by Gwyn Brodie
Jillian sank down to the edge of her bed and cradled her face in her hands. What if Kade no longer cares for me? He loved me once. Maybe I just need to remind him! She took a few moments to search through her gowns, before finally settling on the one she thought to be her finest. The skirts were the deepest color of rose, with a bodice of the same hue displaying a generous cut at the neckline. She hoped it might pique Kade's interest in her. Laying them out on her bed, she added the matching slippers and shell combs. She spread her cloak on the floor and after gently folding the gown, placed it in the center. After adding a shift, an everyday change of dress and slippers, she tied the corners together and shoved the bundle beneath her bed for retrieval at a later time.
"Open the door. Can ye not see m'hands are full?" Winnie screeched at the guard. Jillian winced as she waited for some sort of physical retaliation but none came.
"Watch ye mouth, old woman, or I'll have ye head," he threatened, shoving the door open.
Ignoring the guard's threats, Winnie entered the bedchamber, carefully balancing a large tray in her hands, and pushed the door closed with her elbow. "A good morn, m'lady," she said, placing a platter of bannocks, and a goblet of mead on the table beside Jillian.
"Much thanks," Jillian said, moving to the far side of the room, out of earshot of the guard, and motioning for Winnie to follow. "Speak to no one of any of this," she whispered, "save for Roderick. Promise me, Winnie."
She nodded and crossed herself. "Aye, I promise, m'lady. I'll tell no one."
"Good. This night I'll be leaving my bedchamber through the secret panel beside the fireplace, and I'll get into Ian's bedchamber the same way. Do you ken James, the stable lad?"
Winnie nodded. "Aye, I ken the lad.
"Good. Borrow a set of his clothing. We're of about the same size. And find me a hat. I'll need to conceal my hair if I'm to fool anyone into thinking that I'm not a female. Do you think you can slip into Papa's bedchamber?"
"Aye, if Gordon MacRae hasn't already moved himself into the laird's room."
Jillian snorted. "If he hasn't yet, he soon will. If you can do so without getting caught, bring me a pair of Papa's boots. They'll be too tall, but that'll help hide the fact that I'm a female, and too loose, but I'll manage. I'll stuff some of my stockings into the toes to make them fit."
"I'll do m'best, m'lady."
"I ken you will, Winnie. Take whatever food you can without casting suspicion upon yourself. We'll not be in need of very much, since we'll be traveling to Ravenskull, which is but a day's ride, but I don't wish for Ian to be hungry."
She nodded. "Cook will give me whatever I ask for without question."
"And I need for you to do one last thing. Go see Mairi and acquire me a sleeping potion. Conceal these things in your arisaid, and bring them along with my mid-day meal. Be most careful that you don't get caught, for if you do, it could mean certain death for us both."
The older woman visibly paled, but quickly nodded her understanding.
"When you leave my bedchamber, count the number of steps it takes for you to reach the door of Ian's room. That'll make it much easier for me to locate his bedchamber later from inside the tunnels. Since it wouldn't open before, see if you can loosen it without getting found out. Relay to Roderick all that I have said, and ask him to leave a horse in the stand of trees just outside the castle wall. I have an extra key to the postern gate leading from the bailey to the wood. Father gave me one. Tell him to wait until after the gatehouse guard has made his rounds. If Roderick is unable to provide us with a horse, we'll travel on foot."
The door opened suddenly, startling them both.
"What's taking ye so long, old woman?" The guard lowered his brows suspiciously.
Jillian smiled sweetly. "'Tis my fault, not Winnie's, for I've kept her tarrying to answer questions about my people."
"They're no longer yer people; they belong to Gordon MacRae," he sneered, before once again turning on Winnie. "Old woman, ye've been in here long enough. Out with ye," he said, waiting for her at the door.
"I'm coming, give me but a moment to collect the tray. Cook will have a fit if I forget to return it again."
"Much thanks," Jillian said, and in a low whisper, added, "Tell Ian I'll come for him tonight, and that he must tell no one." Jillian hoped she could still remember her way through the old tunnels that meandered between the castle walls. She'd sometimes played there with her cousins as a child, but that'd been many years ago.
