“Aye, we are, Forbes. A bit shaken, but I do no’ believe anythin’ is broken,” she answered, unable to hide the relief in her voice at seeing him.
“Are we under attack?” Kate asked fearfully.
Forbes laughed. “Aye, we are, miss! But not from blackguards or robbers! ’Tis Mother Nature herself that’s doin’ the attackin’!”
Kate shot him a furious look, angry that he was making fun of her plight. Lady Judith however, laughed along with him.
Forbes reached in and hauled the women out one at a time, handing each off to one of his soldiers. Forbes was the personal bodyguard of Lady Judith. He had proudly served her for ten years now and would protect her to his own death if necessary.
First he handed Kate into the arms of a waiting soldier. She clung to him for dear life as the rain beat down in long sheets. With each flash of lightning, she would jump and bury herself deeper into the man’s arms.
Forbes had never seen the young Kate so terrified. Of course, they’d never been stuck out in the middle of nowhere during a violent thunderstorm before. Normally Kate was a strong-minded, sharp-tongued lass who held her own. That was probably one of the reasons Forbes had grown quite fond of her, though the lass hadn’t an inkling of his feelings.
Forbes pulled Lady Judith from the carriage and handed her down as gracefully as possible considering the circumstances. They stood huddled together in the driving rain.
“M’lady,” one of the mounted scouts came bounding up to them. He called out to Judith as he pulled his horse to a stop near the small group. “We found a castle no’ far from here,” he bowed slightly to both women from atop his horse. He appeared unbothered by the rain that beat down and splattered his face.
“Might I be so bold as to suggest we seek shelter fer ye and Miss Kate? At least until the storm passes and we can dislodge the carriage and fix the broken wheel?”
Lady Judith could not help but smile at the man. In his own polite way, he was trying to appear unbothered by the storm, as well as make it look as though the whole thing was Lady Judith’s idea.
She didn’t need to think twice over it. “I believe that to be a splendid idea, John!”
Kate let out the breath she’d been holding but didn’t let loose her hold on the soldier. Forbes felt a rush of jealousy rise up, not liking at all the pleased look on the man’s face. Kate was a beauty, to be sure, and she could melt the heart of many a man.
Forbes wanted to reach out and offer Kate his hand, but Lady Judith was his primary responsibility.
“Forbes,” Lady Judith said, her voice barely audible over the sound of the thunder and driving rain. “Will ye be so kind as to escort Kate and me to the castle?”
Forbes nodded his head and went to retrieve his mount. When he returned, and ordered a man to help Lady Judith up on his horse, Lady Judith declined.
“Please Forbes, my maid is trembling like a leaf. Please, allow her to ride with you. I shall be perfectly content riding with John.”
She gave him no time to argue and within a blink of an eye, the soldier Kate had clung to was lifting her up to Forbes. He couldn’t be more delighted to have her sitting atop his lap, but sent a silent prayer up to the good Lord to help him keep his wits about him. It wouldn’t do to be distracted by the lass.
Kate wrapped her arms around Forbes’ chest and clung to him tightly. “I hate storms,” she whispered.
Forbes was no longer cursing the damned storm. In fact, he was quite glad for it.
~~~
“M’laird,” Almer was trying to get Malcolm’s attention and had repeated his title three times.
Malcolm was staring into the soft embers that crackled in the stone fireplace. He sat quietly, a dram of whiskey in his hand, and quite lost in his own thoughts.
Why won’t she marry me? He wondered to himself. I’ve done everything I could think of to get her to say aye, but still, she refuses me. He took a sip of the fine whiskey and continued to ignore the man standing next to him.
Anger boiled deep within Malcolm’s gut. It was her own fault she was locked in the room, chained to the wall. He felt no pity for her, just burning anger. He had decided that he’d not give her another chance to deny him. She’d eventually crack, agree to his proposal, and soon he would be the laird of a vast estate, married to a titled lady, and a very wealthy man.
