smartly and left.
Aidan waited until the soldiers had passed through Kelwin’s gates before he made his way to the servants’ quarters. There Deacon and his brother Robbie shared a room, each healing from his injuries in his own bed.
He’d had Hugh go for Robbie the night before. The widow in Lybster had seen to Robbie’s wounds and he was now on the mend.
Anne was lingering in the servants’ hallway outside the Gunn brothers’ door. “What is it?” he asked her.
“Deacon may be difficult but his brother is insufferable,” she confided.
Aidan laughed. “Most revolutionaries are.”
“But he speaks insanity,” Anne said. “He plans to march to London and lop off the king’s head. Cora sent Marie away because he was upsetting the child with his wild talk.”
He sighed. “Let me put an end to it.”
Her fingers laced with his. “Are you going to propose what we discussed last night?”
“Yes.” He raised her hand to his lips and gave it a light kiss. “All will go well, Anne. Have faith.”
She leaned against him and, for a moment, he savored the warmth of her body heat, the scent of her hair. She wore her blue dress, the one she’d been wearing the day he’d made her clean the stables. It was his favorite on her because he always chuckled over the memory of her spitting fire at him. Together they entered the sickroom.
“It’s about time you made your way here,” Robbie greeted him cheerfully. “What did our fine colonel have to say? Did he suspect two of the most notorious rebels in Scotland were under your roof?” He chuckled at the thought of outwitting the soldiers.
Deacon was quiet. Cora sat on the edge of his bed, holding his hand. His broken leg had been set but could not be moved.
“He didn’t suspect anything,” Aidan said lightly. He sat on the footboard of the rough-hewn bed and drew Anne to stand beside him, a possessive arm around her. “Robbie, I have something to tell you which you will not like.”
“That you turned me over?” Robbie jested. He laughed at his own joke.
“That there is no gunpowder.”
Robbie frowned, his mind working. “It’s gone?” He looked to his brother. “Or are you teasing?”
“No, it’s true.” Deacon answered. He could not meet his brother’s eyes.
“I destroyed it,” Aidan said baldly.
His eyes bulging with surprise, Robbie repeated, “Destroyed it?”
“There will be no war in Scotland,” Aidan said.
Robbie took a moment for Aidan’s declaration to sink in. When he understood what they were saying, his infamous temper took hold. “You bloody traitor!” He lunged for Aidan, who had been prepared for such a possibility. Twice Robbie’s size and with more strength, he blocked the man’s assault and pushed him back onto the bed.
“I did what was right,” Aidan told him.
“You did what protected you!” Robbie shot back.
“Yes,” Aidan admitted. “And the people I love. There will be no more killing.”
“You’ve fallen under the spell of an English temptress,” Robbie flashed.
Aidan started to reach for Robbie’s neck—but to his surprise, Anne laughed.
“I’ve never been called a temptress before,” she said. “I thank you for the compliment, Robbie Gunn. But I’ll advise you no one leads the Earl of Tiebauld around by his nose. Not his wife or his angry friends.”
“I’ll not stay under this roof,” Robbie said malevolently. “I curse it and everyone in it.”
“Brother—” Deacon started.
Robbie whipped around to him. “Let us go, Deacon. And when the time comes, Kelwin will be the first castle we burn!” So saying, he rose from the bed. “I’ll get help to move you, brother.”
He’d taken several steps toward the door when Deacon said, “I won’t be going, Robbie.”
“What?” He faced Deacon. “You won’t be at my side? You’d choose to stay here over your own brother?” He glared at Cora and then Anne. “The women have made you both soft. They’ve sapped your lust for freedom.”
“That’s not true,” Aidan said. “I’ve decided to take my seat in Parliament. I will take the Scottish question to them.”
Robbie spit his opinion on the ground. “No one will listen.”
“They will, if I am persistent enough,” Aidan answered.
“It will take decades. Centuries even!” Robbie declared. “No man gives up power freely.”
“Then I and my heirs will work for centuries,” he vowed. “But I want no more of killing.”
“What of Deacon and me, Lord Tiebauld? We are wanted men. Will you betray us? Will you turn us over to the English to save your precious peace?”
Aidan reached for Anne’s hand. The time had come to make the offer