My Laird's Castle (20 page)

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, Colin escorted me out of the valley as far as the crest of the hill. As we walked away from the cottage, I turned to look over my shoulder toward Malcolm, who stood at the door with his hand raised in farewell. The dogs, sitting at Malcolm’s side, suddenly ran off into the persistent mist toward a band of men who approached the cottage from the opposite direction.
 

“Is that them?” I asked Colin. His warm hand gripped mine firmly.
 

He looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Aye, we leave within the hour.”

As the figures neared the cottage, I could see them more clearly.

“They really are old men and boys, aren’t they?” Of the eight figures, all sporting plaids, three appeared to have disheveled grayish hair and slowed gaits with stooped postures. Even from here, I could see how exhausted they looked. The five boys, ranging from short to tall, walked with more energy, though they looked cold.
 

Malcolm stood back and let them enter.

“Is he going to feed them breakfast?”

“Aye, he wouldna let them stay in the cabin, but he will feed them some porridge.” Colin looked over his shoulder again and smiled. “Because I told him to.”
 

I squeezed his hand and smiled with him.

“But he hasna allowed them to stay in the cabin with him, and I canna blame him. They are ripe and in need of bathing.”

“Where did Malcolm sleep last night? I thought he was going to sleep on the floor of the cabin like you did.”

“Nay, he told me this morning that he slept in the woods with the lads, didna think it proper to sleep in the same cabin with ‘her ladyship.’” Colin chuckled.

“Why does he call me that? I’m not any kind of ladyship.”

Colin pulled my hand to his lips. “Ye are my lady and soon will be in the eyes of the law when we marry. It is only proper that he address ye as such.”

I couldn’t bear to be parted from Colin at that moment, and I wrapped my arm around his waist, clinging to him as we walked.
 

“I know I have to go back to try and ward off the soldiers, but I don’t want to. I just want to stay here and wait with Malcolm until you come back.”

“Nay, love, ye dinna want to stay up here where it is cold with naethin for company but a dour Scotsman, a dog and some bleating sheep. Even the company of an English captain would be better than that.”

His lips curved again.
 

“But not too much better, mind. Ye are spoken for.”

I smiled widely, somewhere between tears and joy.
 

“I am spoken for,” I repeated obediently.
 

All too soon, we reached the crest of the hill above the valley.

“Have a care going down, my love. I will think of ye and worry about ye while I am gone.”

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me tenderly at first, and then more roughly. I didn’t mind, and I reveled in his embrace. He set me from him and pulled the hood of my cloak over my wet hair.

I had declined any food and water as I descended the hills. I really hadn’t needed them on the way up, and I thought it might take me less time to get back than it did climbing, perhaps five hours. I could do without food and drink for five hours, especially in the mist and rain. I wasn’t likely to dehydrate, and Malcolm’s porridge really was sticking to my bones.

“Good-bye, my love,” he said. “Please take care. I ken Captain Jones will protect ye, though I canna help but wish I were there wi ye.”

“I know you do,” I said. “I love you. Hurry back. Everything is going to be all right.”
 

“I hope ye’re right.” He kissed me one last time and watched as I began my descent, skirt and cloak pulled up above my ankles.

I turned to look behind me, and he was gone. I could have just crumbled right there and cried, but I knew I had to get back before the soldiers arrived. I didn’t have time for a pity party.

The descent was faster than the climb but not without its perils. I had to slide down on my backside a few times when I couldn’t stand erect. At other times, I had to pull my skirts and cloak up above my knees to find my footing on the slick trail.
 

Somewhere in the distance, I heard the sound of the dogs barking. I looked up over my shoulder, but I could no longer see the top of the hill. I had entered the forest and could see nothing except thick trunks, leaves and mist.

The faint barking comforted me, and I pressed on until at last I emerged from the forest just at the edge of the gardens. I ran into the gardens and ducked behind a few large hedges to see if anyone was out and about. Thanks to the gentle rain, no one sauntered through the gardens. I hurried to the back door and pulled it open. Rather than hang my filthy cloak on the hook for all to see and wonder about, I ran down the hall and toward the stairs as fast as I could.

“Mistress Pratt!” Mrs. Agnew murmured as she came up behind me.
 

“I have to get to my room,” I whispered. “Talk to me there.”

She followed me up the stairs, and we made it to my room unseen.
 

“I am thankful to see ye back safe and sound. Is his lairdship well? Didna he return with ye?” She started untying my cloak and pulling it from me.

I shook my head. “No, he did not, and he is fine. He’ll be back in a few days. In the meantime, I need to talk to Captain Jones, and we need to be prepared to fend off the soldiers when they get here. I’m not sure what we’ll say about Lord Anderson’s absence, but I’ll work that out with Captain Jones, and I’ll let you know.”

I helped her as she peeled my muddy wet clothes off.

“Och, mistress, ye are a sight. It must have been a difficult journey for ye.”

“It was, but I survived.”

“Do ye want to bathe? I can send for some hot water.”

“Oh, that sounds great. Maybe in half an hour? Do you have a robe or something I could wear while I run across the hall and talk to the captain?”

“A dressing gown? Aye, I can get ye one. Just a moment.”

She left the room, and I washed my face and hands with the cold water from the pitcher while I waited. I longed for a hot bath, but I had to talk to the captain first. I wondered where Elinor was.
 

“Here ye be, mistress,” Mrs. Agnew said. She handed me a sapphire-blue silk dressing gown, and I slipped it on.

“I will get yer bath filled up.”

“Thank you. Where is Lady Elinor?”

