Bride of the Solway

by Joanna Maitland

'Not exactly bad, ma'am, but.. .troubling. I fear I shall not be able to remain here to enjoy your splendid hospitality. Some...er...business difficulties have arisen that will require me to return to London.'

  'Oh, I am so sorry. When must you leave?'

  'It would be best if I started out at once—'

  'Surely not?' said the colonel. 'Can you not remain until tomorrow? Unless it is a matter of life and death, of course.' He looked a little em­barrassed. It was clear that he did not want to pry into Ross's private affairs.

  Ross shook his head. 'Not that, sir. At least, I fervently hope not. I thank you for your concern. And you are quite right. It is too late to start out now. Besides, it will take some time to prepare for the journey. I will leave tomorrow, as early as possible.'

  'How will you travel? Shall you take the stage?'

  'No, ma'am. At least, not initially. I think the best course would be to ride as far as Carlisle and take the London stage from there.'

  The colonel nodded. 'Aye, true enough. You'll have a choice of coaches from there. You might manage to pick up the mail from Glasgow, if you are lucky. Don't worry about your baggage. I'll see that it's sent on, if you leave me your London address.'

  'Thank you, sir. You are very kind, but I don't think it will be neces­sary for you to put yourself out to that extent. My man can ride with me as far as Carlisle and then bring the horses on to London by easy stages. If you would be so good as to send on the remaining baggage to Carlisle, he will take charge of it from there. I'll tell him to wait for the bags at the posting house.'

  'That is an excellent solution, Captain.' Mrs Anstruther smiled up at him. 'You are to be commended for your quick thinking.'

  'You should have learned to expect that from a soldier by now, my dear,' the colonel said with a wicked grin. 'There's no time for dithering on the battlefield, you know.'

  Mrs Anstruther shook her head at her husband, but there was love and admiration in her eyes.

  'If you will excuse me, ma'am, I will go and give my man his instruc­tions. We may be travelling light tomorrow, but there is still much to do before we depart.'

  'Shall I see you again before you leave?'

  The colonel had moved to stand behind his wife's chair. He caught Ross's eye and shook his head faintly.

  Ross knew that getting Mrs Anstruther ready in the mornings was a lengthy business. She did not normally appear at the breakfast table. No doubt she would make the effort if Ross were to encourage her, but it was bound to sap her strength. He did not need the colonel's hint to know what he should say. 'I would plan to be off as soon as it is light, ma'am. I'm sure even the servants would not be about so early.'

  'But you will need to break your fast and—'

  'Pray do not concern yourself, ma'am. We will be able to eat when we stop to rest the horses.'

  'I'm sure the captain knows what he is doing, my dear. We had best say our farewells now and let him be about his business.'

  'You are right, of course.' Mrs Anstruther stretched up a hand. 'My dear Captain Graham, it has been a great pleasure to have you here as our guest. I do hope that, one day, you will come to us again. You would be most welcome, as I am sure you know.'

  'Mrs Anstruther, you have been more than kind.' Ross bowed over her thin fingers. He knew better than to suggest that their paths might cross in London. Mrs Anstruther would probably never leave Dumfries again. 'I am truly sorry that I have to leave so abruptly. Under your tuition, I was even learning to love plants.'

  Mrs Anstruther laughed. 'Now that, sir, is what I believe you young people would call a bouncer.'

  The colonel laughed too. 'I won't dare ask where you learned such language, my love. Though on this occasion, I think you may be wrong.

  Captain Graham was asking some extremely knowledgeable questions when we were at Castle Douglas.'

  'Prompted by Miss Elliott, I fancy. That young lady is a real enthu­siast. I only wish I might know her better.'

  'Perhaps we will find a way. In due course,' the colonel said. I must say that I am glad, now, that she declined your invitation for Caerlaverock, my dear. Imagine her disappointment if she had been permitted to accept. For I should have had to put her off, now that Captain Graham will not be able to join me. I could not meet her there alone.'

  Mrs Anstruther nodded her agreement.

  'I am very sorry that I shall miss seeing the ruin, sir,' Ross said. 'You mentioned that it was well worth the visit. Shall you go by yourself?'

  'No. I have visited often enough before. Without company—' he looked sadly down at his wife '—I should not enjoy it. Let us agree to visit it together the next time you come to Dumfries.'

