Hannah Howell Read Online Free PDF Page B

he would have claimed them. That she would gain no benefit from those claims was hardly surprising. Revan knew her thoughts were just now taking the same route as his. He would not rub salt in her wounds.
    He was beginning to think of her more as an innocent victim than as one of Thurkettle’s conspirators. Telling himself to cling to his cynicism and mistrust did nothing to change that. It did make him wonder what she could know about her uncle’s activities. There was a good chance she would know little or nothing.
    Edging a little closer to her, he asked, “Do ye remember what I said your uncle was involved in?”
    Trying not to dwell on what a blind fool she had been—as well as a slight bout of self-pity over how poorly she had been treated—Tess decided to concentrate on what Revan wanted to know. “Aye, treason against James the Second. ’Tis hard to forget such a crime. Yet, what makes ye so certain my uncle is involved?”
    “He has become too well entangled in the Black Douglases’ webs not to be. Unfortunately, while all I see and hear points to his guilt, naught touches him.”
    “Ah, and ye thought touching Brenda would help.”
    “Do ye think we can forget Brenda?” he said sharply.
    “All right, all right. Ye dinna need to get into a black humor.”
    “I am not in a black humor,” he snapped.
    “Nay, of course not. Exactly what is your interest in all of this?” Quickly thinking over all that had happened, she was not sure she ought to trust him any farther than she could throw him. “How do I ken your interest isna born of a need to stop one of your own from gaining too favored a place amongst the Black Douglases?”
    Her suggestion infuriated him, but he forced himself to gain some control over his flare of temper. She had good reason to be suspicious. Considering all that she had gone through and discovered in the past day, it was only natural that she would be wary of everyone—at least for a while.
    Then he wondered how much it would be prudent to tell her. A moment later he realized his only choice was the whole truth. Anything less would undoubtedly add to her suspicions and then to his own troubles by making her more foe than friend.
    “I have been keeping a close watch upon the Black Douglases and your uncle for months. I am a knight in the service of James the Second, here at his request.”
    “Oh, aye, and I am queen of England.” The man must think she had all the wit of a slug! she thought, faintly insulted. “Ye have proof of all that?”
    “Of course not. If I were to carry about proof that I work under the king’s own command, ’twould be the same as cutting my own throat. That skinny man working in your uncle’s stables was also in the king’s service. It can be a good place to hear and see a lot. We had an agreement to share our information. Unfortunately, your uncle discovered the man ere he had told me much.”
    “And then murdered him.”
    “I have little doubt of it.”
    She abruptly stood up and walked to the cave entrance. When he had slipped out earlier for water, he had left a small opening to allow in some fresh air and light. Leaning against the rock, she peered blindly out that small opening and tried to organize her thoughts and feelings. Her world had been turned upside down. Her life was threatened. What she needed to concentrate on was—could she trust Sir Revan Halyard or, in fact, anyone? She also needed to fight a strong urge to cry, an urge that already had her eyes wet and stinging.
    And yet, she thought as she angrily wiped the tears from her cheeks with her hands only to have them quickly replaced, if anyone had a good reason to cry, she did. There was only so much bad news a person could be expected to tolerate at one time. She dreaded talking to Revan anymore. The man kept pointing out more wrongs every time he opened his mouth.
    And what was she to do about him? she thought as she pulled a handkerchief from a hidden pocket in her doublet