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“I don’t want or need his help. I will do this on my own.” He finished dressing and strapped on his sword. “Now, you will stay here until after the attack on the morrow. We are moving in when the High Sheriff sends most of his men out on the hunt. It’s the only day he’s allowed to hunt in the king’s forest so he takes advantage of it. He is greedy and that’s why he sends more men than he should. I will sneak in with my army through the tunnels and before he knows what happened, I’ll be Lord of Durham and he’ll be dead. With a little luck, I’ll be able to claim the title of High Sheriff as well.”
“You disgust me,” she said, feeling now that mayhap she’d made a mistake in marrying him.
“What do you mean?” He honestly looked as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
“You fed me the lie of loving me so I’d marry you just so you could get what you wanted.”
“You’re not making any sense, Maira. I do love you. And now that you’re my wife, I am going to protect you. I don’t want you anywhere near the fighting during the attack, do you understand?”
“I thought you asked me to fight with you against the High Sheriff.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Well, mayhap I didn’t. Where is my sword? I demand you return it to me at once.”
“It’s right there,” he said with a nod. “Feel free to take it. But you still won’t be fighting with me during the attack.” She turned to find her sword lying on the ground in a dark corner. She picked it up and headed out the door, bumping into Will and Father Frank. Everyone was crowded around the tent, watching and listening. Then Will started clapping and the rest followed suit.
“Congratulations,” said Will. “We all heard the consummation and can vouch that the union has been finalized.”
“Nothing is final,” she spat, glaring at Jacob who emerged from the tent. “If you all want to risk your lives attacking Durham Castle and going up against the High Sheriff and his trained men, then don’t let me stop you. But I won’t be a part of this suicide mission. Nay. I will not stand by and watch innocent people die because of the stubbornness of one hard-headed fool.”
“If you mean me, then just come out and say it,” said Jacob.
“All right, I mean you Jacob Quincey. Because of your pride, these innocent villagers are going to die.”
There were mumbles of concern amongst the men. Jacob stormed over to her and took her by the elbow.
“Maira,” he said in a low voice so only she could hear him. “Don’t do this. I have worked too hard to throw it all away now. I am so close to getting everything I want. I don’t need you putting doubt into the heads of my men at this point. Now, stop it.”
“Let go of me,” she retorted, pulling out of his hold and mounting her horse.
“Where are you going?” he demanded to know.
“I am going back to Durham Castle to get my cousin, Morag, and Branton. Then we are leaving and going back to Whitehaven with or without you.”
“Maira, stay. You are my wife now.”
“Not for long.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“It means I will be a widow come the morrow and now I regret ever having married you at all, Jacob Quincey.” Maira rode back to the castle holding back her tears. She refused to be weak or to ever cry again.
