by Barbara Bard
Upon hearing a sound behind him, Drew turned sharply, and was somewhat surprised to see Deirdre, Old Will, and a couple of other men, whose names escaped Drew at the present moment. Seeing them brought a sinking feeling to Drew's heart.
* * *
“What do ye want?” he asked.
* * *
Old Will and Deirdre glanced at each other. It was Old Will who shuffled forward first. His head leaned forward, his wispy hair hovered around his head, and his beady eyes looked straight at Drew.
* * *
“I think ye know why we're here,” Old Will said.
* * *
“I think I do tae, and I dinnae like it,” Drew said.
* * *
“Like it or nae, ye must have this conversation wi' us,” Old Will said. A wheezing accompanied every other word, for Old Will had lost a number of teeth over the years. Nobody knew exactly how old Old Will was. Some rumored him to be over a hundred years old. “I tried to speak some sense into your brother last night, but he would nae listen. He's been swayed by his heart. He would nae be the first man to suffer such a fate, but we cannae allow it to continue.”
* * *
“Ye heard what my brother said. He is a passionate man and he will nae betray his feelings. Neither shall I betray him. I have already had a conversation like this with Deirdre, and my answer remains the same.”
* * *
“Aye, ye will not betray him, but what if he hae already betrayed us? What dae we know of this lass? She could be a spy. She could want to run away from Blair at the first sign of trouble.”
* * *
Drew thought back to Rosemary's prayer and wished he hadn't heard what he did. Stroking his jaw, he blew out his cheeks and shook his head.
* * *
“What's really important is that we support Blair. The clan must be united in a time like this. We cannae go to war with the English if we're divided.”
* * *
“And we cannae go to war if there is a spy in our camp!” Deirdre shrieked. Old Will shook his head towards her, but Deirdre marched forward, her eyes flaming almost as brightly as her hair. “I know ye think I am mad and jealous about what happened, but really I just have the best interest of the clan at my heart. Ye know Blair better than any of us, but even I know that he's as stubborn as a mule. He's convinced that this lass is genuine, but how can we trust her? What proof hae she given us? All we have to gae on is Blair's heart, and this is a man who wanted to run away and leave. Can ye honestly say that ye trust Rosemary?”
* * *
There was a long pause. “Nay Deirdre, I cannae. But I also cannae go against Blair. What ye propose is mutiny, and that is worse than anything the English could do tae us. What if Rosemary is a spy? Surely she'd want to sow discord among us, so by doing this ye are doing exactly what she wants. Nay, if Rosemary is a spy then eventually she'll reveal herself. I'm not going to fight Blair. We cannae fight against each other. But I will keep an eye on her, and at the first sign of trouble I'll confront Blair. I hae my worries about the lass as well.”
* * *
“What worries, Drew? Do ye know something you're no' telling us?”
* * *
“Nay, I dinnae know anything. But I hae my suspicions. All I'll say is that I'm more worried about what Rosemary would do if Blair died than what she'll do while he's alive. I hae to think about what tae do next, but I dinnae want any of this to continue. Ye think ye are doing something good for the clan but ye are only sowing discord, and this isn't right. Do yer best, do yer duty, and let me worry about Blair.”
* * *
Without waiting for their reply, Drew pushed through them and left them in the forest. At the moment Blair was oblivious to the brewing discontent, but if it got worse a faction could arise that would prove Blair's downfall.
* * *
It was left to Drew to try and diplomatically conjure up a solution to this mess, but he didn't think Blair was going to like anything presented to him, especially not when it concerned Rosemary's honesty. However, Drew couldn't let what he heard pass without comment. If there was even a chance that Rosemary would forsake them Drew had to do something, even if it meant provoking the wrath of his brother.
* * *
So it was with a heavy heart that Drew made his way back to the castle where he would have to confront Blair once again. The suspicion of Rosemary could not be allowed to fester though. Drew wished that Blair had never brought that woman back with him. None of these problems would have surfaced if it had not been for that mistake, a mistake that Drew hoped would not prove fatal to the well-being of the Highland clans.
7
Sarah ran through the palace with tears streaming down her cheeks. Ignoring the servants as they stared in amazement at her, she pushed her way out of the doors into the cool night. All she wanted was to be free, to be away from that horrid, mean man. The thought of him thrusting that meat into her mouth as though she was some kind of spoiled child filled her heart with hatred and disgust. How could she ever bear a lifetime of living with a man like that?
