As much as Joan wanted to argue, she knew Margaret was right. Joan could not ignore the warning. Her time in England had just come to an abrupt end. For over six years, she’d done what she could for Bruce’s cause; she had to hope it would be enough.

Her hand went to her wrist, unconsciously seeking the solid metal of the bracelet that was no longer there. She’d gone into the village earlier this afternoon and left it in the church as Lachlan had instructed when she’d moved to Berwick.

How long would it take Lachlan to come for her? A day? Two?

Should she just walk out of here and try to leave on her own? Though tempting, she wasn’t going to overreact and do anything rash. How far would she get with no knowledge of the roads and little more than the clothes on her back in a countryside littered with soldiers? How long before they discovered she was gone and sent someone after her?

No, she had to be patient. Lachlan had promised to get her out when the time came. But if he didn’t come by the time the army marched, she would try then. When it was safer. When there were fewer men who might come in search of her.

And after she spoke to Alex.

She couldn’t leave without telling him the truth and trying to convince him to go with her. But he wasn’t at the evening meal for the second night in a row. As they were leaving the Hall, she was about to ask Sir Aymer where she might be able to find him—or when he was expected to return—when a man came rushing up to the vaunted commander and handed him a message that the earl immediately took to the king.

“I wonder what that is about?” Margaret asked.

Joan did as well.

It didn’t take her long to find out. With Sir Aymer unavailable, Joan had returned to her chamber, vowing to search Alex out later that night—in his room if she had to. She had finished lighting a few candles when Alice came in with Sir Henry. Immediately sensing the tension between the two, Joan bid a hasty good night and disappeared into her adjoining chamber.

Their voices, however, followed her.

“I am sorry our plans were interrupted,” she heard Sir Henry say. “But this is important. The king has called an emergency war council, and I have to return to the Great Hall. This message could change everything. You want us to win this war, don’t you?”

“Of course,” Alice said weakly.

Joan was too caught up in the knowledge that something important—war changing—was happening to notice the oddity of that. Her cousin never spoke weakly.

“Then this is how it must be,” Sir Henry said.

If Alice responded, it was too low for Joan to hear.