on it and pushed the leather thong through the holes and held it up. “Hold out your wrist,” he instructed.

Without knowing why she did it, she raised her hand and he tied the bracelet around her wrist. It felt good to be getting a present from a man, even though it was with an item that he’d pilfered.

“It is becoming, but could never match the beauty of you, my lady.”

“Thank you,” she said, reaching down and running her hand over the bracelet that was made with the tie from his hair. Her hand brushed against his and a jolt of excitement rushed through her. Then she quickly pulled away and stepped back.

“Lady Maira?” asked Lady Ernestine, coming across the courtyard to meet her. “Lady Morag tells me there is a traveler here with a wooden heart with your name on it. What does she mean?”

“Aye,” said Maira, clearing her throat and trying to figure out what to do. But before she could say another word, the thief stepped forward and bowed.

“My good Lady of the Castle, I thank you for letting us enter into your courtyard to sell our wares,” he said. “I brought the good Lady Maira a present of thanks for the last time she threw us a coin while her entourage was passing through the forest.”

“I see.” Lady Ernestine looked to Maira for confirmation.

“Aye,” said Maira, not wanting her to know she allowed thieves into her courtyard. “It was a nice gesture, but unfortunately they have to leave.”

“Leave?” asked Lady Ernestine. “But they haven’t even sold any of their wares yet.”

“That’s right,” said the man. “And how soon you forget, Lady Maira, that you invited my friends and me to stay for a meal.”

Her eyes snapped up and she was about to object when Lady Ernestine spoke.

“I think that is a wonderful idea. I love feeding those less fortunate than myself,” said the good-hearted woman. “What is your name?”

“I am Jacob, my lady. And might I be bold enough to offer you a token of my appreciation?” He dug through his pocket.

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Lady Ernestine swiped her hand through the air and a blush rose to her cheeks.

“It isn’t much, but can I offer you a small bauble?” He held out a lady’s comb to wear in her hair. It had a small gold butterfly on the handle.

“Oh, that is charming and I do love butterflies,” she exclaimed. Jacob held up his open palm and the woman took the gift from him. “Lady Maira, please see that our guests get whatever they need during their short stay.”

“But Lady Ernestine, I am leaving in an hour unless you forgot. I still need to finishing packing my belongings.”

“Your trip can wait until after the meal and until our guests leave.”

“I would love Lady Maira to give me a tour of your elegant castle if it is convenient,” said Jacob with a charming smile.

“It isn’t,” Maira mumbled to herself.

“’Tis no trouble at all,” Lady Ernestine beamed. “Lady Maira will escort you around the grounds. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll tell the cook we’ll be expecting a few more guests for the meal.” She turned and left, pushing the comb into her hair as she walked.

Jacob turned and grinned at Maira, but she was scowling at him.

“How dare you give away stolen goods to buy your way into the castle,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “I should turn you in right now and expose who you really are.”

“You have no idea who I am,” he scoffed. He held out his arm like she’d expect from a nobleman and she instinctively laid her hand over it to be escorted, not knowing why she did it. “Besides,” he continued, “the goods belong to a dead woman so I hardly call that stealing.”

“Imanie might be dead but I can vouch that these are her things,” she retorted as they headed to the keep.

“I’d like to see the armory first,” he told her, ignoring her comment altogether. “After that, the blacksmith’s shop, and the stables.”

“Why should I show you anything? You have no right to come in here and make demands.”

“I see.” He nodded slowly and studied the castle. “So, you didn’t like my gift to you?”

“I like the bracelet, but that is beside the point.”

“Then, what is the point, my lady?”

“The point is that . . . that . . . you have me so confused. I’m not sure what the point is anymore.”

“Then let’s stick to the tour because I won’t be staying long and don’t want to miss the meal.”

Maira reluctantly gave the stranger named Jacob a tour of Castle Rothbury, only because Lady Ernestine had instructed her to do so. She had a bad feeling about this man and needed to keep a close eye on him. She didn’t trust him any further than she could throw him. They walked in silence as they entered the first building attached to the battlements.

