The Highwayman of Tanglewood

by Marcia Lynn McClure

  She was stopped short of the great hall, however—stopped short of Lady Rockrimmon and rescue—stopped by the powerful arms of Lochlan Rockrimmon himself as he drew her against the security of his strong body. In that brief moment, Faris clung to him, clutching his shirt in her fists and inhaling the protecting scent of him, leather, cedar and mint.

  “You bastard!” Lochlan shouted. “Have you no other wish than to die?”

  “Lay out of this, Rockrimmon!” Kade growled. “I have unfinished business with this wench!”

  Faris heard the gasps of Lady Rockrimmon, Lillias, Lady Stringham, and Tannis as they entered the hallway to find such a scene awaiting them.

  “You have unfinished business with me!” Lochlan shouted. As gently as was possible in his current state of rage, Lochlan pushed Faris aside, aggressing toward Kade.

  “Lochlan!” Lady Rockrimmon cried out the moment her son’s powerful fist met with Kade Tremeshton’s jaw. “Beat him to a pulp, and throw him out of Loch Loland! Throw him out!” she cried.

  Faris stumbled back until she stood against the wall. She could not believe what was transpiring before her! Kade stooped and lunged at Lochlan, catching him around the waist and forcing him backward. Still, Lochlan’s fist came down hard several times in the middle of Kade’s back, until the villain was forced to release Lochlan and take several steps back. Lochlan, however, was not satisfied. With brutal force, Lochlan took hold of Kade’s hair, bringing the blackguard’s head down to meet his raised knee. Kade fell to the floor, writhing in pain, nose bleeding.

  “Your life was spared once for trespassing against me and mine!” Lochlan shouted. “And yet I have given my father my word I will not kill you—at least, not this day. Therefore, leave out of my father’s house, Tremeshton! And if you ever step foot in it again, I promise your life will not be spared thrice!”

  “She is a chambermaid!” Kade panted, pointing to Faris.

  “She is my chambermaid!” Lochlan growled, violently kicking Kade in the midsection. “And far beyond that,” Lochlan said, taking Kade by the collar of his shirt and pulling him to his feet, “she is a woman!”

  His final blow to Kade’s jaw appeared nearly lethal, and Faris gasped as Lochlan dropped Kade’s unconscious body to the floor. Old Joseph and several other male servants arrived. They stood, jaws agape as they looked on.

  “Throw him out, Joseph,” Lochlan growled. “Literally, throw him out.”

  “Yes, sire,” Old Joseph said. “However, he is unconscious. Shall I leave him on the steps or have someone escort him home?”

  “Find his mount and tie him to it. Slap its hind quarters—no doubt the beast will know the path to its filthy home!” Lochlan shouted.

  “Faris? Are you all right, darling?” Lady Rockrimmon asked, placing a comforting arm around Faris’s shoulders.

  “Y-yes, milady,” Faris stammered, unable to meet the woman’s concerned gaze.

  She gasped when Lochlan took hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

  “Did he harm you?” he asked. His eyes were narrowed. Their emerald green burned angry, yet flashed with concern as well.

  “Not—not permanently, sire,” she told him.

  Lochlan released a heavy sigh of relief before running his hands through his hair with frustration.

  “Father must end any acquaintance with Tremeshton, Mother! Any bartering even for the sake of good intention!” Lochlan growled.

  “I-I do not understand his presence here, Loch,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “Were you not to meet him in the Tanglewood to receive the papers of entitlement?”

  “Indeed,” Lochlan said. “And I rode out. Yet he was not there, nor did he arrive in a reasonable amount of time.”

  “Do you mean to tell us—do you mean to imply it was a farce, Loch? Did he draw you away from Loch Loland for some reason?” Lillias asked. “Did he draw you away for—for this?” she asked, looking to Faris.

  Faris felt her face brim crimson with the hot blush of humiliation as Lochlan looked at her.

  “Father is not at Loch Loland this day,” Loch said. “Kade well knew where I would be. It would make it easier to—”

  “The Highwayman rides this way!” Sarah exclaimed, fairly bursting into the room.

  “What?” Lochlan asked.

  “The Highwayman of Tanglewood rides this way! To Loch Loland’s very steps!” Sarah repeated.

  “In the broad light of day?” Lillias asked.

