The Highwayman of Tanglewood

by Marcia Lynn McClure

  “He is yet angry at Faris’s rejection of him,” Lord Kendrick said. “It is more the being bested he minds, rather than the loss of conquest, I daresay.”

  Faris glanced away as Lord Kendrick’s gaze held hers for a long moment. She was far too uncomfortable in the presence of so many titled men.

  “Men can be such loathsome creatures,” Lillias grumbled. “Kade Tremeshton offers your gender no good due.”

  Not one of the men present begged to argue with Lillias. Rather they stood in silence for long moments.

  “And yet,” Lillias sighed, taking Lord Kendrick’s arm and smiling up at him, “there are three knights of chivalry yet standing in Loch Loland Castle. Of that I am encouraged and happy.”

  Lord Kendrick smiled at Lillias, and Faris could not help but be warmed within at the sight of their true and obvious affection for one another.

  “Pray, what is in the basket?” Lochlan said.

  Faris gasped slightly, remembering then her errand.

  As Lochlan stooped to pick up the basket, which had fallen to the floor upon Kade’s assault, Faris said, “Milady wishes for you, Lord Rockrimmon, to deliver this basket of books and bread to Mrs. McGovern as you are on your tenant visits today.”

  Lord Rockrimmon smiled at Faris. “You may inform milady that I will do so promptly upon seeing Mrs. McGovern, Faris.” He reached out, taking one of her hands between his two strong ones. “I hope you will forgive us for failing you, Faris. I hope you will not think of leaving us because of this incident.”

  “It was none of it your fault, sire,” Faris said. She was far too uncomfortable and wished only to escape, for Lord Rockrimmon and his handsome son to leave for their destinations and save her from further attention.

  “Father,” Lochlan said of a sudden. “I cannot allow Tremeshton to simply walk away from this without consequence!”

  Faris looked to Lochlan. His temper had flared once more. No doubt it had never completely cooled. His green eyes flashed with fury, and Faris was in awe of the change in him—his playful, teasing nature had vanished, and in its place there was the anger and chivalrous nature of the noble lord he would one day be.

  “I will ride him down and best him as I should have!” Lochlan growled, turning to leave. His father’s hand on his shoulder suspended his exit however.

  “You bloodied him enough for one day, Loch,” Lord Rockrimmon said. “We have business to be about. Some of which is the matter of seeing to our new tenants, who once belonged to the blackguard and are, no doubt, in need of much. Leave the besting of such vile villains to those who are best at it.”

  Lochlan’s massive chest rose and fell with the labored breathing of barely restrained anger.

  “You mean to say let the Highwayman of Tanglewood manage him while I sit still and in seeming cowardice endure one great political debate after another!” Lochlan growled through clenched teeth.

  “You have accomplished much in your debating, Lochlan—much the Highwayman could not accomplish in his way,” Lord Rockrimmon said. “The Highwayman is indeed our ally. He battles in one venue, we in another—both of equal importance in our cause.”

  “Ride out to Tremeshton’s east properties, Lochlan,” Lord Kendrick said. “Battle Tremeshton by lifting those he has oppressed from despair and hardship.”

  Faris watched as Lochlan attempted to rein in his obviously tweaked temper. Though his teeth were yet clinched with frustration, he nodded. “Very well. Let us ride out then, Father—for my temperament is not favorable to idleness.”

  “Indeed,” Lord Rockrimmon said, winking at Faris. “Then we shall ride out.”

  Faris could not help but smile. What a wonderful father Lord Rockrimmon was to his children! In those moments, as his kind smile and fatherly wink were bestowed upon her, she felt a wave of endearment wash over her in response.

  With a nod to Lord Kendrick, and not one other offered word, Lochlan Rockrimmon turned and stormed from the room.

  “What a jolly ride this promises to be, eh, Faris?” Lord Rockrimmon said, offering another wink a moment before he followed his son in exiting.

  Lillias released a heavy sigh once her brother and father had left the room. Faris looked to see Lord Kendrick smiling with amusement.

  “What an ordeal, Faris!” Lillias said. “I feel as if I want nothing more than to sit down the rest of the entire day! I seem terribly weak of a sudden. Such emotional drama ever takes its toll on me.”

