Kilts and Daggers (21 page)

“Daniel, if you insist on plaguing me every time I must see to my personal needs, this is going to be a long journey.”

“Of course… But don't wander too far into the trees, because if you're not back soon, I will find you.”

Gazing down at the restraining grip that held her, she lifted a brow. “Where could I possibly go with the king's men at my back?”

He nodded and then released her. As Grace ambled into the trees, she thought about her means of escape. If she wanted to get back to Fagan, she needed a horse. Perhaps she could threaten her driver since the man quivered at the very mention of Uncle Walter, but she couldn't very well wander around aimlessly in the dark. Although the blackness provided the perfect cover, she had to see the path to know where she was going. She needed to find the perfect moment.

She brushed down her skirts and was trying to think of all her options when a hard body pressed against her back and a hand clamped down over her mouth. A voice whispered in her ear.

“Donna scream. 'Tis me,
bhana-phrionnsa
.”

Whipping around, she wrapped her arms around Fagan and buried her head in his chest. “Why does this keep happening to us?”

“Shhh… Keep your voice down. Ruairi is here. We've been watching. Where is your uncle?”

Grace stiffened when a dark figure loomed closer. Fagan didn't even turn around. “'Tis only Ruairi and Angus. I told Ruairi everything.”

She wasn't sure if that meant about their relationship and thought it best not to ask. “I have to tell you this quickly because Daniel will come looking for me. My
betrothed
was the bloody spy, not Uncle Walter. He said he had already given the information about the earl's involvement with the uprising to the king's advisors. He told me not to tell Ravenna or Uncle Walter about his duties to the Crown because I could place him and myself in grave danger.”

“He's already in grave danger,” said Fagan.

“Daniel intends to take my uncle's place as the king's advisor. But if he doesn't know that my uncle and my sister are spies, then they don't know that he is. Furthermore, Ravenna would've told me if she'd known about Daniel. She never would've—”

“Ye're right,” said Ruairi. “Listen to me. We donna have much time. There are too many of the king's guard here, and I donna know the extent of Casterbrook's involvement with the king. I want ye to delay them along the way for as long as ye can. We will ride ahead and warn your uncle.”

“But Daniel intends to mar—”

“Lady Grace!” called Daniel in the distance.

“Go quickly,” said Ruairi.

“But Fagan, I need to tell you—”

His lips smothered her words, and then he pulled back hastily. “We'll be together soon.”

She watched the men and the wolf step back into the shadows and silently cursed herself for ever wanting adventure. Sitting in a comfortable chair in the ladies solar with a book in hand sounded wonderful right now. If her biggest worry was breaking a nail, she'd even be all right with that.

“My lady!”

“I'm coming!”

As soon as Grace stepped out of the brush, Daniel stood there with a suspicious expression on his face. “What took you so long?” He walked around her and looked back and forth into the darkness.

“I'm a woman. We always take a long time. You should see how long it takes me to dress and do my hair. See what you have to look forward to, my lord?”

“Your efforts are appreciated, my dear. You always look beautiful. When we return to Edinburgh, you will have a chance to bathe and I will make certain you want for nothing.”

“Edinburgh? I thought we were traveling to England.”

“Once I tell the king about how I killed the mercenaries who were working with the earl and his son, then we will be wed.”

“In Edinburgh?”

“I can't think of a better place and a greater reward. After we're wed, you can return to England and tell your uncle and family all about it.”

“Oh, Daniel. I'm very disappointed in the decision you've made. I'm a woman. As such, I need to have my family in attendance. I want the perfect dress made for the occasion so that I'll look beautiful for you. A simple gown just won't do to marry Lord Casterbrook, the king's trusted advisor. My sisters must be by my side. We need to send word to Ravenna to meet us in Edinburgh.”

“And have that barbarian Highland husband of hers in attendance? You know he doesn't leave without those hounds of his, his men, and that bloody wolf.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “You've been with that clan for over a month, my dear. Surely you can survive a few weeks without them.” When she didn't attempt to mask the sour look that crossed her face, he added, “How about after we return to England as husband and wife, we invite them for a small celebration?”

“And what of Uncle Walter and his family? I don't understand what you need from me.”

“Your uncle will be cross when he is replaced by me. You're a strong woman, Grace, and I want him to heel. I want you, my wife, to make him heel.”

“What you're asking is for me to betray my uncle, the man who has been like a father to me and my sisters for all these years.”