  Faris’s heart leapt in her bosom! The Highwayman of Tanglewood was at hand! It strengthened her—gave her courage anew!

  “It is long I have heard of your Highwayman of Tanglewood,” Tannis said. “I will see him for myself before I believe any more of your tales of Tanglewood’s thief!”

  “As will I,” Lady Stringham said.

  Faris watched as both women lifted their skirts and made for the great front doors of Loch Loland Castle.

  “Oh, where is Gawain?” Lillias said aloud as she followed. “He has ever wished to set eyes on the Highwayman.”

  Faris stood paralyzed with awed astonishment as she watched every other soul present hasten toward the grand doors. Yet she—she who already knew of certain he was genuine—she could not move.

  “Are you well, Faris?” Lochlan asked. “Indeed—are you well?”

  Startling from her confused and shocked state, Faris looked to him and nodded.

  “I-I am well, sire,” she said. His eyes still burned emerald with anger.

  “I gave my father my word, Faris,” he said. “Else I would have run him through for treating you so.”

  “It—it is of no consequence, sire,” Faris stammered. “Pray do not concern yourself so, for I am—”

  “He is there! Beyond those trees! Look! There!” Sarah called.

  Instantly, Faris’s need to see her beloved Highwayman overcame her distress at being assaulted by Kade Tremeshton. She rushed toward the open doors of Loch Loland Castle, followed the others down the massive steps and onto the front walkway.

  At the mere sight of him in the distance, her heart leapt! Astride his midnight steed, black cloak billowing in the breeze he shouted, “Lochlan Rockrimmon! ’Twas pinned to a tree in the Tanglewood Forest that I found these parchments!”

  Faris smiled. She had never heard his voice raised above a raspy low speech. His angry shouting deepened the intonation of it—strong, demanding, and triumphant was its tone.

  Drawing a dagger from his boot, the Highwayman of Tanglewood drove the blade through a set of parchments and into a nearby tree. “They be meant for ye, Rockrimmon!”

  At that instant, Kade Tremeshton’s mount appeared at a trot—the limp body of Kade Tremeshton draped over the saddle. Old Joseph had not delayed in obeying his young master’s orders. Of a sudden, something seemed to startle the horse, and it hastened its pace.

  Faris watched, breathless with delight and wonderment as the Highwayman drew his rapier, rearing his steed for a long moment.

  “And I thank ye for sendin’ the blackguard me way,” the Highwayman shouted as he rode out after Kade Tremeshton.

  Faris watched the Highwayman ride until she could no longer see him for the thickness of the trees. Her heart was lightened as she thought of their pending rendezvous. Only three days’ time and she would be with him again! She smiled, knowing it would be so—knowing Lochlan had returned unscathed—knowing Kade Tremeshton would return to Tremeshton Manor quite thoroughly thwarted.

  “Well, I can see you’re not at a loss for excitement here at Loch Loland Castle, Maranda,” Lady Stringham said.

  Faris looked to Lady Stringham and her daughter. Both stood glaring at Faris as if the entire incident were her fault.

  “Forgive me, Lady Stringham—Tannis,” Lochlan began, running one hand through his hair in an effort to straighten its tousled appearance. “Kade Tremeshton and I have been building toward blows for a very long time. I’m sorry the fact gained summit at the very moment of your arrival.”

&n
bsp; “Not at all, Lochlan,” Tannis said. An entirely bewitching smile spread across her lovely face as she took hold of his arm. “I think it quite chivalrous—your championing your little chambermaid.”

  “As fate would have it, Kade has harbored an odd obsession with Faris for some time now,” Lady Rockrimmon explained.

  “I cannot fathom why,” Lady Stringham said. “She’s a plain enough girl.”

  Faris took no offense at Lady Stringham’s belittling. The woman had earlier made it clear she thought Faris capable of distracting Lochlan and therefore only further endeavored to banish the fact.

  “She is lovely, of course,” Tannis said, as Lochlan opened his mouth to speak. “I can well see why Kade Tremeshton would fancy her.”

  “May—may I take my leave, milady?” Faris asked. She wanted only to escape—to tidy her hair, press cool water to her tear-stained cheeks, and most of all flee the cruel, accusing glare of Lady Stringham.

  “Are you certain you are unharmed, dear?” Lady Rockrimmon inquired. She brushed a strand of hair from Faris’s cheek almost lovingly.

