Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Not one to put off unpleasant tasks, Rob went in search of Hugo. Learning that he was in the countess's solar, he sent Ivor in to fetch him with a message that he desired to speak to him about a private matter.

The gillie soon returned with Hugo, who raised his eyebrows at Rob and said, "What's amiss?"

Aware of Ivor's interest, Rob looked pointedly at the northwest stair archway. When Hugo nodded and led the way, he followed him up to his private chamber.

Inside, Rob took the precaution of shutting the door firmly behind them. Then he turned and said without preamble, "It's time now, I think."

Hugo regarded him with amusement. "I agree, although you did not think so earlier. Has it occurred to you that after so many years of ignoring your family and most of your connections you may have difficulty proving who you are?"

"Nay, why should I? I've not altered so much that a few slight changes in my appearance won't right the matter. I'll need proper clothing, of course, and a good horse or two. But if you, Michael, Henry, and the countess acknowledge me …"

"My lady and I will depart for the Isles before you can be ready, but you're right. Henry's word alone should be enough. Won't you go home first?"

"Why? Until I've established myself, I'd likely encounter some difficulty or other there. For one thing, I've no idea who is in charge of the place. My father had only one brother, who is long deceased, and as the estate comprises most of the land between Holyrood Abbey and Leith Harbor, I'll wager that any number of other folks who have decided that I must be dead, too, may be about to proclaim themselves third baron Lestalric. I want to see who steps forward."

Hugo perched on the sturdy table he used to deal with the accounts. "Can't you guess who might?"

"The Douglas perhaps, on Lady Ellen's behalf, but I doubt he will challenge me or try to install his own people on Lestalric land. After Will's death, he's more likely to have had someone collect Ellen and escort her to him at Hermitage or Tantallon."

"Aye, he'll wait to see who shows interest before he acts. Who else?"

"Sakes, Hugo, Ealga Clendenen is doubtless kin of some sort to me. If she is, anyone who claims kinship with her could conjure up a claim to Lestalric."

"I was thinking more specifically," Hugo said. "The Stewarts, for example. One reason folks call them up-starts is that they have practically no land of their own outside of Carrick in Galloway."

"Except Stirling Castle and Edinburgh," Rob said dryly.

"Those are royal holdings they acquired with the crown," Hugo said. "The only reason they count them as Stewart is this rather new notion that the King's eldest son should inherit instead of the Scottish nobility choosing their King. His grace has more offspring than land, and several of his sons are determined to increase their own holdings. The Earl of Fife is one of them, and Lestalric lies less than two miles from Edinburgh. That makes it a grand seat for any prince with ambition to acquire great power. Fife makes no secret of wanting to be King of Scots."

"The Stewarts can have no legitimate claim to Lestalric, even so."

"I'm just saying that you may find yourself up against powerful interests."

Rob sighed. "My grandfather expected Will and Ellen to produce a litter of children, and I warrant it would disappoint him greatly that they didn't. He certainly never expected me to inherit. Nor did I. He'd have been gey wroth with me for leaving home when I did, though," he added, thinking affectionately of Sir Walter.

"One could scarcely blame him if he were, especially now," Hugo said.

"Aye," Rob agreed. "But I was young and angry, and I felt betrayed. Perhaps if I'd got along better with my father or Will, things would have been different, but I had little respect for either of them. I kept my surname because I'm proud of it, but I shed the rest, so I'd have no obvious connection to them and so they'd not easily find me if they searched."

"Or so that if they failed to search, you need not know and be hurt more by their lack of feeling," Hugo said shrewdly.

"Do you think that was it?" Rob asked.

"It doesn't matter now," Hugo said. "That was then. But when I told you they had died, you still seemed reluctant to change anything."

"Aye, well, I'd grown accustomed to my life here. I never trained to be a landowner, after all, never had any to worry me. And although I expect I might have traded on my grand Sinclair connections to find a rich wife …" He shrugged.

Hugo smiled. "What changed your mind?"