* * *
It only made her more convinced that she had to escape as soon as possible. If Harold discovered the lie he would show no mercy towards her at all. It was as though she had seen his true face at that dinner. He was petty and horrible.
* * *
As she ran into the gardens Sarah grew tired and her pace slowed. Looking back, she was pleased to see that nobody was following her. Sadly she had left Catherine to deal with Harold's anger, and Sarah hoped that he had not unleashed it upon her. The air was cool and sweet. The fragrance of the flowers around her filled the air, and she began to make her way back to the fountain where she and Catherine had been sitting earlier. It was entirely peaceful, aside from her fretful sobs. Sarah was tempted to find a way to flee and run into the woods. At that moment she would have taken her chances in the wild rather than consign herself to a life with Lord Flynn.
* * *
The thing that troubled her most was the way he had looked at her, as though she was nothing but a servant to him. He had no respect for her own needs, he only wanted her to feed his ego and tell him how wonderful he was. That was not the kind of man Sarah had always dreamed of marrying. The man of her dreams was kind, patient, and tender.
* * *
He had been so callous when she brought up the prospect of going to look for Rosemary as well, dismissing her needs as though she was already dead. Sarah wasn't ready to give up on Rosemary yet. Any honorable man would have at least considered the possibility of going after her. She was a young English girl in the clutches of a Highland brute after all, what other chance did she have?
* * *
Sarah walked this way and that, taking lefts and rights as she made her way through the gardens. She wasn't thinking particularly clearly, and thus wasn't paying attention to where she was going. It came as a surprise, therefore, when she found herself standing at the stables rather than the fountain, which had been her intended destination.
* * *
Lanterns hung around the stables, casting them in an amber glow. The horses whinnied a little, and their hooves clomped against the ground. The smell of straw and mud greeted Sarah, but they were welcome smells, familiar smells, and they reminded her of a simpler life. She walked up to one of the horses and reached out her hand, stroking its face. The horse bowed its head to her, allowing her to pet it.
* * *
“Go gentle with her, she's pretty tired,” someone said behind her. She turned, startled, and then a wide smile spread across her face.
* * *
“George!” she exclaimed, running up to him, flinging her arms around his neck. He patted her on the back, but she would not let go.
* * *
“Sarah. I wasn't expecting to see you down here. Are you well?”
* * *
“I suppose I am,” Sarah sighed, “although not as well as I could have been.” She moved back to the ho
rse, continuing to pet it.
* * *
“That's Lord Flynn's horse. He took her out hunting today. She came back tired. I think he ran her to the limit.”
* * *
“Yes, I suppose he did,” Sarah said.
* * *
“What's it like, living in the palace?” he asked, a little hesitancy in his voice.
* * *
Sarah wished that she could tell him it was wonderful, that it was more than she had ever dreamed of. She wished that she could tell him he had saved her life and given her a new lease on life, but she couldn't even summon up a sad smile. Instead the sadness welled up inside her again. All the anguish and desperate pain broke through her heart and flooded out, her body trembling mightily. As she fell forward, George caught her in his arms and helped her to a small bench. His arm remained around her, comforting her.
* * *
“Oh George, it's just awful. Every day I have to watch what I say and how I act so that I don't give myself away. Then I feel guilty because I'm deceiving everyone around me, especially Catherine, who has been so lovely to me and all she wants is someone to be a good friend. But how can I be a good friend when I am continually lying to her? Then there is Lord Flynn. At first I thought he might be a kind man and show me mercy, but I see now that he has a vicious cruel streak.”
* * *
George said nothing, only caressed Sarah's arms soothingly. Sarah was grateful for the opportunity to talk, however.
* * *
“He wouldn't even send out a search party for Rosemary.”
* * *
“You told him about Rosemary?”
* * *
“Not exactly. Just that my handmaiden had been taken away by a Highlander. There were some bandits that came to the hall the night I arrived and they claimed to have seen Rosemary. Lord Flynn believed me over them, thank goodness. I don't know what I would have done if things had been different. I do not think the bandits have returned though. At least, I have not heard of anything.”
* * *
“No, they won't return,” George said. “Lord Flynn had them banished.”
* * *
“The same fate awaits me,” Sarah groaned, nestling her head in George's shoulder. He was the only person she could trust, the only one who knew the real truth, and while she was in his arms she at least felt safe.
* * *
“I'm so sorry, Sarah. I thought that I made the right decision by lying to those guards. I didn't realize it would lead to such hardship for you,” he said.
* * *
Sarah sniffed. “You did what you thought was right in the moment. I do not blame you, George. If you were sure that they were going to cause us harm then you made the right choice.”
