“Thank ye,” she murmured, grateful when Algien turned back to his conversation. From her position at the end of the dais, she could see Reikart sitting in the crowded great hall, but even if she had not seen him, she believed she would have felt his stare upon her. Since he’d entered the great hall, he had not looked away from her. She knew because she had not looked away from him. She’d managed to speak with Algien without having to look at him. The task wasn’t overly difficult, given he had been in conversation with one of the king’s advisors almost the entire supper. They’d been discussing the king and his plans to return to court. King Edward was apparently in France, and Deirdre was relieved to learn it. The fewer observant foes to deal with the better. Plus, knowing what she did now about how treacherous King Edward would eventually be to her people, she feared she’d give away her distaste for him.
“Lady Deirdre, did you hear me?”
Deirdre forced herself to look away from Reikart and focus on the man beside Algien, Lord Gascove. “Nay, my lord, I’m sorry.”
“Lost in thought, no doubt over what you had to endure at the Scots’ hands,” the man said.
It seemed Lord Gascove had conveniently chosen to forget she was a Scot. Algien had not forgotten, however. The moment she’d been called to the king’s chambers to speak with Algien, he’d told the men gathered there that she would help them defeat the Scots because she could learn what the council was planning given her position as lady-in-waiting. She had not even needed to convince the pompous man of how she had ended up here or that she was so besotted with him that she’d come to the English court willingly to betray her country. He was that fond of himself. She’d simply told him that she’d escaped her sister and new husband, and taken shelter with the McCaims. His only response had been that he had been plotting how to rescue her and had worried daily for her safety. The blatant lie had nearly made her laugh in his face.
“I said, I’ll be accompanying you to Kinghorn tomorrow morning. My sister wed a Scot, and he is one of the Guardians of Scotland now, so I should be of great help securing your position as one of the dowager queen’s ladies-in-waiting. I’ll see what I can do about persuading them to return the castle to you in favor of your sister, as well. My sister tells me that Laird MacKinnish has been very busy convincing the Guardians that the castle should rightfully still go to your sister, which is why they have no plans to retaliate against the invasion there.”
Deirdre picked up her wine and took a long sip to give her heart rate time to slow as she determined exactly what to say. “I do nae trust easily, my lord.”
Suddenly, Algien’s hand was on her knee, and when he squeezed it, she yelped, causing both men to laugh. Her gaze flew into the crowd, searching out Reikart, to reassure herself he was still near so she could remain calm, but what she saw frightened her more. Reikart had risen and was striding straight for the dais. He looked like the angel of destruction himself. God’s teeth, the man would get himself killed if he let his temper get the best of him.
Despite the roar of chatter in the great hall, she swore she could hear every time Reikart’s shoes struck the ground as he stalked toward the dais. He was nearly upon them.
“My lords,” Deirdre said, motioning toward Reikart who reached the dais and, breaking all etiquette, slapped his palms down on the table. All talk at the dais stopped, and the fear inside Deirdre twisted in her gut. “May I present Reikart McCaim, who generously agreed to accompany me here. I asked him to make himself known to ye at supper, Algien,” she added, her thoughts nearly tripping over themselves as she tried to come up with a believable lie. She saw Reikart’s knuckles white against the dark wood, and she knew he was struggling to contain his anger. “I was certain ye would want to reward him for bringing me safely to ye.” She forced herself to smile and put her hand on Algien’s arm in an intimate gesture.
That was a mistake on more than one account. Algien’s lips quirked up in a lecherous smile and lust lit his eyes while his hand slid up her knee to her thigh. She stiffened, and Reikart’s hands became fists. “My lord,” he said, his tone as brittle as ice and his brogue not very good. She prayed he did not speak much.
“You Scots always want a reward,” Algien snapped.
“Aye,” Reikart replied, his gaze turning lethal.
“What should I give him, Gascove, for returning my precious pet to me?”
Deirdre tried to use her gaze to urge Reikart not to explode. His fingers began to strum the table.
“Coin?” Gascove suggested in a bored tone.
“Coin, it is,” Algien said, and Deirdre let out a relieved breath. “If,” he continued, making her want to groan, “you can best Gascove in a fight. If you cannot, then you may consider your luck in spending time in fair Deirdre’s company your reward for returning her to me.”
“I love a good fight,” Gascove said, “but have you forgotten that we are leaving in the morning?”
“Not at all,” Algien said, standing and surprising Deirdre by hauling her up with him. “My men need some entertainment before we travel again, and this fight will provide it. You have your sport,” he said, clapping Gascove on the shoulder, “and I’ll go have mine.” He slid his hand around Deirdre’s waist and yanked her to his side.
She was so shocked she was speechless, but Reikart was not. “Remove yer hand from the lady’s waist or I’ll remove it for ye.”
“The lady does not need you to champion for her, McCaim. She’s only too pleased to come with me. Isn’t that so, Lady Deirdre?”
She’d be happy to gouge out Algien’s eyes, but that would have to wait. She forced a smile that she hoped looked genuine. “Aye, my lord. I’m pleased to go to the east wing to yer bedchamber with ye. But will we have peace, since it’s the closest to the stairs?” That should tell Reikart where to find her. She locked gazes with him, and she prayed he understood what she was conveying. When he inclined his head ever so slightly, she knew he did.
He would come for her. Of that, she had no doubt. He may not ever return her love, but he cared for her in his own way. And she’d seen the man fight. It should not take him long to best Lord Gascove, as long as they fought with fists and not swords. She said a quick prayer that was the case.
“I assure you, Lady Deirdre, my guard will ensure no one disturbs us.”
“Only one guard?” she asked innocently as Algien led her off the dais.
“He’s enough, believe me,” Algien said.
Algien stopped in front of Reikart, who was half a head taller than the baron. She could feel the anger rolling off Reikart in waves. It comforted her to know he was angry on her behalf, maybe even felt possessive of her. At one time, that would have been enough for her, and she would have settled for that. But she had changed. She would not settle for less than his heart, and she feared greatly she would end up alone.
“Come, my pet,” Algien said, tugging Deirdre forward. “It’s high time we were alone to discuss our future.”
Chapter Twenty-One
If there’s empty spaces in your heart,