"I'll bring what I can, m'lady," Winnie whispered back.
After the guard closed the door behind Winnie, Jillian ate one of the bannocks and drank the spiced mead, but she wrapped the others in a bit of cloth, then tucked them inside the bundle beneath her bed.
It would be several hours before Winnie returned with the things Jillian needed. She said a silent prayer all would go well. In the meantime, she paced back and forth, going over and over in her mind everything that must be readied for the two of them to safely leave Lochstorm. She dropped onto her bed, rehearsing what she'd say to Kade, once they arrived at Ravenskull. Jillian lay back and closed her eyes. She tried to picture his face in her mind, wondering if he'd changed so much in the last four years, as he had in the three years before that.
It'd been the one and only time Jillian had ever truly been in love. Kade had swept her off her feet with his devastatingly handsome looks and devilish grin. In the solar of Ravenskull, by the light of a full moon, they'd planned to wed. But 'twas never to be. For the following morning they both learned that she was already betrothed to another. Jillian touched her lips. She could still remember the heady sensation of his breathtaking kisses.
With her thoughts still deep in the past, Jillian was startled by the voices in the corridor. She ran to the door, pressed her ear against it, and listened.
"Ye've got an awful lot of food there for such a wee lass," the guard said.
"Aye, but she has quite a large appetite, that one. Why don't ye take that strawberry tart right there. It'll not be missed and I promise I'll not say a word to anybody," Winnie said.
The guard must have taken the tart, for he soon opened the door for Winnie. She entered carrying a platter with a trencher filled with stew, along with apples, nuts, cheese, three strawberry tarts, and a goblet of spiced mead. Jillian raised her brows in surprise. No wonder the guard was so curious. She'd not have been able to eat that much food at three meals, much less one.
"I've yer food, m'lady," she said, carefully placing the heavy tray onto the table, trying her best not to spill the mead.
"I'm glad you've brought me so much food, for I must admit, I'm quite hungry," Jillian said loudly, so that the guard might hear.
Her back to the door, Winnie reached into her arisaid and gave Jillian a small bundle of clothing, and a hat, along with the boots, and several small hunks of bread, she'd somehow managed to get her hands on, tied up in a kertch.
Jillian hurriedly shoved them beneath her bed. "Was James curious as to why you wanted his clothing?" she said, speaking low.
"Nay, the lad had gone into the village to visit his mother. I helped m'self to his things. The hat belongs to the stable master. I nabbed it off a post when he weren't looking." Winnie carefully took out a small package wrapped in cloth and handed it to Jillian. "Tarts for young Ian. The lad likes them," she said, blinking back tears.
Jillian hugged her. "Aye, he does at that. I'll be certain to tell Ian that the tarts are from you."
Winnie nodded, smiling at her through misty eyes. "Have a care tonight, m'lady."
"Aye, I will, and when you ready Ian for bed, have his warmer clothing where we can quickly get him dressed when I get there. Did you remember to count the steps?"
"Aye, m'lady. There be forty-five steps from yer door to the lad's."
"Good. Were you able to see Mairi?"
"Och, I'd near forgotten to give ye this," she said, bending down to remove a tiny packet from her shoe. "Mairi said that the sleeping potion m
ust be added to food to conceal its bitter taste. Give every last bit of it at least an hour before ye wish for the intended to fall asleep."
Jillian nodded. "I'll remember. Don't forget, we'll need at least a day to ride to Ravenskull. Once we've gone, you must hide that fact for as long as possible. When Gordon asks, tell him we're both quite ill, and it could mayhap be very catching. Tell him anything to keep him from finding out too soon that we're gone and sending his men after us. Have someone fetch Mairi, in order to make it appear more real. Now you must go. I don't want the guard to become too suspicious."
She hugged Jillian. "Godspeed," she whispered and left the bedchamber.
