Amelia! Grace bit her knuckles to keep from crying out in distress at the news of her sister’s poisoning. She is alive, but barely? The dastardly brigands! If they harm her, I will slit their crooked throats! Grace had never had such violent thoughts a day in her life until she had been taken. Now she had them nearly without ceasing. It was one thing for them to take her, it was another thing entirely to hurt her family.
“And what of the men that were with her?” another man asked of the first.
“They’re too busy chasing after the sister to make any progress in their inquiries pertaining to us. It would be simpler if we could kill them all.”
“And if we do, who will pay the ransom?”
“The Scottish stablemaster and the Earl of Ayle are expendable. The only ones we need to keep alive for the ransom are the Viscount and the Duke.”
“We have a plan and we will not stray from it unless forced to do so by circumstances outside of our control.”
“They came very nearly close to finding us on the mainland. The girl was running about in men’s clothing giving the men traveling with her a merry chase. She is more intelligent and daring than any noblewoman has a right to be. If anyone can find us it would be her.”
“It is unlikely that they will find us here in the islands, but if they do, we have men watching out for them. If they make a move toward us, we will know. Return to the mainland and keep an eye on the sister. Being weak, she should not be difficult to find.”
“And if she continues on her current course even after being poisoned?”
“If she is that foolish then she deserves whatever happens to her.”
No! Grace clenched both of her fists in anger and fear for her sister.
“Right,” the first man chuckled menacingly as if he enjoyed the idea of harming women.
“Remember the plan and only harm the girl if it is unavoidable. Now off with you.”
The man must have obeyed and left because Grace did not hear him reply. She wanted to scream and yell for them to stop but she knew that they would not listen. She banged her fists against the stone wall of the broch wishing that she could rip her prison apart with her bare hands, but she knew to do so was impossible. There was no possible way that she could help Amelia. The irony that she wished to rescue the people who were attempting to rescue her was not lost on Grace.
They are searching for me. Hope bloomed in her mind and heart. She had expected her father, brother, and Henry to go looking for her, but she had not thought that Amelia would do so. She never imagined that their father would allow such a thing. In all honesty she could not imagine any of the men in their lives to allow such a thing and yet according to the man they had. Amelia was out there searching for her and had come so close to finding her that they had felt the need to poison her.
Amelia had always been Grace’s protector. Though they were sisters, Amelia had been the only mother that Grace had ever known. I will never forgive myself if she were to die in an effort to save me. I could not bear the guilt having been the cause of both my mother and sister’s deaths. Though Amelia and Jonathan had always told her that their mother’s death was not Grace’s fault, she had long felt that it was. Had I never been born, Mother would still be alive, and Amelia would not be in danger now.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as looked up at the top of the broch once again contemplating launching herself from the top of the wall. If I am not alive to be searched for, Amelia would return home safe. She knew even as she had the desperate thought that it was wrong. If she were to die, Amelia would never give up the search until she had found the men who had taken Grace and brought them to justice. She did not wish to bring her family any more pain than they had already endured by such a rash action.
Instead of succumbing to her defeatist thoughts, Grace did her best to cling to the hope that God would protect her family and that she would someday soon be rejoined with them. Please God keep Amelia safe, even if it means my own undoing.
Chapter 20
When Amelia, Tristan, and Malcolm arrived in the village, Malcolm excused himself to return home. Amelia was disappointed to see him go. The Scotsman kissed her hand, and she promised to come and visit him soon. She was surprised by his sudden departure after he had promised to help her find her sister, but she supposed now that she was back with Tristan and Henry, there was no need for him to stay. Watching him ride away was more difficult than Amelia had thought it would be.
They left their horses at the stables, then entered the tavern inn. They found Henry in the corner by the window scanning the faces in the crowd as if he were looking for someone to beat senseless. When his eyes fell upon them his features relaxed in relief. “Amelia,” he stood and greeted her taking her hands in his. He squeezed them affectionately, then motioned for them to join him. A bar maid came over and took their order then moved to do as asked. “Where were you?” Henry demanded to know.
Amelia told him of all that had happened since last they had spoken. When she was done, he sat staring at her in disbelief. “What were you thinking, Amelia? You could have been killed.”
“And would you have done anything different?” she challenged.
Henry sighed and shook his head. “Nay, I would have done the same. There is not anything that I would not do to save Grace.”
Amelia leveled a pointed look at both men and sat back in her chair feeling somewhat vindicated. “As I thought.”