“This is the armory,” she said, watching his eyes light up as he surveyed the weapons inside. He walked over and picked up a sword and looked down the edge, squinting one eye.

“I haven’t seen weapons this nice in a long time.” He tested the weight of the blade in his hand.

“When have you ever seen weapons like these at all?” she asked, suspiciously.

“A long time ago,” he said, picking up a battle axe and surveying it next. “Where is all the chain mail and plate armor?”

“Most of that has been taken by Lord Beaufort.”

“Ah, yes. I guess fighting overseas for the king calls for greater protection. I also suppose that’s why most of the weapons are gone.”

“How did you know the earl went to fight overseas for the king?”

“You told me,” he said. “In the garden,” he added, sounding a little nervous if she wasn’t mistaken.

Maira was sure she hadn’t told him that the earl was leaving, so that meant he had to have been spying on her or gotten the information in another way. He wasn’t inside the castle walls long enough for anyone to have divulged that fact to him.

“Oh, that’s right. I did tell you,” she lied, watching for his reaction. If Fia were there, she would have been able to read the man’s mind and know his secrets just by the way he responded. She ran a finger along the table, keeping her eyes downcast. “It was right before you tried to kiss me.”

“What?” He lowered the sword and his eyes shot over to her.

“You tried to kiss me, but I wouldn’t let you. Don’t you remember? Thank goodness you didn’t persist or I would have had to take you down.”

“Take me down,” he said under his breath with a chuckle. “The day I’m taken down by a wench the size of you is the day I turn into a pitiful, pathetic shell of a man. You could never do it, so don’t even pretend that you could.” He picked up a dagger next and inspected it.

She wanted more than anything to prove him wrong, and the competitive side of her made her bold enough to take the challenge. She sidled up next to him, putting her hands on his arm. He turned to look at her. This was her chance. She tried to act like her cousin Willow who always used to flirt with the men before she married Conrad. Maira batted her eyelashes and tried to talk in a soft, feminine, sing-song voice.

“I wish you had kissed me,” she said, noticing he was taking the bait.

“Really?” He put down the weapon and did a quick scan of the room and door to make sure no one was coming.

“Really,” she said, pressing up close to him and lifting her eyes, keeping her head down, trying to act shy. “Don’t you wonder what it would be like to kiss me?”

“I think I’m about to find out.” Jacob reached out and put his hand under her chin, lifting her mouth to his. She hadn’t actually meant to kiss him, but something about him was so alluring that she had to know how his lips tasted. The kiss was soft and warm. It isn’t at all what she expected from a thief. Plus it was gentle for a man who was used to taking whatever he wanted without asking.

“Mmmm,” he mumbled, coming back for a second helping. Suddenly, Maira realized how foolish she was being. She couldn’t let him kiss her again. Taking a hold of his arm in a tight grip, she turned to the side and used her shoulder and hip to set him off balance. She managed to flip him around and push him to the ground. He landed with an outtake of air from his mouth when his back hit the rushes. In one motion, Maira drew her dagger, wishing for her sword that was being shined by Branton in the stable. She put one foot on his chest and leaned forward, holding the tip of her dagger to his neck.

“Today is the day,” she snarled. “Know that you have been taken by a woman half your size. So, I guess this makes you naught but a pitiful, pathetic shell of a man after all, doesn’t it?”

“Nice move,” he said, raising his brows. “I must say you never cease to surprise me. I’ve never met a wench quite like you before.”

“I’m not a wench, I’m a lady!” she retorted. “And you have severely underestimated me. You’d be best to remember that in the future. Now, whatever game you are playing, I warn you, it’s not going to work. Gather up your men and leave now while you still can.”

“Lady Maira, you are a clever woman and very skilled at fighting. However, I must tell you that you have underestimated me as well.”