Aware of the guard's fondness for tarts, Jillian used one of those on her tray in which to hide the potion. With the tip of her sgian dubh, she opened a tiny hole in the end of the tart where the juices had cooked out, and carefully added the white powder. Then she raked the filling back over and held it away from her for a look. Satisfied he'd not notice it'd been tampered with, she placed it back onto the tray and hid her sgian dubh beneath her pillow.
After eating as much as her stomach would hold, Jillian placed the remaining food—except for the tart—into the bundle.
It'd be several hours before nightfall. Jillian turned her attention to the panel beside the fireplace that concealed the door to the tunnels. She couldn't help but blame herself for Ian's capture. With the first sounds of battle, if she'd hidden him in the tunnels before confronting Gordon, he'd be safe now. But Jillian didn't blame Winnie. She'd tried her best.
The secret passageway had been used for many generations to hide women and children during attacks on Lochstorm. During the lives of her parents, the passages had been used but a couple of times. In her own lifetime, they'd never been used as a place of concealment, but as a place to be explored by children.
Jillian could only pray that Gordon knew naught of the tunnels, and if he once did—he'd forgotten. If he learned of their escape before they made it beyond his reach, Gordon would find them and bring them back. Jillian didn't wish to think about what he'd do to her if that happened.
Since the latch hadn't been used in such a long time, Jillian wanted to be certain 'twould open, unlike the ones in Ian's and her father's room. Getting onto her knees, she ran her hand beneath the bottom stones until her fingers touched the latch. Grasping it tightly, she tugged on it, but it refused to budge.
After several minutes of trying to loosen it, her fingers became raw and sore, and the latch still hadn't moved. She bit down on her bottom lip, trying to keep from bursting into tears. If she wasn't able get the latch open, all her planning was for naught and they'd all be doomed. She paced back and forth in front of the fireplace trying to think of a way to get the thing to dislodge. Then she had a thought.
Grabbing her sgian dubh from under her pillow, she wedged it beneath the latch. She pried with all her strength, whilst at the same time fearing she'd break the blade. 'Twas a treasured gift from her father. Just when she was close to giving up hope, the latch gave way and the door swung open.
Jillian sat back on her heels with a sigh of relief. Then quickly reclosed the door before anyone had a chance to come in and find it open.
The next few hours passed slowly. By the end of gloaming, the time had come for her to give the guard the tart containing the sleeping potion.
If Gordon should come to see her again, and find the guard sleeping with her gone, he'd think she'd just walked out the door past him—what Jillian wished him to think.
She carefully picked up the tart, so as not to mash it, and slowly opened her bedchamber door.
"What is it ye want?" growled the guard, his brows pulled tightly together into a frown.
"Winnie brought me too much food. I've a strawberry tart left and wondered if you might like to have it. I do so hate to see food go to waste." With her heart pounding, she held the tart out to him, hoping he'd not refuse it.
She need not have worried, for it took but a second for him to grab it from her hand. Without so much as a word of thanks, he had it half eaten before she went back inside and closed the door.
Thunder rumbled through the Highlands, and streaks of lightning lit up the night sky. The raindrops tapping against her window were a Godsend. In this weather, Gordon's men would more than likely be inside in the dry, rather than out in the cold rain. Giving her and Ian a much better chance of not being seen, as they made their way to the wood.
In hopes that most everyone by then had gone to bed, Jillian quietly tiptoed to her bedchamber door and listened. The guard's deep snores echoed in the corridor. The sleeping potion had worked beautifully. Of course, Gordon would have his head when he found out the man had fallen asleep at his post.
She quickly discarded her shift and pulled on the lad's shirt, then belted the plaid on. The shirt was a wee bit loose, but the bulkiness would better hide the fact that she was a female. There was no telling who they might run into whilst traveling in the Highlands. A woman alone with a child would draw too much unwanted attention. If people believed that they were a man and child, mayhap they'd be left alone. Stuffing the toes of her father's boots with stockings, she shoved her feet inside.
