AnchorandStorm (21 page)

Angus sighed. “Edgar, I want to see them punished as much as you do, but no judge will ever believe Fen, ye know that.”

“No, but he would believe us.”

Emily turned from the window and, still holding their son as if afraid to let him go, sat back down in her chair. She placed her hand on Edgar’s knee. “But we weren’t witness to any of this. If we say we were, we’d be guilty of perjury and Raymond and Caroline know that.”

“We don’t have to perjure ourselves. There’s a way we can get them to confess.”

Angus grinned. “What are ye, plannin’, Edgar?”

Edgar smiled back. “You’ll see.”

Weston knocked and entered. “Lord and Lady Stockdale, milord.”

Caroline immediately caught sight of the baby and came toward Em where she stood by the window. “Oh you’ve gotten him back, oh I am so glad. And don’t worry, my dear, you are right to dismiss that horrible girl, how could she do such a thing?”

Caroline made a move to take Dair from Em’s arms. “Don’t ye dare touch him.” Em’s voice was so cold, even Angus felt the chill of it. Caroline hastily retreated to her husband’s side.

“You wanted to see us, Uncle?” Raymond asked.

Edgar sat at his desk, writing. As he finished and sanded the paper, he said, “This is a bank draft for ten thousand pounds. Spend it wisely for it is the last money you will get from us.”

“
What?
” Raymond asked. “Are you punishing us, Uncle? We did not kidnap your child. Surely you would not cut me off so.”

“I would and I am,” Edgar said. “It is certainly more than you deserve for trying to kill me and Emily.”

“
What?
” Raymond and Caroline exclaimed at the same time. “Uncle Edgar, what are you saying?” asked Raymond.

Em stepped forward. “I know you caused Edgar to trip and fall down the steps.”

“That’s preposterous. Uncle is unsteady on his legs. He fell, that is all.”

“With help from you, Raymond.” Emily said. “You tripped him.”

“What game is this?” Raymond scoffed. “Uncle, surely you can’t believe that.”

Edgar simply stared at his nephew and said nothing.

“You have no proof of that.” Beads of sweat had broken out on the man’s forehead.

“No?” said Emily “I saw you do it.”

“That’s impossible. Your back was turned.”

The room fell silent for a moment then Caroline gasped. “Raymond, how could you? I assure you, Uncle, Emily, I knew nothing of this. Had I known, I would—”

“Not have bothered to cut the girth on the sidesaddle?” Em nodded to Angus. Taking the cue, Angus brought the leather strap out from behind his back.

Caroline’s mouth worked, but no sounds came out. Angus thought she looked like a fish floundering on the beach. “Was this the reason for yer early morning visit to the stable?” he asked.

“How dare you speak to me that way! Who do you think you are?”

“He’s the man who will testify against you at your trial for attempted murder, Caroline,” Edgar said.

“Hah,” Caroline exclaimed. “Who will take his word over mine? He’s a groom, I’m a viscountess.”

“He is no longer a groom. He is my factor.”

Caroline flicked her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Whatever. He is still a traitor to the crown and will not be believed.”

Angus shrugged. “Let’s just see, shall we?”

“So what if I did? It didn’t work, did it? Emily was not harmed, though I can’t understand why.”

Raymond went to his uncle’s desk and grabbed the bank draft. “Come on, Caroline. Don’t you know when you’ve been beaten?” He turned toward the door. “Let’s go before—”

There in the open doorway stood the constable and three of his men. “Raymond Cavendish, Viscount Stockdale, and Caroline Cavendish, Viscountess Stockdale, I place you both under arrest for the attempted murder of Edgar Armstrong, the Earl of Callander, and of Emily Sinclair Armstrong, the Countess of Callander. You will come with me now.”

* * * * *

“I pity whoever buys his indenture,” Edgar said, shaking his head. “The man’s never done a lick of work in his miserable life.”

Edgar and Weston returned from Stirling three weeks after Raymond and Caroline’s arrest. A brief trial had been held, with the constable testifying that he had clearly heard the Cavendishes’ confessions, and Raymond was sentenced to fourteen years’ indenture for attempted murder.

“Maybe this will teach him how,” Angus said. What he didn’t say, and what everyone in the room knew, was that Angus hadn’t needed to be made a slave to learn how to work. He had worked all his life, but for his people and himself.

“What of Caroline?” Emily asked.

Edgar came forward and took her hands. “I’m sorry, my dear, but she was let go. You weren’t harmed after all.”

“No, no, I am not upset. I was wondering what would happen to the children if she too had to go to Australia.”

“I have agreed to a yearly stipend for her and the children,” Edgar continued. “But I have also promised her that if she ever comes near you or our child again, I
will
have her transported.”

“Will she listen, d’ye think?” asked Angus.

“Oh yes, I think she is sufficiently frightened to keep her distance. After all, if Raymond has done no work, she’s done even less.”

Chapter Twenty

October 1756

The blanket slipped off Edgar’s lap. Angus leaned over to adjust it then sat back down on the bench next to Edgar’s wheeled chair. “Are ye too cold? Do ye want me to take ye inside now?” he asked.

“No,” Edgar replied, struggling to draw in enough breath for speech. “The sun is warm…despite the chill in the air. I want to enjoy it…as long as I can.”

Angus was silent. What could he say to that? Edgar’s health was failing rapidly and they all knew it.
Yes, let him feel the sun on his face as long as he can.

He followed Edgar’s gaze out to the lawn in front of them. Dair, now five years old, sat atop his pony while Willie led them in circles around the fountain in the center of the topiary garden. Emily and the three-year-old twins, Hannah and Heather, ran across the grass, catching butterflies in their nets then releasing them. Their giggles carried clearly in the crisp autumn air.

