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“Waiting for you.” He leaned forward and took her hand. “Come, we cannot talk here.” He nodded sharply towards the bakehouse wall and Frida realised he did not want the prisoners to overhear them.

But Jonah did not lead her to the hall. Instead he took a roundabout path to the sheep barn. ’Twas one of the last places Frida would willingly go, for the painful reminders of that last, carefree day with Callum.

She frowned as they stepped into the hay-scented warmth. The sheep had not yet been returned to the fields, but Frida saw she must give the order for this to happen, else the flock would eat through their winter supplies before yuletide.

“What is it, Jonah?”

He held up his palms in a gesture of surrender. “I am learning to face my flaws, just as I know you have always wished.”

Her frown deepened. “I am in no mood for puzzles.”

“We all know ’tis my fault that Tristan came here.

And therefore everything that took place after that can also be attributed to me.

” He gestured wildly to indicate Tristan’s ferocious beating, Callum’s escape and the arguments that had rippled through Ember Hall subsequently.

“At the time, I hid away rather than meeting your wrath.”

Frida rubbed at her arms, her body taken by a sudden shiver of premonition, despite the shelter of the barn. “Why would you fear my wrath?”

He threw her a smile. “Come now, sister, do not pretend that you are not in love with Callum. I know it. Mirrie knows it. The only person who hasn’t realised is Tristan, but that is because our beloved brother is, as ever, consumed only with his own affairs and interests.”

She held herself entirely still. “You know.” Her heart sank as she realised the consequences.

“I believe it your secret. Your business. My lips are sealed.” He grimaced as if unconvinced she would believe him. “You have my word.”

Not so long ago, Jonah’s word would have meant little to Frida. Now, however, she placed more faith in him. “Thank you.” She hugged her arms about herself, wishing she had thought to bring a shawl.

He inclined his head. “I have not brought you here for thanks. I am afraid I have failed you, once again.”

She saw she would have to drag this confession out of him. “How so?”

“I saw you go out to the bakehouse. I knew you would talk to the prisoners. I was curious and I followed you.”

His clipped tone indicated there was more to come and Frida waited for it with bated breath.

“Tristan saw me leave the hall. He followed me.”

Frida’s pulse picked up speed. “You overheard us?” Her mind raced as she tried to remember the detail of their conversation.

He nodded, his face grim. “Aye. And a matter we hoped was settled has now sprung back to life.”

“Jonah, will you get to the point?” The words exploded from her.

“Tristan heard the prisoners declare that Callum is not a man to give up. It convinced him that he was right to suspect a retaliation against his person.”

Frida shrugged. “What can he do but wait it out or leave?”

Jonah held her gaze, though she could see he would rather look anywhere but at her. “He is ordering that you return to Wolvesley, for your own protection.”

*

Frida thought she had better face the situation head on, especially when she saw a troop of Tristan’s men rounding up the saddle horses in the paddocks. She watched grimly until her own grey mare was haltered and led into the stables, then she spun on her heel and marched into the hall.

She found Tristan in the solar, standing by the mullioned window with his arms crossed over his chest. He had aged since he came to Ember Hall, his brow creased with worry and his blue gaze piercing rather than laughing as it used to be.

The events of the last days laid heavily upon him, and despite her grievances, she was sorry for it.

“Brother.”

He nodded with no trace of a smile.

“You can stand your men down and release the horses. I will not return to Wolvesley.”

He turned back to face the window, his shoulders set. “It is not safe for you here. The Scot will come looking for vengeance.”

Frida took a deep, steadying breath. “Callum may return, aye. But not for the reason you think.”

Still he did not move.

For the second time that morn, Frida had recourse only to the truth.

“He poses no danger to me. Nor to you, once he discovers you played no part in the siege of Kielder Castle.” She stepped closer to Tristan, joining his vigil at the window.

The courtyard was a hive of activity, with almost all of Tristan’s soldiers engaged in readying horses for imminent departure.

It was a far cry from the usual peace of Ember Hall.

She glanced up to see his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. “Are you listening to me at all?”

For a dreadful moment she thought he would not answer.

“It is no surprise to me that you do not want to leave. I know how you love this place.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “’Tis not only Ember Hall that I love.”

This time she saw a flicker of confusion in his face. It was the prompt she needed to summon all her courage and continue. “I love Callum. And he loves me.” She blinked away her tears. “That’s why he’ll return—and how I know he will never hurt me.”

She had hoped for a smile or a softening of his expression, not the thin-lipped sneer she now received.

“Frida, I had thought you were wiser than this.” His eye bore into hers. “Did the Scot seduce you?”

“’Twas not like that,” she protested hotly. “I have loved Callum since he first came to Wolvesley.” She lifted her chin to show she was not ashamed. “And as soon as he arrived here, I knew I loved him still.”

Tristan gave a little shake of his head. A pulse flickered at his neck. “You think he loves you in return?”

“I know it.”

“And I know that a man’s love for his country will always come first.”

“You are wrong.” She rounded on him. “You speak as a man who has never been in love.”

Her blow landed. She saw the minute changes in Tristan’s expression as he considered the truth of her words.

Tristan dragged a hand through his hair. “Is that why you set him free?”

She nodded.

“I wish I had known that. It would have saved me a lot of grief.”

At once, he was her brother and ally once again and her eyes filled with tears for a different reason.

“I should have told you.”

He pursed his lips. “I understand why you did not. I was filled with rage. Rage at myself more than anyone, as I was responsible for bringing Callum into all our lives.”

She put a hand on his shoulder and was relieved when he did not flinch away. “I know that you were trying to protect me.”

He embraced her—the first real show of affection they had exchanged since Frida and Mirrie’s departure from Wolvesley Castle. Frida rested her head on her brother’s broad shoulder and thought that she should have been honest with him from the start.

We should all have been honest from the start.

He cleared his throat. “I am glad we are friends again. I have missed you.”

“I have found peace and comfort in your absence,” she replied airily.

He gave a snort of laughter and put his hands on her shoulders. Looking up at him, she was reminded how close he had become in height and bearing to their father.

Tristan’s face twisted with regret. “I’m sorry, Frida. But this changes naught.”

She felt as if he had reached into her chest and stopped her heart from beating. “How so?”

“Callum is a trained knight, a warrior. I know how his mind works. How his blood will burn to take revenge for the beating I gave him.”

“Nay,” she began, but he silenced her with a look.

“He will return with weapons and men, looking to retaliate. Any love he feels for you will make his emotions run even stronger.”

She tried to swallow but found her throat had gone dry. “You cannot order me from my own home.”

He gripped her shoulders. “For your own safety, I must. You have to leave Ember Hall, today.”