Highland Storms (37 page)

‘
Marsaili Buchanan?’ a deep voice whispered.

‘
Y-yes,’ she stammered, trying not to let her terror show too much.

‘
Come with me, your friends are waiting.’ Marsaili was just about to ask which friends, when the man continued, ‘They told me one word would make you believe me – Liath.’

Marsaili relaxed. She doubted Sherringham knew the name of her dog, only someone from Rosyth would. Scrambling to her feet, she felt Eilidh standing up beside her and realised she couldn’t leave the woman behind after she’d shown such kindness. ‘My maid is coming too,’ she stated boldly, in a tone that brooked no argument.

‘
I wasn’t told about her. That’ll be an extra payment,’ the deep voice grumbled. ‘Oh, very well, come along then and be quick about it.’

Marsaili grabbed Eilidh’s hand and followed the man. There were some protests as she tripped over people’s legs and a few hands reached out to try and snatch at the hem of her skirts, but somehow they made it to one of the entrances to the prison. Outside, she saw two shadowy figures and as the gaoler hurried them through the doorway, these came forward.

‘
That’ll be ten guineas. You didn’t say nothin’ ’bout a maid,’ the man hissed.

‘
Ten? But …?’

Marsaili recognised Seton’s voice and her heart sank, but she definitely didn’t want to go back inside.
Better the devil you know
, she thought. ‘Pay it, please, I’ll reimburse you,’ she whispered. Muttering under his breath, Seton did so.

The other shadow turned out to be Iain, which made Marsaili feel slightly better although she wasn’t sure what his reasons for being there were. ‘Come on,’ he whispered, ‘we must leave immediately.’ Taking her hand, he pulled her swiftly down the street and since she was still holding onto Eilidh, she came too. Marsaili noticed Eilidh hadn’t said anything, but assumed she was too pleased to be away from the gaol to care where they were going.

On the outskirts of the little town, two ponies waited and Seton and Iain mounted one each. Seton held out his hand to Marsaili, ‘Here, you’ll have to ride behind me,’ he said. She hesitated only for an instant. This wasn’t the time or the place to argue about details. Iain took Eilidh up behind him and they set off.

‘
How did you manage to bribe the gaoler?’ Marsaili asked as soon as they were away from the town.

‘
It wasn’t all that difficult. Some of the townspeople take turns guarding the gaol and we met him earlier at the inn. Didn’t bat an eyelid when I offered him a small “reward” for helping us. Apparently lots of people escape from here. The judge isn’t too pleased about it, I hear.’

‘
I imagine not.’ Marsaili breathed in deeply of the cold night air, revelling in the fresh smell of pine.

‘
Who’s the woman?’

‘
A friend,’ Marsaili said simply. ‘I couldn’t leave her behind, I’m sorry. I’ll pay you back, I promise.’

‘
Aye, you will.’

His words seemed to hold a double meaning which made Marsaili shiver, but she had no regrets about going with him. Anything had to be better than Inveraray Gaol.

‘
Thank the Lord for favourable winds!’ Alex was striding along beside Brice, away from the port at Leith and in towards Edinburgh. Ramsay lagged slightly behind, looking tired and worn.

‘
Amen to that,’ Brice replied with feeling. ‘And for my father’s foresight in dealing with such efficient and kind people.’

The Dutch merchants, Bruggen and Visser, had proved very understanding and accommodating. As soon as Brice explained the situation to them, they’d acted quickly and decisively. Passage to Edinburgh on a ship leaving the same day was found for the three of them, clean sets of clothes lent to them and a bath arranged for each. Brice had felt like a new man.
Mijnheer
Bruggen had also taken him aside and handed him a pouch of money.

‘
For any unexpected expenses during the journey,’ he said with a smile. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your father pays me back.’

‘
I can’t thank you enough for your kindness.’ Brice had liked both men immediately, but this one in particular. Of about his father’s age,
Mijnheer
Bruggen was small and round with an almost completely bald head and a distinct twinkle in his eyes. He was calm and seemingly unperturbed by the arrival of three virtual strangers asking for help and Brice had the impression that behind the smiling façade lay a very shrewd brain. Killian had made a great choice of trading partner with this man.

