“My lady!” shouted Churl from her right.
She glanced ahead just in time to see what he warned her of. Her horse headed straight for a foxhole in the ground. She tightened her grip on the reins and tugged left, within seconds clear of what could have been a disaster.
Her heart pounded in her ears and her breath had all but ceased. Wraith glanced at her with a frown but didn’t stop his progress.
An accident was the last thing she needed, it would only solidify in his mind that he should not have brought her, and perhaps even push him to return her to her family. That could not happen under any circumstances until she’d had time to speak to Viscount Loftford herself—although she prayed she never saw her family again. Not after how they’d treated her, and what she’d recently learned of her father’s involvement in the death of Wraith’s family.
She kept her vision forward and did not chance to look at Wraith again, else she come within seconds of tragedy once more and destroy their mission for good.
By the time the sun made a pink line on the horizon the following morning, they’d reached the city of Galway. They easily entered and their horses were taken to the stables. Faryn waited on baited breath for Wraith to be immediately seized by guards, but they never came. Instead, the personal steward of the Lord Chancellor came forward and somehow, Wraith managed to obtain two adjoining rooms in the castle Viscount Loftford had claimed, as well as lodging for his men. He had said that the viscount had once been particularly fond of his father, but Faryn couldn’t help but fear it was a trap.
A light knock sounded at her door. She moved away from the window she’d been gazing out of and opened the adjoining door to Wraith’s room.
“Faryn,” he said softly, and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a gentle caress. “Ye’re not asleep yet?”
She shook her head. “I am too nervous.”
“I am glad ye have yet to slumber, I’ve learned something.”
“Come in,” she said, tugging his hand.
He slipped into her room and drew her to the bed, where they lay down together, her head on his chest.
“Loftford will see me today, in secret. I had thought he would make me wait days, to agonize over our meeting, but he is preparing to see me after his morning mass and he breaks his fast.”
She drew imaginary circles on his chest. “Wraith, that is wonderful.” Then perhaps they could get back to the life they’d carved for themselves on the ship…if he would have her.
“There is more.” But he didn’t go on.
“What is it?” she asked, fearing what he would say.
“Your father and mother are also in residence.”
She sat up, any bit of sleep that ebbed on the outskirts of her mind completely gone. “What?”
That trap she’d imagined felt like it had finally fallen down, caging her in.
“He seeks to beg the Lord Chancellor’s favor in rewarding him with the earldom. I suppose he feels he deserves it since the king has not rewarded anyone with it. I understand your father works the lands now and provides knights to the king for it, yet the majority of the coin derived from it goes to the royal coffers.”
“But they are your title and estates! Not his!”
“Aye.” Wraith looked resigned to the fact.
Anger sliced through Faryn. How could her father, the man who’d sired her, be so evil? And what of her mother? Was she also so cruel, or did she have little to say, just watching from the dark corners as her husband wreaked havoc on mankind and got away with it? She had to remind herself that Wraith knew not what she did about her father’s heinous crimes against his family. He only knew the man to be a bad father, not a murderer, too.
“I wish to come with ye when ye speak to Viscount Loftford.” She came to her knees to kneel before him, her eyes beseeching.
“I dinna think ’tis a good idea.” Wraith shook his head, his lips set in a firm line.
“Wraith,” she implored, reaching out to grip his hands with hers. “I know ye dinna wish me to be in harm’s way but if the king is as ye say, then I will be safe. At least then I willna be here where my father could find me if he gets word of our arrival. And…I couldna let ye go alone.”
He smiled at her indulgently. “Ye’re worried about me, leannan?”
“Aye.” She hoped that he would allow her to go along with what she’d said. But if he still said no then she would find a way to go anyway.
“I suppose it canna hurt to have ye with me but ye must not interfere. Promise me.”
“I wouldna dream of ruining your chances at freedom.”
She said a silent prayer of thanks that it had been so easy to convince him to allow her to accompany him.
Wraith laid out the documents and evidence that he’d gathered over the years on a table in front of Loftford. The Lord Chancellor’s eyes lit on the ring. Faryn saw the note of recognition that flared in his eyes.
She did as Wraith had asked and remained in the corner. She still wore the gown he’d given her before they’d disembarked from the ship but at least she’d had a chance to wash the grime of their ride from her person and her hair was neatly pulled up, curls falling around her cheeks. But for all her decorum, her insides were tied up in knots and she might have vomited if she’d eaten anything, and was glad she’d declined breaking her fast.
Wraith still looked the same as he always did to her—dangerous and delicious. But also calm and collected. He had a confidence about him that made others follow his lead.
Viscount Loftford had recognized him at once and his eyes had sparkled, even if his demeanor remained stoic. He sat poised in a high back chair on the dais.
“I have seen this ring before,” Loftford said and his eyes locked on Wraith. “Havena ye?”
Wraith slowly shook his head. “It seems familiar to me but I dinna know whether ’tis from memory or from having stared at it so many times.”
“’Tis a nobleman’s ring. A man who is today at my court.”
Wraith’s gaze popped up from where he’d been gazing on the ring. “Here? Now?”
Loftford nodded.
Faryn opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She cleared her throat of the cobwebs caused by anxiety. “My lord,” she managed to squeak.
“Come forward, child,” he said.
She came forward curtsied.
“Did ye have something ye wished to say?”
She nodded, still looking at the ground. She swore she could feel the air in the room tighten along with Wraith’s body. His anger was no doubt piqued at her now for interrupting.
“What is it?” Loftford’s voice was gentle, as he must have had an idea of what she would say, since he knew from her introduction upon entering who she was. She’d seen the flash of recognition in his eyes along with the curiosity of her being with Wraith before he’d schooled his features.