In one move, he had Maira down on the floor on her back and was kneeling over her. He pressed the edge of a jewel-hilted dagger to her throat. She had never seen this weapon before. He hadn’t pilfered it in the armory. Nay, he pulled it out from under his cloak and had it all along.

“Get off of me and let me up,” she cried. “Do it, or I will call for the guards to haul you away to the dungeon for assaulting me.”

“Now, now, it doesn’t have to come to that.” He stuck his weapon into his waist belt and with one strong arm, pulled her to her feet. He did it with such momentum that she barreled into his chest. His arms closed around her and before she knew what was happening, his lips were on hers again.

“Stop it,” she said, pushing out of his arms and slapping him hard across the cheek. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’ve never been treated like this before by a peasant!”

“Nay? Then how about by a nobleman or a knight?” he asked, making her wonder what he meant by that.

“Where did you get that dagger?” Her eyes settled at his waist as she surveyed the jeweled piece. It was exquisite and she longed to see it closer.

“You like it?” he asked, removing it again and holding it out for her to see. “Go ahead and feel the weight of it in your palm. It’s made from Damascus steel. The gems were from my – from the necklace of a noblewoman.”

“Oh, so you stole this, too.” She took the dagger in her hand and marveled at how light it was. “My sword is made from Damascus steel as well,” she told him. “My father paid a lot of money to have it constructed by a bladesmith overseas. However, I don’t have any daggers made from that material. It’s so balanced and light yet it looks so sharp. It is the most beautiful weapon I have ever seen.”

“It can gut a man in less than ten seconds and still be sharp enough to scalp the next man with little effort at all.”

Maira felt sick with the visual of that in her head. She was good at sparring and using weapons but had never killed anything other than a rabbit or pheasant, the largest thing being a deer. Thinking how excited this man sounded at ripping into another man’s flesh made her leery of being alone with him.

“I think it’s time for the meal,” she said, hearing a small squeak in her voice. “Here, take back your dagger and let’s go.”

He retrieved the dagger, letting his fingers purposely touch hers in the exchange. It sent a tingle flitting across her skin. Her lips still vibrated from his kiss and the blood pumped furiously through her body from the rush of excitement coursing through her from their sparring. Her eyes stayed fastened to the dagger as he attached it to his belt and hid it again with his cloak. She loved Damascus steel but it was rare and very expensive. With the gems in the hilt of that dagger, it looked like he’d stolen it from a noble, or perhaps even the king.

He cleared his throat, causing her gaze to meet his. Steel gray eyes warmed her to her very soul.

“I see the way you look at my weapon. You must like it very much.”

“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen one like it before.”

He chuckled. “That’s what most women tell me in the midst of heated passion.”

She suddenly realized he was making a jest of the whole situation. Or perhaps he had really been talking about his manhood instead of his dagger all along.

“You’re not funny,” she ground out. “Now get moving, and I warn you, don’t even think of touching me again.”

Jacob quickly surveyed the layout of the area, noticing after they saw the blacksmith’s shop and the stable that most of the guards on the wall were gone. A bell rang out for the second time, and everyone disappeared into the great hall. “What was that?” he asked.

“It’s time for the meal,” she explained. “You’d better gather your friends and come to the great hall because the food goes fast.”

“Is that where all the guards on the wall walk went?” he asked casually.

“Aye, Lady Ernestine is adamant about feeding everyone. The guard left at the watchtower will eat when the rest are finished.”

“I see,” he said with a satisfied nod. “Go on inside and I’ll meet you there. I will just help my friends pack up the wares and we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“All right. I’ll let Lady Ernestine know.” She headed away into the great hall and Jacob watched her go. Then he turned and walked as fast as he could without running and causing suspicion.

“Will,” he said when he approached the wagon. “Round up the others and get to the armory right away. Bring the wagon to the front gate. We have a few minutes only to load the weapons into the cart and hightail it out of here before the guards return.”

“Are you sure we won’t be stopped?” asked Will nervously.

