Kidnapped Highland Bride: Ladies of Dunmore Series (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story)

by Freya, Bridget

  As if on cue, voices rose from the doors of the estate. “She isnae inside! We looked everywhere,” one guard declared, worry in his voice.

  “Blasted Grennock will have our heads if we dinnae find her,” said another.

  Adeline and Richard crept lower behind the topiary and she turned her eyes to him as if to confirm her wisdom and his foolishness.

  “Please, listen to me, Adeline,” Richard said in a whisper. “We can still get out of here. I can take you with me. We will be alright.”

  “No, Richard. We willnae. And I cannae have yer head on me hands. They will destroy ye. Not only because ye’re a threat to me marriage to Camry, but because yer very coming here is an insult.

  “The very fact ye think ye can waltz in here and invade a guarded place like this will be such a wound to the pride of the Grennocks that they would kill ye on principle. Just to make a point. Just to show ye that they could. That ye dinnae have any authority here,” she explained.

  “They would kill me because I’m Hanoverian, I know this,” he said.

  “No, ye dinnae. I didnae say they’d kill ye for being Hanoverian. I said they’d kill ye because ye thought ye could. Listen, Richard. I love ye. And I am desperate to be with ye and I ken that means escaping from Camry, but right now, I cannae do it. This isnae the way. We’ll both get killed. At least ye,” she said once more.

  Richard hung his head. Adeline could see that he hadn’t expected this reaction from her. She saw how downcast his face was, but still she was seething with frustration that he had come and thought he could do this.

  “I’m sorry, but ye have to leave. Now. It’s not a good idea for ye to be here and I’m telling ye to go. I’ll figure something out, but this isnae it,” Adeline said, trying to hide her clear discomfort.

  She felt stiff, awkward even. She felt like there was some huge gap between her and the man she loved, and it wasn’t until that moment she realized she hadn’t even kissed him or properly greeted him.

  “Well, then…” Richard said. “I suppose I shall say farewell then. Goodbye to you, my love.”

  Richard turned his back swiftly and, still crouching, left the garden for the forest, where Adeline could faintly see a horse in the dark. No one would notice it were they not looking for it. Richard would make it home okay, she prayed.

  It struck her sharply then. She had been so rude to him. She had not hugged him, nor kissed him, nor even told him she was happy to see him. Her words had only shamed him and made him feel foolish.

  How cruel could she be? How had she thought that was the way to behave toward the man she loved so dearly? A man who had come all this way to see her, to rescue her, to be with her.

  Adeline felt so distraught that she had behaved that way with Richard. She was sad and embarrassed by her harshness. Yet even still, she knew that it was better that he had gone.

  It was better that he return home where he was safe and leave her to figure a way out of this life with Camry. His plans for escape would never have worked out and she could not allow him to be killed in his attempts to save her.

  “Miss Adeline?” came a voice behind her.

  Startled, Adeline turned quickly and saw a guard staring at her.

  “Miss, Mister Camry is seeking ye. He feared that ye had been taken,” the guard said.

  “N-no, I am only here. I will come in a moment, I only needed a bit of fresh air,” Adeline replied as casually as she could. It would have been so dangerous, even now, for her to let on that Richard had come. Surely the guards would chase into the forest after him. She had to ensure him plenty of time to get away.

  Adeline remained in the garden for half an hour before she decided she had to go back inside. She wished with all her heart that she could avoid it, but knew that Camry would be waiting for her, hoping for a dance with the woman he claimed to be his bride soon.

  Making her way up the stairs, Adeline could not help but turn back around once just to look into the forest beyond. She knew that he was likely galloping away from her, heartbroken and sad. Her Richard.

  There was nothing that could now be done. She would find a way. She would seek him out and she would apologize for everything she said and how she had not been more sensitive. However, it would change very little for the moment.

  For now, they would both hurt. For now, they would not understand one another.

  “Lass, get over here! What were ye doing in the garden? I had a mind to come for ye, but figured ye couldnae stay away from me too long,” Camry joked, loud enough to elicit chuckles from his friends in the room.

  Adeline turned to him with her face like stone. She would let him be this way if he wished it so deeply, but one day she would leave him and the humiliation he would face would make it all worth it.

  She would not be here to see that humiliation, but she would hear of it. She would know well that he was experiencing it. She would find relief in the knowledge that Camry would pay for taking her from Richard.

  And then all would be well.

  A Foolish Man And All His Woes

  “There’s no one there!” came a shout not far behind.

  Richard held still, willing his steed to do the same. However, it was not long before the guards retreated back toward the estate. He was safe.

  Looking back toward the gardens, Richard knew that Adeline was still standing where he had left her. He continued to watch, despite the lack of wisdom in it. He should go, quickly, before being discovered by Camry’s men.

  However, his heart would not allow him to move.

  He watched as her small figure was approached by a guard and after a time, she made her way back into the grand place.

  Finally, he decided it was time to move forward, to head back to his camp. Richard mounted again and, this time, felt the weight of everything holding him down as he did. It took every effort just to get up. He knew that it was necessary though. He knew that he had to get back to his men at the camp and ensure all was well before returning to Fort Amswold.

