Page 57 of The Scottish Bride
“More than that. We find ways here to—aid the cause, as it were. Keep that to yourself. As for my kinsmen, I swear upon the Rood, you can trust all of us.”
“You are a friend. But your brother William has orders from the king concerning me.”
“Liam is not one to blindly follow orders. If he pursues Edward’s wishes, he has reasons of his own. Liam can help you best, I think.”
“He confuses me, Gideon. Harper, outlaw, knight—loyal or disloyal?”
“He does what is necessary. As do we all.” His thin smile held a touch of sadness, making her wonder if Gideon had done something that had hurt his soul. “Liam has your welfare in mind. Very much so, I think.”
“I want to trust him, but—I need to know what is true and what is not.”
“Truth means much to my brother.”
“When he pretends to be one thing, then another?”
“Honesty is the best road to take with him. You know that better than most, I think, forthright as you are. For now, the monks are gathering in the rectory, and I must join them. I will ask Brother Allan to be sure to bring your supper.”
“Aye, but—I have not seen your brothers or your cousin all day. I wondered if I had been left on my own without notice.”
“They would never do that. They are riding patrol, making sure all is well, and will return soon. The abbot wants to speak with them before the hour of compline, when we practice silence at Holyoak.”
“Ah. Of course. I will be quiet then, too. What if they meet trouble out there? There are only the three.” Comyn’s men might be looking for her and could accost Liam and the others. She frowned, distressed.
“If they are not back by midnight, I will ride out myself to look for them.”
“You care about your kinsmen very much.”
“I do.” He bowed his head a little and turned.
“Gideon,” she said. He turned back with a questioning look. “Sometimes,” she said tentatively, “sometimes I have—a sense of foreboding. I know things—that have come to be.”
He tipped his head. “The Sight? I cannot say it surprises me.”
She wondered if Liam Seton had said something. “You know?”
“You are True Thomas’s kin.” He smiled, patient and kind, and waited.
“I—had a sort of dream,” she said, hesitant to admit to a vision here in this holy place. “That the abbey was attacked. That it was on fire.”
Gideon studied her, thoughtful. “Tamsin, my friend,” he said quietly, “thank you for telling me. I will make sure we are careful. Does Liam know?”
How curious he would ask. She nodded silently.
“Then he will be watching too. He thinks much of you.” He nodded, turned toward the rectory.
A little sob filled her throat at his words.Thinks much of you.In better circumstances, she would cherish such words and feel hopeful. Walking back to the cottage, she glanced at the gate, sealed against the outside world. She felt the chill kiss of a breeze and the call of night birds, but heard no thud of horse hooves, no men’s voices. Liam Seton and his kinsmen rode out because she was inside Holyoak. They willingly put themselves at risk because of her—and to protect their own.
Inside the cottage, she lit a candle against the gloom and went to the window. Dread turned inside her. She desperately wanted to see Liam ride through the gate, whole and hearty, with his kinsmen.
But she must leave Holyoak soon. Her presence here brought danger to those she cared about.
Chapter Sixteen
“The fellows left?You followed them?” Abbot Murdoch asked Liam, who stood nearest him, while Gideon, Gilchrist, and Finley waited nearby. The fire in the stone hearth, bright and crackling, warmed the room nicely against fog and chill. The abbot reached down to soothe a hand over the ears of the tall gray dog beside his chair.
For a moment, Liam was reminded of the overheated room and his uncomfortable audience with King Edward. Weeks later, he would not have imagined himself here but was glad for it. “The men rode north,” he replied. “I waited to be sure.”
“Good. I am sorry to have missed you yesterday. It was a bad day for the aching joints, I fear,” Murdoch went on. Liam suspected there was more to it than that; his uncle looked pale and drawn, and Gideon had said he was weak. He was glad, though, to see that Roc was with Murdoch, settled and attentive.
