Page 15 of War King's Treasure

“Unlikely,” Jamie growled.

“I don’t expect you to believe me, but what happened to Anne and her daughter is one of my greatest regrets. And it’s something I must live with for the rest of my life,” Phillip replied.

“At least, you can live with it,” Jamie tossed out before turning and leaving the keep, Geoffrey following after him.

“I’ll be with my men for the rest of the afternoon. Perhaps, I’ll see my granddaughter at dinner.”

“No,” Gavin said, not offering further information. He planned to spend the evening with Nori in their room, continuing to get her comfortable to his touch. Then as the evening reached its peak, he planned to make his wife his. Completely.

Phillip sighed, shook his head, then left, Buckingham and the rest of the king’s soldiers following along with him.

“He’s not to be trusted,” Cris said once they were gone.

“She’s not to be left alone,” Gavin ordered. He didn’t need to ask who Cris referred to. It was obvious to both of them. Buckingham.

“Probably best if none of the women are left alone,” Kingsley warned. “I wouldn’t put it past a man like that to use whomever he can to get what he wants.”

Marcus nodded, agreeing with his wife’s grandfather. “Blood will spill before that one leaves.”

“As long as it’s his,” Gavin said, and he hoped he was the one to spill it.

Chapter Seven

“Oh, Nori.”

Nori couldn’t seem to control the tears pouring from her eyes, even as the women surrounded her, trying to offer comfort. It was as if, once the damn was broken, every ounce of sorrow and fear and pain was released in the torrent currently erupting from her. The men were silent, and she hoped Con wasn’t even now rushing below to tell Gavin his wife was a sobbing mess.

“Go,” she heard Jo say.

“We’re staying.” That was definitely Con’s voice.

“You can guard us from the hall.” Jo wasn’t backing down.

“Father, please.”

Nori thought that was Serena, Lord Armstrong’s daughter.

“Let’s go. The ladies are safe in here, and I believe the queens could use a bit of privacy.”

Nori had liked Lord Armstrong from the start. He’d been attentive and compassionate during the trip from the Buckingham home to Lord Kingsley’s, where she’d met her husband. She thought she might have enjoyed having him for a father.

An arm tugged her from the women, and her head was tilted up to Con. She wasn’t sure what he saw in her face, but she didn’t see anger or judgment.

“You’re a queen,” he reminded her, and she did her best to gulp back her tears.

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “A queen has no need to apologize.”

“I can if I want to.”

His lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile. “I’ll be right outside the door, my queen. Anything you need, you’ve only to ask.”

“Thank you, Con.”

He winked at her. “I have to make sure you see who’s the better twin, my queen.”

She gave a watery laugh, and he nodded as if that was what he’d waited for.

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