  Ross nodded. 'The next time. Agreed.' He bowed again. 'And now, ma'am, if you will excuse me? I leave behind my most grateful thanks for all your kindness. And for everything you have both done for me.' He looked meaningfully at the colonel. For a moment, he could almost smell the stench of Dumfries gaol in his nostrils. 'Now I will bid you both a goodnight. And thank you again.'

  Cassie cast a final warning look at Morag, assumed what she fervently hoped was an innocent expression, and stepped down from the carriage. She looked across at the majestic ruins of Caerlaverock, safe behind their encircling moat. Would she be safe soon? With Ross?

  He was striding towards her. 'Well met, Captain Graham,' she said, dropping him a curtsy. 'It is another beautiful day, is it not? At least, so it seems to me.' She gestured towards Tarn, still sitting on the box. 'Dour Tarn there always looks on the black side. He's sure it will rain before long.'

  Had the captain caught her meaning? It seemed he had. As he bowed to her, he frowned and gave a tiny nod in Tarn's direction. He had rec­ognised the danger she was warning him about.

  'Has the colonel gone inside ahead of us?' Cassie asked airily.

  'Ah, no, ma'am. I fear the colonel is not here. He was called away to an emergency on the farm, just as we were leaving. There was no time to send to tell you. The colonel sends his apologies and his hopes that you will enjoy the day, none the less.'

  'Oh, I—'

  'Miss Cassie.' Tarn started climbing laboriously down from his seat. His face had gone rather red. 'The laird will be wanting ye t' go back to Langrigg. It's no' the thing fer a single lassie to—'

  Captain Graham laughed shortly. 'Come, come, my man,' he said loft­ily, 'it is not for you to dictate to your mistress. Having come this far, I'm sure Miss Elliott would like to walk around the ruins.'

  'But the laird—'

  'Miss Elliott has her maid in attendance. Even her brother would not suggest that there was anything improper in our visit.' He beckoned im­patiently to Morag to join them. 'Now, Miss Elliott, will you take my arm? Perhaps you would like to start with this extraordinary gatehouse?'

  Cassie took his arm, conscious that^her fingers were trembling. Would he notice?

  He must have. Once his back was safely turned on Tarn, he smiled re­assuringly at her and pressed her fingers fleetingly. But he said nothing more, except to tell Morag to hurry along and to follow close behind them. Tarn would have no reason for undue concern.

  'Sir—'

  'Is this not magnificent? And just wait until you see the Nithsdale apartments inside. I must admit to having had a quick look around before you arrived. It is everything the colonel promised.'

  He walked her through the gatehouse and down the passage to the tri­angular courtyard beyond. 'It is magnificent,' he said in his normal voice. 'And we must spend a little time admiring it.'

  'But should we not leave at once?' Cassie asked. She was still feeling nervous. The sooner they started for the border, the better their chance of escaping without pursuit.

  'Not yet, ma'am. Not yet,' he said softly. 'We must give Fraser time to deal with your brother's henchman before we make any move.'

  'Oh. Oh, yes, of course. He won't hurt Tam, will he?'

  'Not unless he has to,' the captain replied grimly. 'Though I will admit to an unworthy desire
to treat him as he treated me, back there on the banks of the Solway.'

  A vivid memory flooded Cassie's mind. Tam had been there, at that first meeting, helping James to truss the captain up and gag him like a common felon. Then he had been dragged off to Dumfries in the driving rain and thrown into gaol. Tam would be lucky to escape Captain Graham's vengeance.

  'Now let us appear to be exclaiming over the wonders of the building, Miss Elliott. I shall indicate the various areas worthy of comment and you, if you please, will nod and do everything proper to demonstrate your interest.' He waved a hand in the direction of the single tower at the far corner of the ruined castle.

  Cassie nodded obediently.

  'Have you brought all you need for the journey?' he asked, still point­ing upwards.

  'Yes. In the carriage. A hamper full.' 'A hamper?' He was trying not to laugh.

  'It seemed the safest choice. I told my brother I was bringing food and wine so that we might enjoy a picnic by the castle. Morag replaced the contents with my things once everyone else had gone to bed.'

  'I hope you concealed the food well, Morag,' he said over his shoulder.