Rob eyed the larger man warily. "Do you suppose we might sit properly and talk like civilized men? I'd gladly stir up those embers and put a few sticks on them."

Indicating his agreement with a gesture, Hugo drew up a stool near the hearth and watched him as he dealt expertly with the fire.

Glancing up, Rob drew a deep breath. It was no secret that people had expected Hugo to marry Lady Adela before her abduction. But neither was it a secret that Hugo was as much in love with his wife as a man could be. Still …

"Out with it," Hugo said impatiently. "I won't eat you."

"I wish I could be sure of that," Rob said with a wry smile. "Sithee, I've just come from talking with your sister-by-marriage."

"Sidony?"

"Nay, but I ought to have recalled that you've several such here. 'Twas the lady Adela."

"I thought she went to bed an hour ago."

"We met in the chapel." When Hugo frowned, Rob added hastily, "I may as well begin at the beginning and confess the whole to you straightaway. I was on the ramparts in that fog last night, and she wandered up there. She was …" He paused, not wanting to betray her more than he had to, to explain himself. "She thought no one else would be there on such a black night and sought to be alone with her grief. Not wanting to frighten her, I spoke as I'm speaking to you now, and she confided things to me. I did not reveal my identity. For one thing, she seemed content to talk to a voice in the darkness and she needed to talk. For another …" He hesitated.

Hugo did not. "You didn't want to tell her who you are," he said grimly.

"I dared not, not without explaining everything else to her," Rob said. "I'll go to court, swear fealty to Old Bleary, and claim my heritage. When I see what comes of that, I'll know better what to do next."

"Someone is bound to recognize you from here, though, don't you think?"

Grateful that Hugo seemed disinclined, for the moment at least, to pursue details of his talk with Adela, Rob gave a last stab at the fire with the poker, pulled up a stool, and sat as he said, "I don't think so, not in the way you mean. I'm sure they will recognize me as Sir Robert of Lestalric, though. People see what they expect to see, and in court dress with an air of rank and wealth, I'll do well enough."

"Nevertheless, your appearance at court is likely to irritate anyone hoping to claim Lestalric for himself," Hugo said.

"Perhaps, but I can think of only one man likely to reveal his displeasure, and that's the chevalier de Gredin."

"Sakes, why would he?"

"If I'm not mistaken, he's taken strong interest in Lady Adela. And she told me that she means to accept Lady Clendenen's invitation to stay with her in town."

"I begin to think de Gredin is not the only one with an interest there."

"I want only to be her friend," Rob said. "She needs time to find herself, and I need time to get my feet on the ground at Lestalric. Anything more that may come of it lies in the future. But de Gredin seems intent on pursuing her."

"I own, I don't think much of the man," Hugo said.

"I've taken a strong aversion to him myself, for all that I ken nowt o' the slink," Rob added, lapsing into the accents that had become customary over the years.

"I'm beginning to wish I weren't about to leave for the west," Hugo said. "But now that the new Lord of the Isles has paid his respects to his grandsire, the King, he will soon return, and my lady and I are to go with him."

"Lady Sorcha is looking forward to the journey," Rob said with a smile.

"Because she can collect what she needs from Chalamine whilst we're about it," Hugo said. "However, not only would I like to watch you act the baron, but you may need me, especially as Henry will likewise be leaving soon, for Orkney."

"Michael will be here," Rob reminded him.

Hugo nodded. "Aye, and he'll do all he can, but something else occurred to me. What about Adela's reaction to the new baron? She's seen you, after all."

"Not clearly," Rob said. "Ladies don't notice knights who behave as simple men-at-arms, and you'll recall that even after I was on my feet again at Hawthornden, you kept me there until just a few days ago. She saw me only once the day we rescued her, briefly, at a distance. I doubt she recognized me when we were removing Ardelve's body from the dais."

"You're sure she didn't see you on the ramparts or in the chapel tonight?"

Rob shook his head. "I couldn't see my own hand in that black fog. And I put out the candle in the chapel tonight before she could get a glimpse of me there."

