"That"s enough!" Alex said, stepping between the two of them. Skelley moved back, removing the dirk from its threatening position, but not sheathing it. Eliot didn"t budge.
To Alex"s surprise, Eliot"s notorious temper didn"t flare at this provocation. The gaze still trained on Skelley was calculating, as if he planned to bide his time.
"Carlisle was there, you say?" Alex asked.
Eliot nodded.
"They were looking for Mistress Graham?"
"Aye, Carlisle wants her back, so does Graham. Carlisle says no deal wi" oot the la.s.s."
"And yet they"re camping in the woods together?" Skelley said scornfully.
Eliot didn"t even look at Skelley. "Carlisle insisted on joining the search... he"s besotted with the la.s.s." He quirked an eyebrow. "He said more than once he"d geld Red Alex if he so much as harmed a hair on her head." Eliot leaned back to look pointedly at the larder again before raising his eyebrows speculatively.
Alex ignored the innuendo. "So, think you Carlisle and Ridley will bargain?"
Eliot nodded. "Oh, aye. I dinna think Lord Graham likes it o"er much, as he kens the value of the Rhins, but Carlisle wants the la.s.s. Have ye sent yer terms?"
"Aye," Alex said, leaving the kitchen with the two men on his heels. "A few days ago. I expect I"ll hear back any day now." He stopped suddenly and turned to Eliot. "What did Lord Carlisle do when he learned of Laine"s death?"
Eliot"s black eyes shifted away, before fixing again on Alex. "He was distressed, but got over it well enough."
Alex held Eliot"s gaze. The black eyes didn"t waver, didn"t blink.
"For your sake, I hope you"re not lying to me."
Anger blazed up in Eliot"s eyes, his gaze darting to Skelley and back. He was furious at Alex for scolding him in front of another. Alex was sickened that it had come to this, that a man he had once looked on as brother was now someone he could not trust. But Alex had been very fond of Laine and if Eliot murdered the boy out of spite, Alex would have it from Eliot"s hide.
"Ye"re one to talk of lies. What of wee Hugh? Ye knew all along she wasna a lad."
"That"s my business and not for you to question."
Eliot made a rude noise. "No for me to question, aye? You"re the big man, tellin" us all what we must and mustna know?" Eliot took a step closer, raising his chin to direct his dark stare in Alex"s eyes. "Ye can play laird, but we all know you"re no one. Ye"re just a reiver like the rest of us, stealing what ye canna rightfully have."
"If you don"t like it, you"re welcome to leave."
Eliot"s mouth flattened in his beard and Alex knew the blow was unexpected. "Weel, I just might do that." He stalked away.
Alex watched him turn the corner, anger and shame warring in his heart. His father would take a strap to him for treating his favorite nephew so poorly. And yet, Eliot had changed. Alex didn"t want him anywhere near Fayth.
"I know not what he"s up to," Skelley said, rousing Alex from his thoughts, "but he"s a fox and it can be no good."
Alex clasped his hands hard behind his back, thinking. "Aye. If we"re lucky, he"ll leave of his own accord and that will be the end of it."
"If he doesna?"
Alex sighed, looking regretfully at his friend. "I dinna know. We must watch and wait. I fear he"ll not be satisfied until he"s made us all as miserable as he is."
"Shall I set an extra watch on the la.s.sie?"
Alex nodded. "Aye, I want her guarded at all times." He paused thoughtfully. Eliot had friends among Alex"s men and though Alex didn"t think they"d deceive him, he would take no chances with Fayth. "I want you to personally guard her during the day-I"ll take the night watch."
Skelley walked to the door, then turned. "But what of Eliot? Are we to leave him free to do his worst?"
Alex shook his head. "Leave Eliot to me."