  'They'll find it by the smell. By and bye,' Morag said with quiet sat­isfaction. 'But Miss Cassie'll be safe in England by then.'

  'Pray God you are right, Morag,' Cassie breathed.

  'It may be cold and wet on our journey, ma'am. I hope you have brought warm clothing.'

  Cassie lifted the skirt of her travelling dress just a fraction and dis­played a heavy walking boot. 'Not only stout clothing, sir, but boots also.'

  'Very wise.'

  'One thing, sir. Oh, you will think me a sad creature, but I cannot help worrying about Lucifer.' 'Lucifer? Your horse?'

  'He has had to be left behind. And James hates him. Lucifer threw him more than once and James cannot ride him. I fear.. .I fear that, when James discovers I have fled, he may shoot Lucifer. For revenge on me. I will never forgive myself if he does.'

  Captain Graham turned towards the more modern part of the castle and began gesturing towards the fine apartments that had been built within the ancient walls. 'Have no fear on that score, ma'am. Your brother will not do that.'

  'How can you be sure?'

  'Because he is not a fool. Even a blackguard like James Elliott knows the value of a horse like Lucifer. He may sell him, Miss Elliott, but he will not shoot him.'

  'Oh. Oh, thank you, sir.' Cassie was so relieved she could have hugged him. Why had she not thought of that? James would not destroy some­thing he could turn into hard cash. Of course he would not.

  'Sir?' A man's voice came from the gatehouse. It echoed eerily from the gloomy passage there.

  Captain Graham turned and took a couple of steps towards the voice. 'Fraser?'

  Fraser stepped out into the sunlight. He was grinning. 'It's done, sir. Got him trussed up like a gobblecock. In the carriage where he can't be seen.'

  'Miss Elliott is concerned that you might have hurt him.'

  Fraser turned to Cassie. He was still grinning. There was nothing at all deferential about the captain's man. 'Well now, ma'am, let's just say that I ain't done no more than absolutely necessary. He'll be right as rain in no time.. .once someone finds him and takes the ropes off He looked up at the sky as if assessing the weather. 'Course he might get a wee thing wet while he's waiting.'

  Cassie giggled nervously. She couldn't help it, though she told herself sternly that a lady should never laugh at another's misfortunes. Even if that other was Tam.

  'We'd best bring him inside the castle, Fraser.' The captain's voice was curt. 'I can understand your desire to leave him out in the rain—he de­serves to be drenched, just as I was—but I think we'll put him in one of the towers, if you can get him up there. If we leave him in plain view, he might be discovered much too soon.'

  'Aye, sir.' Fraser produced a large pistol from behind his back. 'I'll bring him, shall I?'

  'Yes. Take him up there—' he pointed to the stairwell by one of I he gatehouse towers '—and prop him up against one of the walls. Make sure you tie his feet once you've got him up there. I wouldn't want him walk­ing out by himself.'

  Fraser said nothing. He just grinned again and disappeared through the massive gatehouse.

  'Now, ma'am, we must leave as we planned. But first, tell me—what of your brother? Is he at Langrigg today?'

  'No. After I'd sent off that note to Mrs Anstruther yesterday—luckily, it did not occur to James to ask to see what I had written—he gave me a long lecture on my duty to make myself agreeable to Colonel Anstruther today, and then he left. I assumed he was going to the brothel. That's usually the way of it when he says nothing about where he is going.'

  'Miss Cassie!'

  'Wheesht, Morag. I'm telling nothing but the truth. And Captain Graham has to know the risks we are running.'

  'You are.. .er.. .admirably direct, ma'am. If your brother has gone.. .er... there, when is he likely to return to Langrigg?'

  'Not early. Probably late afternoon. He often does that. Or he might even go to visit some of his cronies in Dumfries. Sometimes he does not return for two days.'

  'We dare not hope for so much. But it seems that we may have a few hours' start. That should be enough.'

  'Which route do you plan to take, sir?'

  'As we discussed. It is safest to go round by the road, to Annan, and Gretna, and Carlisle.'

  'You will not try the wath? It is shorter.'

  'Only if the tide is in our favour. I do not relish the thought of being caught again with my back to the rising water.'

  'No, but... Sir, if my brother should return early, he would follow us.

