Laurance really should have been found out sooner. Madelyne blamed herself for being too preoccupied to notice all the little oddities. Then she blamed Duncan. If he hadn't frightened her so much during that wedding ceremony, she'd have caught on to Laurence's deception.

She never considered the possibility that Duncan knew all along. No, she was certain he thought Laurance had truly married them. She was still angry. He had blatantly lied to her about the contents of the letter from the Roanne monastery. Duncan knew how much she valued the truth. She never lied to him. "Just you wait until I get my hands on you," she muttered. "Adela isn't the only one who knows how to scream."

Her burst of anger didn't help her mood much. She started to cry again.

By midnight she had exhausted herself. She leaned against the window. The moon was bright. Madelyne wondered if it was shining down on Duncan now. Did he sleep outdoors tonight or in one of the king's chambers?

Madelyne's attention turned to the crest of the hill outside the wall. A movement had caught her eye, and she looked just in time to see her wolf climb the ridge.

It really was a wolf, wasn't it? Maybe even the same one she'd seen months before. The animal looked large enough.

She wished Duncan were here, standing beside her, so she could prove to him that her wolf did exist. She watched the animal lift the meaty bone she'd left there for him, turn, and disappear down the other side of the hill.

Madelyne was so exhausted, she decided she was getting fanciful again. It was probably just another wild dog after all, and not even the one she'd seen before.

Duncan was her wolf. He loved her. Madelyne never doubted him on that issue. Aye, he lied to her about the letter, yet she instinctively knew he'd never lie to her about his love for her.

It was a comforting admission. Duncan was too honorable to deceive her in such a manner.

She tried to sleep. Fear made it impossible though. How content she'd been to let Duncan take care of the future. She felt so safe because she carried his name. Aye, she was bound to him.

Until today.

Now she was terrified again. The king demanded her attendance in court. She was going back to Louddon.

Madelyne began to pray. She pleaded with God to keep Duncan safe. She asked favor for Adela's future, Gerald's, too, and even prayed for Edmond and Gilard.

And then she whispered a prayer for herself. She begged for courage.

Courage to face the devil.

Duncan knew something was wrong the minute he rode into the lower bailey. Anthony wasn't there to greet him, and neither was Madelyne.

A feeling of dread settled around his heart. He goaded his stallion forward, galloped over the bridge and into the courtyard.

Adela came rushing out of the castle just as he and Gerald dismounted. She hesitated a short distance away from the two men, finally seemed to make up her mind, and then ran and threw herself into Gerald's arms. When she embraced him, she started to cry.

It took patience and several long minutes to gain any information from Adela.

Duncan 's second-in-command, a large but soft-spoken man by the name of Robert, came running up to give his accounting. While Gerald sought to hush Adela, Robert explained that the king's soldiers had come for Madelyne.

"Was the king's seal on this missive?" Duncan asked.

Robert frowned over the question. "I do not know, Baron. I didn't see the summons. And your wife insisted that she take the letter with her." Robert lowered his voice to a whisper when he added, "She didn't want anyone to read the contents of the summons to your sister."

Duncan wasn't sure what to make of his wife's action. He concluded the directive must have included some sort of threat toward Adela and that Madelyne was trying to protect his sister from worry.

The king wouldn't have threatened. Nay, William wouldn't treat his loyal barons in such a way. Duncan had sufficient faith in his leader to believe his king would wait to hear all the explanations.

Louddon's hand was in this treachery. Duncan would stake his life on it.

He immediately shouted the order to prepare to ride again. Duncan was so angry, he could barely think logically. The only calming thought was the fact that Anthony had gone with Madelyne. His loyal vassal had taken a small contingent of Duncan 's fittest warriors with him. Robert explained that Anthony dared not take too many soldiers, lest the king think he was being distrustful.

"Then Anthony believes the summons came directly from our king?" Duncan asked.

"I was not privy to his thoughts," Robert answered.

Duncan called for a fresh mount. When the stablemaster led Silenus to him, Duncan asked why Madelyne hadn't chosen his stallion to carry her to court.

James, unaccustomed to speaking directly to his lord, stammered out his reply. "She worried her brother would abuse the horse if he found out Silenus belonged to you, milord. Those were her true words."

Duncan nodded, accepting the explanation. How like his gentle wife to be concerned about the horse. "She demanded one of the king's horses," James added.

Adela actually begged to go along with them. Duncan had already gained his saddle but was forced by his sister's hysterics to wait precious minutes while Gerald disengaged himself from his intended.

After declining Adela's plea to go with them, Gerald had to vow on his mother's grave he'd return to her unscratched, a vow Duncan knew to be false since Gerald's mother was still alive. He certainly didn't comment on the contradiction, for he saw how Gerald's promise had calmed his sister.

"Will you be able to catch up with milady?" James dared to ask his lord.

Duncan turned to look down at the stablemaster. He saw the frightened look in the man's eyes and was warmed by his concern. "I'm at least a week late," Duncan said. "But I will bring your mistress back, James."

Those were the last words Duncan spoke until he was halfway to London. If the horses hadn't needed rest, Gerald thought Duncan wouldn't have stopped at all.

Baron Wexton separated himself from his men. Gerald left him alone for a few minutes and then went over to speak to him. "I would offer you a word of advice, friend."

Duncan turned to look at Gerald. "Remember my reaction when I saw Morcar. Don't let your rage control you, though I vow I'll try to defend your back while we are in court."

Duncan nodded. "I'll be under control as soon as I see Madelyne. She's been in court at least a week now. God only knows what Louddon has done to her. I swear to God, Gerald, if he has touched her, I'll…"

"Louddon has too much at stake to harm her, Duncan. He needs her support, not her anger. Nay, there will be too many people watching him. Louddon will play the loving brother."

"I pray you're right," Duncan answered. "I… worry about her."

Gerald patted him on the shoulder. "Hell, man, you're scared of losing her, just as I was scared of losing Adela."

"What an arrogant pair we make," Duncan announced. "Don't worry about my anger. When I see my wife, I'll be disciplined again."

"Yes, well, there is another issue that needs discussion," Gerald confessed. "Adela told me about the letter you received from the monastery."

"How could she know about the letter?" Duncan asked.

"Your Madelyne told her. It seems she found the letter and read it."

Duncan 's shoulders sagged. His worries had just multiplied. He wasn't sure what his wife would do. "Did Adela tell you how Madelyne reacted? Was she angry. God, I hope she was angry."