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Chapter 4
“We did it,” said Will excitedly once they got back to camp. “We managed to get real weapons. These will come in handy for the attack.”
The half-dozen men with them all inspected the swords, daggers, and battle axes they’d stolen from Castle Rothbury.
“We should have a fighting chance now,” said one of the villagers named Roger.
“I can’t wait to try this beauty.” Gerald, another of the villagers who Jacob had trained to fight, swiped the sword through the air.
“Let me swing a battle axe,” said another of the men eagerly.
“Nay,” said Jacob, dismounting his horse. “There’ll be time for that later. Right now we need to get back and distribute these weapons amongst our army. The time is approaching fast, and we’ll have only one chance to attack the High Sheriff and claim the castle.”
“Then let’s go,” said Gerald, tossing the sword into the back of the wagon.
Out of habit, Jacob’s hand reached for his lucky dagger that once belonged to his mother. He, in return had given it to his lover, Lady Catherine. It was the only thing he had left that the High Sheriff hadn’t taken from him. When his hand came up empty, he pushed away his cloak, patting his weapon belt, but the dagger was not there.
“Damnation, I do not believe this,” he cursed.
“What is the matter?” Will climbed up to the bench seat of the wagon.
“My dagger. It’s missing.”
“Mayhap you dropped it when you tied up the girl,” suggested Will.
“The girl,” Jacob repeated, his jaw clenching tightly. He remembered her reaching out to touch him in what he foolishly thought was a seductive move. Now he knew exactly why she did it. She was stealing his prized possession. He hadn’t even realized it.
“God’s eyes, she tricked me!” He kicked at a rock and it went flying. Roger ducked to keep from being hit.
“What’s got you so upset, Jacob?” asked Gerald.
“I have been made a fool of and I don’t fancy that,” he spat. “Will, take the wagon back and have the villagers practice with the new weapons.”
“Aye, my lord,” said Will, calling him by his title out of habit. “But where will you be?”
“I’ve got a little side errand to run that shouldn’t take too long. I’ll meet back with you later tonight. But right now, I need to pay a little visit to someone who is not going to be happy to see me.”
* * *
An hour later,Maira was on her way to Durham Castle. Morag, Branton, three guards, and a servant driving the cart with their trunks accompanied her. They headed out the castle gates on their way to meet with her betrothed.
Maira’s sword was strapped to her back even though her father had told her to hide her weapons from Sir Gregory Arundell. She no longer cared. She also carried two daggers attached to her waist belt, plus the one she’d pilfered from the thief. It irked her that she had been tied up by the man when she had every chance to capture him and have him thrown into the dungeon. But she had hesitated and, in that moment, he was able to get the better of her. Hadn’t her father always told her not to hesitate when making a decision? If so, it could cost someone’s life.
“Maira, wait up,” called out Morag, riding to her side. Maira rode the horse astride, but Morag rode in a sidesaddle the way that was expected of a lady. They both wore gowns made of taffeta and silk lined with lace. Lady Ernestine had insisted they look their best when they met the High Sheriff. Maira didn’t care about looking good, but she did it out of respect to the woman who was her guardian. “What happened with the thief?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Maira scanned their surroundings as they headed down a path that led right through the woods. It was a likely place for thieves and bandits to be lying in wait and she wouldn’t be taken by surprise again.
“The man named Jacob,” said Morag, pulling Maira from her thoughts. “What did he do to you?”
Maira’s heart skipped a beat at hearing this question. All she could think about was Jacob’s kiss. She needed to tell someone about it or she was going to burst. Morag wasn’t her first choice of who to confide in, but since Fia and Willow were married now and no longer available to talk with, Maira had no other choice. It was Morag or no one at all. She couldn’t keep this secret to herself any longer, so decided to talk to her cousin.
“He kissed me,” Maira blurted out, hoping she hadn’t made a mistake by telling the biggest gossip in the castle her intimate secret.
“He did what?” asked Morag with wide eyes.
“You heard me. Jacob kissed me. And I have to say . . . I liked it.”
“Who kissed you?” asked Branton, overhearing her and riding up next to her at her other side.