“The girls look so much…like Emily.”

“Aye, they do. Thank God,” Angus said, laughing.

Edgar gave a short laugh then began to cough. When he was able to catch his breath again, he asked, “What will you tell Dair?”

“About what?”

“When he asks you why…he looks exactly like you.”

Angus thought for a moment. “Until he’s old enough to understand why we did what we did, I’ll tell him he is a very special lad. He had two fathers where most boys have only one.”

Emily leaned against the oak tree and rubbed her eyes to try to hold back the tears. She and Angus had left the children with their nurse and settled Edgar into bed—even sitting in the garden for half an hour had worn him out and his breathing was becoming more labored.

“Go for a ride…you two. I am going to take…a bit of a nap.”

“I won’t leave you, Edgar,” she had protested.

“So…you are just going to…sit there and watch me sleep?”

“Aye, that I am.”

He had turned to Angus. “Take her out.”

She noted the look that passed between them. Angus nodded. “Let him have his rest, lass.”

They rode to their special glade by the stream. So much had happened between her and Angus in this spot—anger, friendship, love. Now sorrow would always be a part of this special place too.

Angus came up behind her and put his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. She leaned her head back against his chest. “We’re losing him, Angus.”

“Aye, we are.”

She felt a quick wave of anger shoot through her that he didn’t deny it and try to make her feel better. But it was no use doing so. They had had more years together than either Emily or Edgar ever thought they would have, but they always knew this time would come. Still, Emily could not help but feel adrift.

“I don’t know what I shall do without him. Ever since the day I met him, he’s been my anchor.”

“Can’t I be yer anchor?”

She turned and, hugging his waist, looked up into those deep blue eyes that always sent shivers of longing through her body. “No, ye great silly man. Ye’re my storm.”

By the time they got back to the house, Edgar was burning up with fever. Emily and Angus took turns bathing him in cool water and coaxing him to take some sips of tea, wine, anything they could get in him.

When his body finally cooled and he fell asleep, the two of them crawled into bed beside him, as was their habit—Emily in the middle, with Edgar on her right and Angus on her left. Emily enfolded Edgar in her arms and Angus did the same to her.

In the early hours of the morning, Emily dreamed that she was walking through the snow in only her nightdress and she was so cold, she feared she would freeze to death. She looked all around, searching for shelter, but there was no house in sight. She saw a man in the distance and ran toward him. As she came closer, she realized it was Edgar. He was pale as the snow around her and when she reached for him, her arms slipped right through his body. She drew back in horror, but he smiled at her and said, “You are safe. He will keep you safe. And I will be waiting for you both. We will see each other again some day.” Then she felt warmth at her back and turned into Angus’ waiting arms.

She came awake with a start. Something was wrong.

The warmth at her back was Angus, lying as he had fallen asleep, with his arms around her. Edgar lay on his side facing her, but instead of the fever that had gripped him earlier that night, he now shivered so badly the bed shook. His breath rasped in his throat.

“Oh Edgar, my love. Ye’re freezing.”

“S-sorry…I woke you…my dear.”

“Dinna be silly. Turn over and I’ll get another blanket to wrap around ye.”

“No, I can’t. My back…hurts too badly…to lie on it. But I feel so…cold.”

She took him in her arms. “Here, let me warm you.”

Behind her, Angus stirred. He got out of the bed and went to the fireplace to stir the embers to life. In the light from the rekindled fire, his naked skin glowed golden like some ancient Viking prince. For the briefest of moments, his obvious health and strength sparked her anger—that he should be so when Edgar was dying. But she knew Edgar himself would not hold that against Angus—he was leaving her in Angus’ care, after all.

She expected Angus to return to his side of the bed, but instead he went around to Edgar. He reached down and put his arms under Edgar’s chest and hip. “Here, scoot yerself over.”

Emily moved back as Angus slid Edgar’s body to the center of the bed. Then he lay down next to Edgar and pressed close to him. Edgar glanced back at Angus with a sly smile. “Why, Angus…I didn’t know…you cared.”

“Aye, well, don’t get any funny ideas, ye old bugger.”

They each laughed briefly then settled down, with Emily and Angus hugging Edgar between them to give him their warmth. But before they fell asleep, Emily had some news to share. She was afraid to wait another moment, afraid that Edgar might not live to hear it.

“Edgar, I have to tell ye something.”

“Yes, my dear?”

“I’m going to have another child.”

Angus’ head popped up above Edgar’s shoulders. His look of surprise slowly turned into a broad smile.

Edgar was smiling too. “Angus, you dog.”

“What can I say?” Angus laughed. “’Tis a fertile field and my seed takes to it well.”

“Oh you.” Emily smacked Angus playfully on the arm.

Edgar began to laugh too but was stopped by a fit of coughing. When he was able to speak again, he said, “I am so happy…for both of you.”

He raised his hand to caress Emily’s cheek. She could tell it took almost more strength than he had to do so. She held his fingers in hers and turned them to kiss his palm. “Thank you, Emily.”

“For what? ’Tis I who should thank you for all ye’ve given me.” She knew that he would understand she did not mean the material things he had provided, but rather his selflessness in giving her a lover, a protector and a father for her children in Angus.

“For making my last years…the happiest I…have ever known.” He took a deep breath. “I love you, Emily.”

“I love you too, Edgar, my darling.”

The first sound Angus heard upon awakening the next morning was Emily’s muffled sobbing. He knew instantly what had happened. He raised himself up on one elbow.

Emily leaned against the pillows, holding Edgar’s head against her chest, her face buried in his hair.

Angus took her hand. “Em.”

She looked up at him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. “Oh Angus, he’s gone.”