  “But what of your dress, my love?” Lord Kendrick asked. He smiled at his intended bride as she smiled at him. “Do you not wish to see it finished that we may wed upon the chosen date?”

  “Indeed, I do!” Lillias said, smiling.

  Faris giggled, delighted in Lillias’s sudden renewal of spirit.

  “It is why I came in search of you in the first of it, Faris!” she said. “Mother and I demand that you come up and see the dress. I simply cannot allow the seamstress to complete it without your approval!”

  Faris felt suddenly tired, worn to a thread. The confrontation with Kade Tremeshton and all that followed had fairly drained her of any vitality and emotion. Yet her friend was asking a boon.

  “I cannot wait to see it,” Faris said.

  “Then we shall go up to Mother,” Lillias said, ever smiling.

  “Yet, I would wait in telling Lady Rockrimmon of this…this incident with Tremeshton,” Lord Kendrick said. “Better to have his lordship relate the tale when he returns.”

  “Indeed,” Faris agreed. She knew Lady Rockrimmon would be terribly overcome with fear, guilt, and any other number of sad emotions when the tale was told.

  “Yes,” Lillias said. “Mother will blame herself—as ever she does. We will wait, Faris—we will allow Father to tell her of it. And until he does return, we will play the excited little girls over my wedding dress.”

  “We will,” Faris said, smiling. Lillias’s friendship was true. With each passing day, Faris knew it was so—and prayed it would ever be.

  “Then I will ride for my own home,” Lord Kendrick said. “I will allow you ladies your privacy—for I have many matters of my own business to attend to.”

  “Oh, darling!” Lillias exclaimed. “Must you away so early in the day?”

  Lord Kendrick smiled and gathered Lillias into his arms in a rather roguish manner, and Faris smiled, enchanted by his unguarded gesture.

  “Yes, darling, I must,” Lord Kendrick said. “Yet I will return tomorrow to draw more nectar kisses from your berry lips.”

  “Gawain!” Lillias giggled with delight. “Faris will think you an utter rake!”

  “Do you think me a rake, Faris?” Lord Kendrick asked, smiling with a mischief that set her own smile to broadening.

  “No, indeed, sire,” Faris said. “But I will take my leave—that you might endeavor to disprove my opinion of you.”

  Lord Kendrick chuckled, and Lillias blushed.

  “And…and I do thank you for your assistance, sire,” Faris said, dropping a slow curtsy.

  Lord Kendrick shook his head, holding up one hand in gesture she should not thank him. “I did nothing save stand idly by as two noble lords defended a lady’s honor,” he said.

  “But, sire—” Faris began.

  “I will have no more thanks from you, Faris,” Lord Kendrick said. “In truth, I did nothing.”

  Faris began to speak, yet as Lord Kendrick shook his head again, Lillias said, “Faris, please be so kind as to attend Mother and tell her I will join you shortly. If we do not appear, she may come in search of us, and then our secret will indeed be revealed before Father has returned to comfort her.”

  Faris knew Lillias was attempting to distract her from offering further thanks to Lord Kendrick.

  She smiled as Lillias added, “And besides, Gawain will never endeavor to kiss me if you do not leave us. Therefore, I would beg you, as my dearest friend—leave us…for I’m near to dying for want of him to do so.”

  “Very well,” Faris sai
d. “I will go.”

  “And I am grateful,” Lord Kendrick said.

  As Faris climbed the stairs on her way to the sewing rooms, she thought of the events of the morning. So much had transpired! It was difficult to take it all in. She felt worn and wished there were some way to find respite—a lonesome walk in the gardens or even the opportunity to sit quietly under a tree somewhere off from the castle. What she did find served to distract her thoughts at least—even if rest were not the benefit.

  Upon arriving in the sewing room, Faris found Lady Rockrimmon rosy-cheeked and full of excitement.

  “Faris! There you are, darling,” Lady Rockrimmon greeted. “Lillias’s dress is simply lovely! You cannot help but adore it. I’m so glad Lillias is a moderate girl in temper—her dress is simple and elegant, as befits her. And,” Lady Rockrimmon prattled on, “Joseph has only just handed me a letter from Lady Stringham!”

