Page 100 of Dark Rival

“Ye like it. If I served ye like the others, ye wouldn’t be here.”

“One day you will go too far,” she panted furiously. “And, Ruari? Tonight the lesson continues.”

He smiled tightly. “Tonight, I’ll be the one to decide if ye have learned any lesson at all.”

She flushed all over again.

He was aware that his triumph was momentary, and he wondered how he was going to manage her that night. Sooner or later he’d have to play the stud. But she enjoyed other women as well as men—he might orchestrate an orgy for her, making certain she was so preoccupied that he was the one left out of her bed.

And then he saw Ailios.

Not in his mind, but standing in the corridor behind the hall, as pale as a ghost, except for the two bright spots of crimson on her cheeks.

She was furious and in that moment, he knew she had been spying on him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SHE TURNED AND VANISHED into the corridor.

He glanced at Joan, but she had paced to the other side of the hall, calling for her maids. She hadn’t seen Ailios. Ailios had seen him with the Queen. But it had been a matter of politics…. He composed himself and it was not an easy task.

“I have matters to attend,” he said flatly. He wanted to explain his actions to Ailios, although he could barely comprehend the overwhelming need. He never explained himself to anyone. “But we also have grave matters to discuss.” And he was thinking about Moffat’s attack on Dunroch.

She looked at him. “We have very grave matters to discuss.”

He stilled, focused and intent, and lurked. As he had suspected, Joan was thinking about a powerful Healer—and how she could best use such power for her and King James. “Yer Majesty, yesterday Dunroch was attacked by Moffat.”

Joan widened her eyes, feigning surprise. “Surely you jest!”

Royce wasn’t surprised to realize Joan not only knew of the attack, but she had supported the bishop secretly. His tension rose but he spoke casually. “Moffat be yer cousin, but we have been at odds for many years. I believe he attacked Dunroch because o’ me, not my nephew. He has no conflict with Malcolm.”

“I will see into this. I will have the Chamberlain of the Realm investigate the matter. As dear as Moffat is to me, he cannot attack my vassals at will.” Her gaze narrowed. “Is it possible that you provoked my dear cousin, Ruari? After all, you and Moffat have been warring for years over land and cattle. I almost regret his having lands in the north, bordering yours.”

He decided to retreat and he shrugged. “Perhaps some o’ my men raided one of his villages. I dinna ken. I will look into the matter, as well.”

“Good.” She stared at him. “Rumors have reached the court. Have you a powerful Healer at Carrick?”

“I have a guest from the south. Lady Monroe be kind an’ caring. She takes it upon herself to nurse those who are ill.”

Joan made a sound. “So you claim she is not a powerful Healer, one who can give life back to a boy crushed by dirt and stone?”

“Yer Majesty, she attended the boy, as did I. He wasna crushed to death. When we dug him from the rockslide, he was alive. T’was a miracle—God’s work.”

“Where is Lady Monroe?”

“I dinna ken,” he said, and finally, there was some truth in his words. But he suspected Ailios had gone to her chamber. She must have found someone, perhaps Aidan, to leap with from Iona to Carrick. There was no other way she could have arrived at his home so swiftly, when he had left the island before her. He had ridden hard and fast to make Carrick as soon as possible.

“Find her and bring her to Us,” Joan said imperiously. “Do so now.” She turned her back on him.

Royce strode from the hall, very displeased.

He tried to sense where Ailios was. The moment he came close to the narrow spiraling stairs leading to her chamber in the north tower, he felt her pure, light power. Something soft and warm, as bright as she was, seemed to wash through his heart. It felt more than good; it felt like a huge relief.

He bounded up the stairs, dismissing such absurd feelings.

Her chamber door was open. He saw Claire with her and he started.

Claire looked at him, her regard cool and accusing.