A sconce in hand, Caeleb strode down the corridor to Gwen’s cell in the dungeon. So, Malcolm Donald was Gwen’s master. What had that master required of her?

Hadn’t he once followed orders that had been criminal?

When Caeleb first became laird, his laird, the Earl of Lewis, had commanded him to raid a village where they believed the inhabitants had aided MacLeod enemies. Too late, Caeleb discovered the truth of their innocence. He had lived with that wrong the last two years.

Had Gwen betrayed him? Aye, in some way, she had. But how much? What were the lies she’d told Malcolm Donald that Arabelle spoke of? How many lies had she told Caeleb? Had she lied when she said she loved him? 

He stopped outside her cell, lifted the bar and opened the door. Torchlight illuminated Gwen, huddled in the far corner of the room. She hugged her knees tight against her chest. Her head was buried in her arms.

His heart thumped. “Gwendolyn?”

She lifted her head. Her eyes were red with crying.

Caeleb placed the sconce in a holder near the door, then crossed to her, and sat on the ground across from her. “What were the lies ye told Malcolm?

She drew in a sharp breath. “Ye found my letter.”

“Letter?” he started, but she cut in.

“Nae, that doesnae make sense. The letter explained everything. Ye wouldnae be asking if you’d found it.”

“What letter?”

“My sister,” Gwen said. “She is well?”

“Aye. She is in the kitchens with Manas and Moira. What letter, Gwen?”

The letter, she explained, was hidden beneath a stone near the hearth. He would know she was telling the truth, for it would still be there. She’d written about how she told Malcolm that Caeleb intended to attack Castle Borthal in five days.

Caeleb frowned. “You told him—”

Then he understood. If Malcolm took enough men with him to lay in wait for Caeleb’s attack on Borthal, then Karthmere, the closest Donald stronghold, would be left vulnerable and Caeleb could attack, perhaps even take the castle. That would mean all-out war. Malcolm had waylaid them without provocation and killed over a hundred MacLeods. Didn’t that mean war?

Caeleb watched Gwen. “Did ye betray me?”

“Malcolm had Arabelle. But—” she swiped at a tear “—I couldnae sacrifice you and your men. Not even for Arabelle.”

“What did you tell them?” Caeleb prompted.

“I told him only that ye had left with fifty of your men. That, he already knew. Then I left the letter in the great hall warning that he intended to attack.”

“You wrote the letter?” This was more than he’d hoped. So much had happened, so must deceit, that he hadn’t known what to think. Gwen had warned them, she had saved their lives. There was nothing more anyone else could have done. Nae, that wasn’t quite true. She could have told him everything.

She added in a rush, “I even tried to warn you myself.  I told everyone I was going to visit Lana MacLeod. I rode with your men to her village, but didnae go to Lana. I slipped away and tried to find ye.”

Caeleb stared in surprise. You risked your life and set out on your own to find me?”

Gwen nodded. “I am no’ a good tracker. I was forced to return to Lana’s village.”

“Why did ye no’ tell Tommen?”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t know what he would do. With you—” Gwen swiped at tears. “I am so sorry, Caeleb. I never would have given Malcolm even the lies I did if he had not held Arabelle captive. He promised that once I completed this awful assignment, he would release her and we would be free. ‘Tis why I wished to leave. I just wanted my sister so that we could live out our lives in peace. I dinnae expect ye to understand or even forgive me, but before you cast your judgment, please know that I meant it when I said I loved you—but that matters not.”

Did she really love him, or was she trying to avoid the noose?

“Something you dinnae know,” he said. ”I received a message that you would be at the village.”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed. “That explains why Malcolm left so quickly.”

“What do ye mean?” Caeleb demanded.

“Maggie told me that when Malcolm left Arabelle with her, that he immediately left. The dog,” she said with a growl. “I will kill him.”

Caeleb blinked and couldn’t help a small laugh. “That message is the only thing he did I’m thankful for.”

She turned her fierce look on him. “What do you mean?”

Caeleb took her hand. “Gwen, you should’ve told me everything. But despite that, when you learned what Malcolm planned, you didnae just leave us to fend for ourselves. You took action, even put yourself in danger.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. “Over a hundred of your men died.”

He nodded. “But you had no hand in that. Even had you told me the truth, we couldn’t know Malcolm planned to attack. I’m no’ certain we could have done anything to prevent their deaths.” Caeleb regarded her. “Will you tell me everything you know about Malcolm?”

She nodded. “Everything.”

“I will protect you, Gwen,” he said.

“I don’t deserve your protection.”

He stood. “There is a young lass who does need my protection. She’s waiting in the kitchen and is anxious to see her sister.”

Gwen looked up, eyes wide with wonder. “You would do that?”

“Come.” He held out a hand and gave her an encouraging smile.

She hesitated, then laid her hand in his. Caeleb pulled her to her feet. She fell into his arms and sobbed into his shirt. Caeleb let her cry until, at last, she pulled back and looked up at him.

“Will ye exact revenge for your men and take Karthmere?” she asked.

His blood burned hot. He wanted badly to raze the castle to the ground and kill every last man inside. But…

“There might be another way. A better way.” Caeleb stared into her eyes. “Will ye help me?”

Surprised flickered across her face, then her eyes lit with determination. “Anything.”

Caeleb yanked her close and kissed her.

When he broke the embrace, his blood pounded through his ears and need had tightened his whole body. “I love ye, Gwendolyn. I never stopped loving you. I understand the sacrifices ye made to protect your sister. It must have been hell to jeopardize her to save my men. That sacrifice…” He drew a deep breath. “Thank you.” She gave a small sob, but he continued. “I understand your desire to run away. But you dinnae have to run anymore. Ye have been searching for a place to call home. This is your home—if ye will have me.”

She didn’t reply.

“Must I kneel?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I am nothing more than a humble housekeeper.”

“Who married a laird.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes again. “Yes.”

Caeleb kissed her again, as he planned to do many, many more times in the future.

 

 

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