"So you scared the poor lass witless whilst she was at her prayers, did you?" Hugo said in a near growl.

"Nay, but the truth won't please you any better," Rob admitted. "I sent her a message to meet me there."

"The devil you did! By heaven…"

"Easy, Hugo," Rob said. "It isn't what you think." He had just begun to explain when the door opened without ceremony to reveal Sir Michael Sinclair.

Michael paused at the threshold when he saw the two of them. "What devilry are you two plotting?" he said.

"Shut the door," Hugo said. When Michael had obeyed, Hugo added with a grim smile, "Apparently Sir Robert of Lestalric has decided to claim his heritage."

"Has he?" Michael said, glancing at Rob. "Well, then, I warrant we'll enjoy the stir, because, if I know our Robbie, he'll create one."

"Oh, aye, I think so," Rob said. "After all, when one makes noise, folks generally don't wonder straightaway why he is making it."

"Just see that you don't draw the wrong sort of attention," Michael said. "I've just come to tell you, we've had word that the men who murdered your father and brother were not English—not part of the English army, at all events."

"Who provided this information?" Hugo asked.

"The Douglas," Michael said. "The English have been growing ever more daring again about crossing the border, and Sir Ian and Will were searching an area between Jed Forest and Carter Bar to confirm or deny rumors of a raiding party thereabouts. Douglas logically concluded that the raiders they sought found them first. However, of their own small party, only Sir Ian and Will were killed."

"What happened to the others?" Rob asked.

"Not even hurt," Michael said. "They saw four men in black, fully armed, wearing light mail. The few English they'd seen were all Borderers, they said, and wore jacks-o'-plate as our lot do. No similar incidents have occurred, Douglas said, and no one has seen the four raiders since."

Hugo said, "I don't like the sound of that, especially in view of what we were discussing earlier. You'll have to beware, Rob."

Rob grimaced. "If I must take my father's place and act the baron, I'll seek my fun where I can find it. I've no inclination yet to put up my sword."

To Michael, he said, "Tell Douglas when next you communicate with him that I'll need time to sort out my people before I'll have any notion how many I can spare him. I warrant my father was none too supportive of his border defenses. He'll have wanted to protect Lestalric, and he was not a man to recognize that supporting Douglas would more efficiently accomplish that."

Michael nodded. "The messenger did say Sir Ian provided only that small party. Douglas was irked with him for bringing so few, but apparently he joined Douglas only to decide if the threat warranted lending him any men at all."

"And Will rode with him?"

"Aye, your brother, as you know, was always eager to find the least taxing way to impress others with his prowess. He'd doubtless have returned to court full of exploits, sporting new finery and spewing tales to impress the lasses. But I should not speak ill of him now," Michael added with a look of apology.

"I'd as lief we not speak of him at all," Rob said. "I wish I could feel grief for either of them, but other than a sense of outrage at whoever dared to murder them, I feel nothing. There is one other thing I should discuss with you both, however," he added reluctantly.

Hugo and Michael were two of his three closest friends in the world. He trusted them completely, would trust either with his life or with his wife if he had one. But he'd never told either one what he needed to share with them now.

Both regarded him intently, and Hugo said, "I'm guessing this must be even more important than what you and I discussed before."

"Aye," Rob said. "It may have something to do with the Order—if not with what we found before, then with some item given into its care in similar fashion."

"You're speaking riddles," Michael complained. "Talk plainly."

"Wait," Hugo said, getting up and moving to the door. He opened it, looked out on the stairwell, then shut it tight again and threw the bolt. "Now, what is it?"

"I need to talk to Henry, too," Rob said. "My grandfather Logan gave me information before he sent me to Dunclathy. But a key feature of what he knew lies else-where, and I'm thinking Henry may be of some help with it when I find it."

"Do you want him now?" Michael asked. "He's gone back to Edinburgh."

"Then I'll talk with him there," Rob said. "One thing about claiming my own is that I'll be able to approach him without drawing undue notice."

"What sort of information did your grandfather give you?" Hugo asked.

