She finally spotted him, talking and laughing with a couple of Lord Ruddock’s warriors, then moving smoothly away from them to chat with some clan members. She watched how easily he engaged people while making his way toward a narrow hall that only the servants made use of and how those he talked with remained in conversation with one another, not noticing when he moved away.
If she hadn’t kept focused on him, she would have missed how easily he had disappeared into the shadows without notice. She knew where the hall led and before hurrying off she stopped to speak with Snow.
“A moment with my sister, Eleanor,” Willow said when she reached them.
Eleanor nodded and left them to talk.
“What’s wrong?” Snow asked. “I can hear the worry in your voice.”
“I have no time to explain. I may have to leave for a few days, or not. I’m not sure, but if I do I need you to make sure Sara is looked after. You know what to do.”
“Slatter goes with you,” Snow said.
“You’re far too observant, but he doesn’t know that yet.”
“Stay safe and worry not about Sara,” Snow said and hugged her sister. “And make sure you return home.”
“You have my word on that,” Willow said and hurried off as teary-eyed as her sister.
Willow grabbed her cloak she had left on a bench earlier in the day and made her way through the hall that led to the kitchen. She snatched a sack off the wall hook and stuffed it with bread and cheese.
When the cook looked at her oddly, Willow held the sack up, “A secret, late night rendezvous.”
The cook laughed and nodded.
Once outside, she hurried to the stables, her booted-feet leaving footprints in the snow. She was glad the snow hadn’t turned heavy, though the continuous light snowfall had left enough on the ground to leave an imprint.
She heard faint sounds coming from the stable where her husband’s horse was sheltered and she kept her steps as light as she possibly could. The door stood open and she cautiously made her way inside.
She had taken only a few steps when an arm caught her around the throat and she gagged for a breath. She was released in an instant, spun around, her husband’s arm going around her to steady her.
“Damn it, wife, what are you doing here?” Slatter demanded, then cursed at seeing his wife coughing as she breathed in air. “I could have hurt you.” He was berating himself, not her. “You shouldn’t have followed me, and how did you follow me? I never heard your footfalls.”
She took a couple of more needed breaths before speaking. “I knew where you’d be going when I saw you sneak off. I took a different route.” She coughed again. “And did you really believe you could tell me you love me now and forever, and not think I’d know you were bidding me farewell?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “You’re not going anywhere without me, though if you’re leaving because James refused your people sanctuary, then your departure is no longer necessary. James apologized to me for refusing our request and offered your people a home here.” She coughed again.
“Stop talking and give your throat a chance to recover,” Slatter ordered, annoyed he had caused her discomfort. “And I appreciate James’s change of heart, but I’ll go myself and escort Devin and the others here.”
“A foolish choice,” Willow said, trying to fight back a cough. “Tarass will have his men chase after you in no time.”
“I’ll return before they can find me. Stop talking,” he ordered again and this time continued, not giving her a chance to speak. “Besides, I need to go. If I can draw the culprit away from here and capture him, I can prove my innocence.”
“And place yourself in danger.” She shook her head. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”
His arm fell away from her and he laughed as he stepped around her and went to his horse, adjusting the blanket before turning to her. “You’re staying put and don’t think to argue with me on this. You’re not going and that’s that.”
Willow scrunched her nose and tapped at her closed lips a moment, giving it thought.
“You’ll not get your way on this, wife, no matter what reasoning you come up with,” he warned.
She stopped tapping her lips. “So you think the culprit will go after you once he’s realized you have left. But what if he sees that I remain here, lets a few people catch a quick glimpse of him, then kills me, leaving you to be blamed. That would be a reasonable and probably successful plan.”
Slatter stared at her, an odd look on his face, then went to her, took her in his arms, and kissed her senseless.
“A good-bye kiss to your wife?” James asked, standing in the open door, his arms folded across his chest.