Then they’d no longer whisper about him behind his back. Aye, people would still cower in fear in his presence, but the rumours that he’d lost his mind would stop. They would admire his tenacity and intelligence. They would still fear him, but no longer would they make fun of his appearance when they thought he could not hear.
A scarred man, a crazy man would not have been able to win the heart of one so lovely as the Lady Margaret. A marriage to her would prove to the naysayers and gossips that his face was not so scarred and his mind not so bent as they had previously thought. With Maggy on his arm, at his side, nothing could stop Malcolm from amassing thousands of soldiers, more power and more land. The laughing would soon stop.
“M’laird!” Almer raised his voice again to gain Malcolm’s attention.
“What is it?!” Malcolm shouted. He didn’t like being disturbed when he was in his private chambers. He’d gut the fool if whatever he was interrupting him for turned out to be unimportant.
Almer’s expression remained stoic. Although Malcolm terrified the hell out of him, he was still his chief, his leader and he would afford the man the respect he deserved -- even if his laird had gone completely mad.
“We’ve got visitors. People seekin’ shelter from the storm,” Almer explained. “A lady and her maid.”
Malcolm looked confused. No one sought shelter here. At least not the titled or wealthy. He wondered for a moment if it wasn’t some kind of trap.
“Just one woman and her maid?”
Almer shook his head slightly. “Nay, m’laird. She has five men with her. She says her name is Lady Kinleigh.”
Malcolm searched his memory. The name sounded familiar. “Lady Kinleigh?” he repeated the name as if doing so would help him to remember.
“They say they’re travelling from Inverness to Aberdeen. They say their carriage broke a wheel a few miles away,” Almer explained further. “They are soaked to the bone, m’laird, and have asked to stay while the carriage is fixed.”
Malcolm thought on it for a moment. No one would send a lady and her maid as a distraction. Deciding it would do no harm to allow them shelter, he gave an approving nod. He knocked back the rest of his whiskey and placed the empty goblet on the table by his chair before standing.
“Well, let’s go welcome our guests, shall we?” he said as he slapped Almer on the back. Malcolm figured that soon enough, he’d be opening his doors to the estate that came with marrying Maggy, so he might as well get used to such intrusions.
Lady Judith didn’t bat so much as a lash when Malcolm appeared before her. She’d seen scarred men before, so Malcolm’s appearance didn’t startle her. While she appeared stoic and all manners on the outside, her insides were quite another story.
She knew the moment he came walking down the stairs exactly who he was. At the moment he was one of the most feared and dangerous men in all of Scotland.
“M’laird,” she said. She gave a low curtsy and extended her hand when he approached.
Malcolm blinked, apparently not used to such gesticulations. Most people cowered in fear in his presence. Or worse yet, fainted at the sight of his face.
He politely took her hand and kissed her gloved knuckles. How many years had it been since he’d been in the presence of a noble lady or kissed a delicate hand?
“M’lady,” he said with a slight smile. “I hear you’re in some distress this night?”
Lady Judith stood and smiled at him. “Aye, ’tis true, m’laird. I’m afraid the treacherous road has claimed my carriage as hostage,” she said jokingly and cringed inwardly at her poor choices of words. If the stories of Malcolm Buchannan
were true, she’d be his hostage before daybreak.
Malcolm threw back his head and laughed. “Aye, I’m afraid these roads are treacherous at times! I am glad that I could offer ye some comfort from them.” He bowed slightly at the waist before turning to look at the men who stood around her.
“At least ye’ve brave men to help ye battle these roads that rob fine ladies of their carriages!”
Forbes and his men stood at the ready, guarding their lady. Forbes knew who Malcolm was, but he followed his lady’s example and feigned ignorance. He cursed himself for having brought Judith and Kate here. There would be no way for him and four men to defend themselves against Malcolm Buchannan and all of his men. Though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t enjoy the fight!
Judith’s mind was a whirl as she continued with her coy charms. “Aye, they are a brave lot! My husband refuses to allow me to travel these roads without escort,” she said quietly.
