Tess and the Highlander

by May McGoldrick

  “She is Theresa, I tell you. The creature is my daughter.”

  “And?” Sir David Burnett asked casually, eying Evelyn, who was pacing impatiently before him. The Lowlander had arrived at sunset—a day earlier than expected—but before he could settle down for his supper, he was told that Lady Evelyn needed to have a private audience with him immediately.

  “Do as you have to do to her,” she ordered sharply, turning to him. “She is like her filthy father—in looks, in manners, in her arrogance. Send her to hell, for all I care!”

  “Things are no longer so simple,” he said thoughtfully, scratching his beard.

  “Then make it simple,” she replied haughtily. “And do it now, as I don’t want to hear from her, see her, or have anything to do with her. I couldn’t sleep last night. And all day I have been having visions of that brute Stephen, appearing from nowhere before me. Bury her alive. Drown her if you wish, but—”

  David’s grip was bruising when it clamped around Evelyn’s wrist. With a single movement, he yanked her against him.

  “Watch your tongue,” he growled into her face. “You are behaving like a madwoman. I’ll have no talk of dead men appearing. And I tell you, after your reception of the Macpherson lad yesterday, you could find my head on a spiked pole with that kind of talk.”

  “That filthy Highlander deserved to be…”

  “That filthy Highlander happens to be a cousin of the queen herself. That filthy Highlander is a scion of the most influential clans in Scotland.”

  “How dare you treat me like this!” she hissed, pulling away from him. “But it doesn’t make one bit of difference, does it? She was better off on that island. But now that she is here, she must never leave. And we both know why.”

  David looked closely into her face. “Nothing can happen to her while she is under my protection.”

  “What do you mean?” Evelyn seethed through clenched teeth. “Would you like me to send for her now? Do you have any doubt that she will recognize the face of her father’s murderer?”

  Tess ceased her pacing when she heard the footsteps coming up the stairwell. A moment later the latch lifted.

  Jenny slipped inside, carrying a clean chamber pot. Immediately, Tess knew that something was wrong when the old woman motioned for them to get away from the door.

  “He’s here, mistress. He and his men returned an hour ago.”

  “Sir David?” Tess asked, and the servant nodded nervously. She had so many questions, but she knew this was not the time to ask them. Things like, how could possibly Sir David’s treatment of her be any worse than her mother’s?

  “Ye had better leave tonight. There’s no telling where he’ll move ye from here or who he’ll put to keep watch.” Her voice hushed even more, and the old woman’s eyes showed her genuine fear. “He is a devil in ways ye don’t know, mistress. Tomorrow could be too late.”

  “You said Colin will meet me at dawn. Can I leave the castle, get through the gates tonight?”

  “Aye…if ye hurry. I don’t know if yer man’ll be there now or meet ye there in the morn, but spending a night in the woods would be far safer than waiting here.”

  Jenny’s nervousness was rubbing off on Tess. While the servant rattled off the layout of the castle, the two of them hurriedly exchanged their clothes.

  “Are you sure they won’t do anything to you?” Tess asked as Jenny pushed the full chamber pot into her arms and pulled the kerchief lower on Tess’s forehead.

  “Nay, miss.” She picked up the wash basin. “By the time they come in, I’ll have a fine welt where ye dinged me with this. ‘Twas all yer doing.”

  Jenny tapped on the door and pulled quickly back. Tess’s heart was lodged in her throat when the door opened a crack and a tall warrior peered down at her. She held the chamber pot up and looked back at Jenny as the man let her through.

  She didn’t even pause to take a breath on the landing. Peering through the darkness past the single torch on the wall, she brushed past the guard and moved silently down the narrow set of stairs. A few steps down, she heard voices at the bottom of stairs and nearly tripped, but she caught the pot at the last minute and continued on.

  Reaching an arched doorway at the bottom, she saw a door that she remembered Jenny said led outside. As she was ready to run for it, though, she leaped back, flattening herself against the wall when a portly servant walked in, carrying a tray heaped with food.

