“And if he does and the English win? Would you see Scotland ruled by England with Edward as overlord? More English justice in the form of cages?”

“Edward isn’t his father.”

“No, he isn’t,” she conceded. “But neither is he Robert the Bruce.”

She was too bloody right about that—much to Alex’s frustration over the past two years. But until Bruce was willing to challenge Edward in open battle, he would never be recognized as king and the war would go on. If Alex thought Bruce could be persuaded . . .

Christ, listen to him! She had him so twisted around that he was letting himself consider what-ifs. But he wasn’t going to let her force his hand. Even an English overlord was better than a war of attrition. “I’m sorry, Joan, but I won’t do it. I won’t turn traitor even for you.”

It had nearly killed him the first time.

“You mean you won’t turn traitor again. For don’t delude yourself, Alex. No matter what you told yourself, no matter what justification and good intentions you might have had, the ugly truth is that you gave Bruce and the Guard your loyalty and broke it, and now when you have a chance to make it right, you are too stubborn and afraid to try.”

Alex struggled to keep a rein on his temper, but it was whipping and snapping inside him like a sail unfurled in a maelstrom. “You seem to have such a firm grasp on the situation, Joan. So tell me, what is it exactly that you propose I do? Jump on my horse and ride into whatever forest or patch of heather Bruce and the Guard have made their headquarters? Boyd as much as promised that the next time he sees me, he will try to kill me. As you’ve pointed out, I betrayed them; they think I am a traitor. Somehow none of my former brethren strike me as the forgive-and-forget type. Do you have any reason to believe that they will welcome me back with open arms?”

She flushed.

“I didn’t think so,” Alex said.

“I didn’t say it would be easy, but I can help.”

“Now who is the one who is deluded?”

Her mouth pursed. “So what does that mean?”

“It means that when I leave for Wark tomorrow, it will be in the service of Edward of England, and when I return, you and I will do our best to forget any of this ever happened.”

Joan gasped. “Tomorrow?” She couldn’t believe her ears. “You are leaving tomorrow?”

Alex’s nod was grim.

“Why did you not tell me?”

“I only found out tonight when I returned—just in time—to discover that a trap had been laid to catch the spy. Pembroke has been ordered to ride ahead; the rest of the army will follow in a few days.”