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Tuck shrugged. “I played dumb, telling her I haven’t seen or heard anything.”
He and I exchanged a secret glance. Not only had he seen and heard, he’d touched and kissed. Two things I was dying for more of.
Tuck smacked his thighs, signaling a call to action. “Well, it’s clear we have to get you out of here.”
That was where things got a little sticky. As before, Willa was on board with my plan, while John was not.
“It’s too dangerous,” both men said at the same time.
I glowered at them. “So, it’s all right for men to rush off to the Crusades or other heroic deeds. But when a woman wants to do anything more dangerous than needlepoint, it’s out of the question.”
John eyed the needle I’d left out for easy access and muttered, “I bet you could make needlepoint dangerous.”
Willa elbowed him in the ribs.
“Oof,” he groaned. “What? It’s true.”
I stuck my hands on my hips. “That’s exactly my point. I am capable. More than most soldiers. And duty calls as strongly to me as it does to any man.”
Tuck patted the air with his hands. “I agree. I’m just saying, making yourself a sitting duck isn’t the best way of going about that.”
“Then what would you have me do?”
“Leave while you can. Ride out and rally your allies. Make sure they’re setting things in motion instead of assuming they will.”
“I would like nothing better. But if I escape, the news will travel fast, and Prince John will hunt me down and stamp out any hint of resistance. Any ally I contact will become a target, and if they are cut down, the others will give in. They’re loyal to King Richard, but they won’t be willing to sacrifice everything without a strong chance of success.”
“And yet you are,” Tuck noted.
The room went quiet.
I nodded slowly. “Yes, I am. I must. It’s my duty.”
Silence reigned for the next few minutes as everyone swallowed that — including me. Because, yikes. It was one thing to plan to act nobly. It was another to actually do so.
Then Willa broke the silence with a faint murmur. “As long as Prince John thinks you’re safely locked up here…”
I cocked my head, as did the men.
A mischievous expression came over her face, and John groaned.
“Oh no, you don’t.”
Tuck and I looked on quizzically while they argued.
“It’s a great idea!” Willa insisted.
“It’s a terrible idea,” John growled.
“What idea?” Tuck whispered.
I shrugged. “No clue.”
“I can do it,” Willa went on.
“You can, but you won’t,” John said. “Come on, Willa. This is like you rushing to Nottingham to get the treasure yourself.”
Tuck looked at me, but I had no idea what that was about.