“Oh, I imagine she is with the captain. She spends many an hour nursing him in there.” Mrs. Agnew grinned.

I smiled, though I wasn’t sure how Elinor’s father would feel about the budding relationship.

“Thank you.”
 

Mrs. Agnew left, and I stepped across the hall and knocked on the door.

Elinor opened the door, gasped and pulled me into her arms. I hadn’t known we were on hugging terms, but I went with it. If nothing else, her body was warm, and I was cold.
 

“Beth!” she cried out. “Ye’re safe and sound.” She pulled me into the room, looked over my shoulder into the hallway and shut the door.

“What news have ye?” she said. “Come. Sit.” She guided me to the chair she must have just vacated at the captain’s bedside.

“Mistress Pratt,” he said from the bed. His color was good, and he looked healthier than when I had last I seen him. “Did you find Colin?”

I eyed him, suddenly unsure of his intentions.

“We can trust you, can’t we, Captain?”

“I think I have proven that you can trust me,” he said quietly. “But if you feel that you cannot, then at least assure me he is well and they are on their way to wherever they are going.”

I nodded.

“I hurried back to be here when the soldiers arrive. I need your help though, Captain. Colin will not return for a few days, maybe longer.”

The captain nodded. “I feared as much. I will have to think of something.”

“Where is he, Beth?” Elinor asked.

I looked at her. “I prefer not to say, Elinor.”

She scrunched her face.
 

“Beth, he is
my
cousin.”

“And he is
my
fiancé,” I said defiantly, though that was not how I thought I would be announcing my engagement, such as it was.
 

Elinor’s jaw dropped, and my shoulders slumped.
 

“I’m sorry, Elinor. What a terrible way to announce it. I just think the less people who know where Colin is, the better off he’ll be.”

“So, it is congratulations to ye,” she said as if she couldn’t decide.

“Many felicitations,” the captain said. “I am not surprised.” His smile was warm and sincere. As I said, I trusted him with everything, including my own life, but not Colin’s.

“Thank you, Elinor. Thank you, Captain Jones.”

“You must call me Stephen at some point. I have already convinced Elinor to do so.”

I nodded with a grin. “Stephen then.”

Elinor, who had been standing, pulled another chair to the side of the bed.

“What will ye tell the soldiers when they come, Stephen?” she asked.

“Three days?” he asked me. “I think I could say he has gone to Glasgow.”

“No!” I said sharply.

Stephen’s eyes flew to mine.
 

“Ah! Not Glasgow then. Perhaps Edinburgh.”

“That would be fine,” I said cautiously.

“Did Colin have any particular excuse he wished me to express for his absence?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I think he was leaving that up to you. When he first left, he said to tell you that he had gone to buy some sheep.”

Stephen laughed. “Sheep! Yes, of course. We shall say that. Though I know he has plenty of sheep in the hills. I have met his obstinate shepherd, Malcolm, before.”

I smiled but said nothing, not even giving away that I too had met Malcolm, lest Stephen guess that’s where Colin and the ragtag band of Jacobites had been hiding.

I rose. “I’d better get cleaned up before they get here.”

Elinor rose, picking up a book she’d probably been reading to Stephen. “Yes, I think that best. Ye have mud in yer hair. A hot bath is what ye need. Do ye need help?”

“No, I’m fine. Mrs. Agnew is having a bath drawn for me. I’ll be good as new in no time.”

“And then ye must have something to eat,” Elinor said. “Ye look fair peaked.”

“I will,” I said with a nod, suddenly tired, and I left the room.
 

Mrs. Agnew had indeed filled my tub, and I slid into it, reveling in the heat of the water. It wasn’t quite as good as being in Colin’s arms, but it would have to do.
 

I didn’t see the extra pitcher of hot water that Sarah usually brought, so I washed my hair with the lavender soap and dunked my head into the water before I scrubbed the mud off the rest of me.
 

I had never stayed in the castle without Colin, and it really didn’t feel like home without him. I missed him terribly and worried about him more.
 

I didn’t dillydally in the bath but cleaned up and climbed out. I dressed in a brown silk dress that Mrs. Agnew had laid out, and combed my hair, catching it up in a bun at the back of my head. Then I hurried down to the kitchen to grab something to eat.

George intercepted me, and in a rare exchange of words, he said he would bring my food to the great room. I told him there was no need, that I could eat in the kitchen, but he vetoed that idea.
 

Knowing myself defeated, I made my way to the great room, empty beyond belief without Colin, and I sat down in my usual place at the table while George brought me a hot bowl of stew and some bread.

“I trust the laird is well?” he asked as he bowed.
 

“He is, George,” I said with a nod, surprised he even asked.
 

“We were worried,” he said.
 

“Yes.”
 

“I will leave ye to eat then.” He turned away to leave.

“George,” I called out to his back. He turned around.

“You know more soldiers will be here soon, don’t you?”

“Aye, madam. I have heard. Will they find anyone?”

I shook my head. “No, but Lord Anderson has gone to Edinburgh to buy sheep.”

One of George’s white bushy eyebrows shot up.

“To Edinburgh, madam? But Glasgow is closer. Why would he—”

I eyed him pointedly.

“Yes, madam. Edinburgh.”

Yes, George. Edinburgh. He will be back in a few days. Maybe three, maybe more.”

“Very good,” he said. He turned and left the room, and I dug into Mrs. Renwick’s delicious stew.

I had just tossed the last piece of bread into my mouth, when I heard the jingling of horse livery. I jumped up to look out the window.