“Amelia,” Tristan warned. His tone told her that he was in no mood to get into another debate on the subject. She had scared him, and he had made sure that she knew it. Opting not to start another argument, she refrained from saying anything more on the subject.
“What did you discover?” Tristan asked Henry.
“Nothing. I lost the trail at the road.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“And what about the dead woman in the croft? Did Mr. Johnson do as instructed?”
“Yes, he did, but the magistrate brushed it aside as an accident.”
“Well we know that not to be true with what Amelia witnessed.”
“Indeed, but there is nothing that we can act upon without putting Grace in further danger. The ransom note was clear that we could not divulge anything to those in authority.”
Tristan shook his head. “And so, the killer will go unpunished. Even though the woman supplied the poison that was given to Amelia, I cannot say that I would wish such a death on any woman, let alone one of such advanced years. I suppose that were we able to have reported what happened to the magistrate she would have ended up at the end of a rope in the end anyway.”
Henry nodded. “And rightly so.”
“God’s justice I suppose.”
Amelia leaned her head against the wall of the tavern. She was tired from the journey and from retelling everything that had happened once again. She was sad at Malcolm’s leaving, and felt the absence of Fergus even stronger than before. There was something reassuring about the older men’s presence. Before she realized what she had done, she fell asleep sitting up at the table. The next thing she knew, she felt herself being lifted up into Tristan’s arms leaving Henry behind.
“Put me down,” she mumbled sleepily.
“Nay,” he refused. “If I let you down now you will tumble down the stairs.”
He felt warm and comforting. In spite of her protestations to be let go of, she clung to the front of his jacket as if it were the only stable thing in all of England to keep her steady. The ale she had drank with her meat pie, strong and bitter, had gone straight to her head. It reminded her of when she had been poisoned. “I do not want to be poisoned again.”
“I checked all of your food and drink. As far as I was able to ascertain, you should be safe.”
“You tasted my food knowing that it could make you sick or kill you?” she asked in surprise. “I did not notice.”
“Of course, I did. Your safety is my primary concern.”
“Grace is our primary co
ncern,” she argued with him, her mind befuddled from the alcohol.
“Yes, she is, but that does not exclude you from my care.”
When they reached the door to her room, he nudged it open with his foot and carried her inside. Kicking the door closed so that no one could sneak up behind them, he laid her down on the bed. He removed her boots and covered her with a blanket. “You are too good to me,” she mumbled, as he caressed the hair from her face.
“Nay.”
“You are more than I deserve.”
“Such a thing is not possible.”
“It is, I assure you.”
Tristan chuckled. “We will have to disagree on the matter.”
“We disagree quite often.”
“Yes, we do.”
“And yet you still care for me.”
“Always,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. He moved to stand, but Amelia grabbed ahold of his shirt front.
“Do not leave me alone.”
“I cannot remain, Amelia. My presence would ruin your reputation.”
“You were with me when I was ill.”
“That was different. I feared you were dying.”
“And if I said I did not give a fig for my reputation?”
“I would still care.”
“Of course, you would.”
“That is the ale talking,” he murmured amused at her state.
“Or maybe it is simply the truth.”
“Nay.”
“Yes,” she whispered, lifted her lips to his, brushing them ever so gently.
“Amelia, I…”
Amelia did not hear the rest of what he had to say before sleep claimed her.
* * *
Tristan sat back on his heels dazed. She kissed me… A warm glow overtook him as the truth of it set in. He only wished that she had not been under the influence of ale when she had done it. He was not entirely certain that she would remember having done so come the morning, or even if she did remember he feared that she would regret it as she had never shown such an inclination before.
Tucking the covers up under her chin, he smoothed the hair back from her face, kissed her forehead, then left the room. He rejoined Henry in the tavern. “How is she?”
“She is asleep for now.”
“And if she runs off again?”
“The man that she spoke of, Malcolm, is watching the inn. If she attempts to leave on her own again, he will follow her.”
“Does she know?”
“Nay, and it should remain so.”
“There is wisdom in that. What are you going to do?”
“I do not know. The wiser course of action would be to return her to Canterley and await further instructions for the ransom.”
“It has become quite clear that Amelia cares not for what is wise, but I cannot say that I blame her. I feel much the same as she.”
“Have you had any word from your solicitor?”
“Nay, but I am certain that the money will be waiting for us upon my return. There has not been any word from Fergus yet either. I checked with the innkeeper upon my arrival.”