As he strode towards Edinburgh now, Brice tried to emulate the Dutchman’s unruffled demeanour, even though inside he was seething with impatience. They were back on Scottish soil, true, but there was still a long way to go. And even when they reached Rosyth, they may be too late. He refused to admit defeat until he knew for sure though.

‘
Do you have to walk so fast?’ Ramsay grumbled. ‘You may have slept for a while on that damned ship, but I didn’t. I feel sick as a dog.’

‘
You know where we’re going,’ Brice flung over his shoulder. ‘Just follow me to Rory’s house at your own pace, if you want.’

‘
No, I’m not losing sight of you now.’ Ramsay’s mouth tightened and he hurried to catch up. ‘We’re sticking together or there’s no saying what will happen. I just didn’t think we needed to hurry quite so much.’

‘
Well, you’re wrong. Every moment counts. Marsaili’s at that devious man’s mercy and I’ll never forgive myself if … oh, never mind.’

Ramsay gave him a lopsided smile. ‘You’re really smitten, aren’t you? And there’s everyone back in Sweden thinking you’re suffering from a broken heart. I can’t wait to tell them different.’

‘
I was, damn it, but I know better now.’ Brice glared at Ramsay. ‘I thought I loved Elisabet, but it wasn’t the real woman I idolised. I put her on a pedestal and never bothered to see whether I actually liked her or not, nor what was behind the pretty mask. I suppose I was just blinded by her beauty, like everyone else.’

‘
And how do you know you’re not doing the same thing now with this Marsaili woman?’

‘
Because she doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She’s honest, real and vibrant and … it feels different. I love her.’ He shrugged, then threw Ramsay a speculative look. ‘Just as you love Flora, I suspect.’

‘
What? No! I mean … she’s a fine woman and all, but not for me, no,’ Ramsay blustered.

‘
And why not? I’ve seen the way she looks at you.’

‘
You have? I mean, no, why would she? I’m a crusty old widower with a child – isn’t that what you called me? No woman would want to take me on.’

‘
Rubbish. And you know well enough I was joking.’ Brice grinned. ‘Ask her and I’ll wager a hundred guineas she says yes.’

‘
A hundred … are you out of your mind?’

‘
No, I’m saner than I’ve ever been. Alex, back me up here?’ Brice smiled at Alex who’d been walking along silently, but obviously listening.

‘
I don’t have that much money, but if I did, I’d bet the same,’ Alex nodded.

‘
You’re both insane,’ Ramsay muttered, but his cheeks had taken on an interesting hue of pink which reached all the way to his ears.

Brice and Alex exchanged a look, but didn’t say any more. It was up to Ramsay to act on their observations if he wished, but Brice for one hoped his uncle would make Flora a proposal. It was time his second cousin had a life of her own, instead of living in the shadow of her mother.

As for himself, he very much hoped he wouldn’t end up living the rest of his life alone. Because if he couldn’t have Marsaili, he would.

He truly wanted no one else.

‘
Warden, fetch a woman named Marsaili Buchanan if you please.’

Sherringham was seated opposite the Inveraray judge and had asked to see the Jacobite bitch to make sure she looked suitably wretched. He’d waited three days, to make sure she was thoroughly cowed. The worse her aspect, the more he hoped Kinross would be moved to give himself up in her stead. Even if the man arrived incognito in the town, he’d see her through the bars of the prison which was all to the good. That was one of the reasons why Sherringham had chosen to bring her here – at Fort William or any of the others she’d have been out of sight. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, this should be interesting.

After a lengthy wait, the warden came back huffing slightly and with reddish cheeks. ‘I’m sorry, your honour, but it seems she’s gone missing.’

‘
Missing?’ Sherringham sat up straight in his chair, but the angry tirade he was about to utter was drowned out by the judge who beat him to it.

‘
Another one! For the love of God, man, how many times do I have to tell you this is not acceptable? I thought you took on more staff to guard the prisoners?’

