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Tuck took over from there, mulling over the possibilities.
“Prince John wants to force Marian to marry him. That would eliminate her as an enemy and gain him the prestige of her family name.”
I scowled, though I didn’t disagree.
“Let’s say Lady Thornton helps him with that,” Tuck continued. “He appreciates her help…”
“She kills me off…” I added dryly.
“…and then makes her move on Prince John,” Willa said, looking startled. “Husband number three. Then, once he’s successfully eliminated all opposition, she bumps him off, and she’s left in charge.”
Everyone went still.
“Honestly. Is she that ruthless? That thirsty for power?” I asked.
John and Tuck answered at the same time. “Absolutely.”
Chapter Twelve
TUCK
“This way,” I whispered, leading Marian outside. Cold night air bit my cheeks, and every shadow seemed to harbor a lurking enemy. My only comfort was the warmth of Marian’s hand in mine.
Mine. My lion echoed that word.
I reminded myself that even if I wasn’t a monk, Marian was way, way out of my league. Because there was noble, and there was noble. I was only the third son of my minorly aristocratic family — no matter how much my father liked to hint at a personal friendship with the king. Marian, meanwhile, was the one and only child of Lord William of Newton, and the king’s goddaughter, to boot.
Still, something inside me clung to hope. The self-defeating part, I feared.
Focus, my lion growled.
Right. I looked around, then hurried onward. I couldn’t count how many times I’d snuck around the abbey grounds at night, but this was different. This was definitely not a game, nor a fantasy. This was the real thing. Marian’s life was in danger — and now, the lives of Willa and John too. Every action I took had a direct impact on the success — or failure — of our crazy plan.
“Faster,” Marian urged.
I shook my head. Every second was precious, but one misstep now could sink our ship before it left the dock.
I peered around, then rushed across the lawn to the next point of cover — a dark wall by the refectory. I winced at the crunch of our feet over frosty ground, then pressed myself against the stonework. Heart pounding, I peered back the way we’d come. No sound, no movement. Just us.
When Marian looked back and upward, her throat bobbed. A moment later, I did the same. That was the library over there, sheltering our friends. Friends who’d put themselves in mortal danger for a higher cause.
I pictured Father Benedict entering with breakfast in the morning. Surely he wouldn’t be fooled by the switch, even if Willa kept herself hidden. Or, what if he tightened security and sent someone up the back stairs? John would be discovered, and the alarm would be raised. Or what if—
Marian squeezed my hand. “Have faith. They can handle anything that comes up.”
My faith in them was unshakable — but not my faith in fate.
Still, Marian was right. We were all soldiers in the same army, and we had to trust one another to manage our respective roles. Which meant getting a move on, at least for me and Marian.
We rushed across the next open space, then tiptoed around the forge to reach the back gate. There, we glanced back one more time.
When a horse nickered in the stable, Marian whispered sadly. “Snow…”
We’d considered, then discarded the idea of taking horses. If they were discovered missing, everyone’s suspicions would be aroused.
When Snow grew restless, Marian closed her eyes and lifted her hand, as if the horse were right there.
“Shh…” she whispered into the night air. “Everything will be all right.”
