“No need to do that,” said Nathan. “We ken that ye were a wee bit distracted.”
She looked at each man, all of whom had gone very quiet, and asked, “So, ye were successful then.”
“Aye. Decided it was time to come back.”
Not only was it very strange for Nathan to be so reticent, she also caught the way he sent Harcourt a faintly panicked look. “What have ye discovered then?”
Nathan sighed. “The mon is assembling an army about half a day’s ride from here.”
“A big army?” she asked, pleased with how calm she sounded when, inside her head was a terrified woman throwing valuables into a sack, grabbing her child, a lamb, and a cat and running for the hills.
“That it is, but ’tis mostly hired swords and I wouldnae consider many of them all that skilled with a sword, either. Ye cannae trust such men to hold fast against a good defense.”
“Is he soon to start gathering them all together and begin advancing on Glencullaich?”
“Aye. The mon himself isnae there yet though. Dinnae think they will do anything until he is.”
“Well then, it appears we probably have a few days to ready ourselves.” She stood up, smiled at them all, and left.
“She took that weel,” said Ned. “Ow!” he muttered and rubbed the back of his head where Callum had just slapped him.
“Nay, Ned,” said Harcourt. “She didnae take it weel at all, but she will settle to the hard truth of it soon.” He finished his ale and stood up. “I believe I will go see if I can help her do that.”
Despite his concern about Annys, he had to smile at some of the ribald remarks flung his way. They were all good, brave men. He was glad they were with him even as he felt the pinch of guilt for dragging them into this danger. Harcourt knew, however, that not one of them would have refused to come even if he had been able to tell them exactly what they would face. And, if any one of them had had the smallest doubt, the moment Sir Adam had tried to take Annys and then actually taken Benet, that doubt had vanished and the need to stop Sir Adam had hardened into a steely resolve. They would see the man defeated, as thoroughly as possible.
He entered Annys’s bedchamber and hesitated when he found her face down on her bed. Crying women had always troubled him, making him feel a little helpless. A crying Annys tore his heart out. He shut the door and cautiously approached the bed.
“I am nay weeping,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillow, “so ye dinnae need to approach as if ye fear I will suddenly become some madwoman, wailing and pulling at my hair.”
Harcourt sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed her back. “Ye have earned a fit.”
“Nay, I havenae. We kenned this was coming,” she said, turning onto her back to look at him. “It was just a shock to hear that it was truly happening. That he was gathering an army but a half-day’s ride from here and that within days that army could be at these gates. I have ne’er been in, been close to, or even seen a battle. I left home when I was still rather young and in the few years I was at home naught much happened. Then I came here, to a place so peaceful I am surprised any mon here e’en kens how to wield a sword. Now we are at war.”
“’Tis a sin for that bastard to bring that here, to this place,” Harcourt agreed.
“Aye and may he rot in hell for all eternity for it. But, after the shock? After the moment of sinking into the well of it-is-all-my-fault, it passed. Then I just felt so verra, verra sad. I am still sad.”
He yanked off his boots and settled himself next to her on the bed. “I might be able to cheer you.”
“Do ye think so?” Annys bit back a smile and began to unlace his shirt. “I think I can guess how ye might do that.”
Harcourt began to undo her gown, kissing each small patch of skin he uncovered. “I suspicion ye can. Ye are a clever lass.” He touched his mouth to hers. “I will make ye smile again. I will make ye shout with joy,” he vowed and kissed her.
He did. Twice.
Later, lying naked, sweaty, and pleasantly languid beneath an equally naked, sweaty, and languid Harcourt, Annys smiled. The knowledge that an army would soon be hurling itself at the walls surrounding her keep and that she had a lot to do to prepare for that was easily pushed aside. For now she wanted to cling to this moment. This time out of time when she was sated and content, holding close a man who could make her shout with joy. The world and all the trouble it held was still out there. It could wait for a little while longer.
Chapter Fifteen