Kate had remained quiet and shivering as she stood behind her lady. She had been standing as close to Forbes as she could, and wished they’d hurry up with the pleasantries so they might sit by a warm fire and dry their drenched clothing. She hadn’t been able to see the man her lady was speaking to.
Kate let loose with a very unladylike sneeze. Judith turned to face her, and cast her an odd look. Kate knew that look well. It held a warning that something was afoot and Kate needed to be on her toes.
“Och! Ye’ve a wee lass there! Excuse me fer being remiss in me duties!” he bowed again and turned away. He called for Nettie, his cook, before turning his attention back to Judith.
“Almer,” Malcolm said, looking quite happy and quite the gentleman. “Please see the lady and her men to rooms on the third floor.”
To Judith he said, “We do no’ get many guests here, m’lady,” he said sweetly. “I do hope ye’ll be comfortable.”
“I can assure ye, sir-” Judith stopped suddenly. “Please forgive me, but I do no’ know yer name!” She fluttered her eyes and flashed a brilliant smile.
Malcolm bent at the waist again and returned her smile. “Malcolm, dear lady. Laird Malcolm.”
Judith continued to smile. “Laird Malcolm,” she said with a nod of her head. “I canno’ thank ye enough fer yer kind hospitality. I can assure ye, we shan’t dwell long here. I’m afraid me husband is verra, verra ill and I must return to him in Aberdeen as soon as possible.” She painted a very sad and grievous look on her face.
Kate was glad she stood behind her lady for her expression could not have been seen by anyone. Forbes, however, had noticed it and he gave her hand a slight squeeze. She could feel in her bones that something was wrong, and for a moment, she wished she were back in the blasted carriage.
“Almer here,” Malcolm said as he introduced his man to the Lady and her entourage, “will see ye to yer rooms, m’lady.”
Judith gave a nod of her head and flashed another dazzling smile. “Thank ye kindly, Laird Malcolm.” She then turned to face Forbes.
“Forbes, we are in good hands here,” she told him with a wink that only he could see. “Please, go back to the carriage and see to it that yer men repair it quickly. I truly wish to reach my husband as soon as possible.”
“But m’lady, if I leave ye here unattended, yer husband, no matter how sick he is, will have me head!” he pleaded through gritted teeth, hoping she’d not continue to insist he leave. He should have known better.
“Never ye mind about Alfred! I want ye to see to the carriage. If it makes ye feel any better, ye can leave two of yer men with us,” she said before grabbing one of the other soldiers and putting her hand on his elbow.
She turned her attention once again to Malcolm. “I am positive Laird Malcolm is an honest and kind gentleman!” She flashed him another smile. “I’m sure we’re in good hands here, Forbes. See to yer duties!”
Malcolm laughed and called for Nettie again. “I’ll have a meal brought up to yer room, m’lady. Nettie is a fine cook, even if she be a bit slow.”
“I’d be glad fer anythin’ in my stomach right now, m’laird! And again, I thank ye fer yer kindness.”
Forbes shook his head as he watched his lady ascend the stairs with her hand on one of his soldier’s arms. Kate followed right behind her, keeping her eyes on the floor. Forbes nodded to John. “Ye stay with them,” he said. John quickly fell in behind the others as Forbes looked on.
As the lady followed Malcolm’s man up the stairs, a sense of dread fell over Forbes. He could only pray his lady knew what she was doing.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Could ye no’ have picked a better night to lay siege to a mad man’s castle?” Nial asked as he rode alongside Findley.
Findley looked ahead, appearing not at all bothered by his friend’s badgering and complaining. “I think ye’d complain if it were bonny spring day in June, with the sun shinin’ and birds singing, Nial.”
Nial snorted and kept his eyes focused, looking for any signs of trouble.
After a moment, Findley spoke again. “Ya ken, there’s still time fer ye to go home and wait with the women and children, if the storm frightens ye so, Nial.”
“I be no more afraid of the storm than ye, ye shite,” Nial retorted.
Andrew and Robert rode as close to Wee William as they could. Somehow they felt safer near him, certain they were that even the lightning was afraid of the man.
