Saving Grace

"You're a Gillevrey," Joha

"I am," the woman replied. "And you're Laird MacBain's wife, aren't you?"

"Yes," Joha

"Are there guards posted outside this door?"

"There is one," the servant answered.

"How many in the hall below?"

"Too many to count," the woman answered. She put the tray on the foot of the bed. "My laird's locked in the cellar, m'lady. They're treating him like a common thief. He sends you an important message. I was allowed to carry food to him early this morning, and he whispered the words he wanted me to repeat to you."

"What is his message?"

"The MacBain will avenge this atrocity."

Joha

"He does."

"Then tell him, yes, the MacBain will certainly avenge this atrocity."

The woman gave a brisk nod. "And so it will be done," she whispered.

She sounded as though she was in prayer. "What is your name?" Joha

"Lucy," the woman answered.

Joha

"You are a good and courageous woman, Lucy," she whispered. "And now I have a favor to ask of you."

"I will do anything I can to help, m'lady. I'm old and surely feeble, but I will diligently try to serve you."

"I must find a way to stay inside this chamber for as long as possible. Are you good at lying?"

"When it's called for," Lucy answered.

"Then report to the baron that I am still sleeping soundly. Tell him you put the tray down but didn't disturb me."

"I'll do it," Lucy promised. "The baron doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get you downstairs, m'lady. He's pacing with impatience, but only because the man he sent for has still not arrived."

"What man?"

"I didn't catch the name," Lucy said. "But I heard what he was. He's a bishop, and he's living somewhere near the Lowlands."

"Bishop Hallwick?"

"M'lady, please lower your voice. The guard will hear you. I didn't catch the bishop's name."

Joha

"Will the bishop help you, m'lady?"

"No," Joha

"No one pays me any attention because I'm old. I can act dotty when I set my mind to it. I was standing near the corner of the hall when the soldiers came inside to take over our laird's home. The baron didn't waste a minute giving his instructions. He sent six men to ride to the Lowlands. They were to escort the bishop back."

Joha

"I'd best get downstairs before the baron notices I've been in here so long, and you'd best get back under the covers so the guard will see you're sleeping when I open the door."

Joha

Raulf left her alone. The blessed reprieve lasted until the following afternoon. Joha

How was Gabriel going to get to her?

She straightened her shoulders. That was his problem to worry about, not hers, she decided. But Lord, how she wished he would hurry up.

Lucy came back into the chamber late that afternoon. She carried another tray of food.

"They've been coming and going all day long, m'lady. Now men are fetching pails of hot water and bringing up a wooden tub. The baron has ordered a bath for you. Why in heavens he'd think about your comforts now is beyond me."

"He thinks I'm going to marry him," Joha

"He is," Lucy answered. "There's another baron down below as well. I heard his name. He's called Williams. He's an ugly one all right with his frizzled dirt-colored hair and black eyes. He and Baron Raulf have been arguing most of the afternoon. It's a heated fight all right, and wouldn't it be a blessing if they killed each other and saved your husband the bother?"

Joha

"Then you're going to accommodate the foul man?"

"I want to look as pretty as possible for my husband," Joha

"Will you put on the English gown?" Lucy asked. She pointed to the corner where Joha

"I will wear my plaid."

Lucy nodded. "I'm going to fetch you clean underclothes when I go get the soap and drying cloths," she said.

Joha

She absolutely refused to consider the possibility her husband might not be able to get to her in time, and whenever a worrisome thought popped into her mind, she pushed it away.

She took her time bathing. She even washed her hair. Then she sat on the side of the bed to dry it with the cloths Lucy gave her. The servant insisted upon brushing her hair for her, and when she was finished and the curls fell just so about her shoulders, Lucy declared she looked as beautiful as a princess.

The summons came an hour later. Lucy was wringing her hands when she repeated the order. Joha

She put in yet another request to her Maker to help Gabriel get to her in time, tucked her dagger in her belt and covered it with a fold from her plaid, and then went downstairs.

They made her wait at the entrance for almost ten minutes before bidding her to come into the hall. Raulf and Williams were standing at a round table on the opposite side of the room, arguing about a paper Williams waved in his hand.

The two barons were opposite in appearance yet quite similar in temperament. They snapped at each other like mad dogs, one with his shock of white hair and the other with his brown-colored locks and black soul. They were both hideous to her.

Bishop Hallwick was also in the hall. He sat in a tall-backed chair in the center of the room. He held a scroll in his hands and appeared to be reading the thing over and over again. Every other minute or so he would shake his head as though in confusion.

The bishop had aged considerably in the past few years. He looked sickly, too, for his complexion had a yellow cast to it now. Lucifer must be dancing with anticipation. Joha

Joha

"But I will take the stand that this marriage is only a formality, a renewal of our vows if you will," Raulf a

Williams nodded. "Yes," he agreed. "A renewal. When the pope and our king settle their differences, we'll send these explanations to Rome. I doubt I