  “Yes, milady,” Faris mumbled.

  “Then by all means, Faris. You may go—still, I want you to rest for the remainder of the day,” Lady Rockrimmon said. Her voice was soft, soothing—like that of a mother speaking to a child.

  Faris ventured to meet her eyes, smiling with appreciation. Faris turned to go, but she paused as Tannis said, “What’s this? Not a word of gratitude and thanks to your champion, miss? How utterly ungrateful.”

  “It is my fault she was in jeopardy in the first of it,” Lochlan said. “She owes me no thanks.”

  “Th-thank you, sire,” Faris stammered, warmed by his kind and rather mischievous grin.

  “Would you—as you make to retire, Faris,” he began, “would you make certain Mary has my pie made ready by nine this evening?”

  Faris could not help but smile, thinking on his passion for pie eaten at various odd hours.

  “Of course, sire. I will tell her,” Faris assured him.

  “Thank you, Faris,” he said, still smiling at her. “And be certain to let her know I expect the circumstances of it to be the same as last evening.”

  Faris was puzzled. Was he indeed implying she should meet him in the kitchen, share his pie with him as she had the previous day?

  “Y-yes, sire,” she said. “I-I will make sure of it.” Faris blushed when he nodded at her, affirming her suspicions.

  “I wish you to rest, Faris,” Lady Rockrimmon said as Faris took her leave.

  “Yes, milady,” Faris said as she made her way toward the kitchen.

  Of a sudden, she was quite overcome with fatigue. She knew she must look a fright as well. Her struggle with Kade Tremeshton could not possibly have left her any state other than dishevelment. Still, she smiled as she thought of the Highwayman—envisioned his rearing steed, his rapier drawn. He was indeed magnificent to behold! She wished she may have been closer to him, seen him more clearly. She wondered how he had come upon the parchments he had pinned to the tree with the dagger. No doubt the parchments were the documents of entitlement Lochlan had ridden out to obtain. Had Kade Tremeshton pinned them to a tree and then ridden to Loch Loland Castle, knowing no titled man or heir would be present to defend Faris? It seemed this was the case, and Faris shuddered at the realization of his lengths to find her alone and unprotected. Yet the Highwayman of Tanglewood would best him, no doubt! She would not be surprised to hear of Kade’s being returned to Tremeshton Manor further bloodied and as bare as the day he was born! She smiled at the thought of his humiliation—sighed with relief at the fact Lochlan Rockrimmon had not tasted the fruit of provocation after all. Indeed, Lochlan was safe, and the Highwayman of Tanglewood would ensure Kade Tremeshton would never think of crossing him or Lochlan again.

  Lochlan—her thoughts lingered on him then. How could she meet him in the kitchen? How could she share a pie with him again when her heart, her loyalty, belonged to her Highwayman—her only desire was to be with him once more? Yet how could she decline after all he had done for her? Twice he had championed her against Kade Tremeshton. How could she refuse him the simple request of sharing pie? He asked nothing else of her—expected no thanks other than a simple gesture of sharing pastry.

  Collapsing onto her bed, Faris sighed. Overwhelming relief rinsed her with fatigue. Lochlan was safe, and the Highwayman of Tanglewood was well. Yet the thought struck her then—where was Bainbridge? Likewise, where was Lord Kendrick? Ever Lord Kendrick was at Loch Loland Castle. Unless business kept him away, he was there, ever attentive to Lillias. Yet, today—today when so much had happened, he had not been there. Nor had Bainbridge.

  Faris frowned as she turned to her back and stared at the ceiling above her. Was the Highwayman indeed Bainbridge? Bainbridge had not been present when the Highwayman had appeared. Indeed, to appear in the broad light of day—the Highwayman had only done so once before, and it had been Bainbridge Graybeau who had claimed to witness the event. Further, Lord Kendrick had been the sole person to whom Graybeau had confided the incident.

  Closing her eyes, Faris called forth the recent vision of the Highwayman of Tanglewood. She could see him—in her mind’s eye, she could. There he sat astride his magnificent black, cloak billowing in the breeze. There, just beyond Loch Loland Castle’s front lawns, his mount reared as the Highwayman of Tanglewood drew his rapier. Could this have been Bainbridge Graybeau? Faris thought that it could.