  “About bloody time ye showed up!” the man complained loudly. “Ye take up this food with the others. Now ye give that to me and take this. And look sharp, hussy.”

  Two other servants walked in carrying wine and more food, and there was a jam in the narrow landing. A moment later, though, Tess found the tray in her hands.

  “Hurry now. He doesn’t like waiting.”

  A feeling of dread washed through her, settling like ice in her middle. The servant carrying the pitcher of wine walked before her. The other pushed her from behind with the tray she was carrying.

  At that moment, Tess knew exactly how it felt to walk to the gallows.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Nothing can happen to her while she is under my protection,” David repeated, his tone conveying the danger of his position. “The Macphersons would bring the very legions of hell to my gate. They’d accuse me of murder…and succeed in holding me responsible. We’ll not take that chance.”

  “This is the fault of that foul Highlander. We could have claimed that she never arrived here, if it weren’t for him.” Evelyn glared accusingly at him. “Your men should have done away with her when they were on the road.”

  “They tried, but the accursed lass escaped the burning cottage.”

  They stopped speaking at the sound of a knock.

  “Yer supper, Sir David,” one of the servants called, pushing the door open.

  Evelyn glided across the room to the window. It was already dark outside. She shivered as a cool breeze wafted in and chilled her. They had to get rid of Theresa. They had to find a way and do it soon.

  It was bad enough receiving the letter that Theresa was alive. Coming face to face with her daughter last night, though, had completely unnerved her. She felt her world crumbling around her once more. Aye, it was all happening again. Eighteen years ago she had loved David Burnett, but no one had listened to her begging and crying that he was the only man that she could love. That he was the only man that she could spend the rest of her life with. It didn’t matter to her that he had no wealth. He was a warrior and would earn his place in the world. Even her own sisters had sided with their father and betrayed her.

  So Evelyn had gone to the Highlands bitter and resolute on the course her life would take. If she had been forced to live a life of misery, then by God there would be no peace around her. She would never be happy, and she would make certain no one around her would be happy, either.

  But the misery she inflicted had not been enough. As Stephen spent more and more time in the service of his king, she started meeting secretly again with David. He still loved her. He hadn’t forgotten her. He hadn’t taken a wife. It was then that they had planned their scheme.

  Eleven years ago, she had considered Theresa her child. The six-year-old was impressionable enough, and Evelyn knew she could mold the girl into anything she wished. If all had gone as they’d planned, she would have taken the child back with her to the Borders. But that had been the only portion of their scheme that had failed.

  And David was certain that the child had seen his face.

  Assuming that the girl was dead for all these years had been a great relief. But last night, Evelyn’s world had fallen to pieces around her as she stared into the accusing eyes of her husband.

  Theresa Catherine was his daughter. In looks and in spirit, the dead had been raised.

  A tray hit the floor with a loud clatter, and Evelyn turned sharply to see the spilled food a step away from the table where David had seated himself for his supper. The clumsy servant, her head b
owed over her task, was hurriedly cleaning up the mess. Another servant cursed quietly and continually at the woman and ordered the other two maids to run to the kitchens for more food.

  Evelyn’s gaze fixed on the servant. A lock of dark hair had escaped the kerchief. She glimpsed the fair face, the full lips, the flitting glance at David’s missing fingers as he rested his hand on the edge of the table. Evelyn took a step toward the girl, but she paused as David slowly rose from his chair. His look told her that he had guessed at her identity, as well.

  “I told the cook to send Jenny,” the other servant continued to complain under her breath as she crouched by the girl, helping with the tray. “Don’t know what he’s thinking, sending new help with the master’s meal. Hurry, ye fumbling puss! Out quick…and take this mess with ye.”

