Christina ran up the wheeled staircase as fast as she could. Her entire world was shattering around her and Lachlan had the gall to tell her he was from the future? Heaven help her, how much more could she take? She had Andrew to worry about. Now her champion was spewing rubbish about the future and insisting he was Eva MacKay’s son? Worse, she could hardly be in the same chamber with Lachlan Wallace and keep her heart from thrumming out of her chest.
The man was braw and handsome and smart. He had a gentle nature, yet could crush her with his fist. She’d poured raw spirit on a six-inch gash across his chest and he’d shown few outward signs of the agony. She’d stitched him up and he hadn’t so much as grimaced. Dear Lord, not even her husband was as rugged as Lachlan—yet the poor man was touched in the head. He’d been benumbed by the fairies for certain.
Tears stung her eyes as she dashed out onto the wall-walk, sucking in deep breaths. It was cold and the wind blew bitter, but Christina didn’t care. If she could, she’d mount her horse and ride for miles. If only it were safe to be alone. If only she could run away from her problems and hide.
Curses, curses, curses. Why must thoughts of Lachlan continually plague my mind?
The man knew she was beside herself with worry about Andrew. Why did he have to become a pain in the backside now? Holy crosses, if she didn’t persuade her son to support King Robert, the de Moray lands would be forfeit. Lachlan knew she was in no state to receive such disturbing news about his mother. Aye, there had been something uncannily odd about Eva, regardless of the fact that Christina liked her. But being from the future? Holy Moses, Sir Boyd had said he thought the same only sennights ago. And Christina had defended Lachlan to the knight as if he was an angel from God.
Is the medallion the work of Satan? If it is, then why does Lachlan perform good deeds?
His magic from this morn could very well be evil. Though she’d been married, she had little experience with such things. And how did he make her body respond with such rapture, yet with such coveting?
I should be entirely focused on Andrew and, yet, my body aches with desire for Lachlan. This is not a normal state of affairs.
This very morn when she’d accused him of being a sorcerer what had Lachlan said? “There’s nothing magical about making a woman come.”
Come?
Is that what happened?
Why hadn’t it happened when I was with Andrew?
“Lady Christina—are ye unwell?” Sir Boyd marched toward her from the opposite direction.
She could have melted on the spot. The last thing she needed was another knight brining bad news or worse. “Nay, I just needed a walk and fresh air.”
“Ye look as if ye’ve seen a ghost.”
“Perhaps I have.”
He eyed her, moving his fists to his hips. “Whatever do ye mean?”
She let out a long sigh. “Remember when ye said ye thought Eva was from the future?”
“Shhh.” Robbie glanced around all sides to ensure they hadn’t been overheard. “’Twas only the thoughts of a verra young man.”
“Nothing makes sense.” She threw up her hands and started walking west—where they would encounter fewer guards. “Lachlan is a man of thirty. And Eva was older than I, but not so old she could possibly have a son the age of my new champion.”
“I ken, ’tis why I tried to put the whole foolishness out of my mind when he told me Eva was his mother.” Boyd gave her a sidewise glance. “Except…”
“Except?”
“The resemblance between Willy and Lachlan is too similar. I lay abed at night thinking about it, trying to make sense of it all. But in my estimation, their child should have only attained the age of nine.”
“Unless your suspicions about the medallion are true.”
He stopped, looking over his shoulder. “What are ye saying?”
Shaking her head, Christina covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m making no sense at all.”
“No, ye arna and those thoughts could see ye burned if the bishop at Kelso Abbey heard such sacrilege.” Sir Boyd then snorted as if he thought the whole conversation amusing.
She backhanded the knight’s arm. “Ye are to tell no one.”
“Ye ken I’ve shared my own suspicions, so I’d be every bit as guilty.” He gave her a bow. “Your secrets are safe with me, m’lady.”
“And I thank ye…else I wouldna have opened up to ye the way I did.”
“’Tis good to ken ye are comfortable coming to me with your woes.”
Christina chewed on her lip. Whom could she ask? Sir Boyd was an attractive knight, though far too young for her. But he was popular with the ladies. He might know. “May I ask ye a—um—rather sensitive question?”
“Ye should feel free to ask me anything, m’lady. There are not many of us around who rode with Willy, who kent what it was like in the early days living in caves.”
“This is personal in nature.” She cringed, doubting herself.
“Aye? The same holds true, I’d reckon.”
“And ye are popular with the women folk.”
Again he stopped walking and eyed her. “Tell me what’s on your mind afore ye make me blush to my toes.”
“Um.” It was her turn to look over her shoulder to be absolutely certain she wasn’t being overheard, though she doubted with the gale blowing like a rushing torrent in their ears that anyone outside of three feet away would be able to hear a thing. “Have ye ever heard of making a woman come?”
Dear Lord, no man hath ever turned such a brilliant shade of red. The corners of Sir Boyd’s lips pulled down, his face growing even redder until he turned and looked out over the River Tweed and ran his hand down his face. “Aye, m’lady. ’Tis one of the few pleasures known to man…or woman. I think ’tis God’s greatest gift.”
Christina’s cheeks burned as she let out a long breath. Now that Sir Boyd knew what she’d been thinking she should be more than a bit embarrassed. But it was embarrassment mixed with relief. At least Sir Lachlan hadn’t put a hex on her—right?
“Have ye slept with him?” Sir Boyd asked.
Aside from keeping him warm last eve? “Not slept as in lain…”
The knight donned a battle hardened scowl. “Has he said inappropriate things to ye?”
“Nay. He has been a gentleman, as I would expect.”
“Then where did ye hear such crude talk, may I ask?”
She squared her shoulders. “Ye may not.”
“Verra well, but if your virtue should need defending, ye must call upon me at once.” Sir Boyd snapped his fingers. “Goodness, with all this talk, I nearly forgot why I came up here.”
“Is it Andrew? I dunna ken if we can turn him around afore he meets with the king.”
“We canna. ’Cause the Bruce is already speaking to him at this verra moment.”
Christina’s heart nearly pounded out of her chest. “Pardon? Why in heavens name did ye not tell me this as soon as ye saw me?”