  Faris trembled slightly as the memory of Kade Tremeshton came to her then. This most recent episode—short though it may have been—had been utterly grueling. Faris fancied her legs ached—her arms as well. She knew, in those moments, she would not have been able to rebuff the monster. Kade Tremeshton may well have triumphed had Lochlan not arrived to her defense. Faris thought of her fear and terror at the hands of Kade Tremeshton—thought of her relief and joy at being gathered into Lochlan Rockrimmon’s powerful embrace. He had held her to him for a moment before aggressing on Kade, and Faris remembered scent of him. It had comforted her in a similarity to the manner in which the Highwayman’s scent comforted her. Instantly, Faris loathed herself for her comparing thoughts—for her disloyal, deceitful thoughts.

  Again she wished she could find her Highwayman at that moment. She determined that if she had been in his presence at that moment, she would no less than beg him to take her away with him. She would pledge her heart, her life to him—to whatever road he was driven to take—to whomever he was. She would swear to follow him anywhere. She determined she would be wife to the Highwayman of Tanglewood or to Bainbridge Graybeau—whichever identity bested him. Yet, in the very same moment, she thought of never seeing Lochlan Rockrimmon. This thought caused an odd aching to take root in her heart, and she scolded her heart for feeling it.

  Closing her eyes, Faris determined to find sleep. In sleep she would capture the Highwayman in her dreams. She would dream of him, yes—until the time came to meet Lochlan in the kitchen. Once Lochlan had his fill of pie and Faris was able to convey her gratitude for his chivalry in whatever regard presented itself, she would dream of her beloved Highwayman again.

  Slowly she drifted to sleep—the sense of the summer breeze on her face—the sound of the Highwayman’s horse galloping across the meadow in her mind’s hearing.

  ❦

  “Stripped as the day he was born!” Lillias whispered. “The Highwayman of Tanglewood left not a shred of cloth about Kade the Heinous. Furthermore, he tied his hands atop the pommel, lashed his feet in the stirrups, and bound his mouth!”

  “And how came you by these delightful details of Lord Tremeshton’s return to Tremeshton Manor, Lillias? Do tell me! You must!” Faris giggled.

  “Graybeau was in conversation with a stableman from Tremeshton just an hour ago!” Lillias exclaimed.

  “Bainbridge?” Faris asked.

  “Yes!” Lillias said. “It seems Bainbridge was out—exercising Jovan—shortly after the Highwayman app
eared here. He was riding out on the meadow and came upon a stableman from Tremeshton Manor. It was the Tremeshton stableman who was present when Kade the Heinous’s mount returned him.”

  “Bainbridge was exercising Jovan?” Faris asked.

  “Yes,” Lillias said. “Why?”

  Faris shrugged. “I-I was not sure I had heard you correctly is all.” Faris felt a flutter in her bosom. Jovan had been in the stables when Bainbridge was out. Faris had seen Jovan in the stables with her very own eyes—when first she’d gone in search of Bainbridge to inform him of Lochlan’s plan to meet Kade and provoke him. Bainbridge had lied! Yet, if he knew of Kade Tremeshton’s condition upon his return to Tremeshton Manor, Bainbridge Graybeau was the Highwayman of Tanglewood! He had slipped—made a slight error in his story—and only Faris knew the truth of it! Jovan had been safely stabled while Bainbridge was out riding—riding as the Highwayman of Tanglewood! At last! At last she had proof. Faris smiled, bit her lip attempting to conceal her delight in her own secret knowledge.

  “And furthermore,” Lillias continued, “when Lochlan retrieved the parchments from the tree the Highwayman had nailed them to using his dagger, they were the documents of entitlement to the property Kade the Heinous had signed over to my father.”

  “It is as we thought then,” Faris whispered.

  “Exactly! Kade meant to lure Lochlan from Loch Loland Castle. No doubt so that you would be unguarded.”

  Faris felt sickened, frightened, awash with anxiety at the affirmation Kade Tremeshton would go to such lengths to ensure her vulnerability.

  “And you should have heard Lady Stringham and Miss Tannis at dinner!” Lillias continued. “On and on they went—on and on concerning their astonishment that Lochlan would so brutalize a titled man over the honor of a chambermaid. You do not think Lochlan truly intends to consider Tannis do you, Faris?”