  Evelyn frowned at the two women, scrambling on their knees by the table. Theresa was wearing Jenny’s dress. The old fool had taken her up to her bedchamber. She had taken her meals into her. And now she had helped the girl escape in her clothes. So even her own servants were betraying her. Evelyn felt her temper rise, and she took another step toward them. Well, it would take only a moment to put a quick end to this treachery. As she opened her mouth to speak, David raised his hand and Evelyn’s gaze shifted to his face. With the slightest shake of his head, he signaled for her to wait.

  Theresa lifted the tray unsteadily and scurried toward the door.

  “Let her go,” David said quietly. “That is exactly where I want her…running after her Highlander with witnesses who will swear she stole away of her own accord. Outside of this castle, she is no longer under my protection…and then our problems are solved.”

  With her heart drumming in her ears, Tess raced down the steps.

  He was coming after her. Him. Her father’s killer. Her mother’s protector. Now everything made sense. They would kill her for sure now, for she had seen it all.

  But had they recognized her?

  At the bottom of the stairs, she looked in confusion at the tray in her hands. She couldn’t run through the yard with this. But she couldn’t risk though going to the kitchens, either.

  “I’ll take that from ye, mistress.” The woman’s hushed voice behind her made Tess jump. She hadn’t even realized that the other woman had followed her down the steps. “Ye run for the gate now, before they figure something’s amiss.”

  Tess gaped at her for a moment, stunned by the servant’s words. They were all against Evelyn. They all knew her for what she was. She let go of the tray when the other woman took it.

  “Pull the kerchief down over yer eyes. Walk quick, and don’t answer any of them curs at the gate. When ye get clear of the drawbridge, follow the road to the village, but turn right at the split in the road. From there, ye can cut over to the woods before you reach the first cottage. That’ll take ye to the riverbank.” The woman darted a look up the stairwell. “Run, now. I hear someone coming.”

  “Thank you.” Tess whispered raggedly and pushed through the door the woman pointed to.

  The sky was dark and heavy, but there was no rain. Tess’s feet sank into the mud outside the door, but she didn’t care. Only a handful of men were visible in the courtyard, and Tess was relieved to see a small group of workers crossing the yard toward the gate. She hurried to them and fell in a couple of steps behind the group. She had to stifle the urge to run. She kept her head down, but felt as if everyone in the world knew who she was.

  The past twenty-four hours had given Tess a chance to come to terms with her mother’s hatred. She had not caused Lady Evelyn’s feelings toward her, but she was not willing to live with them, either. The last few moments, though, had revealed the horrible truth, and another powerful need had surfaced within her. Revenge. She would avenge her father’s murder. But to do that, Tess first had to get away.

  There were lewd calls from some of the soldiers keeping watch as Tess passed through the gate. She did as the servant told her, though, and followed the rest of the people out. Once outside the castle’s curtain wall, Tess slowed down a little, giving the others an opportunity to move ahead of her.

  She found the split in the road and a few moments later was moving silently across the fields toward the woods beyond. Once she’d stepped into the trees, though, the darkness became an ominous presence. Every tree and shrub threatened her. The sounds of night intimidated her.

  But nothing of what lay ahead compared to the murderous monster behind her.

  As she followed a path through the woods, Tess tried to gauge the direction of the river. Once she found that, she would simply follow it to the point where she was to meet Colin at dawn.

  A twig cracked behind her. She turned around, but there was no one. Tess stepped out of the path and waited a moment. Nothing appeared, but prickles of vulnerability raced up and down her back. She was totally unfamiliar with her surroundings. She had no defense against anything…or anyone…that might be lying in wait in the darkness ahead.

  Feeling around at her feet, she found a stick, straightened up, and started along the path again. It was all she could do to fight down her panic.

  A few moments later, the sound of the river reached her ears. She stopped. Looking around her, though, she could not decide where the sound was coming from. But Tess knew that no matter how bad her confusion was, she still had to choose. It wouldn’t be long before Sir David and her mother sent for her. They quite possibly had done so already and found Jenny in her place.

