Page 24 of Strachan (Hostage Brides #2)

The winter snow had turned to sleet, and the sky outside his chamber was leaden. Peyton snuggled into Cecily’s back, his body folded against hers. This was the best place to be on such a filthy day. He was just about to stroke his hand down her back to wake her up and have her when there was a heavy knock on the door. Peyton slid out of bed with a curse to find Bertha outside. He put a finger to his lips.

Bertha glanced at Cecily, rolled her eyes, and whispered, ‘This message came first thing, and its bearer said it was life and death urgent.’

When he opened the note, his heart sank. Caolan Bannerman had just poured cold water on his morning of cosy debauchery, damn his eyes.

By the time the sun was well up, Peyton was soaking wet and shivering in the cottage in Liddesdale, facing a grim Bannerman.

Caolan’s black eyes were flinty as he said, ‘I am under attack. One of my men went out carousing in a tavern two nights ago. He has not been seen or heard of since. I suspect his corpse will turn up once the snows melt. Fires burn on my farms, and more of my tenants’ homes have been put to the torch.’

‘Why should it concern me if one of your wastrels has run off?’ said Peyton.

‘Because I had set him to spy on Alec Carstairs.’

‘Is he not to wed Glendenning’s sister?’

‘Aye, but Carstairs is a turncoat, and my man sent word that there is a plot afoot to kill Glendenning at his sister’s nuptials. And if he takes his new wife, Rowenna, on the road with him, she could die alongside him.’

‘So?’

‘So, I doubt you will want to see any harm befall your mistress’s sister. You call her Connie, though her name is Cecily MacCreadie.’

There was no point in denying it. ‘How do you know this?’ said Peyton.

‘How do I know anything? I keep my ear to the ground.’

‘If that is so, why have you not told Glendenning that I have his wife’s sister?’

‘Quite literally, or so I hear,’ said Caolan with a rare smile. ‘I have kept my counsel because I like to hold my secrets close and use them when they give me the greatest advantage.’

Caolan Bannerman was a sly one, and his dark eyes held a fierce intelligence. He was also ruthless and not to be wholly trusted. ‘And is this news not to your advantage?’ said Peyton. ‘If Glendenning dies, then don’t you have one less rival?’

‘And one less ally.’

‘But you clearly do not trust Glendenning.’

Caolan scowled. ‘Only a fool would do that, and I trust him no more than I trust you.’

‘Then why are we here?’ spat Peyton.

‘Because we may be strange bedfellows, the three of us, but I made a pledge to ally with you, Strachan, and I will stick to it. If I do not, and we become divided, we will all be picked off by the Warden, one by one.’

Peyton sighed and gathered himself. ‘So what are you going to do?’

‘What I am doing - sending you to warn Jasper.’

Peyton laughed, but Caolan’s inscrutable eyes held no mirth. ‘I am in earnest.’

‘Bannerman, it is your secret, your spy. You warn him.’

‘I cannot. This alliance with the Carstairs family is important to Jasper. He seeks to grow his wealth and power by marrying his sister off. If I tell him to do something, he will do the opposite. You know how he hates my brother, Seaton, since he stole his bride at the altar.’

‘Aye, that is a good enough reason for any man to hate.’

‘Indeed. So if I go with a warning, Jasper will think it a ruse to throw him off his goal, and his pride would never accept taking a Bannerman’s help.’

‘Well, that’s as maybe, but he’s even less likely to believe a Strachan,’ said Peyton.

‘No. You are wrong. Jasper has a grudging respect for you because you always stand your ground with him.’

‘I’ll most likely get a sword to my gullet as thanks for turning up at Kransmuir.’

‘You are not going to Kransmuir,’ said Caolan. ‘He is setting off today for the Carstairs keep at Annancross. You have no time to lose. You must meet him on the road before Jasper encounters Carstairs’ thugs.’

Peyton was wet through. He was angry. He did not trust Caolan, and he owed Jasper Glendenning nothing. And he was tired of the struggle, so very tired. ‘Why should I do your dirty work, Bannerman?’ he growled.

‘Because I am asking you to. I will get off this horse, fall to my knees, and beg if I have to.’

Suddenly, it was clear. ‘There’s more to this than an alliance in jeopardy,’ said Peyton. ‘The Bannermans and Glendennings were friends once. I don’t think you want to see Jasper get murdered.’

Peyton met Caolan’s eye, but his gaze was unreadable.

‘Tell me something, Bannerman. Your brother’s insult to Glendenning, stealing his bride out from under him, was it worth all the strife it has caused?’

‘Aye. Because Seaton found his one true love with Brenna. What man won’t walk through fire, dragging everything with him, just to hold onto that?’

Peyton thought of Cecily snug and safe in bed. How could he face her if he let her sister come to grief? How would he feel if he ever lost her? The thought was a punch to the heart.

‘What road are they taking?’ he said.