Forbidden Legacy by Diana Cosby Page A

“How did you know?”
    A wry smile touched the knight’s mouth. “From the way you walk.”
    â€œThe way I walk?”
    â€œYour steps take into account the rise and fall of the ship,” Aiden explained. “’Tis a characteristic of those familiar with time at sea.”
    Stephan grimaced. Regardless of whether she’d told him she’d sailed with her father, he should have noticed the seafaring trait. Instead, frustrated at having her onboard, compounded by his upset at her finding a coin that had somehow slipped from a crate during loading, he’d overlooked the sign of her experience. God’s blade, what else had he missed? “And your point, Aiden?” he said impatiently.
    â€œLady Katherine’s experience at sea is fortuitous,” the Templar replied. “With knowledge of the coastline and tides surrounding Avalon, she can offer insight on navigating the local currents.”
    â€œAn excellent point,” Stephan grudgingly agreed. Too many years had passed for him to recall details of the local currents. “Except for where the cliffs hide the castle guard’s view, they can spot ships on the wall walk from a great distance.”
    Surprise widened Katherine’s eyes. “You have been to Avalon?”
    He didna explain he’d lived there as a child. Neither would he unearth a fact that would raise questions. The lass was like a dog with a bone when her interest was raised.
    Nor were his recollections relevant. Memories of the castle and the surrounding waters were those of his youth. With erosion, flooding, and sand on the bottom often shifting during storms, the underwater landscape would have changed. But for the whirlpool located south of the island Avalon sat upon, which they would avoid.
    Parchment crinkled as Stephan spread out the map of the area. “Where is the entrance to the tunnel?”
    Katherine pointed to a notation warning of dangerous waters. “Here.”
    Concern darkened Thomas’s eyes. “’Tis located near the whirlpool?”
    â€œAye,” she replied. “The entrance is near the inlet where we must moor the ships to keep hidden.”
    God’s blade! Stephan’s plans to give the treacherous waters wide berth faded. He scowled. “You are confident our ships can safely navigate to the tunnel’s entrance?”
    Another swath of red swept her cheeks.
    Blast it, what now? “What is it?” Stephan pressed, aware from her reaction that he wouldna like the answer.
    â€œâ€™Tis that . . .” She scraped her lower lip with her teeth. “’Tis that I have traveled through the secret entry but once.”
    A dull ache pounded in Stephan’s head, threatening to worsen. “You have nay experience sailing near the whirlpool?”
    Blue eyes narrowed. “Never did I claim to have sailed there.”
    â€œA detail,” he stated, his voice crisp, “you omitted to mention to Robert Bruce; more, you allowed our sovereign to believe otherwise.”
    Thomas glanced from Stephan to Katherine. “What has Scotland’s king to do with this?”
    In regard to his marriage and his wife being aboard his ship, every blasted thing. “’Tis nae important,” Stephan said, his voice tight, refusing to drag their fiasco of a wedding before his men. “With the near impenetrable defenses of the stronghold, and without a massive force, the secret passage is the only way to seize Avalon.”
    Katherine exhaled a shaky breath, exposing her nervousness.
    Stephan gave his bold wife credit for her control.
    â€œI believe,” she said, meeting every man’s gaze, “that we can keep a safe distance from the whirlpool’s pull as we navigate to shore.”
    â€œBelieve?” Stephan demanded, ready to throttle the lass. “We must create a plan of attack on mere beliefs?” Still, this wasna the first time he and his men had faced