Page 17 of The Scot’s Secret

“I would be delighted, my lord.”

She concentrated on his forearms, not daring to look up. But that plan did not work. He reached down to roll his shirtsleeves even higher.

Oh dear.

“Meet me here when you’ve finished. I’ve already broken my fast.”

“Already, my lord?”

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Shhh. Don’t tell Father Simon. He’d be vexed I did so before mass. But I found myself unable to sleep this morn.”

“Indeed?”

She peered up over her lashes.

“I’m an early riser, as you may have surmised. In fact, I’ve been known to train in the clearing well before the men at times.”

The clearing! Surely he doesn’t mean. . . She did look up then. His lips were turned up in a smile so big she could see faint lines appear around his eyes.

“You know, where we train each day?” he pressed.

He was mocking her. Not in a malicious way, but there was no doubt he knew something. Could he have seen her earlier?

Nay. It was not possible. She had been so careful to ensure no one was near. Otherwise, she would never have revealed herself.

“Go, you must be hungry. Meet me here later.”

With that, he disappeared into the courtyard.

Clara stared at the woman pulling a bucket up from the well without really seeing her. What was that about? She had a tendency to worry even when it was unnecessary. But the brief conversation left her unsettled.

As quickly as she could manage it, Clara fled to the hall, ate a bowl of porridge sweetened with honey, and returned to the spot where she’d promised to meet Alex. She spotted him a moment later in deep conversation with his younger brother. Whatever he was saying to Alex, it was clear he wasn’t happy about it. Finally, Reid shook his head and walked away, ignoring his brother’s plea to return.

Alex looked at her and nodded his head in the direction of the gatehouse. She scrambled to follow, his strides longer than her own. Finally, when they reached the closed portcullis, he stopped.

“This gatehouse, the chapel, and the keep are the only three original structures. The others were all made of wood and have since been replaced by the stone you now see. This structure, however, was built with stone during its first construction.”

He walked from building to building, giving her the history of each. She tried to concentrate, but found it quite difficult. She’d never become accustomed to his easy smile and effortless charm.

“Can you imagine where this leads?”

He opened one of the interior doors, though not the one leading to the guardsman’s chambers. Stepping inside, Clara shivered. Alex grabbed a wall torch to light the way as the stairs ahead afforded no source of light.

Its location near the guardroom and unused smell offered a clue.

“’Tis the dungeon,” she said, following him down the steps.

“Aye.” At the bottom of the landing, he moved the light to reveal a single empty cell. When he opened the gate, a creak reverberated against the stone wall. He moved toward the center and motioned for her to follow. She noticed the wooden door in the floor before he pointed to it.

“And this?” he asked.

There could be only one reason for a trapdoor within a dungeon. Barrington had one as well, though it had never been used.

“An oubliette.”

He pulled the light up, toward her, and turned to leave.

“You’ve seen one before.”