  We would be much quicker to take the wath. Forgive my stupid fears, but I cannot begin to feel safe until I am on English soil.' Cassie was con­scious of the tremor in her voice but she could do nothing to control it. 'Please, Captain Graham, I—' She stopped, willing herself to be calm. 'There is no need to decide now. But let us take the coast road where we can, instead of the high road. Then we will be closer to the wath, if...if we should need to take it.'

  'I...very well, Miss Elliott. We shall do as you wish. But you need have no fears about pursuers. I have already given Fraser instructions to act as our rearguard. He will ride a quarter of a mile behind the carriage. If anyone is following us, we will have ample warning.'

  'Oh.' Cassie was a little reassured, but only a little. Her brother could muster a small army of ruffians if he needed to. What was Fraser—one man—against so many? But there was no point in betraying her fears. Morag was already nervous enough. Cassie needed to be able to depend on her maid. Reassurance was what she needed now. Adopting a delib­erately mischievous tone, she said, 'My goodness. If Fraser is to ride be­hind, we will have no coachman to drive the carriage.'

  The captain's grin reminded Cassie of a schoolboy out on a spree. 'Be­hold your coachman,' he said with a tiny bow. 'And now we must make haste. Come.'

  He led them back through the gatehouse and across the bridge to where the carriage stood. Fraser was marching Tam across the grass at the point of his pistol. Tarn's hands were tied and his mouth was gagged, but he glowered murderously at Cassie as he passed her. She shuddered. Heaven help her if Tam—or Jamie—ever caught her now.

  Morag grabbed for the leather strap to stop herself from being thrown on to the floor of the carriage. 'Oh, Lord preserve us,' she gasped. 'He'll have us in the ditch in a wee minute.'

  Cassie smiled as confidently as she could. 'I doubt it, Morag. The cap­tain is clearly an excellent whip. I admit he is driving very fast—argh!' She was unable to stifle a groan as the carriage went over another huge bump in the road, throwing her up in the air. She landed very heavily on the edge of the seat. She swallowed hard and clutched her strap even more tightly. 'Yes, it is fast. But if it's a choice between a dangerous car­riage ride and being caught by my brother, I know which I'd prefer. Are you telling me you'd be happy to go back to Langrigg now?'

  Morag wa
s devoting so much energy to hanging on that she barely had the strength to speak. 'Canna go back,' she gasped eventually. Her expression betrayed her continuing terror. She had become ashen in the space of a few miles.

  'We'll be on a better road soon,' Cassie said reassuringly. 'Look—' she nodded towards the window on the left of the carriage '—we're well past the Comlongon Castle wood now. We're almost at Ruthwell. It will be much easier from there to Annan.'

  Morag groaned. 'If the next bit road isna so bad, he'll just go even faster. Oh, Lord, I think I'm gonna be ill.' She was beginning to turn green.

  'Oh, no, Morag. You must not.' With her free hand, Cassie rummaged in her pocket for her vinaigrette. Where on earth had she put it? She couldn't have forgotten it, could she?

  The carriage slowed a little, but only in order to make the sharp turn on to the Annan road. It soon speeded up again, but at least it was now rocking less than before.

  Cassie's searching fingers finally found the vinaigrette and passed it to the maid. 'Use this, Morag. You'll soon feel better.'

  Morag threw a baleful look at her mistress but did as she was bid. After a deep sniff, she was soon spluttering and her eyes were watering, but she no longer looked so queasy. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. 'Oh,' she groaned, opening them again quickly. 'That's awful bad.'

  Cassie stretched out a hand to touch Morag's shoulder comfortingly. 'I could not have done this without you, Morag. You know that. I am so sorry it is making you ill, but truly, I do need you now. Desperately. And I shall never be able to repay your loyalty.'

  Morag swallowed. Then she nodded. 'Dinna fret, lassie. I'll no' desert ye. No matter what.' She forced a tiny smile.

  'Thank you, Morag.' That was heartfelt.

  'What's the matter?' Morag cried a moment later. 'There's no need to ca canny here.'

  The carriage was indeed slowing down. Cassie felt her heart thumping like a huge hammer in her breast. Had something gone wrong with the carriage? Or the horses? She lowered the glass just in time to see Fraser galloping up to them. That could mean only one thing. James was behind them. She closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer. Please, please, don't let him catch us. Please.