Seduced by a Rogue

by Amanda Scott

  “Nay, we take these women to the tower, straight-away!”

  “You won’t!” Mairi said angrily, digging her heels into her horse and wrenching her reins hard to pull its head away from Will’s grasp.

  As he reached for it again, two horses came over the eastern brow of the hill. Both riders had swords drawn and Will, seeing them, lost interest in Mairi’s horse. Grabbing his own reins with both hands, he whirled his horse southward and spurred it hard. His remaining two men followed.

  As Mairi drew a breath and turned toward Phaeline, one of the approaching horsemen reached for her bridle as the other rode past her to take Phaeline’s.

  “Release our horses, damn you,” Mairi said.

  “With respect, m’lady, we dare not,” the man said. “Ye must come wi’ us lest there be more o’ them villains hereabouts.”

  She recognized him then. “You serve Sir Hugh. Do you not know us?”

  “Aye, m’ lady, I ken ye both fine. But we were told to look after ye just now.”

  “Has Sir Hugh not taken command at the Hall?” Mairi asked. “I heard Dunwythie horns and others that must have been Douglas, I suppose. Why should Sir Hugh even have expected me or the lady Phaeline to be here?”

  “Hugh did not expect that,” a voice behind Mairi said grimly. “But I feared that you might do just such a daft thing. Then Gib told us that you were both here.”

  Mairi turned sharply to see Rob striding toward her, his expression as furious as she had ever seen it.

  “What the devil were you thinking, coming here?” he demanded as he gestured away the horseman who had held her bridle.

  “These are my people,” Mairi said, her own temper soaring. “Would you stay safely in Dumfries if Trailinghail were threatened with attack?”

  “Nay, I would not, but I am a swordsman, lass.”

  “Where is Gib? Is he safe?”

  “Aye, he must have run like the wind for he had none left when he reached us. But he told us you were here. We’d feared Will might have taken you down to Old Jardine, but when I saw movement on the hillside, I sent these lads up around on horseback, left my own horse below, and crept up through the shrubbery.”

  “But there was a man on that side of the hill, keeping watch,” she said.

  “He won’t trouble us further, or anyone else, come to that,” Rob said.

  She swallowed. “Will and the others rode off.”

  “So did Old Jardine, aye,” he said. “I saw as much, for I came up the hill on that side before moving to see to yon watcher. Your own men fought bravely when they heard the horns, and most are safe. But you’ll hear all about that later.”

  “We could not see anything after Will came. Where is your brother?”

  “Still at the Hall,” Rob said. “Hugh and I were about to join him inside when Gib found us. We still need to talk to him, so you must…” He paused, grimacing.

  “Must what?” she asked bluntly. “Ride north to keep safe with Lord Johnstone? Or Kirkpatrick? Are they not both here?”

  “Nay, the horns were ours. Did Jardine hurt you?”

  Phaeline said urgently, “We must get Fiona away from those horrid people!”

  “Not today,” Rob said. “The Jardines will have entrenched themselves at Applegarth by now, madam. None of us wants more conflict if we can avoid it.”

  Mairi said, “If the fighting has stopped, we should leave this place. But I shall go nowhere except to my home, sir. You may come with me if you like.”

  From the abrupt way his eyes narrowed and his gaze bored into hers, she knew he had been rigidly containing his volatile temper.

  She met that fierce gaze steadily, hoping Phaeline would have the sense to keep silent. Whether her stepmother recognized in Rob a man she could not charm or simply could think of nothing to say, she did hold her tongue.

  Mairi let the silence lengthen but did not look away from Rob.

  Then, softly, she said, “The Hall and its people are my responsibility, and the sun has gone down. If the sheriff and his men will not leave peacefully, then I will send again for lords Johnstone and Kirkpatrick. Together, surely we’ll outnum—”

  “Alex’s men are with me,” Rob said. “And Hugh sent for Archie before we came. He will have told Old Jardine as much if he got a chance. In any event they will find out soon enough, and they have no allies here in the dale.”

  “Sakes, we don’t want Archie here, either,” Phaeline said, speaking for the first time. “He is more likely than anyone to want to take control of everything.”

