The Ranger Read online

  He gazed back over the wall to the mini-kingdom below.

  It was a telling movement, and she sucked in her breath at the significance. Too much to lose. His father wouldn’t risk it. “Nay,” she said, stepping back. “You can’t! Your father can’t submit. Bruce will kill him for what your father did to his wife and daughter.”

  She spoke without thought, and she could tell that the reminder of what his father had done in violating sanctuary and turning Bruce’s womenfolk over to the English was not something Sir Hugh wanted to be reminded of. For the first time, she caught something resembling shame on his proud features.

  “Bruce has vowed to forgive all the nobles who were against him, if they submit.”

  “And you believe the word of a traitor? Surely, you cannot think King Hood will forgive your father and the rebellious men of Ross and Moray? The fires have barely died from the ‘harrying of Buchan.’ ”

  He did not argue with her. But his jaw was clenched tight as he said, “What choice do we have? The tide has turned toward Bruce. The people think he is a hero—a warrior king who defeated the English. Submitting may be the only way to survive. My father is willing to die if it means our clan will continue.”

  Anna’s mind spun. Never, in all her imaginings, had she expected Ross to submit.

  What did this mean for her clan? Would her father do the same?

  Nay. Her father would never submit. And for the first time, Anna realized what that might cost them.

  Sobered by what Sir Hugh had confided, Anna felt little relief in knowing that her conduct had not been to blame. “Thank you for telling me,” she said.

  He gave her a long look. “What will you do?”

  “Fight,” she answered. Even alone. What else could they do?

  “You will marry Campbell?”

  Her cheeks heated. After what had happened last night it was natural to assume … But there hadn’t been much of a chance to discuss the future.

  He seemed to understand her silence. “How well do you know him?”

  The hint of warning in his voice roused the little voice in the back of her head that she’d sought to quiet. “Sir Arthur arrived at Dunstaffnage last month with his brother to answer my father’s call for knights and men-at-arms.”

  It seemed to confirm something for him. “There’s something strange about him. Something off. He’s not what he appears.”

  Anna sprang immediately to his defense, thinking Sir Hugh must be picking up on Arthur’s unusual abilities. “He’s just quiet,” she said. “He likes to keep to himself.”

  Sir Hugh looked at her appraisingly, as if he wanted to say more, but instead he nodded.

  She was relieved when he told her he would explain things to her brother and parents, making no mention of the compromising situation in which he’d found her, agreeing simply that they didn’t suit.

  By the time he’d led her back to the tower, Anna was feeling much relieved. With some of her guilt assuaged, she allowed a little bit of the happiness she’d felt in discovering that the man she loved cared about her to return. She couldn’t wait to see him—and talk to him.

  Surprisingly, given the intimacies they’d shared, she wasn’t embarrassed. Even now, after all that had happened, it seemed right.

  She was just about to take her first step up the stairs that led from the yard to the tower, when she glanced to the left and glimpsed Sir Arthur coming out of the barracks.

  Her heart jumped. She smiled and instinctively took a step toward him, but then stopped in her tracks. He wore his armor and it was obvious he was getting ready for practice, but she could make out enough of his face beneath the visor of his helm.

  It wasn’t as if she expected him to race across the yard to her—at least, not with Sir Hugh still at her side. But a look of tenderness would have been nice. Anything would have been nice compared to the look of regret—aye, and even shame—that swept across his handsome features.

  The joy that had made her heart leap fizzled, bringing it crashing to the ground.

  She felt Sir Hugh stiffen beside her, as he noticed what had caught her eye.

  Arthur’s gaze shifted to the other knight. She could feel the animosity sparking between the two men. It was Arthur who retreated first. He nodded to them both, and then moved away to join the other warriors.

  Anna told herself not to be disappointed. Not to overreact. They would talk later. In private. She’d probably imagined what she thought she’d read in his eyes.

  But Sir Hugh’s next words told her she hadn’t. “If it doesn’t work out the way you plan, Lady Anna, I’ll be here.” A man to count on.

  She prayed Arthur was as well.

  Sixteen

  It had taken them longer to leave Auldearn Castle than Arthur had anticipated. Alan MacDougall had been locked away with the earl, his council, and Sir Hugh in the solar for three more days, attempting, Arthur assumed, to persuade Ross to join forces even absent a betrothal. Thankfully, Alan’s efforts had been to no avail.

  As Arthur had not been privy to the meetings, he could not be certain of the earl’s reasons, but the refusal boded well for King Robert. He would pass on the information as soon as he had the opportunity. He didn’t think any messages had been passed, but he would check Anna and Alan’s belongings at the first opportunity to make sure.

  They’d left Auldearn at dawn, reversing the journey that ended only a week ago, pushing hard to make it safely past Urquhart Castle on the first day. The men, taking a cue from their lord and lady, seemed to sense that all had not gone as hoped, and the cloud of failure weighed heavily on the travelers. The mood was somber, if not outright morose.

  Arthur knew he should be relieved and pleased that his mission had been a success. Ross and Lorn would not be joining forces. The MacDougalls’ failure would help bring Bruce one step closer to victory and Arthur one step closer to seeing his enemy destroyed. Seeing John of Lorn pay for what he’d done to his father was what he wanted most in the world.

  Wasn’t it?

  It should be, damn it. But he’d feared it was going to cost him far more than he’d ever anticipated.

  Behind the mask of his helm he could give in to the urge to look at her. He felt it again, sharp and burning. It wasn’t just his conscience eating at him but something else. The twinges of pain in his chest when he looked at her had become almost unbearable. But it hurt even more not to look at her.

  She rode ahead of him, beside her brother and serving maid, allowing him only the occasional glimpse of her profile. He didn’t need to see her face to know his silence on what had happened between them was hurting her. Badly.

  God, what had he done? And more importantly, what the hell was he going to do about it?

  Now that they were away from the castle, he couldn’t avoid it—or her—any longer.

  He knew what he should do. He didn’t need to be a knight to know that after coming within inches (literally) of taking her virginity, he should offer for her. No doubt it was what she was expecting—and should be expecting, damn it. If he had any honor, he would. But those inches gave him just enough of an excuse not to.

  The battle within him was intensifying. Every instinct urged him to go to her, to give in to the feelings—damn it, the emotions—tossing around inside him, but the other part of him, the rational part, held him back from doing something even more damaging.

  Even if at times he wanted to forget it, he was lying to her. And he sure as hell couldn’t tell her the truth. His duty and loyalty belonged to Bruce. Whatever feelings he had for her didn’t change that. They were on opposite sides of a brewing storm. Eventually she would discover his true allegiance and learn that the only reason he was at Dunstaffnage was to spy on and help destroy her family. Offering for her, he knew, would only make his ultimate betrayal that much worse.

  It was an impossible situation, and one, he knew, of his own making. He should have stayed away from her. But her smile, her vitality, her sweetness and kindness