  Richard’s mind raced as he went. How could Adeline refuse his rescue? How could she so adamantly be against it? He only wanted to keep her safe and with him.

  Adeline had refused him, whether he believed it or not. He felt like a fool for it. She was right. He had been mindless to think he could come and take her away. He knew nothing of their customs, of their world. Of her world. She was not like him and he could not force her to be English.

  Nevertheless, Richard would have given anything in that moment to understand. He would have given anything to have been able to express to her what he felt fully and to have her return the affections that he so deeply longed to show her.

  She had been cruel. Right, maybe, but still cruel. Richard didn’t know how to move on from that.

  He continued to ride and as he got further, he rode faster into the night. Soon, he saw the camp. He hoped desperately that he would be able to return to Fort Amswold soon, but for now he would wait here, so close to the woman he loved.

  Richard entered the camp and found Mr. Hudson.

  “Lieutenant, how was our journey?” he asked.

  “Very well, Mr. Hudson. I am glad to be back,” he replied, full of false cheer for the sake of his friend.

  “I am so glad to hear it! So all is well? But I thought you had a mind to rescue her?” Mr. Hudson said, suddenly confused. “She did not join you?”

  Richard stopped in his tracks for a moment, having a mind to turn on Mr. Hudson and tell him to keep out of it all. However, he knew that the old man was merely concerned for him, that he cared deeply for his happiness.

  “No, no, Mr. Hudson, she has not joined me. Perhaps at another time,” Richard said vaguely. He had no desire to divulge the information fully.

  “Lieutenant!” called Officer Daily.

  “What is it?” he asked, turning toward him.

  “We’ve discovered them, Lieutenant Holloway. There were indeed mutineers among them, but they’ve disappeared. A small gr
oup, just five men. After you left, we continued to build inquiry and discuss with some of the men, and it became clear that there were whiffs among them. Here is the list of names,” Officer Daily said, handing him the paper.

  “Truly? Each of these men? Mutineers?” Richard asked.

  “Indeed, Lieutenant Holloway. By the time we had their names, the men had all escaped. We do not know where they went. Shall I have scouts sent after them?” Officer Daily asked.

  “Of course, you must at once. We cannot allow them to get far,” he ordered.

  Officer Daily went in search of scouts to find each of the men while Richard moved to his tent. He couldn’t believe that the mutineers had been among them the whole time he had been at Fort Borthswick!

  Richard was furious, but he had other things on his mind. He knew he needed to throw himself into this work, but how could he when he had just had his heart completely broken?

  Richard waited up most of the night, hoping that his men would return quickly, telling him that they had discovered the men who had planned to mutiny but had run off instead.

  As the morning hours drew nearer and light was seen in the distance, Richard knew he could not remain awake any longer. His men would have to wake him upon their return. He could not wait.

  He went into his temporary quarters and laid his head down to rest. Soon, the whole world drifted away from him. He was a soldier. A soldier sleeps when he is able and ignores the world as often as possible. This night, he had to reject all thoughts of Adeline and his love for her. He had to reject her harsh words.

  He would do his duty here and then return to Fort Amswold, and make every effort to forget about her. She had said she would try to find a better option for escape, but he could no longer believe a word from her lips. If she had truly wanted to be with him, she would have come when he tried to rescue her.

  It was clear to him now, clearer than it had been earlier in the evening, that Adeline was no longer his and she had chosen never to be his.

  With those thoughts in his mind, Richard found himself falling into the heavy blackness of sleep. It overtook him in a perfectly satisfying way that his body needed after his journey and his remaining alert for his duty. Now he could rest.

  * * *

  Richard had only slept four hours, but he woke ready for whatever the day might throw his way. He knew well that he had a significant duty ahead of him.

  The men had still not returned from their scouting mission, and Richard had begun to doubt that they would find the mutineers easily. More than likely, it would require a far greater search than the one they had launched the night before.

  “Lieutenant Holloway?” Jenkins asked sheepishly.

  “Yes? What is it, Jenkins?” he replied.

  “This is for you, Lieutenant. It came with the letters this morning. It is from the estate of the earl of Firbrook,” Jenkins said.

  Richard felt his heart stop. He had a letter from the earl?

  Opening the paper carefully, Richard saw that it was no threat from the earl, but that somehow Adeline had managed to sneak him a letter.

  It seemed near impossible with how closely watched she was, and being at the estate where all servants were required to report to their master. She must have done something very grand to garner such obedience. Perhaps she’d paid a very fair price for it.

  Richard read eagerly, hearing each word in Adeline’s voice.

  My Dearest Richard,

  How deeply I regret the ways in which I spoke to you last evening. How shamed I am by my callous behavior. I wish that I had told you of my appreciation for your coming, of how thankful I am that you care for me. I wish I had kissed your lips, those lips I miss so dearly.

  You must understand that I was terrified for your safety. There were many reasons I do not like that you came for me, but more than any other, it was the thought that you might be found out.