  Mairi saw Rob’s lips twitch then and allowed herself a smile. “Shall we go back to the Hall, sir? Together we should be able to persuade your brother that he has no good reason to stay there.”

  He hesitated for only a moment before saying, “I’ll talk to… nay, then…we’ll talk to Hugh and see—”

  “…and explain to him what I have decided to do,” Mairi said firmly.

  Rob drew a breath and suppressed a simmering urge to argue, recognizing it as simple proof of Mairi’s accusation that he liked to control all around him.

  She was watching him expectantly, braced for battle, and the lady Phaeline watched both of them. So he smiled and said, “Let’s go find Hugh.”

  Mairi’s smile flashed then, warming him and banishing the last shreds of his anger with her for scaring him half witless.

  The two men who had ridden up the hill to help joined them, one leading a horse that Mairi explained was the one Gibby had ridden. Rob mounted it and on the way down to the road they collected his from the woods where he’d left it.

  They found Hugh on the road with his men and their own, but no Jardines.

  When Mairi asked Hugh what had become of them, he said, “Your man Gerrard here told me they hied themselves off when they heard our horns.”

  “Aye, m’lady,” Gerrard said then. “We damaged them some, but our lot came through wi’ nae more than a couple o’ scratches.”

  Returning to the Hall together, they found more serious injuries there, and learned that three of their own men and several of Alex’s had died.

  As they dismounted, Gibby ran to Mairi. Nearly tearful with relief, he exclaimed, “Ye’re safe, m’lady! Did the laird kill all them treacherous villains?”

  “Nay,” she said, ruffling his hair. “We let them go. The man who interfered with us on the hilltop is my sister’s husband. Sithee, he fled when the laird and Sir Hugh came with their men, and for that we have you to thank.”

  “Aye, sure. But they must ha’ been right cowards then. And so I thought them, too, when I seen that Will-one raise his whip to ye,” Gib said with a grimace.

  “What is this?” Rob demanded.

  “Naught to concern anyone,” she replied coolly. “He merely threatened me. We’ll see to the burial of all the dead in the cemetery here, Hugh,” she added.

  “Thank you, my lads will see to it, aye,” Hugh said solemnly. “We’ll make camp in your woods, too, lass, if we may. I want to be away before dawn.”

  “Aye, sure,” she said. “But I hope you will sup with us tonight, sir.”

  “I’m going to find Alex,” Rob said to her when Hugh had accepted her invitation. “Are you still going to come with me?”

  “You know that I am,” she said, giving him a look.

  They saw Alex sooner than Rob had expected, because he strode out through the gate as they approached it. His demeanor suggested anger, but his expression was less decipherable. His mouth tightened when his gaze met Rob’s.

  However, instead of the angry remarks Rob expected to hear, Alex said, “I am glad to see you safe, my lady. I swear, it was never my intent to cause you harm.”

  “Indeed, sir?” Mairi said. “Then why did you send so many of your men to add to the Jardine army? ’Twas Jardines who tried to harm me.”

  “So my man told me, and I offer my deepest apology to you,” Alex said. Then, meeting Rob’s gaze at last, he said, “One of the lads on the gate told me you
had come. I talked to Ian Rigg then and sent the others out to help with the injured.”

  “Sakes, Alex, you set them on us from the trees—on me!” Rob said. “And all to take a woman’s property because you thought she was weak. As you have seen for yourself, she is nowt of the sort.”

  “I do see,” Alex said, looking ruefully at Mairi.

  She had not, Rob noted, accepted his brother’s apology.

  “Those who were killed died through sheer folly,” he said. “I did not know the two who fell upon me, and Sir Hugh’s men knew none of them. Once I saw Jock MacGowan and Ian Rigg, I was able to call our lads to order. You should have known they would respond to my orders as they always have.”

  “Oddly, I thought I was in command,” Alex said on a bitter note.

  “Aye, well, that is what happens when you entrust your duties so often to others,” Rob said. “Your men outside accepted my command and that of Sir Hugh Douglas of Thornhill. And, by the bye, lest you think of stirring more trouble, you should know that he sent for Archie before we left Thornhill. So, before long, the Douglases are bound to descend on Annandale if not all Dumfriesshire.”

