Page 31 of The Scottish Bride

“Under oath to Edward, like most,” Gilchrist said, “but not assigned to Comyn or any castle hereabouts. We ride free for now. And that one does as he pleases.”

“I do not know your names.” She looked at Liam again. “And you, sir, I would swear upon the Virgin that I know you, though I cannot think where.”

“We may have met.” He would keep his old mail coif up and pray for shadows until he could explain all. “Lads, I should introduce Lady Thomasina Keith of Dalrinnie Castle.” His kinsmen would know what it took for him to say it.

“My lady. I am Sir Gilchrist Seton. That one is my brother, Sir William Seton. And this brawny lad is our cousin, Sir Finley Macnab.”

“Seton?” She paused. “I know that from somewhere—well, it is good to meet you. And Sir William, thank you for saving my life.”

“You would have been fine had the rope been long enough.” Liam gave her a fleeting smile. “Once we reach the tavern, where will you go?”

“I must travel east to Selkirk, then northeast to find my kin.”

“A long way for a lady alone. Selkirk is a long way through the heart of the forest.”

“We are heading that way,” Gilchrist said. “Liam?”

“Aye. You have business in Selkirk, my lady, and friends there?”

“I do. Could you take me through the forest to Selkirk? I would be grateful. I could offer payment.”

“We are not mercenaries,” Liam said again.

Her smile was shy, prim. Whatever she was about in Selkirk, she would not share it. If she had friends there, he wanted to be sure of it and not leave her on her own. As before, a powerful need to protect her—though he knew little of her—rushed through him.

“We can take you there. Better than danger finding you,” he said.

“It is just an errand in Selkirk. A merchant. Then I must be on my way again.”

“A lady escaping from a tower needs to buy something pretty,” Finley said.

“Not that,” she said. “I have all I need.”

“Books, perhaps,” Liam ventured. “You like them.”

She flashed a look at him, her gray eyes intelligent, stubborn, and surprised. Yet she smiled, impish and perfect. The lady had secrets, he thought. And a hidden strength to her, as if her fragile golden beauty hid the heart of a lion, even a dragon.

Thomas the Rhymer’s kinswoman fascinated him. And from what King Edward had said, that mysterious book held something important. He frowned.

“Before we head toward Selkirk,” he said, “we have an errand at Holyoak Abbey near St. Mary’s Loch.”

“I know that abbey. I have been there.”

Now that was interesting too. Even more, he wanted to know why she fled Dalrinnie and what she needed in Selkirk. “My lady—”

“Lads,” Finley said, holding up a hand for quiet. “Listen.”

Liam tilted his head, then heard the blast of a horn cutting through the gloom of the cold early dawn. Another blast. He swore under his breath. “They are alerted now.”

“Where might they look for you, my lady?” Gilchrist asked.

“Kincraig or Thornhill, I think, where I have kin.”

“Those are north and west. We will go east toward the forest,” Liam said.

“Are you rebels, you three?” she asked suddenly.

Silence. Then Finley chuckled. “Decked in Edward’s gear?”