  The sound of heavy footfalls came from behind her on the path. Someone was in the woods. Tess listened, unable to move from the spot. There were more footsteps. The sound of men whispering quietly. They were so near. The Burnetts were after her.

  Before she could move, though, a thought pushed forward in her brain. Why would Sir David’s men need to be quiet? Why not light torches? Send armies of people in search of her?

  It could be Colin and his men. They could be hiding in these same woods. With a sense of relief that almost took her breath away, she opened her mouth to call to them…and then stopped.

  Whoever it was, they were getting closer, and Tess felt the hairs on her neck stand up. Acting on instinct, she took off again through the woods, away from the sounds. Bramble bushes caught at her clothes and young saplings slapped at her face, but she didn’t look back. Frantic, she charged on through the dark glade.

  Tess no longer had any idea where she was or what direction she was going. Confusion surrounded her as she tore through the forest. The pulsing of her heart in her ears blocked out all noise, and it was not long before her energy started slipping away. Sobs of desperation rose into her throat, choking her. And yet, on she ran.

  She didn’t even see the man who stepped from behind the tree until she ran into him. His bruising fingers clamped on her arms, and Tess could feel the missing fingers on his right hand. She tried to scream, but fear and shock clawed at her throat.

  “And finally we meet.” He spoke quietly, without feeling. “And I am very grateful to you for making our little business so simple for me to finish this time.”

  Tess stared up into his dark eyes and realized she was no longer thinking of her own end. Her fear dissipated into the darkness like a puff of smoke. Instead, she found that she was filled with anger at the injustice that would never be righted.

  “Why?” she said coolly. “Why did you have to kill my father? She could have walked away from the marriage. Why such cold-blooded murder?”

  “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword,” Burnett answered bluntly. “The sword was Stephen’s way. He was brave enough, and he was too proud to accept his wife leaving him. It would have been a blemish on his name.”

  “So you took his life.”

  “He took Evelyn against her wishes. And I took her back. It was the way he lived. It was what he knew.”

  “You stabbed him in the back.”

  Burnett looked away into the darkness. “Think me evil if you will, but there was no difference between S
tephen and me. We lived our lives by the sword.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  “He killed in the name of the king. I killed in the name of justice.”

  “And you call this justice?” Tess tried to shrug off his touch, but his fingers only tightened more painfully on her arms. “Chasing me through the woods. Will you stab me in the back, too, and call it justice?”

  A hard smile broke on his face. “Others will see it that way after they hear that I have hung the outlaws who I will say attacked and killed young Macpherson and his men…and Evelyn’s only child. There are many in Ninestane Castle who will honestly swear that a foolish lass ran off to meet with her Highland lover.”

  “Colin,” she gasped. The taste of bile rose into her mouth.

  “As we speak, my men are putting your dear Highlanders to the sword. You will be relieved to know, though, that they will die peacefully while they sleep.”

  Tess went wild in his arms, kicking and punching with the fury of a tiger. “I’ll kill you with my bare hands if you go close to him. By St. Adrian’s blood, I’ll cut you into pieces and use you for fish bait if you so much as touch him.”

  He tried to hold her with his mutilated hand while reaching for his dagger with the other. Tess bit hard on his thumb, and he roared in pain. Angry, he slapped her hard across the face, knocking her backward. Stunned by the force of the blow, Tess fell against a tree, striking her head hard on the knobby trunk.

  A million lights exploded in her head, nearly blinding her momentarily, and she felt herself sinking to the ground. The woods whirled crazily. Tess watched helplessly through the haze as the murderer pulled the dagger out of its sheath and took a step toward her.

  And suddenly, there were torches coming through the trees.

  “They were not there, m’lord!”

  “Empty rolls of straw and blanket!”

  “Not one filthy Highlander anywhere.”

  The urgent shouts of his men running into sight pulled Burnett’s attention away.