"He told me two things," Rob said. "The first was that I'd learn things at Dunclathy and become part of something there that was both secret and vitally important, something that I was never to talk about to anyone else."

"He was talking about the Order, of course," Michael said.

"Aye, but he did not say so. He was also cryptic about the other matter, saying only that he would leave information for me in a safe place, but I'm guessing it's most likely a map. He was already ailing when he sent me to your father for training, Hugo, and he feared he might die before he saw me again. He never trusted Will, who began as soon as he learned he was Master of Lestalric to care only about being heir to the barony and to seek his own advantage."

"Where is this item and what makes you think it's a map?" Michael asked.

"In troth, I may have created the notion of a map in my own head," Rob said. "But Grandfather said I'd know all that I needed to know when the time came to look for it and would find the key in the most likely place for him to hide it at Lestalric. He said I'd learn then where it would lead me."

"How could he know all that?" Michael asked, drawing up a stool to sit on.

"He said I'd understand more as I came to know the Sinclair brothers better," Rob said. "That was when I learned we'd be training together. But when Sir Edward revealed that our heritage included the Knights Templar and all the duties the Order entailed, I began to think the secret must have to do with something the Order is guarding, as it guards the Templars' own treasure now. If that is true, it may be something my grandfather meant to entrust to the Templars or that someone else entrusted to my family because of its early connection to the Templars."

"Perhaps the Logans took possession of a second portion of the Templar treasure," Michael said. "We know it had to be larger than what we've discovered so far. May-hap bits of it were scattered all over Scotland."

Rob shook his head. "I cannot say that you are wrong, but recall that in 1307, when the treasure ships arrived in the Isles, my family lived here in Lothian. And it was my great-grandfather and his brother, both Templars, who were close friends with Sir James Douglas and Sir William St. Clair."

"The English overran this area in those days," Hugo reminded him. "And they invaded twice more after the Bruce routed them. You cannot know whose aid your ancestors might have engaged, or who might have engaged theirs—or your grandfather's later, come to that."

"That's all true," Rob said. "I'm thinking this may be something different, though. Recall that the Order acted as bankers to the world, securing all manner of treasures for royal houses everywhere. Recall, too, that the Bruce was close friends with your ancestors and mine, as well as with Sir James Douglas, and that the greater part of the Order's archives are likewise missing."

Michael and Hugo looked at each other, and when Hugo raised his eyebrows, Michael said, "We know that the Order also guarded items for heads of state, and at least one chest full of maps and documents." To Rob, he said, "Your grandfather said you'd know when the time was right. Why do you think that time is now?"

Rob grimaced. "If aught happened to me, no one else would know what he'd said. That's been true all along, I expect, but never before did I see it so clearly, and the English seem bent now on a new invasion, so I decided that the men I trust most should know as much as I do about it. Also, someone seems eager to do away with the barons Lestalric," he added dryly. "Since I'm not ready to die yet …"

"Understandable," Michael said when he paused.

"Aye," Hugo said. "But you left out at least one detail, Rob."

"What's that?"

"Will's beautiful widow. I warrant the lady Ellen will be pleased to learn of your return. Had you not considered that?"

"Nay, truly, I had not," Rob said. Although his brother's widow had once been the love of his life, he had ceased thinking of her as such long ago, and had not thought of her at all until reminded of who might have in terest in Lestalric. That she might be interested in him seemed unlikely now that she was a widow, too. Even for the daughter of Scotland's most powerful lord, it was no easy thing to lose a husband.

The three continued to discuss details of his departure, and a short time later he took his leave of them. Having accumulated but few belongings, he had little to pack and soon was fast asleep.

Rising early the next morning, he saddled his horse, said a few words to the stable lads, and left Roslin Castle behind him.

Waking later than usual, Adela dressed and broke her fast in the privacy of her bedchamber with a manchet loaf and an apple that Kenna brought to her, and asked the girl if her brothers had spoken yet with Einar Logan.

"Tam said I just wanted to flirt wi' the man m'self and he were no going to have Einar clout him one for putting him in the way o' a lovesick lass. But I'm no such thing, m'lady. I like Einar, but he's no interested in me. I ken that fine."

