make a formal request to the Earl of Thane for Branwen’s hand before I go with you to MacLintock Castle.”
He’d thought it through, and he couldn’t accept the idea of doing nothing for days or mayhap longer. Not when Branwen’s sire seemed so fixed on standing between them. He intended to talk to her uncle with her, to show the man he was serious about his niece.
Dyna arched a brow at him but said nothing.
“Look, you know that you’ll travel more slowly with two hundred guards. If I go off with Shadow, we’ll likely catch up to you before you even get to MacLintock land. In any case, I should be back in plenty of time to help Alasdair.”
“You know Grandsire expects you there.”
“And I’ll be there. Just tell him something in case I’m not there on time. Mayhap Shadow took a fall or something. Please?”
Dyna put her hands on her hips. “I’ll agree, but only because Branwen’s sire is a bastard. I won’t lie to Grandsire though, and I don’t think you should either.”
“My thanks. I’ll branch off as soon as we leave, but I promise to make it to MacLintock land before the battle.
“And you better not be too long behind us or Grandsire will send me after you and that would not make me happy,” she said with a vehemence he absolutely believed.
“I’ll come. Do not worry.”
When he thought he could escape without being noticed, he left Grant land and headed to Thane land. He arrived outside the keep in the middle of the day, but he stayed a distance away, tying Shadow up in the woods far from the curtain wall. Then he climbed a tree in an attempt to see inside the wall, thinking it best to go in prepared.
To his surprise, he saw Branwen walking outside the gates with a basket. She and another lass were chattering quite seriously. He had to hope she trusted the lass. Fia was the name she’d given him of her maid. Mayhap this was her. Branwen had told him she didn’t have many other friends, at her sire’s insistence.
He waited until they were well hidden in a copse of trees before strolling up with a grin on his face. When Branwen saw him, she dropped her basket and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck before stepping back to introduce him to her maid.
“Alick, why are you here? If my sire sees you, he’ll send you away immediately.”
He held her hand in his and said to both lasses, “I know you said you would speak to your uncle about me. I’d like to go with you when you do. Have you done it yet?”
“Nay, we were sent out to find the makings for new rushes. I was glad to leave. Father doesn’t trust me so he makes sure I’m never alone. Fia’s with me at all times.”
“Where is he now?”
“He took a group of men out hunting, including Roy.”
“Then let’s make haste. Take me to your uncle. Is he receiving visitors?”
Fia said, “Allow me to enter the castle through the back entrance. I can find him. ’Tis better if everyone doesn’t see you. They’ll tell your papa and I think ’twould be better to hide the truth from him for now. Although what your uncle will do, I know not.”
Alick declared it a solid plan, and the three of them entered the curtain wall through the hidden back door. Alick and Branwen found a secluded area in the bushes, somewhere they could wait without being seen, and Fia went inside. As soon as she left, he cupped Branwen’s face and kissed her passionately, a kiss of separation, one of fear that they may not get the chance again soon. He slanted his mouth over hers and ravaged her mouth until they both pulled back, panting. He leaned his forehead against hers and said, “We must find a way. I’ll not allow them to force you to marry Osbert.”
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and took in her scent, leaning into the soft strands of her brown hair, the scent of lavender stealing over him. Everything about her was soft—her skin, her lips, her hands—yet he sensed a strong inner being that would protect her against her sire’s cruel ways.
Strong-minded was how he would describe her, something often said about his mother. Her strength was different than Dyna’s, which was obvious to everyone who crossed her path, yet it was no less potent. Perhaps this was