Brenna, the most tenderhearted of the three, shot her youngest sister a warning look. “Our Meredith is merely overwrought. It has been a long and difficult journey for her. She has a right to cry.”
“I am not crying.” Meredith wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and rolled to one side, pulling the linens over her head. With a sniff she said softly, “Well, perhaps I am. It is just that I am so weary. You are correct. It has been an arduous journey. But it is not yet over.”
“What do you mean? You are home now.” Brenna yanked the linens aside and peered at her sister.
Meredith sat up. “I mean that on the morrow I must ride to Edinburgh and gain an audience with the queen before Gareth has a chance to have me declared dead.”
“But that is not why you are crying,” Megan said matter-of-factly.
“Nay.” Meredith caught her youngest sister’s hands. “I am crying because I miss Brice. And I fear I will never see him again.”
Megan’s lips curved down into a frown, instantly hating the man who was the cause of Meredith’s tears. “If Brice Campbell truly loved you, he would want to know that you were safe.”
“But I begged him not to follow me.”
“Aye. But how can the man claim to love you and not know if you survived the journey from the Highlands to your home?”
Sixteen-year-old Brenna wrapped an arm about Meredith’s shoulder and glared at her younger sister. “Meredith has been through enough. We will not add to her burden.” To Meredith she whispered, “You must sleep now. On the morrow you will feel better about everything.”
“Aye. It is sleep that I need.”
Meredith kissed her sisters, then lay back against the cushions and closed her eyes. But sleep would not come. Megan’s questions echoed in her mind. It was true that she had begged Brice to remain where he was safe. And she truly thought that was what she wanted. But now the nagging thought slipped unbidden to her mind. Did Brice love her enough to risk his own life? Or had he already put her out of his mind, while he and his men filled their hours in the Highlands, rebuilding Kinloch House?
When at last she fell into a restless sleep, she was plagued with dark, sinister dreams, in which a stranger stalked her. At times the stranger had golden hair and tawny skin. She knew that he was truly evil. But at other times the stranger was someone more familiar to her. His hair was dark, burnished, his eyes compelling. There was about him an aura of danger as well, which she strove to ignore. But each time she ran to him he melted into the shadows and disappeared into the Highland mist.
Chapter Twenty-one
“You must not go to Edinburgh.”
Meredith faced her two sisters. Though it was not yet dawn, the first hint of light could be seen on the horizon.
Over their protests she had pulled on her breeches and tunic and Rowena’s heavy hooded cloak. While they begged and pleaded, she had insisted upon hurrying to the wooded place where she had left her horse.
Brenna was close to tears. Megan was indignant.
“Would you rather have me declared dead by the queen and have Brenna forced to wed Gareth MacKenzie?”
“Nay.” Megan tried another tactic. “But in Edinburgh you will have to face Gareth MacKenzie alone. If you stay here, we will call all the MacAlpins together and plot to kill him when he returns.”
“I must stop Gareth from meeting with the queen. If she declares me dead, how do I prove that I am not?”
Megan shook her head in disgust. In the darkness her blond tresses were a sliver of light.
“Then if you must go, we must ride with you.”
“Impossible.”
Brenna, who had wisely remained silent during most of this argument, jumped on Megan’s suggestion. “Aye. We must go together.”
“It is a long and difficult journey,” Meredith said as patiently as she could. “If something were to happen to me, it would give me comfort to know that my sisters are here to carry on.”
“But it will give us no comfort to wonder what has happened to you, or even whether or not you succeed. We must ride together.”
Meredith pulled up her hood and took up the reins. If necessary, she would remind them who was in charge here.
“I am the MacAlpin,” she said with quiet authority. “And I declare that I shall ride alone to Edinburgh to gain an audience with the queen. As my sisters, you shall remain here, at MacAlpin Castle and carry on in my absence.”
“Carry on.” Megan sniffed. “We will wilt on the vine while you have all the excitement of Court.”