  I love you. Truly and more than anything. I love you. I would tell you a million times more if I thought it could make up for all that happened between us last night.

  There is more than just your safety that frightened me, however. I fear so deeply that I simply do not belong in your world, as you do not belong in mine. We are different, you and I. And yet, we are so much the same person. I wish that I could be truly yours, that I could understand you and you me, the way that you understand England and I Scotland.

  Yes, I wish things could be different. I wish we had that understanding. But we do not. So I must tell you that I love you anyway. That when I say we do not belong in one another’s worlds, I betray my heart, for you are my very world.

  Please, forgive me for my harsh words. Forgive me for my cruelty. And know, utterly in your heart, that I mean it when I tell you of my love for you.

  Your loving wife forever and always,

  Mrs. Adeline Holloway

  Richard breathed deeply, clutching the letter to his chest. He wanted nothing more than to believe every word she said. He wanted to rush back to Firbrook and take her away from that place.

  His mind told him that it would not be wise. He knew that he could not risk going back. Not now when things were such a disaster at Borthswick, and not now that Adeline had already scolded him for coming.

  More than likely, Adeline had written this kind letter out of regret for the way she had treated him. She was attempting to ease her own conscience by being kind to him through words she did not mean.

  Yes, he had to believe that he was making the right choice in letting her go. She had made it utterly clear that she would not be happy with him or with his English ways. He needed to let her go. He needed to let her be with her own people, as she so clearly desired to be.

  Richard was given a second letter then and he opened that one as well. This time it was from Major Dashfield.

  Fighting had broken out near Fort Amswold and Richard was being called back with all of his men. The letter told him that even if Fort Borthswick was a disaster, it was their own duty to deal with and Richard had to return to care for his men that he had been stationed with.

  A sigh escaped from Richard. He was being taken here and there and never simply allowed to be settled long enough to see anything through. The situation at Fort Borthswick had only gotten worse since his arrival and it seemed he was needed here more than ever.

  However, he had to follow orders. At least following orders meant getting far away from Firbrook and Camry and Adeline. Perhaps it would ease the wounds of everything he had felt and would enable him to remain distracted, as Mr. Hudson had previously recommended.

  “Jenkins!” Richard called. The man turned to him, clearly nervous. Since the escape of the mutineers, all of the men at the fort had become more anxious.

  “Yes, Lieutenant?” he replied nervously.

  “Have the scouts called in. And send your own out. My men and I are leaving, there is trouble brewing up north and we are needed. This is now your issue to deal with. We will keep an eye out for the men up north and will search as we are able; however, it is no longer our sole duty,” Richard informed him.

  “Yes, Lieutenant. We understand,” he replied.

  Soon all of Richard’s cavalry were brought together and preparing to ride back to Fort Amswold. For Richard, it was both sadness and a relief to be leaving a place so near to Adeline.

  His heart was thankful for the distance, but it ached all the same.

  Whatever happened, Richard would return to his duty and forget about thoughts of saving the woman who clearly didn’t want to be saved.

  In Order To Escape A Wedding

  “It’s good to be back,” Adeline whispered, lying on her bed.

  The sight of Dunmore had been a welcomed one. She felt an overwhelming joy as the turrets had come into her vision when Camry had ridden back with her, and many of his men, in tow.

  Now here she was, happy and away from Camry. In her bedroom, with Joanna to bring her company, she was finally safe.

  “It’s good to have ye
back. But what exactly happened? Ye vanished and now ye come back and ye’re engaged to be married to Camry?” Joanna asked.

  “Aye…” Adeline whined, not attempting to masquerade her disdain. “Despite the fact that I’m already wed…”

  “And tell me more of that. So Richard and ye found one another again and then ye went and had the priest wed ye? I never imagined a thing like that!” Joanna exclaimed.

  “I ken. It wasnae expected at all. But, aye, we couldnae deny our love, so we wed. And then Camry found us and thought Richard had taken me, abducted me or something the like. And he took me to Firbrook, where I couldnae escape. Finally, Richard came to try and rescue me, but I thought he was mad for making the attempt. So I told him off, I made him leave,” Adeline explained, adding the final part with sadness.

  “Why on earth would ye send him packing?” Joanna asked, incredulous by this news. Adeline could see her frustration.

  “I was frightened for him. And maybe, I was also a little annoyed. I want to be free of this marriage and all that, but the way Richard was going about it was nonsensical! It wasnae the right way to handle things like this,” Adeline replied.

  “The right way? And what do ye think is the right way to handle this sort of situation? I mean, honestly, Adeline! Ye’ve been forced into a marriage here and he was trying to rescue ye. Is there a procedure for that?” Joanna asked in irritation, squinting a look out the window because she was clearly too annoyed to look at Adeline.

  “Look at me. Dinnae give me yer attitude. I ken that I was foolish, that there as a better way for me to have handled it all. But I was frightened and I didnae ken what to do either. It was not an easy thing, Joanna,” Adeline said. “And I’m angry enough at meself without having ye throw a fit.”