“How much longer do ye think we have, Wee William?” Robert asked.
“No’ long,” Wee William answered. He worried over bringing the lads with them. But he knew that they’d have had to tie the boys to trees and kept a guard of twenty men on them in order to keep them both from doing something even more remarkably stupid than what they’d already done.
Robert adjusted himself in his saddle and for the hundredth time in the past two hours, he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. ’Twas a fine sword to boot! Nial had given it to him. Nial had said if Robert was dumb enough to steal cattle from Angus McKenna, dumb enough to pelt rocks at Wee William, and still dumber yet to have run away to fight the Buchannans on his own, then aye, the lad was dumb enough to carry a sword. Robert took it as a compliment.
While the lightning had decreased, the rain still fell in sheets. The closer the group of Highlanders got to the Buchannan keep, the quieter they became. Scouts had been sent ahead in three different directions and had not yet returned.
Nearly two hundred mounted men, divided into three groups, spread across the countryside. Had it been daylight, it would have been an intimidating sight to behold.
Not much time had passed before the scouts returned with news.
“The Buchannan keep be less than an hour from here, Findley,” one of the scouts said excitedly.
Findley sat taller in his saddle as he began to mentally prepare for the battle that lay ahead. Their plan was simple. They would come at the keep from three sides and lay siege to it with no warning. A group of men would be sent over the walls in search of Maggy and her son. It was to be a simple in and out mission with the only priority being to rescue Maggy and Ian.
~~~
“M’lady!” Kate whispered as she helped Judith out of her cloak. “What the bloody hell is happenin’?”
That was one of the things Judith loved most about her maid. She was not afraid to speak her mind. Nor was she above using a colourful word every now and then.
“Wheest, Kate!” Judith hissed. “I’m no’ sure yet if the walls have ears. Go about as you would under normal circumstances,” she told her.
Kate pursed her lips together and draped their cloaks over a chair. Almer had built them a fire and it was quickly helping to warm the room.
Judith made the soldiers stand guard outside so that she and Kate could remove their gowns and dry themselves by the fire. In a matter of minutes, both women stood in their chemises with warm dry blankets wrapped around their shoulders. Kate had draped their wet clothing on hooks that were fastened to the mantle.
They’d
not brought any dry clothes with them, for it had been perilous enough in the horrible storm without worrying over trunks and such things. Escaping the storm had been far more important. As they sat huddled together by the fire, they spoke in very hushed tones.
“Kate,” Judith whispered. “Did you happen to catch a glance at Laird Malcolm?”
“Nay, m’lady,” Kate answered. “I was too busy shiverin’ and wishin’ fer a warm fire. Why?”
Judith leaned in closer and whispered in Kate’s ear. “Dunna react in any fashion, young lady, with what I’m about to tell ye.”
Kate nodded her head slightly as a chill of foreboding ran over her skin.
“The man who acts as our gentleman host is none other than Malcolm Buchannan.”
Kate was paralysed for a moment, positive her heart had stopped beating. “No’ the Malcolm Buchannan, m’lady?” she whispered. She prayed her lady was mistaken.
“Aye,” Judith said. “The Malcolm Buchannan,” she let the words settle into her maid’s mind for a time before going on.
“Kate, I dunnae if he’ll let us leave or no’,” she said quietly. “If he has realized who I am, he may not. He may try to hold us for ransom, and Kate, I do no’ wish for that to happen.”
Judith had been held for ransom once before and it was an experience she didn’t care to repeat. For five long months she was hidden away in a cold, damp castle in the far north. ’Twas her husband who had rescued her. Of course, he wasn’t her husband at the time. But they did marry some three months after meeting.
“What is yer plan, m’lady?” Kate asked quietly. She had been Lady Judith’s personal maid for two and a half years. If she’d learned anything in that time it was that no one dared cross Lady Judith. The woman was as sweet and kind as the day was long. But she had a streak of strength and determination that ran deeper than the sea. Kate felt safer around Lady Judith than she did around most men. Well, save for Forbes.
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