Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] by Border Moonlight Page A

said, “
You
are supposed to be asleep.”
    “Nay, I dinna like all them shadows in here. Nor I dinna ken the lad yonder. I’m no afeard,” she added firmly. “I just dinna like it here.”
    Tetsy said, “I can take her up with me, m’lady.” Sibylla began to nod, but Kit scrambled upright and said eagerly, “Or I could sleep on the floor in
your
chamber, mistress.”
    Looking into the pinched little face, Sibylla could not refuse. So although Tetsy moved to protest, she forestalled her, saying cheerfully, “Then that’s what we’ll do, Kit. But we must be gey quiet going upstairs.”

Chapter 5
    S aturday morning arrived with gloomy, overcast skies. Simon arose early, broke his fast, and plunged into his duties. First, he sent messengers to Sweethope Hill and to Sir Malcolm Cavers with the news that Sibylla was safe at Elishaw. He also sent one to Dour Hill, England, with Lady Murray’s message to Cecil Percy.
    As he crossed the pebbled bailey, he felt the sense of pride that usually struck him, after he had been away, when familiar Elishaw landmarks came into sight through the forest surrounding the castle. Concern for his rescued charges the day before had delayed the reaction.
    Beyond Elishaw’s southeast wall, two peaks known as Hartshorn Pike and Carlin Tooth rose as tall, silent sentinels. They were landmarks Simon had trusted since childhood to lead him home if he ever lost his way in the forest.
    He had climbed them and explored them, learning the value of knowing his environs as he gazed on the vast panorama of Border landscape. From the Pike and the Tooth, one could see into England and know how near the enemy lay. Now, living again at Elishaw, truce or no truce, he kept watchmen posted on both peaks.
    While he had served the Earl of Fife, England’s nearness to Elishaw had meant little to him. He had spent most of his time then in Stirling or Edinburgh. Moreover, Sir Iagan had remained strictly neutral in Border affairs, aided by Lady Murray’s resolve that he follow the same course his father had.
    Her ladyship was English and kin to the great Northumberland Percys. So the Murrays possessed strong connections on both sides of the line. Despite such allies, though, Elishaw had suffered occupation more than once.
    Simon did not mean to let that happen while he was master. But he was beginning to learn how difficult it was to remain neutral.
    The Governor of the Realm had little patience with neutrality and had had his eye on the castle for some time. He had made it plain even before Sir Iagan’s death that he expected Elishaw to declare for Scotland.
    The Earl of Douglas, more powerful than the Governor but thought by many to be his ally, agreed with him.
    Simon had been Fife’s man absolutely until Fife had tried to seize Hermitage Castle, a Douglas stronghold. Acting on the Governor’s behalf, Simon had found his sisters Meg and Amalie at Hermitage, guests of the princess Isabel Stewart, then married to the second earl.
    That discovery had shaken Simon but not as much as the later discovery that Fife expected him to force his sister Amalie to marry a man she detested, and to dower her with a sizable piece of Elishaw land.
    Simon’s belief in honor and loyalty had kept him faithful even then. But Fife, failing to force Amalie to marry his henchman, then set his sights on Rosalie as the wife his man should have. Simon had flatly refused to permit the marriage.
    He had scarcely seen Fife since then, or the Douglas. Either one of them—or both, if they chanced to be of one mind—would make a formidable enemy. And now, with one of the mighty English Percys soon to visit, he suspected that their leader, the Earl of Northumberland, would likewise want to know where he stood.
    Therefore, he had little time left to decide what Elishaw’s future position would be. The cold, miserable winter had given him a respite. But it had been warming for weeks.
    Abruptly pushing these thoughts aside, he wondered