Page 65 of The Rogue’s Redemption

He worried over something.

“We did not expect you,” she said.

“Your sister said as much,” he said, his voice stiff, as always.

“But of course, you are always welcome.”

Gillian frowned. She clearly didn’t agree with the sentiment. Allie knew her sister hadn’t forgiven their father after the business with Covington. She herself saw things differently. The man, though he had made plenty of mistakes, was still their father.

He inclined his head to Allie, acknowledging her remark.

“I was telling your sister . . . I must speak to de Sowlis immediately on an important matter.”

“And,” Gillian said, her voice dripping with disappointment, “I had just finished explaining that he was welcome to share that important matter with me.”

Allie looked back and forth between them. This was a years-old struggle that had followed them from the secluded wilds of northeast England to Highgate End. It was as if they’d never left Lyndwood. Now that the guests were all gone, the great hall almost felt as eerily quiet as their childhood home.

Her maid walked toward the hall’s entrance, where they stood across from one another.

“Morgan could show you to—”

“There is no time,” he said. “I must speak to—”

“Me?” Graeme walked up beside his wife, extending his hand to their father in greeting. “Lyndwood.”

“De Sowlis.”

Graeme hid his contempt well. It was a known fact he hated their father for having used Gillian, and later her, as a pawn to pay off the debts necessary to keep their ancestral home.

“You can speak freely in front of your daughter.”

Father clearly did not agree. Nor would he ever share important news with a woman. Though Graeme and Gillian handled the affairs of Highgate End together, such was not the case with her own parents.

“Gillian,” she said, “why don’t we—”

“Nay,” her sister said, her eyes flashing. Allie did not take offense. It was odd, their role reversal. Before Graeme, Gillian would never have thought to disobey their father. Now she held her chin high and would not budge.

Rather than acknowledge Gillian, their father turned squarely toward Graeme. “Caxton cannot be trusted.”

Graeme folded his arms. “None of us believed otherwise. As you may know, we’ve spent the past—”

“He was behind the attack on Kerr land. He plans to raid again, this time to instigate MacDuff.”

They all stared at him, aghast. The very idea was absurd.

“We do not trust Caxton,” Graeme stated calmly, “but that he, the Lord Warden, would be responsible for—”

Her father was becoming impatient. “I would not have trusted this information with anyone else,” he said. “Which is why I came here to deliver the message in person. As unlikely as it may seem, Caxton is not just allowing blackmail and undermining the Day of Truce. He is actively antagonizing the border clans in hopes they will retaliate.”

“How do you know this?” Gillian asked.

Instead of answering her, he continued to speak to Graeme. “I would not bring false information,” he said. “Not when it would put my daughters in jeopardy. I don’t know what your council decided—”

“Douglas will appeal to the king to get rid of Caxton,” Graeme said. Allie could tell by the tone of his voice he believed her father, but aside from a slight grinding of his jaw, he appeared calmer than Allie would have expected given the circumstances. “But we’ve agreed to allow March Law to remain in effect on this side of the border for now.”

The implications of this information were far-reaching. This news would mitigate some of what had been decided here this week.

“Come,” Graeme said, walking into the hall. “You’ve been traveling and will need refreshment.”