Knave's Honour. Margaret Moore

And what would your sisters say if you were?”

      “I would hope they would be proud of me,” she answered without hesitation, and with the merest hint of wistfulness that suggested she didn’t believe her family had much cause to be proud of her now.

      He understood how painful wounded pride could be; he’d had his own pride injured many times by the taunts of village children when he was a boy. He knew how much a person would want to heal those wounds by proving himself. He’d done that every time he tricked someone into believing he was a nobleman, and never more than when he was at the king’s court.

      Why else had Ryder picked those fights, except to assuage his wounded pride?

      So she must prove her worth by exposing Wimarc for an evil, plotting traitor. Yet her need would be putting her in danger … although her rank would surely offer her some protection, whereas if he were caught …

      “Finn, we could do it,” she persisted. “I know you can act the noble. I’ve seen you do it, and I can tell you things about Gilbert to avert any suspicion. As for playing the man’s wife, it won’t be very difficult. I am a lady, and this marriage is recent, so any ignorance or awkwardness between us can be easily explained—and most important of all, Wimarc has never met them.”

      “That isn’t the only problem,” Finn said, still hesitant to put her life at risk. “It may take time to find out where Ryder is as well as get the evidence of Wimarc’s treachery. We’d have to keep Lord Gilbert and his wife imprisoned all that time, which would be risky—or kill them,” Finn concluded, loath to murder. He was a thief, not a cold-blooded killer.

      “I know where we could keep ‘em,” Garreth eagerly offered. “That deserted charcoal burner’s hut we stayed in a few days ago. It’s in a lonely spot and nobody’s likely to come near it.”

      “Yes, we can keep them imprisoned until we’ve succeeded,” the lady agreed with obvious relief, if no appreciation for the additional risks that would entail.

      “And if they escape?”

      “They must be watched.”

      Finn’s gaze instinctively went to Garreth, who frowned and shook his tousled head. “Not me! You need me, Finn. How can you rescue Ryder and get out of there without me?”

      “We were never going to be able to fight our way out,” he replied, which was true. That had been one of the reasons he’d not been able to come up with a plan of rescue. “Who else can I trust with such a responsibility? All will be lost if Gilbert or his lady escapes and reveals us to Wimarc. It’s you or no one, Garreth.”

      The young man reluctantly nodded.

      “Keldra can help guard them, too,” Lizette suggested.

      Finn didn’t disagree. If they did attempt this, it would be best to keep the girl away from Wimarc, and not just because of Wimarc’s reputation. Finn was unfortunately sure Keldra would betray the ruse by a slip of the tongue or other mistake.

      “I don’t need some sniveling girl’s help,” Garreth protested, a mountain of scorn in the word girl.

      Keldra ignored him and looked beseechingly at Lizette. “You’ll need me, my lady. A lady always has a maid. Who will dress your hair? Who will help you with your clothes?”

      “I daresay Wimarc will have women servants who can do such things,” Lizette replied. “Besides, Garreth can’t watch Lord Gilbert and his wife all by himself. He’ll have to sleep sometimes. And then there’s Lady Helewyse. She’ll suffer with no maidservant to help her.”

      Lizette put her hands on the girl’s shoulders and regarded her with confidence and respect, as if they were equals. “Keldra, I need you to do this for me, and for Adelaide and Gillian, too.”

      The girl’s shoulders slumped, but she nodded her agreement nonetheless. “Yes, my lady, for your sake and your sisters’, I’ll do what you ask, even to putting up with that stupid boy.”

      “Boy? I’m not a boy, you … you girl! Finn, tell her I’m in charge!”

      It seemed the plan had been agreed upon, with or without his consent. Yet what plan had he come up with since Ryder had been captured that had any less risk, or more chance of success?

      It was this, or … what?

      He walked over to the maidservant and gave her a companionable smile. It was troubling to think of their fate in the hands of these bickering young people, but if they were to have any chance at all, they had no choice.

      “Keldra,” he said, “it’ll be an ease to my mind if you stay with Garreth. As Lady Elizabeth says, he can’t keep watch all the time. He must sleep.

      “However,” he grimly continued, “in any battle, there must be a general, and in this case, it has to be Garreth. He’s been through tricky situations before, so if trouble comes, I ask that you defer to him.”

      The girl blushed as red as cherries. “Well, if you think I should …”

      “I do.” He turned to the triumphant Garreth, who had a lot to learn about women. “I trust that you will treat Keldra with respect.”