  “Lady Stringham, milady?” Faris asked when Lady Rockrimmon seemed to pause, expectant of Faris’s response.

  “Yes, darling” Lady Rockrimmon said. “She and her daughter, Tannis, are meant to visit us in two weeks’ time—far earlier than originally anticipated—and I simply cannot seem to feel happy about it.”

  “Milady?” Faris asked.

  “Yet regardless of how I feel, they have managed to coax Lochlan into inviting them, and we must put them up,” she said with a sigh. It seemed her excitement over Lillias’s wedding dress was cooled at the talk of impending company. “I know you keep the chambers across from Lillias at the ready. Still, I wish you to know that Lady Stringham and her daughter…their chambers will be your responsibility when they arrive, as well as Lochlan’s and Lillias’s,” she said.

  “Of course, milady,” Faris said. “I will be only too glad to serve them.”

  Lady Rockrimmon looked to Faris, and Faris almost laughed out loud at the expression of veiled sarcasm upon her lovely face.

  “That is because you have not yet met them,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “I will tell you, Faris—I am certain Tannis Stringham has designs to marry my Lochlan, and I pray he is not insipid enough to be fooled and consider her. Still, she is a beautiful girl, and I cannot quite explain my aversion. Therefore, I must accept them into Loch Loland—for he has invited them.”

  Of a sudden, Faris remembered—the night the family and household discovered Lochlan Rockrimmon was to return to Loch Loland Castle, there had been some talk of Milady Stringham and her daughter, Tannis. Mary, Joseph, and Sarah had mentioned an impending visit—mentioned their aversion to the daughter and their hopes Lochlan did not have serious intent toward her. Furthermore, was it not mentioned her father, Lord Stringham, was an enemy of the Highwayman of Tanglewood? Yes! She was sure it had been said.

  Instantly, the fiber of Faris’s feelings of safety and security were weakened. Kade Tremeshton had managed to infiltrate the safety of Loch Loland Castle, and now it seemed the family of another noble miscreant would invade. It saddened and worried Faris to know another enemy of her secret love was to house under the same roof as she.

  “I will see that they are very comfortable, milady,” Faris said.

  Again she nearly laughed as the lovely woman arched one eyebrow and said, “Not too comfortable, darling. I do not wish that they should linger at Loch Loland long.”

  “Yes, milady,” Faris said, smiling.

  “Now come and see the dress, Faris,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “Lillias is most anxious you should approve it. Where is Lillias? I asked her to bring you, and now she has gone missing.”

  Faris giggled, knowing Lillias and Lord Kendrick were downstairs sharing nectar kisses. “She said she would be here momentarily, milady,” Faris said.

  “She is, no doubt, somewhere lingering in Gawain’s arms, I’d wager,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “But you are here and can give your opinion without her.”

  “Yes, milady,” Faris said. She felt warmed in Lady Rockrimmon’s presence. She was such a kind woman and possessed of such an entertaining character. Faris was grateful to be at Loch Loland Castle. She hoped to never have cause of finding a new position elsewhere. It would fairly break her heart to leave—unless, of course, she left for the cause of forever being with the Highwayman of Tanglewood. For true love, Faris would leave Loch Loland Castle—but only for the sake of true love.

  ❦

  Lord Rockrimmon and Lochlan spent near to three days wending their way over the Rockrimmon properties, visiting tenants and seeing to things of business. Each morning, Faris had entered Lochlan Rockrimmon’s room to find his bed nicely spread up and his clothing strewn hither and yon about the room. Each morning, the sight caused her to smile and giggle with thinking the heir to the Rockrimmon fortune and title was no more than a little lad—too busy about his business to take care in his wardrobe.

  Riding from before sunup to long after sun’s set, they often rode out before any in the household were awake and returned when only Old Joseph was on his midnight wanderings. Faris had hoped to thank Lord Rockrimmon and his son for their gallant championing of her where the matter of Kade Tremeshton’s assault was concerned—yet it was ever they were absent from Loch Loland in the days following the incident. She had even risen very early one morning intent on seeking them out—but it was only Lord Rockrimmon she found in his study moments before he intended to ride out with Lochlan. She could sense he was in a hurry even then and did not have the courage to approach him, even in thanks.

