“Alyx, are you sure?”
“I might be able to distract Raine. I’m sure he’s brooding over all that has happened and no doubt contemplating all manner of horrors to commit against Roger Chatworth. Sometimes I can outshout him and force him to listen to me. He probably won’t know what Gavin is doing to persuade Miles to release Elizabeth.”
She stood, clutching her baby tightly. “I must prepare. I’ll need a tent, for I can’t see Raine willingly sharing his with me.”
“He might forgive you the moment he sees you,” Judith said, eyes dancing.
“Forgive me!” Alyx said, then saw she was teasing. “I’ll make him sorry he accused me of betraying him. And I’ll need medicines. I owe something to those outlaws Raine leads. They helped me once, but I never helped them. I want to make up for some of my neglect and my arrogance.”
“How soon do you want to leave?” Judith asked.
“Before Gavin returns or we may have trouble. How soon can we gather things together?”
“A day if we hurry.”
“Judith,” Alyx said. “You are an angel.”
“Perhaps I just want to see my family safe. Come along now, we have work to do.”
Silently, Alyx groaned. Raine had once said Judith did twice as much in a day as anyone else. Alyx guessed it was closer to three times as much. Quickly, she handed Catherine to a maid and hurried after her sister-in-law.
Chapter Nineteen
I DON’T LIKE like this place,” Joan said from the horse beside Alyx’s. “It’s too dark. Are you sure Lord Raine lives in a place like this?”
Alyx didn’t bother to answer. Judith had said her maid, Joan, would be an asset in this venture, that Joan could keep Alyx looking good enough to make Raine notice and Joan could ferret out all sorts of information. Judith had also warned that Joan was much too familiar and must be constantly reminded of her place.
“Hello,” Alyx called up into a tree.
Joan looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Is the tree expected to answer you?” She added, “My lady” when Alyx gave her a sharp look.
From the tall branches of the tree dropped what Joan saw as a divine man.
“Joss!” Alyx laughed, and before she could dismount Jocelin had grabbed her about the waist and pulled her into his arms.
For a moment they just laughed and hugged until Alyx pulled away and looked at him. “You’ve changed,” she said quietly. “There are roses in your cheeks.”
Joan coughed loudly. “Perhaps the gentleman would like roses elsewhere than his cheeks.”
“Joan!” Alyx warned. “I’ll leave you overnight alone in this forest if you don’t behave.”
“Is that the voice of command I hear?” Joss asked, holding her hands at arms’ length. “You have more than changed. I have never seen such a lovely lady. Walk with me and let’s talk.”
When they were away from Joan and the loaded horses, he asked, “You have a child?”
“A daughter with Raine’s dimples and my eyes. She is sweet and perfect in every way. How is he?”
Jocelin knew who she meant. “Not well. Wait! He is physically well, but he is sad, never smiles and when a messenger comes from his brother he is angry for days.” He paused. “What happened after your marriage?”
Briefly, she told him of Roger Chatworth.
“So, you have left your child and come back to Raine.”
“No doubt he will welcome me with open arms.” She grimaced. “There are several reasons why I’ve returned. I owe the people here something for saving me from the burning. How many . . . died?”
“Three, and a fourth one later.”
Her hand tightened on Joss’s arm. “The King’s anger at the Montgomerys and the Chatworths is increasing daily. Gavin has gone to Scotland to reason with one brother while Raine is mine to deal