Page 65 of Ella’s Desire

Before he could offer some paltry excuse, or attempt some charming facade, she strode toward her father. “What can we do to save Leila and Lark?”

Papa did not appear surprised by her interruption. “We will send out several parties of soldiers to see if any Armstrongs might be found that we can use to counter their demands. Mayhap they might be on the English side. If we can locate them beforehand, we can use them to barter and save the girls. Otherwise, we will have to conceive a plan to manage our winter grain stores.” His blue eyes went watery with a father’s sorrow. “We cannot allow them to remain with the Armstrongs.”

“I wish to join the search,” Ella insisted.

“Nay,” her father said. “’Tis too dangerous. I will not have two daughters placed in harm’s way.”

“I will keep her safe.” Bronson appeared at her side. “We will go together.”

The earl regarded Bronson and chewed the inside of his lip. “You may join the search party with my soldiers, Ella, but you are not to go on your own.”

Ella nodded.

“I would l…like to g…go as well,” William said.

Papa shook his head. “Nay, you’ll need to see about gathering the funds. You are right, the amount is considerable and will require a good amount of effort to get in order.”

William looked over his shoulder to where Brigid cried against her servant’s shoulder. “Aye, my lord.”

“Go to her,” the earl said. “Let me speak with my daughter.”

William did not hesitate and strode quickly to Brigid, opening his arms for her to fall into as she sobbed with a pain William no doubt understood far too well.

The earl regarded her once more. “You will wear your armor and you will not make any foolish decisions that will put you in harm’s way.”

Ella nodded. “Aye, Papa.”

“Calville, I task you with her safety.” Her father narrowed his eyes. “If anything should happen to her, I will put the blame at your feet.”

“She will not be harmed,” Bronson swore.

The earl’s face relaxed and he nodded. “Very well, then I will allow you to help with the search. In the meantime, I will send missives to the other wardens for their assistance in discovering Lark and Leila’s whereabouts. We will see them rescued.”

There was steel in his voice, the kind that told Ella he would not stop until Leila and Lark were found.

After a final nod of her father’s head, Ella and Bronson were dismissed to prepare for departure.

“I will not let you down,” Bronson said to her.

“I do not need you to join me.” She slid him a hard look, this man who had read her stories to become someone she would want. The gesture of reading her books had been romantic when she’d thought he’d wanted a glimpse inside her heart. It was entirely another thing when he used it as a guide to change who he was.

“Regardless, I am by your side.” He touched his hand to his sword.

She did not reply. There were more important things to focus on now.

Instead, she marched on to her chamber to ready for the search and tried to block out the hurt radiating from her chest. For as much as she tried to ignore the stark pain, his betrayal had cut her deep.

Things could not be going any worse for Bronson. Lark, whom he had brought to Werrick Castle to protect, was at the mercy of reivers. He only hoped they could get her and Leila back quickly.

Then there was Ella, and the impending marriage he had ruined. Her cool demeanor told him enough even if he hadn’t seen the tightening of her jaw, or the flush of her face. But he had seen them. Hell, he’d felt them, like daggers digging into raw wounds. And could he blame her? He had presented a fake part of himself to her. After he’d been so long at court, he scarcely knew who he was at his core anymore.

He waited for her to depart the hall before leaving for his own chamber. Rafe immediately joined him.

“Will you be going with the guards to try to find Lady Lark, my lord?” Rafe asked.

Bronson nodded.

Rafe pushed open the door to Bronson’s apartments and held it open for him. “I will pack the belongings you may need and get a bag of food for you from the kitchen.”