  When at last the Rockrimmon men did finish their property rounds, they returned with frustration at having found such poverty and despair on the newly acquired properties. The properties Kade Tremeshton had sold to Lord Rockrimmon were in a sad state of affairs it seemed, and they attempted to help and encourage their new tenants, promising their lots would improve with Lord Rockrimmon as their lord.

  Faris then was unable and unwilling to endeavor to thank either man again for having come to her aid. Lillias had assured her both her father and her brother would react as Lord Kendrick did—begging she offer them no more words of thanksgiving. Therefore, Faris did not—even for her great desire to do so—for their minds were much occupied with other matters. She was certain they had both forgotten the incident entirely and reconciled herself to never being able to thank them properly.

  Then, as if the heavens knew Faris needed comfort and hope, a tale of the Highwayman of Tanglewood’s appearance in Saxton had reached the ears of all at Loch Loland Castle. It was Lord Kendrick who first heard of the news, and it was Lord Kendrick who first arrived at Loch Loland with the story in tow.

  As Faris sat with Mary, Old Joseph, and Sarah in the kitchen the night of Lord Rockrimmon and Lochlan’s return, her heart felt near to bursting with excitement as the tale was told.

  “Two nights past, it was,” Old Joseph said. “I heard Lord Kendrick tell Miss Lillias with my own ears just an hour ago.”

  “Well, tell us, Joseph! Do not endeavor to try our patience!” Mary demanded.

  “Then I’ll tell you as I heard it,” Old Joseph began, “which was as this—our own Highwayman of Tanglewood rode into Saxton at the stroke of midnight. Mounted on his mighty black steed, he rode up to Brookings’s manor house and called him out.”

  “How?” Sarah asked.

  “He shouted,” Old Joseph said. “Rapier drawn, he rode back and forth ’cross the lawns of Brookings’s manor, calling for Brookings to come out and face him. ‘I know what ye did!’ he called. ‘And I’ll not let a murdering thief sit rich and well-fed while his wife lies dead in the dirt because of him!’ said he.”

  Faris felt a smile spread across her face. The Highwayman had ridden once more—ridden the long journey to Saxton in order that he might call out a villain. She was proud of his courage—proud of his cause.

  “What then?” Sarah asked.

  “It seems the local magistrate was nearby,” Old Joseph continued. “No doubt he’d heard the gossip of the Highwayman’s intended visit and was staying by at Brookings’s man
or. So it was the traitorous magistrate who first met the Highwayman of Tanglewood under Saxton’s moon.”

  “Oh, get on with it, Joseph!” Mary exclaimed. “Have a pity and tell us the tale quickly!”

  Faris giggled. She understood Mary’s impatience all too well—for she too wanted to hear the whole of it told.

  Old Joseph smiled and laughed. “I will tell it to you as well as I can, Mary,” he said. “And this is what comes next—the traitorous magistrate left the safety of Brookings’s manor house and met the Highwayman on the dew-drenched grass. There they dueled with all of Brookings’s servants and stablemen looking on. The Highwayman’s rapier flashed brilliant in the moonlight, and it was not but few strokes he took to render the traitor magistrate helpless.”

  “Did he merely lop off the man’s head?” Sarah asked.

  “No—simply bested him quickly, leaving him with a wound to his sword arm he won’t soon forget,” Old Joseph answered.

  Faris’s heart was racing! She could see it—in her mind’s eye, she could see the Highwayman of Tanglewood fighting the corrupt magistrate under a dark sky lit only by the silver light of the moon and stars. She was breathless with both excitement for his heroic deeds and fear of his well-being.

  “What next?” Mary asked. “For pity’s sake, Joseph!”

  “Lord Brookings then discovered how ill-favored he was in the eyes of his servants then—for they gave him up. His own first man opened the front doors of the manor house and let the Highwayman enter,” Joseph continued. “It was there the confrontation was met—there in the entryway of the grand house that had once belonged to Lord Brookings’s sweet wife. ‘Confess!’ the Highwayman shouted. ‘You slit your wife’s throat, and now you will confess!’ But Lord Brookings stood firm and drew his sword on our Highwayman of Tanglewood.”