NEARLY three days had gone by before Colin would let Beatrice leave her chambers. For three days he had her confined to bed and guards posted at her door. Servants would tend to her needs, and nothing dulled the ache in her back from being confined to such a position. Today she had had enough of this coddling and dressed herself once the last of the servants came in to tidy her room.
Beatrice pulled the furs away from the window and smiled at the sun rising. She was bound and determined to move on with life.
She dressed quickly and hurried out the door, down the stairs, and into the great hall, noticing the others ready to break their fast.
“Beatrice! What are ye doing out of bed?” Colin inquired.
“My health has been restored for three days, and ye still insist I remain up there. I refuse to be confined to my room as an invalid.”
He scowled at her, but she paid him no mind. She went to take an open seat at the table, but Giric moved from the left seat near the laird and made room for her.
“Thank ye, Giric, but ye needn’t incommode yerself.”
“It was my duty, my lady.”
Beatrice patted the laird’s arm. “Truly, I am quite restored. Ye have no need to worry.”
“Well, if that is the case, once ye are done eating, ye and my mother will depart for my lands.”
“So soon? What of ye? Will ye not be with us?”
“Aye. I will follow behind within the hour. I must ensure I’ve left all my orders clear here. Aside from my duties, there is much to be readied at the keep, and she will be much more comfortable there.”
“Ready for what?”
“Have ye forgotten so soon?”
Beatrice paused. Nay, she had not forgotten. But she had stashed the memory of that night to the furthest crevices of her mind.
“Are ye not concerned that Sinclair’s rivals will be waiting for us?”
“That is why ye will be escorted by my men. If there is any trouble, ye will be protected.”
“If ye are certain that we will be fine, then I am confident all will be fine.”
They ate their food quickly and returned to their quarters to grab what few belongings they had.
* * * *
Deirdre had been waiting for her in her chambers.
“What is the matter, Deirdre?”
“I am not certain, but I am plagued with worry over this journey of yers. I went to find Alec this morning at his cottage and couldna find him. Something is off, and I want ye and Lady Sinclair to be protected.”
The healer passed her a sack of items. “Please open it.”
Beatrice did as she was asked and was surprised by the contents. “What is all of this?”
“Ye know the basics of making a draught. Should ye find yerself in trouble on yer travels and forced to serve an enemy’s house, the sachet with the cord is meant to poison the person who drinks it. It will bring on violent tremors and foam to the mouth. The second is to cause upset stomach. The last one is to soothe upsets and aid with some pain. I am certain ye know what to do with a knife.”
“Aye.” Silence befell them. “This seems very unexpected. Are ye concerned that enemies will be already in wait for us to leave the keep?”
“I believe that with Mary Gwendolyn havin’ run off, and Sinclair’s daughters still na being found is a problem. I believe that Mary Gwendolyn having vanished after that mess a few days ago is verra suspicious. Now with Alec missing, I havena an idea what to think. There are traitors at work here, and I am very worried.”
“Have ye tried addressing yer concerns with the laird?”
“Aye, but he willna listen. He is confident his men are enough.”
These were all valid concerns, but she had to trust in what the laird was doing. A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.
“My lady, the horses are ready.”
“Verra well. I will be only another minute.”
Deirdre took her leave in that moment as well, leaving Beatrice to her thoughts. Just what if they were captured? Possibly by an ally of Sinclair who wanted retribution? Clan wars weren’t uncommon, but given the fact that Sinclair had been in league with the English, they were ill prepared for such a battle. She had to summon the courage from somewhere.
She took her time walking outside to where the horses, men, and Lady McIntyre waited.
She approached her horse but not before Colin spun her around. “Ye will remember this moment and remember who ye belong to.”
He pulled her up against his broad chest and lowered his lips to her, a hard, meaningful reminder that they would be wed soon enough. A reminder that no one else would touch her. The laird released her and lifted her onto her mount.
“Giric, take the direct route. The faster ye get home, the better.”
“Aye.”