“There is danger and intrigue at Court,” Meredith said sternly. “And I will not have my younger sisters exposed to it. You will do as I command.”
Brenna and Megan stared at her in sullen silence. Never before had they seen Meredith use such overbearing tactics. It was beneath her.
Suddenly she opened her arms and both sisters flew to her. Against their cheeks she murmured, “Forgive me. I love you both too much to see you harmed. Besides, if I am to arrive in Edinburgh before Gareth MacKenzie and his men I must ride quickly and I must ride alone.”
“If any harm comes to you,” Brenna worried aloud, “I will never forgive myself for staying behind.”
“If you are killed,” Megan said menacingly, “I will hate you forever.”
At her outburst, Brenna and Meredith stared at her in stunned silence. Then they fell into each other’s arms in a fit of laughter. For a moment Megan could only stare at them. Then, joining in the laughter, she hugged her older sisters when they regained their composure.
“Godspeed,” Brenna whispered.
“Hurry home,” Megan said.
Meredith pulled herself into the saddle and spurred her horse into a gallop to hide the tears that spilled from her eyes, staining her cheeks. At the crest of a hill she turned and waved. Below her, the two young women, tears blurring their vision, waved until she disappeared from view. And even then, though they could no longer see her, they stood shivering in the predawn chill, unable to tear themselves away.
“Summon a groomsman,” Megan said suddenly.
“What?” Brenna stared at her younger sister in surprise. “Why?”
“Because we must hurry if we are to stay close to Meredith on the trail to Edinburgh.”
For long minutes Brenna regarded the young girl whose amber eyes glittered with a strange light. Then she did something completely out of character. With a delighted little laugh she lifted her skirts and began running toward the stables. Over her shoulder she called, “We will need travelling clothes. Oh, and our finest gowns for our first meeting with the queen.”
~ ~ ~
Brice had never pushed himself so relentlessly. Though he was near exhaustion from the battle at Holden Mackay’s fortress, he gave himself no time to rest.
He and Angus moved among the men, dressing their wounds. Six of their company had suffered wounds severe enough to force them to return to their homes. Brice assigned the other five of his men to return with them, knowing that the wounded could still encounter small groups of Mackay’s men in the forest.
That left Brice and Angus to follow the trail left by Meredith.
“We will travel faster alone,” he remarked when Angus grumbled about their lack of additional men. “We know where the lady is headed. Now we need only catch her before she can fall into any more danger.”
“If there is danger,” Angus muttered, saddling both their horses while Brice tended to his own shoulder wound, “you can be certain the lady will find it.”
Brice looked up with a frown. “Aye. The lady Meredith does seem to have a gift for getting herself into trouble.”
Seeing that his old friend was having trouble with the dressing, Angus dropped the reins and finished tying the strip of cloth about Brice’s shoulder.
“Thank you, my friend. Now let us catch the lady. Before she manages to surprise us again.”
~ ~ ~
“MacAlpin Castle?”
Brice and Angus sat a
stride their horses at the river’s edge.
To the east the sky was aflame with the first rosy slashes of dawn light.
“Aye.” There was a softness in Brice’s tone as he thought of Meredith, asleep in one of the upper chambers. “There is no time to waste. We will surprise her by entering before the household is awake.”
Leading the way, he urged his mount into the icy waters, with Angus following. Once on the other bank they dug in their heels and raced across the last miles that separated them from MacAlpin Castle.
At the courtyard they took note of the saddled horses and the packhorses laden with provisions.
“We have arrived not a moment too soon.” Before Brice could slide from the saddle the heavy door was opened and two young women, dressed for traveling, emerged.
At the sight of him both of them fell back in alarm.
