“Why wouldn’t I believe that the distraction offered by Cathal provided someone with a perfect opportunity to snatch my son?” Father demanded. “If this isn’t a conspiracy devised by one of the northern chieftains, what in the name of the gods is it?”

“My lord!” Aidan protested. “What are you suggesting?”

“I’m suggesting nothing,” Father said. “My son’s been taken. I must look at all the possibilities, however distressing they may be to you or to anyone else. You think it’s easy for me to interrogate my own daughter?” He checked himself, clearly regretting that he had spoken so freely, and arranged his features in an expression that simulated calm.

I hated this; I hated every cruel moment of it. “Ask Cathal,” I said. “He will tell you he simply came to say goodbye. Father, I’m not lying to you.”

“Then explain this.” Father rose to his feet, his hands on the table. His skin had a grayish tinge and his eyes were those of an old man. “Eithne saw you and Cathal in the upper hallway at the time you mention. Not merely passing the time of day, not engaged in casual conversation, not making a courteous farewell. The two of you were locked in an embrace. A passionate embrace, that was the way she put it. If this is true, and your blush indicates it must be, then how can you possibly maintain you were watching your brother?”

I said nothing. Aidan gazed at the opposite wall. He, too, was working hard to remain calm, but I could see the fury he was suppressing, the same fury that had blazed in his eyes when he held his knife to Cathal’s throat.

“Answer me, Clodagh,” said Father. “We have no time to waste.”

“Yes, Cathal kissed me. No, I didn’t invite him to do so—I was so taken aback I took a few moments to extricate myself. But it wasn’t a passionate embrace, Father; there is nothing like that between Cathal and me. Eithne is mistaken. It was a . . . a friendly goodbye kiss, that was all. And it was only a moment. I told you before, nobody could have got past without my seeing them.”

“But someone did,” Father said. “Aidan, fetch Cathal here now. Johnny would be shocked at the notion that one of his trusted men might be somehow implicated in this, but we must hear what Cathal has to say, if only to rule out that possibility. Let us get to the bottom of this.”