“I gladly accept your generosity,” Clive said with a nod.
“Good,” Royden said, “It will give us time to talk about the merchant from whom you stole this merchandise.”
Chapter 15
Royden woke annoyed to find himself in bed alone, not that he wasn’t already annoyed from last night. The night had gone nothing as he had planned. Clive had begged an ailing stomach and hadn’t joined him for supper and when supper was nearly finished, he’d been notified that a small group of warriors had been spotted in the nearby woods. He had taken a few men with him, including Penn and Angus, while leaving Stuart and John to watch over the village along with the other men there.
Angus hadn’t been happy about it. He had complained the whole time, insisting Clive wasn’t sick at all. He believed it nothing more than an excuse to spend time alone with Bethany, especially since Bethany had turned down his offer that they sup together.
They’d found no sign of the warriors, but Royden hadn’t wanted to take any chances. He doubled the night sentinels and had sent notice to his wife that he’d be taking the first shift. He had thought to wake her when he finally joined her in bed, but she’d been sleeping so soundly he hadn’t wanted to disturb her. He figured one of them would wake in the middle of the night and they’d soon be making love.
That hadn’t happened and when he woke to find himself wrapped around her pillow instead of her, he got even more annoyed. Where had she gone off to? Why hadn’t she woken him? And why did he feel that it had something to do with Clive, the merchant? If he were a merchant.
Royden got himself dressed quickly and went in search of his wife and some answers.
“Remember what I told you, no more than a week,” Oria reminded Clive as he climbed up to sit on the cart’s wooden seat.
Clive looked to Oria after taking the reins. “I can’t promise—”
“Once it is made known that Royden has returned home, it will no longer be for you to decide,” Oria said. “Deliver the news, the rest will see to itself. And please give them my regards. It has been far too long.”
“From what I’ve been told, you had no choice but to stay—”
“Clive!”
Clive and Oria turned to see her husband at the top of the keep steps.
Oria’s breath caught slightly at the sight of her husband. She had always thought him a man of fine features and body, but now years or perhaps circumstances had added to his features defining them in a way that made him all the more appealing, from the lines that crinkled at the corner of his eyes and the bridge between them, to the tight set of his jaw, and the commanding lift of his chin. And after making love with him, seeing the hard definition of his muscles, the ease in which he lifted her, he was beyond stronger than he had been.
He took the steps down to them with a confident, quick pace and she saw Clive tense, intimidated by Royden’s approach.
“I need to be on my way, kind sir,” Clive said with a forced smile.
“Where are you off to next?” Royden asked, his arm going around his wife’s waist when he came to stand next to her.
Clive hesitated, then grinned. “Learmonth. Detta might need something.”
“Give her my regards,” Oria said.
“That I will,” Clive said, keeping his grin wide as he went to snap the reins.
“A moment, Clive,” Royden said, his sharp tone making it clear he was not to be refused.
“What can I do for you, sir?” Clive asked.
Royden watched as his mask slipped briefly and he caught sight of a man who didn’t take kindly to commands. A strange trait for a merchant.
“You told my wife you don’t know where the tapestry or wooden sword came from, but tell me where was it you acquired the items?”
“I got them from an old merchant who, like me, grew tired of the travel and wanted nothing more to do with the trade,” Clive explained.
“And where was this?” Royden asked.
“Where?’ Clive scrunched his brow as if confused by the question.
Royden patiently clarified. “What area here in the Highlands did you come across this merchant?”
Clive turned his glance up at the sky, scrunched his brow again, then looked at Royden. “I’m afraid age has robbed me of a good memory. I don’t recall.”
Royden would have to be blind not to see that the man lied. The question was—why did he lie? “Were you in the woods at all last night, Clive?”
Royden’s question caught Clive unaware and he wasn’t able to hide his surprise. “Why would I go into the woods?”
“You tell me,” Royden said, keeping his dark eyes focused intently on Clive.