“Fergus would not know to send word here as last he knew we were at another inn further south of here. When he returned to the inn from Canterley and found that we had already left, I would venture to guess that he went back home to await word. The kidnappers do seem to be taking their time about it though.” Tristan sighed and leaned back against the wall. He scanned the room as if he could will something to reveal itself from among the gathered men.
“Better that than not have the money they are demanding.”
“That is true. I am sorry, Henry. I did not think before I spoke.”
“You are concerned for Amelia. I understand. The moment that the money is gathered, I will feel much the same way. At the moment; however, I fear that the ransom demand will come before all is ready, and yet I am impatient to receive word so that we can get Grace back and put all of this behind us.”
Tristan studied his friend’s face. “Go home, Henry.”
Henry looked up at him in surprise. “What? Why?”
“I can see the need in your eyes. Waiting for word is wearing you down. Go home, get the money, and meet us back at Canterley.”
“Amelia will fight you every step of the way.”
“Yes, she will, but it is time that she accepted the impossibility of the situation. She is going to have to find it within herself to have faith that once the ransom is paid Grace will be returned safely.”
Henry shook his head. “She will never until she sees it with her own eyes. Even then she will seek vengeance upon those who have violated the safety of her family and I will be right there beside her.”
“As will I, but until then…”
“I wish you well with it. I will leave upon the morn for Slantonshire and meet you at Canterley in a few days’ time.”
“Travel safely, my friend.”
“And you.”
* * *
“Ohhh,” Amelia groaned as she attempted to open her eyes. Her head felt as if it had been split open. Her eyes were grainy, and her mouth felt as if it had been stuffed with sheep’s wool.
“Good morning,” Tristan’s voice greeted from the doorway. He stepped into the room and handed her a cup of tea.
“Good morning,” she answered in surprise. “Are you certain that I was not poisoned again last night?”
Tristan chuckled. “Yes, I am certain. If you had been poisoned, I would have been as well with my tasting everything that you ate and drank. I do not feel ill in the least bit. ‘Tis the ale that has bestowed you with such unpleasant gifts.”
“’Tis a gift that I can very well do without.”
“Of that I am certain, but it did help you to get a good night’s rest.”
“That it did I suppose, but it is not something that I would care to repeat.”
“Nay, I should say not. Once is usually enough for those possessed with enough wisdom to know what is good for them. Sadly, too few possess such wisdom.”
“You have come to force my return home, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Tristan,” she shook her head.
“Do you not think that you owe Jonathan the comfort of your presence and to relay to him and your father what little knowledge we have managed to garner from our endeavors? He could very well have news that has not reached us yet.”
Amelia sighed. “Once I return, Father will never let me leave again.”
“I am not giving you a choice in the matter. We are returning to Canterley whether you wish it or not, even if I have to haul you back in a flour sack.”
Normally, Amelia would have fought him with fervor, but she lacked the energy to do so now. He was right, she owed Jonathan her support and maybe he would have news. I left Canterley once before without Father’s knowledge, I can do so again when the time comes. Rising, Amelia waved Tristan from the room and readied herself to leave. Exiting the inn, she met him in the stables, and they rode out for Canterley.
* * *
Jonathan sat staring into the flames of the library fireplace, when he heard the sound of horses approaching the manor house. He turned to look out of the window and nearly cried out in joy when he saw Tristan and Amelia galloping up the drive. Launching to his feet, he ran out of the door meeting them at the front of the house. “Amelia!” he pulled his sister from the saddle in an affectionate embrace. “I was so very concerned. I feared the worst.”
“As did I,” Tristan replied dismounting.
“Old friend,” Jonathan tucked his sister under his arm and reached out to shake Tristan’s hand. “’Tis good to see you both.”
“You look pale and drawn, brother,” Amelia remarked with concern.
“As do you,” Jonathan remarked tipping her chin up to study her face.
“The poisoning took its toll.”
“I see that. When I get my hands on those brigands,” he threatened, his muscles tightening in a
nger.
“We have to find them first.”
“Quite right.” Jonathan led Amelia and Tristan into the house and ordered the staff to bring them some food in the library.
“Have you had any news?” Amelia asked as she sat down on the settee by the fire. To Jonathan it felt as if she had been gone for an eternity.
“Nay, not as of yet.”
The Haunted Knight 0f Lady Canterley Page 17