She twisted her waist length hair on top of her head then secured it beneath the worn hat with combs. Jillian opened the old chest beside her bed that had been hers for as long as she could remember. She grabbed the key to the gate leading outside the curtain wall and carefully took out a locket. It had belonged to her mother—a gift from Jillian's father. It held miniatures of both her parents. She released the catch, and looked upon their smiling faces. I miss you so. After a moment, she closed it and started to put it on, but decided not to. It would be safer for her and Ian if she carried it. She carefully wrapped it and placed it in the bundle.
After fastening on her cloak, she gathered the items she'd stored beneath her bed, adding a silver candleholder and a couple of candles for later. She didn't dare to use one now for fear someone might see the light moving across the floor from under the door. Taking her sgian dubh from beneath her pillow, she dropped the gate key into the sheath and attached it to the belt. She fastened her cloak around her and slipped the bundle over her head and across one shoulder. She used the light of the fire to locate the latch, and Jillian breathed a sigh of relief when it opened on the first try. Once she'd stepped through, she quickly closed the panel tightly behind her, and disappeared into the darkness.
Chapter Four
The tunnel was cold, damp and smelled of rodents. Jillian wrinkled her nose. Without the light of a candle, she was in total darkness. She'd never particularly cared for dark, closed-in places, especially when uncertain of what lay just ahead. Taking a deep, unsteady breath, she carefully walked forward, counting each step she took. Mice, or perchance rats, squeaked and scurried around her. Jillian hoped that none of them took a notion to give her a closer look. She held onto the cold, stone wall, encountering cobweb after cobweb, praying all the while that there were no spiders crawling on her person. Slowly she edged her way along the tunnel toward Ian's bedchamber.
Something large scurried across her foot. She quickly capped a hand over her mouth to smother a scream. That had been no mouse, but most likely one of the big rats she sometimes spotted darting around the edge of the castle. Thankful for the boots, she continued on her way, forcing herself to ignore the various noises around her.
Once she reached step number forty-five, she ran her hands along the wall until she found the smooth wood of the panel. Jillian prayed 'twould open easily, and when she tried the latch, it did. She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the room.
Light from the fireplace illuminated the nursery enough for her to see Winnie sitting beside Ian's bed.
She jumped up from the chair. "M'lady, I've picked out the lad's heaviest woolens," she whispered. "They should keep him warm aplenty."
"Much thanks, Winnie. I see you were able to unfasten the latch."
"Aye, it took me a whi
le, but I did."
"Good." Jillian looked down at Ian, his body curled into a tiny ball in the center of the bed. "I almost regret having to wake him from such a fitful sleep, but 'tis for his own sake." She gently shook him. "Ian," she whispered close to his ear. "Wake up. 'Tis me, Jilly."
Ian sleepily sat up and rubbed his eyes, then threw his arms around her neck. "Oh, Jilly, I've missed you so. That man wouldn't let me see you. He's not a good man, is he?"
"Nay, he certainly isn't, and that's why you and I must leave Lochstorm castle for a while. Do you remember the secret tunnels that I told you about in a story once?"
"Is that how you got into my room?" he asked, surprise clear in his young voice.
"Aye, of course. How clever you are. And that is how we're going to get out. It'll be quite dark, but I need you to be brave, and not yell or cry out. I'll be by your side the whole time and will not let anything happen to you."
"I'll be very brave, Jilly," he promised her, his eyes wide in the dim light. "Papa said I was brave because I didn't cry when I fell down the stairs."
Jillian felt a tug at her heart at the mention of their father. "'Tis true, and now 'tis time for us to leave. We need to get you into this warm clothing. 'Tis a rainy night and I don't wish for you to catch your death of cold."
He suddenly noticed the way she was dressed and giggled. "Jilly, you look funny in those clothes."
She smiled. "Aye, I guess I do at that."
After getting him dressed, Jillian took the wool blanket from his bed. Before we go, I think Winnie deserves a hug for all the help she's been to the both of us."
Winnie smiled, holding out her arms, and Ian ran to her. "G'bye, Winnie. I'll miss you."
The old woman sniffled. "I'll miss ye too, lad. Ye behave ye'self and mind what ye sister tells ye."
"Aye, I will."
"Good lad." Winnie gently kissed him on the top of the head and ruffled his hair with her fingers.