So, Adela went to the stable again. But the lad who had spoken with her before said Einar had gone.

"Left at dawn wi' a message to the Douglas from Sir Hugo," he said. "But he said to tell ye, ye needna thank him, m'lady. He were that glad to help ye."

"I see," Adela said, disappointed and more concerned about him than ever.

Thanking the lad, she went next in search of Sorcha, only to learn her sister had not yet returned to Roslin from Hawthornden Castle.

"But Sir Hugo be here, me lady," the gillie added. "He'll be wi'— Och, nay, there he be now."

Following his gaze, she saw Hugo emerging from the countess's solar. She was reluctant to confront him, especially since her midnight comforter had insisted that she tell him all that she had overheard. Hugo would be angry, but she could not ignore what she knew. Accepting that she had no choice, she hurried to meet him.

"If you please, sir, I would speak with you," she said when they met.

"What is it, lass?" he asked.

She looked around, noting several gillies attending to their chores.

Hugo said, "Let us move close to the fire by the dais. I'll dismiss the lad there, so we may speak privately."

She would have preferred total privacy, but she doubted he would agree to such a request. He was more likely to deem it improper, so she nodded and went with him to the dais. Even without the privacy screens, if they spoke quietly, their voices should not carry to anyone else.

"Now, how may I be of service to you?" Hugo asked when they stood before the warm fire.

"I want to ask a boon, sir," Adela said, deciding she would be wise to ask him before discussing Einar. If Hugo agreed to let her stay at Hawthornden, he would not change his mind only because she managed to make him angry about something else.

He smiled. "Ask away. If it is in my power, I'll do what I can."

"Did Sorcha not ask you about Hawthornden?"

He shook his head. "What, exactly, was she to ask me?"

It was annoying that Sorcha had forgotten to ask, but perhaps she had been waiting for the right moment. But, bad timing or not, Adela had to ask him now.

"You see," she said, "everyone has been telling me I need not go home with Ardelve's body, but I hesitate to accept Lady Clendenen's invitation to stay with her in Edinburgh, because it does not seem right that I should go to court with her when I am so recently a widow. Yet she insists I should."

"I see naught amiss in such a plan, but you had better decide soon. Bodies don't keep overlong, sithee, so they mean to leave for Glasgow at midday today."

She winced at the image that leaped to mind but said, "I mean to stay, I think, but …" She drew breath, then said in a rush, "If you will let me, I'd like to stay at Hawthornden. You see, I'm not used to living with so many people. Roslin is teeming with them, and half of them spend three-quarters of their time telling me what I should think and what I should do. I'm longing for peace."

"I wish I could oblige you, Adela," he said.

"Please, sir, I would take a maidservant with me, and …"

"I'd provide all the servants you'd need if I could do it," he said. "The fact is I've already promised a friend of mine that he can stay there. He means to pay his respects to the King but prefers not to stay long in Edinburgh. Like yourself, he prefers a quieter place, so as we'll be leaving, I've offered him Hawthornden."

"I see." She bit her lower lip.

"Is there something else you would discuss with me?"

"Aye," she said, gathering herself. "What have you done with Einar Logan?"

His eyebrows shot upward. "As he is mine to command, I warrant I may do anything I like, within reason. Why do you ask?"

"I … I am concerned for his safety."

"Why?"

His sudden intensity disconcerted her. She saw no hint of guilt, only disquiet. Could she be wrong? Could the voice she'd heard be someone else's? Common sense said no, that she knew his voice well. And both men had been in his chamber.

"I looked for you yesterday to ask about Hawthorn-den, and I heard you," she said. "You were talking with a man, a Borderer, I think. He said you'd have to do away with Einar Logan and you agreed. And now Einar is gone, because I asked for him at the stable. I wanted to thank him for helping rescue me. I never have thanked him, you see, and I should have. Where is he, Hugo?"

"Did they not tell you when you asked for him?"

