Page 106 of The Knight's Pledge
Tavish spoke first. “I suppose he always did have a way with the ladies.”
His cool, blond wife sniffed. “For the countess’s sake, perhaps we shouldn’ttell Harriet.”
“Let’s get our things from the apartment,” Lachlan suggested. “I’ve had all the king’s royal hospitality I can bear.”
The all turned away, but Effie held back, tugging on Lucan’s hand, trying to ignore the awkwardness that had suddenly grown up between them.
“What isit?” he asked.
Effie looked up at him for a long moment. “You were going to give up Castle Dare for me.”
“I wasn’t going to,” Lucansaid. “I did.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “Why? Because I love you, Effie.”
“Younever told me.”
“I didn’t think it mattered. I know you love Gorman.I only wanted—”
She cut him off by throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his mouth. Lucan’s arms were around her at once.
Effie pulled away from him only enough to look up into his face. “I thought you’d changed your mind about me when you didn’t come to me at the Swan.”
He blinked. “I did come to you at the Swan. But I saw Gorman in your room. I thought—”
“I turned him away, Lucan,” Effie said. “I didn’t know you had seen him. But I turned him away. Gorman knows about us. He knows, and he’s givenhis blessing.”
“Then why did you refuse to marry me?”Lucan demanded.
“I didn’t want you to marry me out of duty,” she said. “That’s no way to start a life together, even if it would have made iteasier for me.”
“What about now?” Lucan pressed. “Not France. Northumberland. It will still be a difficult life, even with Caris gone. Perhaps for a very long while. Henry will let Caris Hargrave return to Greece—he’ll not charge her here—mark my words.”
Effie felt her eyes widen as the realization dawned on her. “The king won’t be forced to charge any of the nobility if he lets her go.”
Lucan shook his head. “His coffers will be spared.”
“But the nobility will be not,” Effie promised him. “Not with us there to watch over them. Northumberland will be protected, to Edinburgh,” Effie mused.
“And further. Edinburgh, the Highlands, and beyond,” Lucan agreed.
They met in another kiss, heedless of the passersby that grinned at the black knight and the woman dressed in trousers.
She pulled away again. “Did you know it was James? Is that why you were going to try to stop it?”
Lucan gave her a puzzled frown. “Did I knowwho was James?”
Effie grinned and shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.”
Chapter 26
Caris Hargrave felt no differently than she ever had as she was led away from the green by the king’s guards. She felt no guilt, no fear—perhaps a slight irritation with the day’s events, but that was all. Her body, as it had been for as many years as she could call to memory, was numb.
Just numb.
Behind her, Vivienne Paget was apparently not numb, as she shrieked and screamed and squawked and struggled against the king’s men who led them deep into the bowels of Westminster. Lady Paget’s cries became more shrill the further they descended, the cool air wrapping around them like a wet shroud. Obviously, Lady Paget had little experience with such a place, but fortunately for Caris, the atmosphere was sweetly familiar.
