Had he said that last part aloud? Nay, he’d never tell.
“You are drunk. She would never do that. No one could be a more devoted wife.”
“Shhhe would neber do that to William. Nebber, nebber, nebber.” But even Catherine… even she was practical once. Took a stranger to bed. A stranger.
“What did you say?” The voice seemed to be coming from inside his head. But it was damned persistent.
“Who was it? What happened?”
Stephen wanted the questions to stop so he could sleep.
“He could not get her with child. Her other husband. That cursed first one. So shhhe let someone else do the job. Thasss how she got ssweet little Jamie. Big sssecret. Shhh.”
Chapter Eighteen
Stephen awoke with a bad feeling that had nothing to do with his hangover. A very bad feeling. Beneath the pounding headache, lurching stomach, and dry mouth, something more sinister lurked. He had the uneasy feeling he’d crossed a line. Committed some grave, unpardonable wrong.
Had he gone to bed with someone he shouldn’t have? He turned his head, careful not to move too quickly, and let his breath out. If that was what he’d done, at least she was gone.
But he did not think that was it.
He crawled out of bed, poured cold water from the pitcher into the basin, and splashed his face.
What was it? He tried to piece together what happened after… The image of de Roche with his hands on Isobel was all too clear. His rising pulse caused his head to throb violently. He leaned over the basin and poured the rest of the pitcher over his head.
First he went to the public house nearest the castle gate. Then to the one near the old church. Sometime later, he ended up in the seamiest part of town. He remembered the smell of cloying perfume. Then Claudette appearing like an angel of mercy. And Jamie.
A carriage ride. Jamie dragging him to bed. Someone asking endless questions. About women being practical…
He squeezed his eyes shut. God help him, had he said those things about Catherine aloud? And to Jamie? He could not have. He had wheedled the secret out of an old servant years ago and never told a living soul. Never would.
He turned and looked about the empty bedchamber. Where was Jamie now? Trying not to panic, he threw on his clothes, grabbed his cloak and sword, and tore out of the room.
He had to find Jamie. God help him if he’d told Catherine’s secret to her son last night. If he had, he would have to explain it to Jamie, try to make him understand.
And then he would have to tell William what he’d done.
Isobel looked everywhere for her brother. When she could not find him, she began to worry. Last night he said he had something important to tell her. Why did she not make him tell her at once? Of course, she did not expect de Roche to take her off so suddenly. And then, after what happened—she would not think of that now—she forgot completely about her brother.
Linnet’s fair hair whipped about her face as they raced across the bailey yard. “We have not tried the stables yet,” she shouted against the wind. “If his horse is there, you will know he has not gone far.”
“You are a bright one,” Isobel said, forcing a smile. She could not say why she was so worried.
Halfway to the stables, they saw François running toward them.
“Lady Hume, I’ve been looking for you,” he called out as he drew near. He was as breathless as she. “Your brother asked me to give you a message.”
“A message? What is it?”
François screwed his face up as if he were concentrating to be sure he got it right. “He and Jamie Rayburn have gone to an abbey two hours’ ride from here to see a holy relic.”
“You saw Geoffrey leave?” she said, fighting to sound calm. “With Jamie?”
“At first he was going to go alone,” François said. “I told him it was too dangerous with all the brigands and renegades roaming the countryside. But he said, ‘God will protect me.’ I swear, that is just what he said.”
Good Lord, she would kill him for taking such a risk! Even this child knew it was foolish to travel alone here.
“Then Jamie came tearing into the stable in such a state,” the boy said, his eyes wide. “Your brother pulled him into a corner where I could not hear. Next thing I know, your brother gives me this message—and they ride off!”