The warden shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. ‘I did, sir, but …’ he shrugged, ‘there’s no knowing if they’re trustworthy, is there? I did warn ye against employing townspeople.’

‘
You’ll damn well
have
to make sure. I’m holding you responsible!’

The judge turned to Sherringham, apologetic but still visibly angry. ‘I’m terribly sorry, but it seems there has been some dereliction of duty.’ He glared at the warden again, but the man was still making a careful study of the floor.

Sherringham took a deep breath and clenched his fists so hard on the armrests of the chair his knuckles cracked. He could shout and bluster all he liked, but he knew it wouldn’t help. The woman was gone.
Damn and blast!
Now he’d have to start all over again. He tried to compose himself and think.

‘
When did she go?’ he asked curtly. ‘Do you keep any sort of check on the inmates at all?’

The warden looked up. ‘Yes, sir, they were all counted before being locked away for the night. She must have been there then as she wasn’t reported missing at that point. And I was here myself until midnight, so she can’t have left before then.’

‘
Hmm. Thank you.’ Sherringham got to his feet. It was still early morning and if the laird only had a head start of a few hours, he might be able to catch up with them. Either way, he had to try.

And when he caught them, he’d make the scum pay.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

‘
Kirsty? And Flora! I’ll be damned. What are you doing here?’

Brice was shown into the parlour of Rory Grant’s lodgings and stopped dead at the sight which greeted him. He felt Ramsay and Alex bump into him from behind and then try to peer under or over his shoulders respectively. Ramsay drew in a sharp breath, but it was drowned out by the squeals of delight that echoed round the room.

‘
Brice, you’re all right! And you two as well, oh, this is capital.’ Kirsty rushed forward with her usual impulsiveness, while Flora stood up and blinked at them in surprise. Rory too got up from his chair and smiled when he saw who had arrived.

‘
Well, thank the Lord for that,’ he said. ‘We had begun to fear the worst and none of our enquiries have met with any success. You’d disappeared without a trace.’ He came over to shake hands with all three men and clapped Brice on the shoulder. ‘Come in and have a seat. Tell us what on earth happened to you.’

‘
We will, but first, why are my cousins here? Is something amiss at Rosyth? Ailsa? Marsaili? Ida?’ Brice regarded the ladies with a slight frown, wondering what new calamity had befallen his family. There seemed no end to them at the moment and he felt anxiety churning his gut.

‘
Oh, you have no idea!’ Kirsty began to wring her hands, further alarming Brice who now expected to hear the worst.

‘
Kirsty, let me explain. You’re too melodramatic.’ Flora came forward and put a restraining hand on her sister’s arm. She sent Ramsay a shy smile and a nod before turning to Brice. ‘We are here because Marsaili has been arrested by that Englishman who took you away. Kirsty’s husband has gone with his father to try and have her released, but they weren’t sure they’d manage it. Iain therefore charged Kirsty with going to Edinburgh to enlist the help of your kind friend here.’ She nodded at Rory. ‘He thought perhaps Mr Grant could stop any legal action against her. Naturally, I couldn’t let Kirsty travel alone, so here we both are.’

‘
Yes, and a good thing too,’ Kirsty added, ‘because after Iain and his father left, Archie told us he’d heard the Englishman give his men orders to head for Inveraray. So they won’t know she’s there until they return home. Mr Grant had just proposed to travel straight there himself to see what he could do in the meantime.’

Brice waited until they’d finished, but while they spoke he felt his insides turn to ice.
Marsaili, taken by the Englishman! Dear God … and with Seton in pursuit, that’s not much better. He might find out her destination somehow and then
 … He tried to draw air into lungs which suddenly seemed too small. ‘Thank you for your efforts. This makes it even more urgent, however. We had thought to ask Rory for the loan of some horses, so we could go north immediately. It sounds as if we need to press on as fast as possible, but heading west instead.’

He quickly related what had happened to them and why he was afraid for Marsaili. ‘So you see, this may all be part of Seton’s plan. Either way, if he manages to free her from gaol, she’ll be in his clutches.’

‘
Not so,’ Kirsty objected. ‘My Iain’s with them, remember?’