Beatrice nudged her mount into a gait and rode next to Lady McIntyre without saying a word. Every so often she would look up and Colin’s mama smiled at her. The thought that she was travelling to what was soon to be her new home brought tears of joy. She hadna ever thought this day would arrive. Her future mama hummed a cheery tune while Giric cast a glance every few moments. She noticed his back straightened from the relaxed position they were in. They were halfway home when Giric lifted his hand to signal for them to stop. Something in the trees had caught his attention. They proceeded with caution, but the screech that threatened to escape her throat released.
Alec. Strung up to a tree, with the cord wrapped so tightly it would have cut off circulation. His face…barely recognizable. His throat had been sliced, his tunic soaked and stained by his blood, and his hands were tied behind his back.
“It is not safe here.” Giric yelled at another soldier, “Ride ahead and see if ye can tell me what ye see.”
The warrior rode only a few yards out before he was struck down by an arrow.
Beatrice paled when Giric roared, “We must return back to the keep.”
Just as they were about to turn around, they were surrounded by McKenzie soldiers, a vast army that outnumbered Colin’s men.
Giric and his men encircled Beatrice and Lady McIntyre, but it would have been impossible for them to remain safe. There were simply too many men.
One by one, each soldier fought for their safety and were lured away from her and Lady McIntyre. What they hadn’t counted on was being sneaked up upon. While Giric was preoccupied, two massive soldiers on foot approached her and Colin’s mama. The women’s hands were bound and their mounts were led to another group of soldiers. They stopped before an ogre of man.
“Who are ye, and why are ye doing this?
“The lass has spirit, men.”
The warrior shouted, “I am heir to clan McKenzie, thanks to McIntyre, and while he is in the habit of taking things that are not his by right, I shall do the same.”
“You will not get away with this, you…you beast,” Lady McIntyre added.
“I do believe I just have, Lady McIntyre. Take them. I am certain we will find use for them.”
Beatrice looked back to see the men still fighting. Some had fallen, but Giric and his men continued. Deirdre had been right with her warnings.
They rode for many hours and did not reach a village until the sun was about to set. They were pulled off their horses and dragged into a tent into the middle of a field. Beatrice couldna help but notice English soldiers and some of McKenzie’s men waited outside of the tent.
“This is a very interesting turn of events, McKenzie,” an English voice said from inside.
McKenzie shoved them into the tent, and they both fell to their knees.
“Pretty ladies indeed, and I am certain that he’ll be riding through this way to collect them. Ye are free to take them and do as ye wish. We will take care of the rest.”
Colin’s enemy pulled them to their feet and shoved them out of the tent.
“What of my gold?”
“It will be delivered once both keeps are taken,” Beatrice heard before they were lifted back onto their horses and rode for another hour.
* * * *
“Laird McKenzie, welcome home,” Mary Gwendolyn greeted him. “I see the bitch still lives,” she added.
“Mind yer tongue, Mary. These women are the key to English gold. If ye do anything to prevent that from happening, I’ll kill ye myself.”
Another soldier approached. “What are we to do with these two?”
“They’ll work inside. That way we can keep an eye on the wenches. Put them in the kitchen, and they can share a room when they are not working.”
Beatrice and Lady McIntyre were hauled off their horses and pushed along inside. The shock of the servants was evident. Some avoided eye contact, and others tried to smile. She suspected the servants here also endured a tyranny much like the rule of the Sinclairs.
Servants led them into a room in the tower. A woman started a fire, and another brought in a pail. “There’s a basin with some water on the table by the hearth. I will see if there is anything left over from dinner too. Might as well go to bed with a little something in yer bellies.”
Beatrice glared at the door as they left and turned to Lady Macintyre. “We will find our own way out of here. I have a plan, but I need time to watch the guards and servants carefully. While I know Colin will rescue us, we can still help him from the inside.”
“What do ye mean? How could we possibly do anything to help ourselves here?”
“Did ye not notice the servants’ actions? I am certain that some of these servants can be trusted. I only need a bit of time to ascertain who I can trust.”
Lady McIntyre nodded. “Very well, but if we’re to leave here alive, we need to plan quickly.”
Beatrice would have her work cut out for her, but she knew that by the time she had a plan in place, her laird would be there to rescue her.