The Highwayman of Tanglewood (15 page)

“As it is mine, Faris,” Lochlan said, unexpectedly dropping to one knee before her as well. “All who dwell at Loch Loland Castle should, and will, know peace and safety. We will not fail you again.”

Faris found drawing breath to be difficult. Lord Derrick Rockrimmon knelt before her—looking as a knight of old pledging loyalty to a great lady—as did his handsome son. She was a mere chambermaid and could no more believe the truth of who knelt before her and why than she could have defended herself from Kade Tremeshton.

“What is all this?” Lillias asked as she entered to see her father and brother kneeling before Faris. “What has happened? Gawain?”

“Oh, my poor Faris!” Lillias exclaimed, throwing graceful, caring arms around Faris to embrace her. “He is the devil, I swear it! Sometimes I believe Kade Tremeshton is in truth the very devil!”

“I-I am well, Miss Lillias,” Faris said. She received and indeed returned Lillias’s embrace, however—grateful for obvious affection and friendship.

“You should have beaten him within an inch of his life, Loch!” Lillias said, releasing Faris and studying her face—an expression of deep worry and concern blatant on her own.

“Father would only allow that I break his nose and throw him out,” Lochlan said, rising to his full stance in unison with his father.

“Father!” Lillias exclaimed—a deep scolding tone of disappointment in her voice.

“It was enough,” Lord Rockrimmon said. “In the least, for now it was enough.”

“I beg your pardon, sire,” Lord Kendrick began, “but may I inquire as to what the villain was about at Loch Loland in the first of it?”

Lord Rockrimmon nodded. “This is entirely my fault,” he said. “I should never have allowed him to step a foot into Loch Loland. Yet he sent me word yesterday of his desire to sell his eastern properties—the properties on which he keeps five families of tenants in utter misery. I could not refuse the offer. Still, he was determined to strike hands and signatures on parchments here at Loch Loland.” Lord Rockrimmon’s eyes lingered on Faris a moment. “I think now I understand why he refused to sell me the properties unless I allowed the purchase to take place in my own house.”

“He is yet angry at Faris’s rejection of him,” Lord Kendrick said. “It is more the being bested he minds, rather than the loss of conquest, I daresay.”

Faris glanced away as Lord Kendrick’s gaze held hers for a long moment. She was far too uncomfortable in the presence of so many titled men.

“Men can be such loathsome creatures,” Lillias grumbled. “Kade Tremeshton offers your gender no good due.”

Not one of the men present begged to argue with Lillias. Rather they stood in silence for long moments.

“And yet,” Lillias sighed, taking Lord Kendrick’s arm and smiling up at him, “there are three knights of chivalry yet standing in Loch Loland Castle. Of that I am encouraged and happy.”

Lord Kendrick smiled at Lillias, and Faris could not help but be warmed within at the sight of their true and obvious affection for one another.

“Pray, what is in the basket?” Lochlan said.

Faris gasped slightly, remembering then her errand.

As Lochlan stooped to pick up the basket, which had fallen to the floor upon Kade’s assault, Faris said, “Milady wishes for you, Lord Rockrimmon, to deliver this basket of books and bread to Mrs. McGovern as you are on your tenant visits today.”

Lord Rockrimmon smiled at Faris. “You may inform milady that I will do so promptly upon seeing Mrs. McGovern, Faris.” He reached out, taking one of her hands between his two strong ones. “I hope you will forgive us for failing you, Faris. I hope you will not think of leaving us because of this incident.”

“It was none of it your fault, sire,” Faris said. She was far too uncomfortable and wished only to escape, for Lord Rockrimmon and his handsome son to leave for their destinations and save her from further attention.

“Father,” Lochlan said of a sudden. “I cannot allow Tremeshton to simply walk away from this without consequence!”

Faris looked to Lochlan. His temper had flared once more. No doubt it had never completely cooled. His green eyes flashed with fury, and Faris was in awe of the change in him—his playful, teasing nature had vanished, and in its place there was the anger and chivalrous nature of the noble lord he would one day be.

