Free Highland Protector by Hannah Howell Page A

although ‘tis but a few wee drops, weel watered down and weak. However, as I told ye, Walter spoke as if another mon was to take the throne.”
    “He may just nay wish the burden of it, only the benefits of helping another mon take it. And, since it isnae Walter, then it is someone Walter believes will lift him higher in importance and power, enriching him,” said Simon. “Curse it, I need names. Names will give me the power to proclaim your innocence and get the soldiers away from ye and your family. If we can get our hands on David I just might get some.”
    “How do ye plan to get him? It willnae be easy to catch someone at court and spirit him away. If it was, I think ye would already have Walter in your hands, wouldnae ye?”
    “Hepbourn is making himself far too noticeable. I dinnae think David will.”
    “Ah, nay, he willnae. Nor would Walter allow it.”
    Ilsabeth listened as the men talked over ideas for getting their hands on David. She did not wish to know how they would get the information they hoped to get from the man. All she wanted to accomplish was to lift the cloud of suspicion off her and her family. David was part of the plot that had sent her and her family into hiding, and he was one of the ones plotting against the king, so he deserved whatever he had to suffer.
    “Weel, I think that gives us enough ideas to mull over,” said Tormand as he stood up. “I must needs get back to my wife. She doesnae like me coming so close to the court although she kens it is necessary.” He kissed Ilsabeth on the forehead. “Dinnae worry so hard, lass. Your father will keep your family safe and Simon will keep ye safe. We will soon drag the real traitors before the king. Next time I come, I will try to be in time to meet these children ye have taken in.”
    The moment Tormand was gone Ilsabeth picked up her sewing and stared at it blindly. She wanted to believe Tormand’s assurances, but her fear for her family would not allow her to do so. There was so much that could still go wrong. She should not even be here, but with her family. She ached to be with them as they fought this battle.
    A battle they faced because she had been blind to the man she had chosen to be her husband. Ilsabeth took a deep breath as she fought the strong urge to cry. She suffered no pain at the loss of her betrothed but she did hurt over the loss of her dream of a home of her own and children. She also grieved over what that dream was now costing her loved ones.
    “Ilsabeth?”
    She could not look at Simon, knowing that her eyes would show her sorrow. “Nay, I shall be fine.”
    There was no mistaking that waver in her soft, husky voice and Simon would swear that he could feel her sorrow. He moved to sit beside her and put his arm around her. It was a dangerous thing to do but he could not smother his need to offer her comfort. When she leaned into him, her soft body pressing against him, everything inside him tightened with need. The clothing they wore was suddenly a painful, unwanted barrier between them. Even the scent of her had him aching to taste her skin. Sympathy, he sternly told himself. Only sympathy. A particularly insistent part of his body paid no attention.
    “ ‘Tis all my fault,” she murmured, resting her cheek against his chest.
    “Nay, the fault lies with Hepbourn,” said Simon. “He is the one who plots against the king, used ye, and now uses and defames your family to protect himself.”
    “Ah, so now ye believe me?”
    He sighed and gave in to the temptation to rest his cheek against her soft hair. “Aye. I still need proof, however, and that shall nay be easy to get. Traitors ken what fate awaits them and ‘tis nay a simple hanging.”
    “I dinnae think a hanging is so verra simple but I ken what ye mean. Compared to the horrific punishments dealt out to traitors, a hanging would seem preferable. That makes them verra cautious.
    “I should be with my family,” she abruptly said in a quiet voice.