  “Tell him he let them vicious Jardines get their oozlie hands on my lady, aye, and her mam,” Gibby said clearly from behind Rob. “He’ll be sorry for that.”

  “What the devil!” Alex exclaimed. “Who dares to speak so insolently?”

  “’Tis just me,” Gib said, stepping forward, his bony shoulders squared. “But I’m thinking Herself will be gey wroth wi’ ye, too, when I tell her them Jardines o’ yours were a-going to kill our lady Mairi.”

  Chapter 20

  Mairi saw Rob’s jaw tighten and dismay on the sheriff’s face.

  To them both, she said, “Will said that as my father was dead, killing me would make Fiona heiress to our estates. He said, too, sir,” she added, looking at Sheriff Maxwell, “that you had sent word to Old Jardine of your coming. Will told us his father would make the facts plain to you, as he saw them. They captured the lads we sent ahead to warn the other lairds, too. Faith, but I fear for their lives.”

  Alexander Maxwell frowned heavily, and for the first time, she saw a true resemblance between him and Rob. The sheriff was a few inches shorter and heavier, but their frowns were just the same.

  His voice gruff, he said to her, “That ought not to have happened, my lady. I certainly never imagined such a thing. I got word to them because they had aided us before and I thought they should know to expect trouble. And I sent men to meet them lest a much larger force from the south overcome them before they joined us.”

  Rob said, “We should get those lads of hers released, Alex.”

  “Aye, we must,” the sheriff agreed.

  “Oh, pray, sirs,” Phaeline exclaimed. “You must rescue our Fiona, as well!”

  Rob said, “Madam, pray try to understand that although the sheriff can demand the release of men seized whilst going about their lawful duties, as those messengers were, he cannot interfere between a man and his wife.”

  “Faugh,” Phaeline said. “She is not his wife. He abducted her, Robert Maxwell, just as you abducted our Mairi.”

  Mairi saw Rob wince and wanted to defend him, but she kept silent. Although she would welcome rescue for Fiona, if the sheriff lacked the authority to interfere, it was more important that they do what they could for the gillies.

  Sheriff Maxwell said quietly to Phaeline, “You have reason to be angry, madam, with both of us. But my brother is unfortunately right about the lady Fiona. If she is Will Jardine’s wife, even if he has simply declared her so and she has not denied it, I can intervene only if she tells me she wants to leave him. Even then, he has the right to take the matter before a magistrate, who would hear them both.”

  Rob said, “It is too late to go tonight, I’m thinking.”

  “Aye, the days are getting longer, but darkness will fall in less than an hour,” the sheriff replied. “I’d liefer not approach Applegarth after dark. In the morning they’ll be able to see clearly who approaches. What is Sir Hugh doing?”

  “His men will camp outside the wall tonight,” Mairi said. “He means to take supper with us inside, though. You and your brother are welcome to join us.”

  “Thank you, my lady, but I trust you’ll forgive us if we camp with our men instead. I’m thinking you’ll agree,” he added, looking at Rob.

  Rob nodded. “Aye, you’re right, we should. I would like a private word with your ladyship, however, before we say goodnight.”

  She nodded and turned to Phaeline. “Will you excuse us, madam? I am sure you would rather go inside where you can be comfortable.”

  “I would, indeed,” Phaeline said. “I will also see that they know to expect others for supper… if that meets with your approval, my dear.”

  Mairi smiled at the last bit but said, “Aye, sure, madam, do as you please.” Realizing that Gibby had stood silently by, fascinated, through all that the sheriff had said, she added, “Go along with her, Gibby. Make yourself useful.”

  “Aye, sure,” he said and followed Phaeline through the gateway.

  Then, bidding farewell to the sheriff and allowing Rob to draw her well away from the men milling in the clearing, Mairi said, “Thank you for helping us today, sir. I’m sorry you won’t sup with us, though. If you are still displeased with—”

  “Nay, lass, nor do I want to fratch. I must go with Alex, because the men need to see us together tonight. Some of them will be wondering why he did not go with us earlier, and others will be thinking I usurped his power by ordering them to leave here and go with me. So, we must show ourselves as one, and do that as soon as possible. In any event, I want to encourage this mood in him. I don’t doubt we’ll be fratching again by midday tomorrow, if not sooner, but…”

  He stopped then, gazing at her with such pain in his eyes that she wanted to say something to make it go away. But she could think of nothing more intelligent than to ask him if that was all he had wanted to say to her.