“I will ride him down and best him as I should have!” Lochlan growled, turning to leave. His father’s hand on his shoulder suspended his exit however.

“You bloodied him enough for one day, Loch,” Lord Rockrimmon said. “We have business to be about. Some of which is the matter of seeing to our new tenants, who once belonged to the blackguard and are, no doubt, in need of much. Leave the besting of such vile villains to those who are best at it.”

Lochlan’s massive chest rose and fell with the labored breathing of barely restrained anger.

“You mean to say let the Highwayman of Tanglewood manage him while I sit still and in seeming cowardice endure one great political debate after another!” Lochlan growled through clenched teeth.

“You have accomplished much in your debating, Lochlan—much the Highwayman could not accomplish in his way,” Lord Rockrimmon said. “The Highwayman is indeed our ally. He battles in one venue, we in another—both of equal importance in our cause.”

“Ride out to Tremeshton’s east properties, Lochlan,” Lord Kendrick said. “Battle Tremeshton by lifting those he has oppressed from despair and hardship.”

Faris watched as Lochlan attempted to rein in his obviously tweaked temper. Though his teeth were yet clinched with frustration, he nodded. “Very well. Let us ride out then, Father—for my temperament is not favorable to idleness.”

“Indeed,” Lord Rockrimmon said, winking at Faris. “Then we shall ride out.”

Faris could not help but smile. What a wonderful father Lord Rockrimmon was to his children! In those moments, as his kind smile and fatherly wink were bestowed upon her, she felt a wave of endearment wash over her in response.

With a nod to Lord Kendrick, and not one other offered word, Lochlan Rockrimmon turned and stormed from the room.

“What a jolly ride this promises to be, eh, Faris?” Lord Rockrimmon said, offering another wink a moment before he followed his son in exiting.

Lillias released a heavy sigh once her brother and father had left the room. Faris looked to see Lord Kendrick smiling with amusement.

“What an ordeal, Faris!” Lillias said. “I feel as if I want nothing more than to sit down the rest of the entire day! I seem terribly weak of a sudden. Such emotional drama ever takes its toll on me.”

“But what of your dress, my love?” Lord Kendrick asked. He smiled at his intended bride as she smiled at him. “Do you not wish to see it finished that we may wed upon the chosen date?”

“Indeed, I do!” Lillias said, smiling.

Faris giggled, delighted in Lillias’s sudden renewal of spirit.

“It is why I came in search of you in the first of it, Faris!” she said. “Mother and I demand that you come up and see the dress. I simply cannot allow the seamstress to complete it without your approval!”

Faris felt suddenly tired, worn to a thread. The confrontation with Kade Tremeshton and all that followed had fairly drained her of any vitality and emotion. Yet her friend was asking a boon.

“I cannot wait to see it,” Faris said.

“Then we shall go up to Mother,” Lillias said, ever smiling.

“Yet, I would wait in telling Lady Rockrimmon of this…this incident with Tremeshton,” Lord Kendrick said. “Better to have his lordship relate the tale when he returns.”

“Indeed,” Faris agreed. She knew Lady Rockrimmon would be terribly overcome with fear, guilt, and any other number of sad emotions when the tale was told.

“Yes,” Lillias said. “Mother will blame herself—as ever she does. We will wait, Faris—we will allow Father to tell her of it. And until he does return, we will play the excited little girls over my wedding dress.”

“We will,” Faris said, smiling. Lillias’s friendship was true. With each passing day, Faris knew it was so—and prayed it would ever be.

“Then I will ride for my own home,” Lord Kendrick said. “I will allow you ladies your privacy—for I have many matters of my own business to attend to.”

“Oh, darling!” Lillias exclaimed. “Must you away so early in the day?”

Lord Kendrick smiled and gathered Lillias into his arms in a rather roguish manner, and Faris smiled, enchanted by his unguarded gesture.

Lord Kendrick shook his head, holding up one hand in gesture she should not thank him. “I did nothing save stand idly by as two noble lords defended a lady’s honor,” he said.

“But, sire—” Faris began.

“I will have no more thanks from you, Faris,” Lord Kendrick said. “In truth, I did nothing.”

