They exchanged glances. Sir Hugh had been partaking freely of the brandy and had confirmed what they’d already guessed: the earls of Lancaster, Warwick, Lincoln, Arundel, and Warenne had refused to answer the king’s call. Edward was understandably furious; Bruce on the other hand would be thrilled.

Joan met her cousin’s gaze. “You are being careful, remember? I will take care of this.”

Margaret nodded, but then looked at her worriedly. “You will be careful, too?”

“Always.”

They bid each other good night, and Joan entered the darkened room without knocking. It was close to midnight, and Alice was likely sleeping. She didn’t want to take the chance of waking her; her cousin was at her most unpleasant when roused from sleep (and that was saying something!).

A candle had been left burning, however, enabling her to immediately make out the empty bed. Sir Henry must have sent for his wife tonight. A fact that was confirmed a moment later when Bess lifted her sleepy head from the cushioned bench in the alcove near the window.

“I thought it best to wait for her,” the girl said, explaining her presence in the room. “In case she returns.”

“She won’t be back until morning,” Joan said. “But I can take care of her if she comes back earlier. You are safe to find your own bed in the garret.”

Bess looked relieved. After the bracelet debacle, the girl was understandably terrified of upsetting Alice. “Thank you, my lady. But I will help you with your gown first.”

She picked up the candle and they crossed the room to Joan’s chamber. After opening the door, Bess set the candle on the small table by the bed and started to work the ties of Joan’s gown.

“Oh, my lady, I forgot to mention. You had a visitor earlier,” Bess said, pulling the tight sleeves of her gown down her arms.

“I did?”

“Aye.” She helped her out of the overgown. The undergown came next. “Lady Alice said he was your betrothed.”

She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice. “Alex is back?”

The girl nodded, handing her the velvet robe that she wore over her chemise at night. “He seemed anxious to see you.”

Joan wrapped the robe around her and tied it at the waist, aware that she was smiling like a well-fed cat.

Good grief, just hearing that he was anxious to see her made her happy. But she was also relieved that he was back safely.

She was about to ask if he had said anything else, when she glanced over at the shutter and noticed that the wooden crossbar that secured it had not been pulled down all the way into the iron fittings.

Joan was in awe. How had he done it? This window was even less accessible than the one at Carlisle.