His Lass to Protect by Emma Prince

Author:Emma Prince [Prince, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2018-11-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“The River Trent is half a mile ahead, sire. And King Edward’s army has arrived at Cauldwell, five miles south of the river.”

A relieved sigh went through those who were close enough to hear the scout’s report over the hammer of rain. It was the first good news they’d received in the three long, arduous days since they’d departed Pontefract Castle.

Lancaster’s scowl relaxed ever so slightly. “We’ll make camp on the north side of the river.” His voice rose as he continued, his conviction solidifying. “We’ll hold all the bridges across the Trent for ten miles in either direction. Edward’s march ends here!”

A weak cheer went up from the sodden, exhausted men surrounding Lancaster.

For her part, Mairin swallowed against the sudden constriction of her throat. Though nigh everything that could have gone wrong had on their trek thus far, it seemed that Lancaster would finally have the opportunity to face Edward in open combat. An outright battle would likely begin tomorrow, which meant that Lancaster would be in real danger for the first time since they’d arrived. She and Niall would become true bodyguards for the Earl now.

She wasn’t afraid to fight. Far from it—back at the training camp, she’d been more than ready to devote whatever strength or skill she possessed to the Bruce’s war for Scottish freedom. But the thought of aiding the English—and Lancaster especially, who had more than proven himself a vile, arrogant man—felt like a betrayal of all she stood for.

And although he’d already revealed his character at Pontefract, the last three days confirmed just what an over-proud arse Lancaster was.

Despite the relentless, lashing rain, Lancaster had pushed his army from first light to dusk every day. Most of the foot soldiers were covered in mud past their knees, and even those on horseback were mud-splattered and exhausted.

What was more, the combination of melting snow and ceaseless rains had made several rivers run dangerously high. Yet because Lancaster and the other nobles were impatient to face Edward, they’d forded each rushing, swollen waterway they’d encountered. As a result, several supply wagons and even a dozen or so men had been lost. With fewer supplies, Lancaster only pushed them on harder, for now the threat of running out of food for his large army loomed.

The uncooperative weather and luckless marching conditions seemed to make the Earl increasingly short-tempered. This was not the dignified, exultant procession he’d likely imagined for his cause. It was a terrible slog that threatened to beat them down at every turn.

The soldiers and the servants who’d been brought along to attend to the nobles had all learned to avoid Lancaster, for he had a sharp word—and occasionally a quick hand—for nearly everyone. Even the other nobles had mostly fallen silent in the last day or two, no longer ribbing each other or musing excitedly about their impending victory.

Of course, Mairin and Niall couldn’t escape Lancaster or his foul moods. They had to keep up the appearance that their sole duty was to see to his protection, which meant spending nigh on every waking moment with the man.

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