At the dawn, the drums began.
There was no opportunity for Elizabeth to speak with Rafael once she left the solar with Catriona. Indeed, he seemed to avoid her apurpose and his mood appeared to be grim, although he might have scowled because of the pending battle. Even with the Sable League in his hall, Malcolm’s forces were greatly outnumbered by those of the earl.
Elizabeth witnessed the parlay and heard the earl’s demand that Malcolm cast aside Catriona to wed Jeanne. She saw Jeanne on the field beyond the hedge, that woman’s spurned hand supposedly the reason for the attack. She noted the earl’s considerable preparations and understood that Malcolm’s refusal to take Jeanne as his bride was only an excuse.
The earl coveted the new Ravensmuir. Clearly he had no concern with claiming i
