Page 65 of The Scot

Chapter 27

Not Terric.

How was that possible?

Roysa could not stop staring at the newcomer who stood in the entryway to the hall. It was rude, of course. But . . .

“You are not Terric.”

He looked at her, and for one brief moment, Roysa thought she was asleep. Dreaming. How was this possible?

There was only one way.

“You are his brother.”

Terric had not told her he was a twin.

“Rory Kennaugh of Bradon Moor,” Lance introduced him, much to the steward’s consternation. Abruptly realizing his mistake, Lance stepped aside, moving toward Idalia.

“Rory,” she murmured in wonder.

“Do not fret,” came a female voice from behind him. “Rory is accustomed to ladies being disappointed he is not Terric.”

A sharp pain gripped her in the chest. The woman who’d said the words was stunning, and although she hated herself for feeling jealous of a stranger, she couldn’t deny she did.

Until she noticed the woman’s long, dark eyebrows, her deep brown eyes.

Oh . . .

“Lady Cait, why are you here?” the marshal asked, clearly shocked as he took in the growing party of newcomers just outside the hall.

Cait. Terric’s sister. She and Rory had arrived with his clansmen.

“Your clansmen have come to Dromsley.” She said what everyone, save Idalia perhaps, already knew.

“My lord will not be pleased.” Gilbert shook his head. “He will not be pleased at all.”

She tended to agree. Terric would not be pleased by the fact that Cait had traveled here at such a time.

Everyone started to speak at once, creating a confusing melee, and Roysa took a step back so she could think. Terric had said his brother planned to send men once the weather broke. But that had only just happened, which meant they must have left sooner. Why? They couldn’t have heard the latest rumors about the northern border lords loyal to John.

A familiar voice caused her to snap to attention. “Gone? My brother has gone, alone?”

Rory even sounded like his brother.

“We should speak privately,” Lance said.

Roysa dearly wanted to be there when they did, but she had no real place here. It wasn’t her right to insist on anything.

Rory agreed, reluctantly following the others toward the solar. She nudged Idalia away, seeing her expression of pity that she would not be joining them. “Go,” she urged. “I will speak to you after.”

As men continued to filter into the hall, the steward led them away.

“We’ve not been properly introduced.”

Lady Cait.

Roysa hadn’t noticed she’d hung back.