“You do well by Lady Snow, Nettle. Now tell me why you didn’t want Fasta to take the brew,” he said impatient to find out.

Nettle settled into detailing what had taken place in the Great Hall earlier. She left nothing out and spoke with pride of how Lady Snow had defended her.

Tarass kept his anger contained, recalling Rannock’s words how Nettle knew all that went on in the clan. “Is there any reason you would know why Fasta would take such liberties to speak as she did.”

“You asked so I shall be truthful and tell you what I told Lady Snow.”

“That is what I want, Nettle, the truth.”

Nettle bobbed her head. “Fasta believes herself privileged because she implies that you share her bed.”

All Tarass could think was that she told Snow this, but he wouldn’t ask Nettle his wife’s response, he would ask Snow himself.

“Of course, everyone knows you don’t,” Nettle said and continued as if knowing what he’d ask next. “You would find no interest in her. It was plain to most, maybe a few, or perhaps I saw what others didn’t. That you loved Lady Snow long before you brought her here.”

“And what made you believe that?” he asked, thinking the young lass more astute than even Rannock believed.

“You complained about her after each visit to the Macardle keep and talked about her often. Only someone in love has a person on their mind that much.”

If only he had been so astute, he could have saved himself time and trouble.

“You observe things well. I need you to keep keen eyes and ears on all that goes on in the keep and outside it as well. If anything—anything at all—seems amiss, I want you to tell me and only me.”

“Aye, my lord, that will be an easy task for me. I love to watch people. It became a habit when few, mostly none, would talk with me. I watched and listened and saw things that most ignore.”

“Like what, Nettle?” he asked.

“I don’t want to gossip, my lord,” Nettle said.

“Gossip might provide a clue as to the problem we’re presently having.”

Nettle hesitated a moment, though saw no way out of telling what she saw. “The young warrior Dolan is sneaking into Maude’s cottage at night.”

“How do you know this?” Tarass demanded, knowing the warrior had sentinel duties at night.