“I am Brice Campbell,” he said, studying them through. narrowed eyes. “And from your sister’s description of you, I feel as though I already know you.” He turned to the sweet, shy beauty whose raven hair had been coiled about her head in a regal style. Her blue-violet eyes were ringed with black lashes. “You are Brenna, whose talents for cooking and sewing are legend. Meredith claims that men from both Scotland and England would beg for a kind look from you. And you,” he said, turning to Megan, “are determined to never submit to any man. But with hair the color of gold and eyes like a cat, I suspect you will break many a man’s heart.”
The sisters’ mouths opened in surprise; their eyes widened as he bowed before them.
“I come for Meredith MacAlpin.”
How splendid he looked, with his skin tanned and leathery from the sun and his burnished locks tumbling about his forehead. Meredith had boasted about his muscled arms and thighs, his superior strength. And neither girl had forgotten the way he had looked at the cathedral when he had appeared out of the mists to abduct their sister.
Brenna and Megan turned to each other. On Brenna’s lovely face was a look of real pleasure. The romantic in her had devoutly prayed that her sister’s lover would overcome all obstacles to claim what was his.
“So you are Brice Campbell.” She began to take a step forward but Megan caught her arm, holding her back. “We have heard all about you.”
At that Brice’s brows lifted. “So. Meredith is here. Take me to her at once.”
As he slid from the saddle, both young women realized just how tall he was. They had not been prepared for such a fearsome man.
It was Megan who now took charge. “Meredith is not here.”
“Do not lie to me, girl.” He used his most forceful tone, hoping to intimidate her. “Your sister just admitted that she was here.”
“She was. But she is no longer.”
His eyes narrowed. “Where has she gone?”
Megan caught Brenna’s hand and shot her a warning look.
When they remained silent Brice turned to Angus, who had remained in the saddle, watching with interest. “As you can see, these two do not intend to cooperate with us.” He winked. “We shall just have to stay here and watch and wait.”
“But you cannot,” Megan said, stamping her foot. “If we wait any longer she will get too far ahead...”
Brice’s eyes crinkled as the smile touched his lips. “So. You intend to follow Meredith. Without her knowledge, apparently. Where does she go?”
Megan and Brenna turned to each other, then clamped their mouths shut.
Brice crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the packhorse. “A pity you will not need these supplies. I suppose in a few hours it will be too late.”
“Tell him,” Brenna whispered.
Megan shook her head.
“Tell me.” Though Brice kept his tone low, he wanted to throttle the young girl who displayed a cool manner remarkably like her eldest sister’s.
“Only if you agree to take us along.”
“What?” Brice’s hands dropped to his sides, the fists clenched. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing in sudden anger.
“I will tell you where Meredith is headed. But you must agree to take us along.”
“I have had enough.” Brice turned to Angus. “Come. We will follow her trail.”
“It will take you too long,” Megan said. “But if you take us with you, we can save you the trouble of searching for a trail.”
“You will slow us down. Your sister’s life depends upon finding her before Gareth MacKenzie does.”
“We will not slow you. We promise. And as for Gareth.” Megan shot a look at her sister, who gave her an encouraging nod. “We know where he is, too.”
Brice gave a sigh of impatience. “You are testing me, woman. Tell me. And quickly.”
“First you must promise to take us along.”
Brice gritted his teeth, then nodded.
With a smile Megan said, “Meredith rides to Edinburgh, to seek an audience with the queen before Gareth has her declared dead.”
Reluctantly Brice helped the two girls onto their horses before pulling himself up into the saddle. “Angus, take the reins of that packhorse. We ride to Edinburgh.”
“To see the queen.” As they urged their horses into a trot, Brenna and Megan shouted the words in unison.
To the two young women, it was to be a grand adventure. To Brice, it was a race against time.