“There’s only one guard at the watchtower. I’ll take him out first and then we’ll load up what we need and be out of here before anyone even eats their main course.”

“Oh, so we’re not staying for the meal?” asked Will, sounding extremely disappointed. His stomach growled loudly, protesting as well.

“Nay, we’re not here for food or did you forget our purpose?”

“All right. I’ll bring the wagon around and tell the men.”

“Good.” Jacob scanned the battlements quickly just to make sure there were no more guards. “Be quiet about it,” he whispered. “We don’t want to alert anyone. I’ll get up to the watch tower and take care of the guard.”

“Sounds good.” Will hurried off to do his job while Jacob turned and headed to the stairs of the battlements.

“Oh, there ye are,” came a female voice from behind him, stopping him in his tracks.

He turned around to see Maira’s cousin, Morag, and flinched. She was going to ruin everything. “Aye. Hello.”

“Are ye comin’ for the meal?” she asked. “After all, ye were invited. We’re havin’ haggis today at my request. Lady Ernestine kens I miss my homeland of Scotland so she has the cook make food from my homeland as often as possible.” Morag droned on and on, taking up much of Jacob’s precious time.

“Aye, that’s nice,” he said, trying to get rid of her quickly. He saw Will moving the wagon into position. The rest of his men headed up to the armory, sneaking up the stairs in the shadows. “I . . . need to use the garderobe and I’ll be right there.” He turned the girl by her shoulders so she wouldn’t notice what was going on. “You go on back to the great hall.”

“But the garderobe is this way,” said Morag, pointing in the opposite direction.

“I can’t wait. I’m actually going to use the orchard. So you’d better leave unless you want to see my bare –”

“I’m goin’,” she said, holding a hand up to the side of her face to block her view and hurrying into the great hall to join the rest. Thank goodness, he managed to get rid of her, but she had slowed him down.

He ran up the stairs and over to the watchtower, throwing open the door. To his surprise, he found not only the guard but also Maira inside.

“I thought you’d end up here,” said Maira, leaning back on a chair with her arms crossed over her chest. “Guard, he’s a thief and here to steal from us. Put him in the dungeon.” She stood and pointed an accusing finger at Jacob.

The guard moved forward, but Jacob held up his hands. “Now wait a minute, my lady. I saw you come up here so I came to escort you to the great hall. That is all.”

“He doesn’t seem to have a weapon on him, my lady,” said the guard, trying to peruse him. “Perhaps he tells the truth.”

“He’s got a dagger hidden under his cloak,” she informed the man.

“Nay, I don’t,” Jacob answered, hands still in the air. “Go ahead and check if you’d like.”

The guard stepped forward to search him. Jacob took advantage of the situation by knocking the man out with a punch to the face. Maira watched with wide eyes. If the guard had tried to attack him, Jacob might have had to use his blade and it could have been deadly. But seeing Maira’s face, he realized he couldn’t kill a man in front of her. It just wouldn’t seem right. Instead, he punched the man again, just to make sure he stayed down.

Maira’s eyes met with his and, for a moment, the world stood still. Neither of them moved. Her gaze lowered to his mouth telling him she was thinking about the kiss they had shared. He was thinking about it, too. But then the moment was broken when she went for her sword fastened to her back that hadn’t been there during their tour of the castle. Jacob snapped out of the momentary trance he’d been in and managed to move faster than her. With one kick, he knocked the sword from her hand and it slid across the floor with a loud clang. Then he grabbed her wrists and some rope from the wall and tied her hands together.

“You should have gone to the great hall, my lady, instead of retrieving your sword and coming here. It pains me to do this, but I can’t let you ruin my mission.”

Will stuck his head in the door just then. “The weapons are loaded and we’re ready to go,” he said, looking first at the guard on the floor and then at Maira. “What’s going on here?”

“Lady Maira is going to be tied up for a while or I’d ask her to join us,” Jacob answered

“Guards!” Maira shouted, but Jacob clamped his hand over her mouth. “Will, give me something to use as a gag. I won’t have her calling out again and alerting everyone we’re here.”

