They’d been watching Joan for a while. In a fit of pique after Alex’s threat to claim her inheritance, Alice had voiced her “suspicions” (which ironically weren’t real suspicions—she had no idea Joan was really the spy) to her husband, who had in turn confided in Despenser. But the moment Sir Adam had accidentally confirmed her identity, Joan’s chance to leave was gone. Nothing Alex could have done could have changed that. Ashamed of her part in Joan’s capture, Alice had told Margaret that Joan had left. Fortunately, Margaret hadn’t believed it. Eventually Margaret had worn Alice down, learned that Joan was in the pit prison, and sent a note to John Ross. But Alice had redeemed herself somewhat. It was she who’d put the note in her brooch, and she who’d kept the soldiers busy under false pretenses and given the keys to Margaret to let Joan’s rescuers in and out.

“My fate was sealed before you left,” Joan told him. “The only thing that would have changed was that we would still be fighting this war.”

He shook his head. “Christ, you sound like Raider.”

She didn’t miss the unconscious use of Boyd’s war name. “He is obviously a very smart man.” Her teasing smile softened. “But none of what happened was your fault, Alex. We both made mistakes. I was stubborn, too. I thought I was too good to get caught.” She smiled. “I also thought one man couldn’t make a difference and change the war. But I was wrong. Very wrong.” She was so incredibly proud of him. “Please, don’t let what happened cast a pall over this day.”

He nodded, but she knew better than to think it was over. She almost pitied the man who’d done this to her, knowing that Alex would not let it go unanswered.

She looked down the table of her fellow Guardsmen and suspected he wouldn’t be alone. “I’m glad they stayed,” she said.

“They did it for you.”

“I think maybe not just for me?” She’d seen him talking to the others after the ceremony, and it was clear something had changed.

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

A swell of happiness rose inside her. She knew what that shrug meant. If Alex wasn’t back with the Highland Guard now, he would be soon. She had faith in him.

She didn’t think it was possible to be any happier.

She was wrong. An embarrassingly few hours later—Alex had utterly ignored their duties as hosts and left the feast well before it was over—she was lying in her husband’s arms more content (and sated) than surely any person had a right to be.