Page 54 of Rebellion's Fire

Lanson was furious at the loss of his tower. As he yelled bad-tempered orders for the placing of guards around the perimeter, Eua left him to it and took her children back to the loft that was their home. From Lanson’s side, Loegaire caught her eye as she climbed the stairs, and winked. Eua hid a smile. She just hoped her husband had had nothing to do with the fire, for Lanson was vindictive.

But no, Loegaire would never have so risked his children, leaving their baby in the loft to be rescued by the lady! Besides, it would have been someone outside of the Norman’s reach. Which excluded Sigurd, too. Perhaps the MacHeths had finally decided to take Tirebeck back. Like everyone else, Eua knew it was only a matter of time. She supposed things would just go on as before the Lansons came.

Or would they? Adam had emphasized Cairistiona’s claim. And in truth, even before she’d rescued her child tonight, Eua had rather liked the lady, who was both compassionate and efficient and went about her business as if she was above all the petty insults and humiliations offered daily—and nightly—by her pig of a husband.

Men weren’t faithful creatures by nature, of course. They strayed, from circumstance or impulse. But even where affections were truly engaged elsewhere, an honorable man knew what respect was due to his wife.

From the top of the loft steps, Eua glanced over her shoulder, still holding back the hanging which gave her family sanctuary its privacy. She saw Lanson push Alys impatiently toward his bedchamber at the back of the hall. She’d stay there until halfway through tomorrow morning, long after William was abroad, still pretending she wasn’t a whore. While the lady…

Eua paused, frowning, until her younger son tugged anxiously at her hand as if worried he’d done something to make her angry. She smiled to reassure him, and bade them all prepare for bed.

Her eldest wrinkled her nose. “It stinks. And everything’s damp.”

“I know, but we’ll have to live with it for tonight. I’ll be back shortly, and I want you all asleep by that time.”

She passed through the hanging once more, dropped it behind her, and descended the steps, searching the hall as she went. The soldiers and the servants, exhausted by their efforts to put out the fire before it consumed the hall as well, were preparing to bed down for the night. The tables were being piled more haphazardly than usual at the side of the hall with the benches. Lanson was conferring irritably with Henry. Of the lady, there was no sign, although her women were disappearing through the hall door for their own quarters.

Eua followed them to their little outhouse. Cecily, about to close the door, saw her coming and paused.

“Where is the lady?” Eua asked abruptly.

Cecily shrugged, glanced back over her shoulder, where Felicia appeared, opening the door wider.

“She’ll be in her own house,” Felicia said, nodding toward it.

“Did you see her go there?” Eua demanded.

“No, but she always does,” Cecily said impatiently, about to close the door with enough force to make Felicia jump back.

Eua seized the edge and threw her foot in the doorway. “Have you seen her since she left the hall during the fire?” she asked urgently.

The other women exchanged glances. “Actually, no,” Felicia admitted. “But she’s afraid of fire. They say that’s what damaged her face. She’ll just have kept out of the way.”

At least she had the grace to look ashamed. Cecily still didn’t seem to recognize the issue.

Eua decided to make it clear. “She’s afraid of fire for such a reason, and you just left her? You haven’t been to see if she needs anything or even if she’s inside the enclosure? For God’s sake, what is yourpurpose?”

She didn’t wait to see their reaction but turned on her heel and hurried across the yard to the other guesthouse, where she knocked loudly on the door. “Lady? Are you there? It’s Eua.”

There was no answer. Eua put her ear to the door, and hearing no movement at all, she lifted the latch and pushed. The door opened at once to reveal the house in darkness. Eua quickly lit the lamp by the door and picked it up. No frightened woman huddled inside the comfortable space Cairistiona had made for herself.

Eua walked to the loft ladder, calling her name. She knew before she looked that the lady wasn’t in her loft bed. By the time she came back down, Felicia stood in the doorway, Cecily at her shoulder.

Felicia swallowed. “Who’s going to tell Sir William?”

*

Lanson, discovered atthe back of the hall about to reenter his own bedchamber after some other interruption, predictably exploded at this fresh annoyance. As if the world conspired to upset his comfortable night’s sleep. Or his sport with Alys.

“There’s nothing we can do tonight,” he growled at last, hitting his fist against the wall. “Henry! Warn the watch to look out for her. We’ll send out patrols at first light. If the bloody MacHeths don’t attack us.”

“Yes, sir,” Henry said expressionlessly. He turned, ushering the women in front of him.

Felicia said, “He can’t just leave her out there all night.”

“Well, he’s right. We can’t do much in the dark,” Henry said grimly. “Especially not while we’re expecting an attack. But I’ll take a few men and scour the immediate surroundings as best we can. The lady is no fool. She won’t have gone far. I’m sure we’ll bring her back.”

Felicia nodded gratefully, satisfied with Henry’s action.

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