“Use this,” said Will, tossing a tunic to him from a hook on the wall. Jacob pushed Maira down in a chair and then ripped the tunic, shoving it into her mouth.

“Nay, don’t –”

He cut her off short, reaching around her to tie her to the chair.

“Go to the wagon quickly,” Jacob told Will over his shoulder. “Get over the drawbridge fast because someone might have heard her and think to close the gate.”

“What about you, my lord?” asked Will.

Jacob noticed Maira look up, hearing Will use his title. He clenched his jaw and shook his head, wanting to wring the boy’s neck for calling him that in front of her. “Leave the extra horse. I’ll follow in a minute. Now go!”

“Aye,” said Will, running out the door.

Jacob felt Maira press up closer to him as he tied her tighter. The blasted feel of her hands against him made him randy. All he could think about was kissing her again, but this should be the last thing on his mind at a time like this.

“Until we meet again, my lady,” said Jacob, fondly running his fingers over her cheek, and then turning and heading out the door.

Maira pulled the man’s jewel-hilted dagger out from the folds of her gown, holding the blade between her tied hands. The fool didn’t even know she took it. For being a thief, he was not very good at his profession or he would have felt an amateur pilfering his weapon. She used it first to cut the gag from around her mouth. “Sebastian, get up,” she called out to the guard. “Wake up! I need your help.”

The guard stirred and moaned as Maira tried to cut the ropes on her hands but at the angle of the blade, it was impossible. Since the thief didn’t tie her feet, she was able to stand. With the chair still tied to her, she walked over and kicked the guard.

“Get up! We’ve been robbed,” she shouted.

Sebastian’s eyes fluttered open and he jumped to his feet.

“Lady Maira, did he hurt you?” He pulled his dagger from his belt and cut her free from her bindings.

“Nay, and you are lucky he didn’t kill you.”

“Aye. I wonder why he didn’t.”

“We can speculate about that later. Right now, we need to tell Lady Ernestine that we’ve been robbed. She’ll have to send out a search party right away.”

“She won’t do that,” said Sebastian with a shake of his head.

“But she has to. They stole weapons, I’m sure of it.”

“Lady Maira, you don’t understand. There aren’t enough soldiers left at Castle Rothbury right now to pursue this. If the earl and the rest of the men were here, it would be a different story. But with the little forces we have on hand right now, we need to stay and protect Lady Ernestine and defend the castle.”

“Lady Maira, are you all right?” asked Lady Ernestine, hurrying into the guard house with Morag and Branton right behind her.

“Lady Ernestine.” Maira rushed over to meet her. “That man, Jacob, who gave you the present was naught but a thief. He and his men robbed us.”

“I know,” she answered. “Morag told me she saw Jacob going up the guardhouse and that she thought something was wrong.”

“We’ve got to go after him,” said Maira, anxious to hunt them down.

“I can’t give that order,” said Lady Ernestine. “My garrison of soldiers is sparse since my husband took most of them to fight for the king. And I’ll need to send some of them to guard you and Morag on the way to Durham.”

“So, you’re just going to let the man get away with stealing from us?”

“He couldn’t have taken much,” said Lady Ernestine. “When my husband returns, he’ll address the issue. But at this time, there is nothing I can do about it.”

“That’s just not right,” said Maira, fingering the thief’s jewel-handled dagger, inspecting it as she spoke.

“What’s that?” asked Morag, being as curious as always.

“It’s the thief’s dagger,” Maira told her.

“Did he drop it?” asked Branton.

“Nay,” Maira said with a smile. “I lifted it from him when he was tying me up.”

“So ye stole it from him, just like he stole from us,” said Morag.

“Let’s just say this is payback for what he took from us.”

“You mean for the weapons he stole,” said Branton.

“Well, that, too,” she said, really talking about the kiss he stole from her that she had never meant to give him.