  “Nay,” he said. “I wish things were different, Mairi. I wish I had not done the things that make it impossible for you to marry me, or even to trust me.”

  Reaching out to touch his arm, she said softly, “I do trust you, Rob, but—”

  “No buts,” he said, putting a hand over hers. His touch was gentle as he lifted it from his arm, and his voice was sorrowful as he said, “Like apologies and promises, sweetheart, trust must come unconditionally. That became impossible, I suppose, even before it all began. At times, I wish I had not been born a Maxwell. But I was, lass, and I will always be a Maxwell.”

  “But, truly—”

  “I must go,” he said. “We’ll camp here until dawn. Then, if Hugh agrees to ride with us, we should finish at Applegarth well before noon. Even without Hugh’s men, it won’t take much longer. But I must take Gib back with me, or Gran will want to know why I did not, and Fin Walters as well. Ask one of your lads to see him to the Roman road, will you, so he can meet us on our way back to the ford.”

  “It is only a step to come here for him,” she said.

  “Aye, but I’d better not.”

  Dismally, she watched him walk away, fearing that he was going forever.

  Inside, she found all in a bustle. Phaeline had set people to dusting and sweeping out rushes, and she was informing someone tartly that things had gone sadly awry since her departure just weeks before.

  Leaving her to it when Gerrard approached, Mairi said, “Your men did well today, I’m told, whilst I nearly got the lady Phaeline and myself captured.”

  “I’ll say nowt about that, my lady. I sent word to Johnstone, Kirkpatrick, and the others, so they’ll keep a lookout. They didna light the signal fire here today, because they believed the sheriff when he said ye did expect him. By the time our lads knew aught were amiss, his men were on our wall and a-watching our gate.”

  She let him tell her what he thought of it all but listened with half an ear. Her attention at supper was no
better. By the time she bade everyone goodnight and sought her bed, she was exhausted and sure she would fall asleep at once.

  Hours later, she was still awake, but when she did sleep, she slept until sunlight poured into her room. Startled, remembering that she had said naught to Gibby about meeting the men on their way back, she got up hastily and dressed herself. Neither she nor Phaeline had brought maidservants with them, and none was at hand in the Hall unless women were in residence. She realized as she tied her boots that Phaeline might have attended to the lack, but by then she was dressed.

  She also knew exactly what she was going to do.

  First, she found Gerrard and asked him to send a gillie hotfoot to Lord Johnstone with a message. Next, she went to find Gibby.

  “You’re going to meet the laird and the other men on their way back from Applegarth, Gib,” she said. “He expects you to return with him to Dumfries today.”

  “Aye, I thought he might,” Gib said with a grin. “I think I’ll go, too, wi’ respect, m’lady.”

  “Do you? I thought you liked staying with me.”

  “Aye, I do, and ye might ha’ need o’ me again. But I like Trailinghail, too, and I’m thinking if I go to Dumfries wi’ the laird, old Gerrard canna skelp me.”

  Mairi grinned, too, then. “I won’t let him, Gib. You earned your way out of that skelping when you ran so fast for the laird. I want you to take a message to him for me when you meet him, and you must say it to him just as I do. Can you do that?”

  “Aye, sure, I can!”

  Rob accompanied Alex to talk to Old Jardine but left most of the talking to Alex. The fat old man was truculent but Alex spoke firmly. Rob had warned him that Old Jardine agreed with Dunwythie that the sheriff had no authority in Annandale, so he invoked his authority as a chieftain of Clan Maxwell instead.

  “Moreover,” Alex added when Jardine hesitated. “Sir Hugh Douglas is with us today, just outside with my men. Sithee, those Annan House lads you took are Douglas henchmen, sent with the lady Phaeline when she married Dunwythie. I doubt you want trouble with Douglas.”