Wesley rode into Irvine lands with a score of men. Though he possessed the earl of Dornock"s safe conduct, the hair still p.r.i.c.kled on his neck, riding into enemy lands in full daylight. Of course, there was nothing to fear. This was no raid. Wesley had become courier, delivering Ridley"s missives to Lady Anne and her father. Ridley had insisted Wesley act as messenger-as a sign of goodwill. He claimed that sending his own brother would prove to the earl"s daughter how important she was to him. Wesley would have refused and ripped the foolish letter to pieces if not for the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Lady Anne.
He was a fool. It had always been this way. Ridley had always overshadowed Wesley and he"d accepted it. All the la.s.ses fancied Ridley. The men respected and followed him. And it meant nothing to Ridley. He cared naught for what he had, always reaching for what was forbidden. Wesley had grown weary of his brother"s devious mind, his contempt for everything. If this war didn"t happen soon, he considered leaving to seek his fortune elsewhere.
He might have done so already, if not for Lady Anne. It did Wesley"s heart good that Lady Anne saw through the finery to the twisted heart contained inside Ridley Graham. Of course, she didn"t like what she saw in Wesley, either, but he could forgive that. He knew he was scarred and awkward with women. It was not her fault and, in spite of it all, she had been kind to him, had not allowed her revulsion to show in his presence. A fine woman.
As soon as Dornock was in sight, Wesley could resist the urge to rush no longer and dug the spurs into his horse"s flanks. The horse raced across the heather, his men falling far behind. He thought he caught a glimpse of yellow satin on the battlements, but it was quickly gone.
Wesley was led into the earl"s chambers by no less than the earl"s master-of-guard. But it soon became clear the knight wanted to speak to him alone. When the doors closed, the knight gave him a conspiratorial smile.
"Pray inform Lord Graham I"ve worked sore hard to further his cause with the lady, though I dinna ken what good it"s done."
Wesley arched a brow in question. "Indeed?"
"Aye. Lord Graham said he would reward me well if I could change her mind. I"ve been at her meself, as we"re friends, and I"ve paid her maids to talk well of him. Tell him I"ve worked hard."
Wesley stared at the man until he looked away. "And what was the great reward Lord Graham promised you?"
"I"m not to say."
Wesley forced a laugh. "You can tell me, man. I"m his brother, after all."
The knight smiled and shrugged. "The wardenship of Gealach."
Wesley could barely manage a nod as the man left the room. The wardenship of Gealach and eventually the tower itself was to be Wesley"s. Why had he not antic.i.p.ated this? Ridley was a snake-lower than a snake, a vile worm.
The earl greeted him with great ceremony, ushering him deeper into his private chambers and offering him wine and food. It was all Wesley could do to remain civil. His fury nearly blinded him. What could this mean? Gealach was his! And who the h.e.l.l was that man? A stinking Scottish knight? d.a.m.n it-they were brothers! How could Ridley do this?
The earl was speaking to him. Wesley made a ma.s.sive effort to set his rage aside long enough to deliver Ridley"s letter so he could leave.
"You found no trouble in Irvine lands?" the earl asked.
Wesley shook his head. He liked the earl of Dornock. He was a round, una.s.suming figure, good-natured and kind to his children. In some ways he reminded Wesley of his own father, though Wesley had a hard time imagining the earl locked in mortal combat with a Maxwell or Carlisle as Hugh had often found himself.
"To what do I owe the good fortune of your visit, Master Wesley?"
Good fortune? Did that mean Lady Anne had changed her mind? Wesley"s heart sank, his belly filling with dread. He steeled himself to hear the news. Ridley didn"t deserve her, would ruin her. But it was not unexpected. Even the forbidden eventually fell to Ridley"s whims. His heart cankered, black with tamped-down rage.
"More missives from Lord Graham." Wesley was aware his voice was tight, curt. He strove for a more friendly tone. "I am instructed to give them only to the lady herself."
The earl raised his frosted brows. "Well... she"ll not have them, I"m sorry to say."
The tension seeped out of Wesley and he sighed deeply. "Ah, well. I tried." He started to stand, but the earl waved him back into his chair.