Page 42 of The Scot

“Nay. A siege would be a win for John. We will proceed as if Langham and Ulster will both move against us when the weather breaks.”

He did not intend to frighten her, but neither did he want to hide the truth.

“News from my scout, along with your information about Ulster’s meeting with Langham, forces us to prepare for such an event.”

“Will you gather more men? From my father maybe?”

“We have allies, including your father, but there may not be time to get them here. I doubt my men will arrive from Scotland in time either. And by crushing the northern lords first, especially one who founded the order that vowed to bring him to heel, the king might force others to reconsider their support.”

“But you will try?”

Losing was impossible, for many reasons, but also because Roysa and Idalia were here. He would not allow any harm to come to them. He would not allow Lackland and his supporters to take this from him. They would not prevail again.

“I will do everything to protect Dromsley, protect the cause.”

Protect you.

“You were right, Roysa,” he said, lowering his voice. “I have been preparing for this fight my entire life. The king will not best me.”

She did not hesitate. “I believe you.”

Her unwavering faith was more than he had reason to expect—and it scared him more than any interaction they’d had before.

He’d not earned that faith yet.

But he meant to, starting this very night.