page45 (1/2)
“I, too, believed your father was a loyal subject and a good man,” John said, “until he betrayed me”
“I cannot believe that he did betray you,” she whispered “Myher at homehere, my lord, at Dunhanshire”
“I knoasn’t in court when Arianna died, but Alford is convinced that he was in league with another Aye, the man who killed Arianna passed the treasure to your father If the treasure is here, it proves Alford’s theory is correct”
“I don’t knohat to say to convince you that my father was innocent,” she said
“Soon we may have proof that he was a blackheart If you had kept silent about the treasure’s whereabouts, I never would have known for certain that your father betrayed me Why, then, did you send for me?”
“Alford ian and told hlands and find my sister Alford believed she had the box, and I was ordered to bring her and the treasure back to him”
John glanced at Bridgid but otherwise continued to ignore her as he defended his baron’s actions “Alford’s zeal in helping me with my search for Arianna’s treasure has not di to such extreht justify thehis precocious son’s behavior, he added, “But he has his faults, and one is greed I’ the treasure to hiive it to , and so, apparently, would you”
“My lord, I don’t want a reward Truly I don’t”
“Then what do you want?”
“My Uncle Morgan is one of your faithful barons, and I ask that you protect him”
“That is all you want?”
“Yes, my lord”
The king’s disposition shifted as quick as a bolt of lightning, and he was suddenly charh she had heard about his radical changes of uard
“I have just spoken at length with Morgan,” he announced
Gillian’s voice shook when she asked, “He is well, my lord?”
“He’s old and tired and eous accusations, but he is well You’ll see him soon”
Tears clouded her vision “Thank you, my lord,” she whispered “I know you are anxious to see if the treasure is here, but if I may, I would ask”
“Yes, my dear?”
“If I’ and the box isn’t here, please don’t take your displeasure out onto do with this I alone am responsible”
“And I should therefore turn my wrath on you?”
“Yes, my lord”
John sighed “I have waited over fifteen years for the return of the treasure, and I find that anticipation increases my joy and my sadness I don’t want to hurry,” he explained “For the possible disappointan,” he continued “I assure you that even if the treasure isn’t here, your uncle will still have re? I will not hold you responsible for your father’s crimes”
Though she knew that at this moe his mind She didn’t dare put her faith in his promise
“You are very kind, my lord,” she whispered
“I can upon occasion be kind,” he arrogantly agreed “Noer a question for me”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Are you olden hair named Laird Buchanan?”
Gillian swayed “I am his wife, my lord,” she stammered “He is hereyou have seen him?”
“Aye, I’ve seen him,” he drawled “And he is indeed here, with two other lairds and an arhlanders surround Dunhanshire”
Bridgid’s deep indrawn breath drew the king’s attention “I’ve been ignoring you far too long, ive me my poor manners and tell me, who are you?”
“She is id KirkConnell”
Bridgid s back “Ah, you are the lady the Laird Sinclair has come for”
“I do belong to his clan, ’s undivided attention “And I am one of his many loyal followers, but he wouldn’t come all this way just for me”
The king laughed “Fro at hlanders are an i lot, to be sure When I saw theet additional troops, and I was certainly urged to do just that by uard,” he added “But then the three lairds separated from their men and rode hard to intercept me It seems they had only just found out that the two of you were inside, and they werehighly agitated I commanded them to stay outside the walls, and I will tell you that I was ue with me When I told him that you had sent for rudgingly agreed to wait Why did you coid?”
She looked at Gillian, hoping she would explain
“Baron Alford believes Bridgid is my sister”
“But she isn’t,” the king said
“No, my lord, she isn’t”
“We lied to Baron Alford,” Bridgid blurted “But Gillian told me I mustn’t lie to you, my lord”
The king seeht,” he said before turning to Gillian again “And what of your sister?”
Gillian bowed her head “She is forever lost to us, my lord”
John nodded, accepting what she said as fact Alford interrupted the conversation then by offering the king refreshments
“I’ll dine with you when I return”
“Return, my lord?” Alford asked
“Yes,” John answered “Lady Gillian is going to shohere she believes Arianna’s treasure is hidden We will not know for certain that it’s here until we look for ourselves”
Alford took a step toward his commander and motioned for him to come to him
John so then?” he asked as he stepped back and graciously offered his arm to her
Her hand tre her distress, John put his hand on top of hers, gave it an affectionate pat, and co afraid of him
“You are a loyal subject, are you not?”
“Yes, my lord, I am”
“Then, as I said before, you have nothing to fear from me Do you know, Gillian, that you remind me of her?”
“Your Arianna, my lord?”
His face dropped, and he becah your eyes are not the same color as hers, they are as beautiful I loved her, you know, as I have never loved any other woman She wasperfection I often wonder what course ood in me, and when I ith her, I wanted to bedifferent” He sounded like a very young boy now in the throes of his first love
The king suddenly pulled away from her and turned to Alford, for he’d only just noticed his friend was in deep discussion with one of his soldiers John lashed out, berating the baron for his rudeness, re hiland that he, and only he, be the center of attention
Having just been duly chastised, Alford bowed his head while he gave John his apology
“What were you discussing with your soldier?” John demanded “It must have been important for you to be so impertinent”
“Horace is one of yourhim that I would ask you if you would allow him and three other worthy men the hono
r of escorting you and Gillian”
With a negligible shrug, John granted per,” he said, and then he commanded his soldiers, “All of you stay here No one leaves this hall until I return Bridgid, my dear, will you please wait here?”