Page 33 of Desire's Ransom
“Oh aye,” Cormac replied automatically, instantly realizing his mistake as the knight’s brows lowered in disapproval. “That is, nay, nay.” He rubbed anxious fingers through his beard. “I should have,” he said defensively. “After all, I couldn’t have my own daughter refusin’ the King of England.” Ryland’s face had gone grave again. “But ere I could lay a hand on the lass, she was out o’ the keep and off into the woods.”
“She fled?” Warin asked.
“Aye.” Cormac’s gaze veered from man to man as he tried to determine if they believed his story.
“How long ago?” another knight demanded.
“Three days,” Cormac invented. That sounded reasonable to him.
A second knight asked, “Did you send men to hunt for her?”
Cormac hated to complicate his lies, so he shrugged and shook his head. “I was so sure she’d return.”
Ryland frowned. “The woods are dangerous. She might be in peril.” He sighed and set down his cup.
Cormac resisted crowing with glee. As he’d hoped, the knight was falling neatly into his trap. He could see Sir Ryland was considering taking matters into his own hands. He’d search for the lass himself.
Of course he’d never find her. Cormac expected Temair was dead. And when the knight came back empty-handed, he would have only himself to blame. Cormac would be innocent. And Ryland would be too ashamed of his failure to remain in Eire.
Once the knight was gone and safely wed to someone else, Cormac’s daughter could be miraculously “found.” Then Cormac would once again have an heir with which to bargain. And with any luck, the next bridegroom the king sent would be more governable.
As for the pregnant imposter, Cormac would pay her for her trouble and send her on her way. Hers probably wasn’t the first bastard he’d sired.
Cormac wrung his hands and tried to look distraught. “Do ye think ill may have befallen my daughter?”
Their silence was answer enough.
“We’ll look for her,” one of the knights decided.
“Aye,” another agreed.
“Of course,” Ryland said.
The first knight asked, “Can you describe her?”
Cormac opened his mouth and froze. How could he describe the daughter he’d last seen years ago? She hadn’t even had breasts then. Even if she were somehow alive, she’d have grown into a woman by now.
At his hesitation, Warin guessed, “Does she have your coloring, m’lord?”
He shook his head, trying to remember. “Nay, she’s a small, wildish lass with dark hair.”
“Never fear,” Warin said, as much to Ryland as to Cormac. “We’ll find her.”
One of them added, “We can start first thing in the morning.”
Perfect, Cormac thought. That would give him time to send the imposter away. After a few days, at most a week, he figured, they’d give up the search and return to England.
On the other hand, the forest was full of thieves and wolves. Maybe misfortune would befall the knights. Maybe Sir Ryland would never be heard from again. It was an attractive alternative.