Faris began to speak, yet as Lord Kendrick shook his head again, Lillias said, “Faris, please be so kind as to attend Mother and tell her I will join you shortly. If we do not appear, she may come in search of us, and then our secret will indeed be revealed before Father has returned to comfort her.”

Faris knew Lillias was attempting to distract her from offering further thanks to Lord Kendrick.

She smiled as Lillias added, “And besides, Gawain will never endeavor to kiss me if you do not leave us. Therefore, I would beg you, as my dearest friend—leave us…for I’m near to dying for want of him to do so.”

“Very well,” Faris said. “I will go.”

“And I am grateful,” Lord Kendrick said.

As Faris climbed the stairs on her way to the sewing rooms, she thought of the events of the morning. So much had transpired! It was difficult to take it all in. She felt worn and wished there were some way to find respite—a lonesome walk in the gardens or even the opportunity to sit quietly under a tree somewhere off from the castle. What she did find served to distract her thoughts at least—even if rest were not the benefit.

Upon arriving in the sewing room, Faris found Lady Rockrimmon rosy-cheeked and full of excitement.

“Faris! There you are, darling,” Lady Rockrimmon greeted. “Lillias’s dress is simply lovely! You cannot help but adore it. I’m so glad Lillias is a moderate girl in temper—her dress is simple and elegant, as befits her. And,” Lady Rockrimmon prattled on, “Joseph has only just handed me a letter from Lady Stringham!”

“Lady Stringham, milady?” Faris asked when Lady Rockrimmon seemed to pause, expectant of Faris’s response.

“Yes, darling” Lady Rockrimmon said. “She and her daughter, Tannis, are meant to visit us in two weeks’ time—far earlier than originally anticipated—and I simply cannot seem to feel happy about it.”

“Milady?” Faris asked.

“Yet regardless of how I feel, they have managed to coax Lochlan into inviting them, and we must put them up,” she said with a sigh. It seemed her excitement over Lillias’s wedding dress was cooled at the talk of impending company. “I know you keep the chambers across from Lillias at the ready. Still, I wish you to know that Lady Stringham and her daughter…their chambers will be your responsibility when they arrive, as well as Lochlan’s and Lillias’s,” she said.

“Of course, milady,” Faris said. “I will be only too glad to serve them.”

Lady Rockrimmon looked to Faris, and Faris almost laughed out loud at the expression of veiled sarcasm upon her lovely face.

“That is because you have not yet met them,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “I will tell you, Faris—I am certain Tannis Stringham has designs to marry my Lochlan, and I pray he is not insipid enough to be fooled and consider her. Still, she is a beautiful girl, and I cannot quite explain my aversion. Therefore, I must accept them into Loch Loland—for he has invited them.”

Of a sudden, Faris remembered—the night the family and household discovered Lochlan Rockrimmon was to return to Loch Loland Castle, there had been some talk of Milady Stringham and her daughter, Tannis. Mary, Joseph, and Sarah had mentioned an impending visit—mentioned their aversion to the daughter and their hopes Lochlan did not have serious intent toward her. Furthermore, was it not mentioned her father, Lord Stringham, was an enemy of the Highwayman of Tanglewood? Yes! She was sure it had been said.

Instantly, the fiber of Faris’s feelings of safety and security were weakened. Kade Tremeshton had managed to infiltrate the safety of Loch Loland Castle, and now it seemed the family of another noble miscreant would invade. It saddened and worried Faris to know another enemy of her secret love was to house under the same roof as she.

“I will see that they are very comfortable, milady,” Faris said.

Again she nearly laughed as the lovely woman arched one eyebrow and said, “Not too comfortable, darling. I do not wish that they should linger at Loch Loland long.”

“Yes, milady,” Faris said, smiling.

“Now come and see the dress, Faris,” Lady Rockrimmon said. “Lillias is most anxious you should approve it. Where is Lillias? I asked her to bring you, and now she has gone missing.”
Faris giggled, knowing Lillias and Lord Kendrick were downstairs sharing
nectar kisses
. “She said she would be here momentarily, milady,” Faris said.