Page 82 of Anice’s Bargain

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James wasted no time making his way to the dungeon once more. While he tried not to think of Anice, his mind constantly wandered back to her, recalling the dank, dark room.

He stopped in front of the cell, the only one filled on the eastern side of the dungeon. Its western side stood opposite a massive stone staircase that bisected the great dungeon into two large chambers of cells.

The reiver in front of the heavy iron-bound door eyed James.

“Move,” James stated simply.

The man complied.

James pulled a coin from his pocket and pushed it into the man’s hand. “I require some time alone with the prisoner.”

The reiver grinned in understanding and melted into the darkness. James waited until the heavy fall of his wooden-soled shoes faded with him. Only then did he open the door.

He pushed a candle into the darkness ahead of him. Drake squinted his eyes against the brilliance of the single flickering flame. Even as he flinched from the light, he swung a fist at James, who easily ducked away from the wild attack.

James slammed the door shut behind him and locked it. “Enough.”

“Where is she?” Drake lunged again.

James evaded the attack.

“What have ye done with her?” Drake demanded. “If ye’ve harmed her in any way, I’ll kill ye.”

“Enough.” James spoke with the authority of a man who would someday be laird, a man who owned his own land and was doing all he could to protect the woman he loved. “Stop and I’ll tell ye.”

Drake fell silent, though his vengeful glare glittered in the meager light.

“I know what ye think,” James said.

“That ye’re every bit the traitor we anticipated ye’d be?” Drake squared his shoulders. “If ye were an honorable man, I’d challenge ye to a duel.”

Irritation tightened the muscles at James’s back. “I was working against Laird Graham the entire time.”

“I dinna believe ye. Why would ye no’ tell Anice? Or me, for that matter?”

James shook his head. “Anice would have wanted to warn her family and wouldna have been able to quietly follow the plan. Her sudden disappearance would be suspect, and if she were caught, we’d all have been killed. And ye…” James cast a disgusted look at the other man. “Ye’re in love with my wife.”

The malice drained from Drake’s face. No doubt the color did as well, but it was too dark to be certain. “I have sworn to protect all the daughters of the Earl of Werrick.”

“Had I no’ come about and taken her as my wife, ye’d have pursued her for yer own.” The candle flame flickered under the vehemence of James’s accusation.

“Lady Anice is far above my station.” Drake’s face tightened with resolve. “I would never be worthy of her.”

“She’s far above my station as well,” James goaded. He was being petty, he knew, but he wanted to dig the blade of his claim deep into Drake’s heart. Deep enough to score it with a constant reminder of one very important fact: Anice belonged to him.

A slight tightening of the skin around Drake’s eyes was the only indication James had rankled the other man. “Did ye get Lady Anice to fall for these lies of yers? That ye claim to be working against yer father?”

“She saw it as the truth it is.” James was sorely tempted to divulge the moments that had transpired after, but it was far too uncouth a thing to do. Not for a Graham, but for James. He would never disrespect Anice in such a way.

“Let me see her,” Drake demanded. “Once I have ascertained her well-being with my own eyes and hear from her own lips that ye’re to be trusted, then I’ll believe ye.”

“That’s no’ an option.” James folded his arms over his chest. “And unfortunately, we have need of ye.”

Drake merely lifted his square chin in silent question.

“Ye have to escape,” James said in a low voice. He hadn’t heard the reiver return but wouldn’t take any chances. “We need ye to warn the Earl of Werrick of the impending attack, so they’ll be ready.”