* * *
“I was sure, unfortunately, but I fear I have only delayed the inevitable. And I have only prolonged your suffering.”
* * *
“Is there any chance for my escape?” Sarah asked, pushing herself away from his chest. Her eyes glistened silver. Concern was etched upon his face. The weight of a man who had sent an innocent girl to her doom.
* * *
“I do not know. If you were to escape you would need to find passage away from this region. I cannot imagine that Lord Flynn would take the loss of his bride easily. He would hunt you down.”
* * *
“And I know how much he likes hunting,” Sarah groaned, placing her head in her heads. “I just do not know what I am to do. I have tried to think of every possible scenario, but they all end with me either being banished from the realm or thrown in a dungeon, or worse. I am just a simple handmaiden. I never asked for this life.”
* * *
“I wish I could help you, Sarah. Perhaps there is a way, if I planned it just right, that I could find a horse and send you on your way. It would be risky, and there would be no guarantee that it would work-”
* * *
“But it may be my only chance,” she said, resigning herself to her fate. “All I know is that I cannot stay here. If it gets to my wedding day I will surely be found out, and Lord Flynn will bring the full force of his wrath upon me.”
* * *
“Indeed. Lord Brambly will see that you are not his daughter.”
* * *
“Speaking of which,” Sarah said, and told him of how she had written a letter to Rosemary's father.
* * *
“You did what?” George gasped. Sarah was shocked at how vehement his reaction was. Even the horse near them seemed to stamp her feet in dismay.
* * *
“What is the matter?”
* * *
“You should not have revealed your secret like that. Lord Brambly may not be as concerned for your well-being as you think.”
* * *
“I was desperate. It was my only hope. I thought he would take pity on me considering I was brought up in his house, and that I was like a sister to his daughter.”
* * *
“But you weren't his daughter. Tell me, did you write about Rosemary? Did you tell him what happened?”
* * *
“Of course I did. I had to. He deserves to know. If he came to the wedding and saw me he would be filled with questions, and then he would be angry that I did not tell him the truth sooner. I would then lose the most powerful ally I have. This was the only way, of that I am sure.”
* * *
George had a pensive look on his face.
* * *
“What troubles you?” Sarah asked, almost afraid of the answer.
* * *
George sighed before he responded. “When Lord Brambly hears that his daughter, his only remaining family, has been captured by a Highlander what do you think he is likely to do? He may well hold affection for you and be worried, but his concern for his own daughter would surely trump that. He would want to do anything he could to get her back, and to rally Lord Flynn to raise his levies and send an army up north he would have to betray your confidence.
* * *
I have no doubt that he would do such a thing, for she is his last remaining family. No Sarah, we cannot wait for Lord Brambly's reply. We must act swiftly if we are to get you to safety. Come back here tomorrow night. I shall think of a way to get you out of the palace. From there you will have to make your own way I am afraid, but you shall be able to get a good start through the night.”
* * *
Sarah's heart was filled with hope and she smiled widely. Just knowing that there was someone she could trust made her feel so much better, and many of her fears were allayed. She threw her arms around George again and thanked him profusely.
* * *
“You have saved my life once, and now you are doing so again. I do not know how I am going to thank you, but I will make it up to you one day,” she said.
* * *
“Just knowing that you are safe and happy will be all the reward I need. Just promise me one thing, Sarah.” Sarah looked at him expectantly. “Make a happy home for yourself. Find someone who loves you and never let them go. Live as freely as you can, and do not be burdened by all that has happened here. You deserve to be happy.”
* * *
Sarah thought that was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. She hugged him tightly before she prepared to go back to her chambers. Somehow, knowing that she only had to endure this palace for one more day strengthened her resolve and she was sure that she would be able to summon enough courage for one day.
* * *
“So this is where you've been hiding,” Lord Flynn sneered. He came out of the shadows. The amber light from the lanterns flickered nearby. Sarah gasped, instantly removed her hands from around George's neck, and sat on the bench. George stood up and bowed to his liege.
* * *
“Lord Flynn, it is a pleasure to have you here in the stables,” George said.
* * *
Sarah was stunned into silence, wondering how long Harold had been sta
nding there for. If he had heard too much then all of their plans were for nothing.
* * *
“I see I am not the only one enjoying pleasure,” he said, his gaze moving between Sarah and George carefully. Sarah felt under intense scrutiny and chewed her lower lip. “So, this is where you ran to,” he added, turning to Sarah.