~ ~ ~
Meredith sat astride her horse and drank in the sights of the capital city of Scotland. She had traveled across High Street, surely the cleanest in the world. Channels had been dug on either side to drain off the rain. There were stone houses with their wooden galleries, and farther on, the grand houses and gardens of the Canongate, which led to Holyroodhouse. In Market Cross, with its stocks and pillories, men and women in somber dress bustled about. People gathered to talk, to shop, to discuss the events at Court. Goldsmith apprentices from Elphinstone Court and tinsmiths from West Bow were here, along with stall holders from Lawnmarket. And while they discoursed about the queen, they also discussed the one who ruled Edinburgh and all of Scotland with even more power and persuasion than the queen. John Knox, leader of the Kirk, had spoken openly about his contempt for petticoat government. He waited and watched and vowed that this Catholic queen would feel the wrath of God, as had her mother, as had her young French husband.
Meredith studied the dark, menacing fortress that was home to the queen. Its towers and battlements were not unlike Brice’s Highland fortress. And yet it lacked the warm setting and opulence of a Highland castle.
Brice, she thought as she made her way to Holyroodhouse. If only Brice were here with her. She resented the heat she felt at the mere thought of him. She resented the way her body betrayed her, going all weak and soft when she needed to be strong. She would put aside all thought of Brice Campbell. For now she needed a clear head, a steady heartbeat.
She straightened her spine and urged her mount on, past Tolbooth Prison. How many were incarcerated there, she wondered, whose only crimes were gaiety and laughter? She thought of the love, the laughter, she had discovered at Kinloch House. How far away seemed the Highlands. How far away her love.
With every clatter of her horse’s hooves she drew nearer and nearer to Holyroodhouse. And farther away from any chance to escape Gareth MacKenzie. For surely Gareth was already here in the capital city, awaiting an audience with the queen.
With fear and trepidation she approached the gates of the palace. There were perhaps two dozen people milling about, awaiting notification of an appointment with the queen. Many of them grumbled that they had been forced to return each day for more than two weeks.
Meredith’s heart fell. Two weeks. She had not thought about where she would stay in Edinburgh if the queen would not see her immediately.
And what of Gareth MacKenzie? Would he not also be here, or one of his men? Unless, she thought with a jolt, he had been granted an audience immediately. Then, of course, she would already have been declared dead.
She studied the faces
in the crowd. There were men and women in their finest clothing, looking extremely uncomfortable. There were clan chiefs, noblemen and a few common citizens who had matters of interest to discuss with the queen. But there was no sign of MacKenzie men. Meredith gave a sigh of relief when she did not see Gareth. So far, her luck was holding.
As the gatekeeper approached, she made a sudden decision. With so many important people waiting for an audience, the queen could not be expected to remember one insignificant Highland wench. But there was one whose name would open doors.
As the gatekeeper asked her name and the purpose of her visit she replied in a clear voice, “Meredith MacAlpin to see the queen. At the request of Brice Campbell.”
Her words were recorded and the gatekeeper withdrew. Slipping from the saddle she led her horse to a trough where he drank.
Within a matter of minutes the gatekeeper returned and in a loud voice called, “Meredith MacAlpin.”
She was aware of the sudden interest of the crowd. Men who had hardly glanced her way now studied her with open curiosity. Women, aghast at the sight of a woman wearing men’s breeches and tunic, and flaunting the Highland saffron shirt, watched her with looks that ranged from contempt to amazement.
As she pushed her way to the front of the crowd, the gatekeeper opened the gates and waited until she and her mount were safely inside.
As the heavy gates were closing he bowed slightly and said, “Welcome to Holyroodhouse, my lady. The queen will see you now.”
Chapter Twenty-two
The sky was an angry black cauldron that boiled and bubbled. And when at last the billowing black clouds opened up, the downpour was sudden and drenching.
Seeking shelter for the women, Brice found a small hay barn. Inside they inhaled the sweet moist fragrance of dry hay.
Brenna drew her cape about her and found a spot in the corner where she could sit and observe. From what she had seen, this man who had won her sister’s undying love was nothing more than a tough, demanding warrior who drove himself and everyone around him to the point of exhaustion. What was it about him that endeared him to Meredith?
Highland Barbarian (Highlander Series) Page 21