“But he will return.” He spun around to face her. “Do you know when they will return?”
“No, but Mother said she thought Lord Claybrook might return before Father. He could come back tomorrow.”
Colin straightened and his eyes widened. “Does he have a guard named Reginald?”
“Yes, Reginald is the captain of Lord Claybrook’s guard.” The fact that he knew Claybrook’s captain’s name sent a chill through her.
“I need you, once Claybrook returns, to spy on him and Reginald.”
“Spy? Me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I don’t think I would be good at spying on anyone.”
He gave her a hard look.
“I don’t know if I could spy on Lord Claybrook and the captain of his guard. How would I even do that? I’ve never deceived anyone.” She stopped and drew in a quick breath. “No, that isn’t entirely true. I am very good at matchmaking between our servants, and when I am matchmaking, I do temporarily neglect to tell them something, sometimes, in order to — ”
“All I ask is that you listen to his conversations with his captain without him knowing it, and to tell no one except me what he says.”
“You want me to purposely and secretly listen to a conversation and then tell you — and no one else — what they said.”
“Exactly.”
“What if I make a mess of it? What if I’m found out?”
He gazed across the distant meadow, beyond the town wall. “Yes. Perhaps you are right. It would be too dangerous for you.” He turned away so she couldn’t read his expression.
“I didn’t say it was too dangerous.” She suspected he was only baiting her, but she suddenly didn’t want him to think she couldn’t do it. “I’m sure I could spy for you. But I still think you must be wrong about Lord Claybrook. He would never hurt me.”
He turned to stare at her again with those intense blue eyes of his. “He killed my sister’s friend, and she was every bit as young and innocent-looking as you. Although in her case, looks were deceiving.” A grimace of pain flitted over his face. He cleared his throat. “No, I don’t want you to do it. I would never forgive myself if he hurt you. I am sorry I mentioned it. Let us not speak of it.” His voice was quiet and resigned.
He seemed sincerely concerned for her. But before she could respond, he went inside the black stallion’s stall.
Colin took the horse’s reins and began to lead him out of the stable. “Are you sure you want to ride this horse?”
She still wanted to pursue the matter of spying on Claybrook and his captain, but she didn’t want to waste the opportunity to ride the new stallion. “Of course. He is completely gentle with me.”
Colin looked doubtful. “I hope I don’t get into trouble for saddling this horse for you.”
“Oh, you won’t get into trouble. I will tell them I forced you to do it.”
He pointed his finger at her. “So I was right. You aren’t supposed to ride this horse.”
“I never said that. I only said you won’t get in trouble. And earlier you said you weren’t angry about me not speaking to my father about you. But you are angry with me.” Her guilty conscience seemed to demand that she extort some sort of rebuke from him. Besides, she was desperate to distract him from the subject of the horse, since she was horribly close to admitting she wasn’t supposed to ride him.
He took the horse’s reins, ducking out of the way of his nipping teeth, and led the animal into the stable yard. “I was angry that you didn’t believe me.” After a pause, he added, “And that you didn’t come back.”
The hurt look on his face, which she only caught a glimpse of as he turned away, sent a stabbing pain through her chest. An angry rebuke would have been preferable.
“I am sorry. I should not have left you alone when you were a foreigner and without a friend to help you.”
“I did have someone,” he said quietly, not looking at her. “The priest speaks English. He came and translated for me and convinced the stable master to allow me to work in the stable in exchange for food and a place to sleep.”
“I am glad.” Margaretha drew closer to him. “I truly am sorry I did not follow through on my promises to you. Will you forgive me?”
He looked down at her, a softer expression on his face. “I forgive you. But I was not only angry with you. I was worried about what Claybrook might do to you. He is a craven weasel, but also cruel and dangerous.”
Examining the serious look on his face, she was convinced again that he at least believed what he was saying. However, she still wasn’t sure if she believed it herself.
He stared at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “But he is not here, so we need not be afraid of him now. Are you ready for your ride?”