“Complicated?” she finished for him.

He smiled. “Aye, complicated.”

They joined the others and the opportunity for more private conversation was lost. He was surprised by how easy it was to talk to her—maybe too easy. The only time he’d talked about his reasons for leaving—very briefly—was with Rosalin as he escorted her back to her brother two years ago and submitted to the English. But still, something troubled him. He didn’t know whether it was the subject of Joan’s questions—rousing things he would rather not think about—or the fact that she was asking them.

After they enjoyed a light meal of wine, cheese, dried meats, and bread, the horses were readied for the ride back to the castle. The weather had cooled with the appearance of a few clouds, and the light breeze had turned sharper and more persistent. A few of the ladies donned heavier cloaks, including Joan and her cousins.

He hadn’t realized how tall Joan was compared to her kinswomen. Both Alice and Margaret were probably not much above five feet, and Joan must be six inches taller—though they probably weighed the same. Joan was slender and her cousins were rounder—especially Margaret.

Short and round. Bloody hell. All of a sudden he noticed the color of Lady Margaret’s cloak. It was a dark red, “the color of claret,” trimmed with white—probably ermine—fur. The lady who’d left a missive for the monk had worn something similar.

It could be a coincidence. And he hoped to hell it was. But a claret cloak with very expensive ermine fur wasn’t exactly common—and neither were ladies in a position to know key information. Margaret Comyn could well be the spy they sought.

He had no idea why she would agree to do something so risky for the man who’d killed her kinsman (Bruce’s stabbing of John “The Red” Comyn before the altar at Greyfriars had only made the blood feud between the families worse). But the far more pressing question was, what the hell was he going to do about it?

Chapter 16

16

ALEX DIDN’T HAVE long to decide. Pembroke’s newest squire found him and gave him a message that the earl wanted to see him just as Alex was helping the ladies down from their horses.

“Is something wrong?” Joan asked, watching as the lad hurried away. “You seemed a bit subdued on the ride back.”

He probably should be surprised how easily she already seemed to read his moods, but he wasn’t. With at least part of the wall that she’d erected between them knocked down, their natural connection was being felt. “Perhaps a bit. There is a lot to be done in the next few weeks.” He gave her a smile. “As much as I would like to focus on the betrothal, I’m afraid Edward and Pembroke will have different ideas.”