"They said he'd taken a message for you to the Douglas. Is that true?" She looked right at him, daring him to lie to her.

"I can tell you only that he is safe, lass, and in no danger from me or anyone I call friend. But you should know that listening at doors rarely supplies the listener with accurate information. What you heard was but a small piece of a conversation. The rest does not concern you, nor do I intend to explain it to you."

Squirming now, knowing he had every right to be displeased with her, she said, "I believe you, sir. I do not think you would lie to me about such a thing."

"I would not," he said. "I must ask that you not discuss this matter with anyone else, though, including your sisters." He smiled then, adding, "I've no time for fratching just now, and if Sorcha didn't have my head for worrying you, she'd want it for making you fear for Einar's life."

She knew that for all his faults, he was a man of honor. "I'll say nothing, but you see that nothing bad happens to him. I suppose he'll go with you to the Isles."

He smiled warmly, the way she had seen him smile at her sister, and said, "You need not fear for him, lassie. We look after our own."

"I know," she said, relaxing, although she noted that he had ignored her supposition. "Is Lady Clendenen with the countess?"

"Aye, and that cousin of hers, as well. Although he says he'll be leaving today, the fog cleared enough yesterday afternoon for him to have left then."

"You don't like the chevalier de Gredin?"

He grimaced. "He's not a man I'd choose for a boon companion. I ken fine that he charms the ladies, though, so I'll say no more."

When they parted, she went to the solar, where she found Lady Clendenen with the countess, Sidony, Isobel, and the chevalier engaged in conversation.

"You are looking much better, dearling," Lady Clendenen said with an approving smile. "I vow, you have roses in your cheeks again."

"Thank you, madam, I feel more rested. I have come to tell you that if you still desire it, I shall be honored to accept your kind invitation."

Lady Clendenen exclaimed her delight, but Sidony's eyes had widened, and as soon as her ladyship paused to draw breath, she said, "But I thought you were set on returning with Ardelve's corpse, Adela. What changed your mind?"

"Her good sense," Isabella said. "You will of course be going to court, Adela, so we must put our heads together and determine how best to provide you with all you'll need. You will want to leave us now, Chevalier," she added brusquely. "Such conversation can hold little interest for any man."

"I assure you, madame, I should be most honored to take part in such a discussion," he said, flashing his smile. "I have excellent taste in ladies' dress."

"Well, we don't want you," Isabella said bluntly. "Do run away now so we may talk of matters better discussed without a gentleman's assistance."

The merry look de Gredin threw Adela's way as he obeyed made her want to laugh, and since it was the first time in a fortnight that she had experienced such a feeling, it surprised her. That she had dared to challenge Hugo had also surprised her, but she had been so worried. Perhaps she was just learning to feel things again.

Rob had not ridden anywhere near the Earl of Douglas, nor did he intend to. Not only had Hugo's suggestion about Ellen's possible new interest in him shaken him more than he'd realized, but having arranged with Michael for his own message to reach Douglas, he intended to fix his attention firmly on what lay ahead of him.

Hugo had also suggested that he make whatever use he thought best of Hawthornden, but he had no intention of doing so until Hugo and his lady had gone. To go there now meant either taking Lady Sorcha into his confidence or suffering her anger later if he did not. Since he could not in good conscience ask her to keep secrets from her sister, he thought it best to go straight on to Edinburgh, to Henry.

Having managed large estates almost from puberty, Henry was an expert in matters that Rob knew little about. He would tell him all that he had told Hugo and Michael and would welcome his advice on nearly everything that affected Lestalric.

Perhaps Henry would even know what the devil to do about Ellen. It seemed unlikely that Douglas would expect him to support her at Lestalric, but she did have a right to such support if she demanded it. That thought was no comfort to him.

More importantly, though, Henry's knowledge of old maps might prove invaluable. Rob had thought often over the years of where his grandfather might have hidden the map, if it was a map, and he was fairly certain he knew.

But he had not been next or nigh Lestalric Castle in nine years, so it was possible that the hiding place he had known no longer existed.