James stood staring at her, his mouth open but no words coming out.

“Though Snow is blind, I think she sees more clearly than any of us. She knew from the start that you and Eleanor were drawn to each other just as she could tell how much Slatter and I love each other, just as she senses Slatter is a good man regardless of what is being said about him.” She shook her head. “I am sorry I’m not the sensible woman you had come to rely on, but I’m not sorry for allowing myself for once in my life not to listen to reason, but follow what my heart tells me. I love my husband and I will not see him hang,” —she shuddered at the thought— “when he is an innocent man.” She went to turn and stopped. “And just so you know. I think Eleanor is a wonderful woman and would make you a good wife.”

She hurried off, worried what her husband might do.

Chapter 17

Willow had grown suspicious of her husband when she realized he was avoiding her. Every time he spotted her, he smiled, sometimes winked, and turned in another direction. He kept his distance from her until evening when the Great Hall filled for supper. He was up to something and he was taking no chances she’d find out about it.

James requested to speak with her in his solar after supper, a more jovial meal than she had anticipated. Her husband had everyone laughing at the table with tales he had heard in his travels and James even shared a tale or two of his own. It was a pleasurable time, one Willow wished could be repeated more often.

When Willow went to follow James out of the Great Hall, Slatter stood and took her in his arms. He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, “This may not be the right time, but I have a need to tell you that I love you. How you captured my heart I’ll never know, but my heart belongs to you now and forever.”

He stepped away from her then, far too fast for her to stop him, and while his words filled her heart with joy, a sense a dread fell over her. He may have told her he loved her, but she got the distinct feeling he was also saying good-bye.

Willow hurried to James’s solar, worried about being away from her husband too long, worried she wouldn’t find him there when she returned.

James was quick to speak with her. “I’ve rethought what you asked and I think it would prove beneficial for Slatter to have his people come here. Perhaps they can help shed some light on the truth.”

Willow rushed to James and hugged him. “There’s the understanding and kind brother I’ve come to know and love.”

“My apologizes, Willow. You returned changed, though if I were honest with myself you returned happier than I’ve ever seen you and your confidence and courage just as strong as it’s ever been. When you advised me about not wasting time when it came to love and how easily you accepted Eleanor—” He shook his head. “I should have known you would have never brought danger down upon your family. I will do all I can to help prove Slatter’s innocence.”