Three days of pure joy.

From that night to the impromptu but perfect wedding and then their first full day of marriage, the last three days had been the happiest of Clarissa’s life. And yet a single shadow hung over them. They still had not received word about who would replace Lord Caxton. Whenever he sensed she was worrying about her father—that he might discover her whereabouts before doing what he’d pledged—Aidan reassured her that all would be well.

She’d begun to believe him.

So when two men she didn’t recognize strode into the hall just as they finished the midday meal, the hairs on her arms stood up straight. Aidan’s and Graeme’s expressions did not help alleviate her worry.

“Who are they?”

“Lawrence’s men. Though I don’t see him, which is unusual.”

“Greetings,” Aidan called as he and Graeme stood. “Where is Lawrence?”

The men exchanged glances. Oh God, no . . .

“Is he—”

“Lawrence is well,” one of them said. “May we have a word?”

Clarissa stood to leave, the meal having already concluded. Gillian had not been feeling well, so she would go up to see her.

Aidan reached out and took her hand. “Stay.”

“But you have matters to attend to—”

“We have matters to attend to.”

He squeezed her hand before releasing it. Pleased that he wished her to stay, she sat back down. A flurry of activity unfolded in front of her as Graeme cleared the hall, those who’d remained after the meal leaving to attend to their various duties.

“What happened?” Graeme asked as he returned to the high table.

The shorter of the two men spoke.

“A raid,” he said, his eyes darting between Graeme and Aidan. “Alec led a hot trod across the border after the perpetrators—”

Alec? Clarissa tried to remember who that might be. Ah, Lawrence’s older brother. She’d met him during her stay at their keep.

“One of the thieves was killed by one of our men—”

“Alec ordered everyone back home to Bowden Castle,” the taller man said. They were both talking at once now. “But they were attacked by the same family on their return—”

“Alec is dead.”

Clarissa gasped.

Aidan’s flexed jaw and raised shoulder were the only indication he’d heard that proclamation. Graeme, on the other hand, pounded his fist on the table. “He will be avenged—”

“There’s more.”

When the two men looked at her, Clarissa’s blood ran cold. More? Did it have to do with—

“The reivers claim Caxton is still in power. They bragged of not having to account for their crimes.”

“Still in power?”

Aidan, though he would appear calm to one who did not know him well, was seething now in anger.

“Our chief sent us here to deliver a message. Caxton is still warden and will remain as such. The Earl of Theffield had no intention of ever removing him. While he placated Douglas, he was gathering enough men to turn Theffield Castle into an impenetrable stronghold.”

“What?” she cried out, unable to stop herself. “He never intended . . .”

She clamped a hand over her mouth. But Aidan nodded his encouragement. “Go on, lass.”

Bastard.

Even though she’d initially expected some sort of duplicity, her father’s cruelty still surprised her. “I’d begun to believe, though it seemed unlikely, my father was on your side. Or at least, on the side of peace. But if he’s been so bold, it can only mean he has the support of the king. They are preparing for war.”

No one spoke.

“Lawrence,” she asked finally, “where is he?”

She was fond of Aidan’s friend and worried for him. “He is with the chief,” one of the men replied. “They are burying their own. But they wanted you to know . . . to prepare. We have others to inform—”

“Of course,” Aidan said. “Give Lawrence my deepest sympathies—”

Graeme nodded. “And tell the chief of Clan Karyn they have our full support.”

They did not smile, exactly, but Clarissa could tell the men were pleased with Graeme’s words. When they turned to leave, Graeme excused himself. He would find a servant to give them food to take.

Gillian would be proud. She was always worrying if everyone around them had enough to eat.

“I am so sorry,” Clarissa said, turning to face Aidan.

“He was a good man. Lawrence must be devastated.”

She hated to think of what it would do to Aidan if something were to happen to Graeme.

“He will never recover.” He looked at her expectantly. “But you know what this means? Your father.”

“He did not need our marriage as motivation to act against us. He was already doing so.”

“It appears war is unavoidable now.” Aidan reached for her, and Clarissa gave him her hand. “You being here, with us, is not the cause.”

Once, she would have been glad for that. But the thought of Aidan going to battle . . . she shuddered.

“What will happen now?”

He thought for a moment and then stood abruptly, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him.

“Now? We walk.”

Hand in hand, she and Aidan left the hall, walked through the courtyard and toward the gatehouse.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why don’t my father and Caxton and the others reach out and grab the peace that is right before them? Why allow the border to revert back to the way it was before the truce? This strife does not seem to benefit anyone.”

“It benefits those who line their pockets collecting bribe money making lords of common men. It benefits those who take advantage of the king’s poor health to improve their own status—”

“And my father cares only for garnering favor with such men.”

They continued to walk, moving through the gates and down the hill. When she heard no sounds of clanging metal, Clarissa assumed the men trained within the walls today.

“What will happen now?” she asked.

They arrived at the very same river Clarissa had bathed in seemingly so long ago. Now she was a married woman, one who somehow felt protected despite the chaos that erupted around them.

“The clans will officially renounce the Day of Truce. Reivers will continue to take advantage, and this—” he swept his arms up toward Highgate End, “—will become our refuge. Travel may no longer be safe,” he added, the regret in his voice surprising.

“You sound sad about that,” she said.

Aidan pulled her into his arms and held her close. “You have been sheltered for too long. I had hoped to take you on grand adventures . . .”

She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Clarissa wanted to be sure he understood her. “Aidan, being with you has been the grandest adventure of all. I would happily accept being locked away in Prison Tower forever if you were by my side. I love you.”

“You gave me your favor once . . .”

“And I would do so again.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “You already have, and I shall treasure the gift of your love, today and always.”