Nicola felt his hot breath against her neck as he exhaled slowly. “I am not sure there is an easy answer to that,” he whispered. “You cannot release me from Conisbrough. There is no way for you to do that. The only way I would be able to break away, or be broken away, is if I was not surrounded by layers of stone walls. They plan to turn me over to Edward at some point so it would be logical to presume that would be the best time to try to escape.”
“How?”
He shook his head, pulling it free of the fragrant haven of her neck. He fixed her in the eye, his arms still around her.
“I am not sure,” he admitted. “But you must not mention any of this to anyone. What we discuss here must stay between us.”
She nodded solemnly. “Of course, Kenton,” she said. “I would never say a word to anyone but Conor. He has come with me.”
A look of surprise crossed Kenton’s features. “Conor is here?”
“Aye.”
“But… but I left him in charge of Babylon,” he said, confused. “When Babylon fell, I was certain he would have been killed, or taken prisoner at the very least.”
Nicola nodded. “He was a prisoner,” she conceded, “but I convinced Brome St. John that he was one of Gaylord’s knights. I do not know if St. John truly believes me, but he has not disputed me. He has allowed Conor to be by my side.”
Kenton mulled over that particular revelation. He was astonished, but pleased, to know that Conor not only survived the siege on Babylon but that he was here at Conisbrough. “I see,” he said thoughtfully. “What of Wellesbourne and de Russe and le Mon? What of them?”
Nicola shook her head. “I do not know,” she said. “I have not seen nor heard of them. What of Forbes? You did not mention him.”
“That is because I know he is dead.”
She sobered. “Oh,” she murmured. “Do you think the others are dead, too?”
Kenton cocked a reluctant eyebrow, reluctant to think the worst. “It is possible although I cannot truly believe it,” he said. “Wellesbourne and de Russe especially would have stopped at nothing to remain alive.”
“Do you think they fled back to Warwick after the defeat?”
Kenton nodded. “That would be my guess,” he said. “I truly hope that they have, at the very least to tell the man what has happened. That is what I would have done.”
Nicola watched him as he thought on his knights, the men he’d fought so closely with. “Even if they have fled, they do not know what has become of you,” she said. “I am the only one who knows. How can I help you escape? What can I do?”
Kenton pondered her question. “I am not entirely sure,” he said. “It will take a plan of great cunning to help me escape. They plan to turn me over to Edward at some point and whenthey move me would more than likely be the best chance for me to escape. While I am within these walls, there is no hope of release, so it makes sense to make the attempt when I am in transit. The only person who can plan that kind of operation is Warwick.”
Nicola shook her head. “I do not know if he is aware you have been taken prisoner,” she said. “I have not heard from him at all. I know nothing of his movements.”
Kenton released her, sitting her down on the bed as he sat beside her. He held her hands tightly. “Then you must get word to him somehow,” he told her, his voice low. “Send Conor if you can. Warwick must be told that I am at Conisbrough and that they plan to turn me over to Edward. Once I am given over to Edward it will more than likely be impossible for any manner of an escape attempt, so it is imperative that any attempt be made once I leave Conisbrough.”
Nicola was listening with great seriousness. “I do not know of their plans for you, but I can find out,” she said. “They believe I am on their side because it was I who sent them the missive about your attack on Manchester. I am sure they believe I am in their confidence.”
Kenton’s expression was serious as well. “Then it is important we lead them to believe that you have no loyalty towards me,” he said. “We will have to pretend we hate one another. I am not entirely sure what else we can do. If they believe we are bitter enemies, then they may tell you their plans for turning me over to Edward.”
Nicola nodded, watching him as he kissed her hands. “I am not sure if I can be convincing about hating you,” she whispered, her eyes starting to well again. “Kenton, I’m so afraid for you.”
He kissed her hands again, her lips to quiet her. “I know,” he comforted. “But you are strong and wise. You are the strongest woman I know. I have faith that you will be able to obtain theirplans for me and send word to Warwick. We will be together again someday, I swear it, but you must help me keep my promise.”
She wiped at her eyes, squaring her shoulders and trying very hard to be brave. “I will do it,” she said, sniffling again. “I did this to you. Now I shall get you out of it.”
He smiled at her, drinking in her brilliant beauty, more relieved than he could express that things were well between them again. But he had a feeling there would be much more fear and perhaps even heartache before all of this was finished. But as long as they had faith in each other, and loved each other, that bond could move mountains.
“I know you will,” he said, kissing her again. “But for now, we must pretend to hate each other. Can you do that?”
She nodded, somewhat wryly. “I made a good show of it before.”
He laughed. “You did,” he said. “But right now, I want you to slap me as hard as you can.”
She looked at him, shocked. “Slapyou?”