“No, my dear. I'm not asking you. I'm telling you.”

Fagan, Ruairi, and ten of his men rode their mounts hard into the night. The pale moonlight guided them on the path, and for once, luck was on Fagan's side. They decided to stop and rest the horses for a few hours before picking up again where they left off. Not even bothering to light a fire, the men lay on their blankets not too far from the path in case an enemy stumbled across them and they needed to make haste.

Ruairi's voice broke through the silence. “Grace and I may have our differences, but she is my wife's sister. I will do anything I can to see her safe. The lass survived the mercenaries, and I have nay doubt will come through this.”

“Nae without a few scars.” Fagan had his back toward Ruairi, yet he was never surprised that his friend knew him as well as he did. Of course Fagan was awake. How could he sleep at a time like this? Once this was all over, he couldn't wait to hold Grace again in his arms. The two of them deserved happiness. They'd been through enough. But when he continued to ponder the situation, he shook his head. “I ne'er liked that fancy peacock Casterbrook.”

“As soon as Mildmay knows the truth, I donna think he or my wife will ever again have the same opinion.” Ruairi sighed. “I knew once I wed Ravenna that her family would be as mine, but the king has many spies throughout his realm. In truth, I ne'er would've believed Casterbrook to be among them. I think that makes it difficult to know who to trust and who will stab ye in the back when ye turn.”

There was a heavy silence.

“Ruairi, I ne'er meant to place ye and the clan in the middle of this madness. I'm sorry for the mess I've created. If ye must know, I ne'er intended to care for Grace. It just happened. God's teeth, ye'd think I would've known better, especially after the lass blackened my eye and stabbed me.”

“When did she stab ye?”

“Somewhere in her mind she decided that an English lady needed to come to the aid of a seasoned Highland captain. She threw her blade through the bars in the door and—”

“Damn. Ye didnae run for cover.”

“I didnae have time, and I couldnae move out of the way. I was then fortunate enough to have a weapon and pulled her knife from my leg to stab the man in the chest.”

“Och, aye. So the lass saved your life by stabbing ye.”

“And unlike with my blackened eye, I would be grateful if ye would keep this to yourself. I'm afraid my pride is spent.”

Ruairi chuckled. “Are ye sure ye know what the hell ye're doing with the lass? Ye need to be certain that ye're up for the task. Ravenna was telling me how her sister's been getting into mischief since the dawn of time, and ye know Grace is more than a handful.”

“Aye, that she is, but I wouldnae have it any other way. Who would've thought one lass would make me feel the way I do? I cannae change what I know to be true in my heart and believe me, I've tried. I love her.”

“Then neither Ravenna nor I will stand in your way, but ye
will
help me with the four lasses under my roof. There are way too many of them for one man to shoulder the burden alone. Do ye understand? Ye need to keep your lass under control. I have enough troubles with my own.”

“Aye, well, I can try. Now get some sleep because we're going to need it.”

* * *

Once again, Grace found herself confined within the carriage. She couldn't help herself when she snarled at her driver. She had managed to delay their progress some by pretending a backache and demanding stops to attend to her “lady's needs.” But with every step, they were still getting closer to Edinburgh and she knew Daniel's patience was wearing thin.

She realized at that moment how much she missed her sisters, even their prodding, lecturing, and mischief making. Men might often complain about the fairer sex, but Grace knew she'd be grateful never to see another one of
them
again anytime soon—well, except for Fagan. All other men were grating on her nerves. She'd been taken against her will, bargained for, rescued, and captured again. Although the carriage was more comfortable than the cave, it was still a prison.

Gazing out at the king's guard, her mind wandered. What was she going to do if she arrived in Edinburgh and Fagan, Ruairi, and Uncle Walter weren't there? She shuddered. How could they be? They thought she was traveling to England. How long could she possibly delay Daniel without him getting suspicious of her? And one more question weighed heavily on her mind: What if Daniel forced her to wed him? She refused to think that way. She was a Walsingham—and not just any Walsingham. She was was the wily Walsingham sister who was always getting into trouble. She'd learned to master that over the years. Perhaps for once she could use it to her advantage.

* * *

The men rode hard for a few hours and then stopped to rest the horses by a stream. They wouldn't reach the English border for a fortnight. Fagan had no doubt that Grace would be able to delay Casterbrook, but he hoped she didn't push him too hard. The bastard may be clever enough to spot her ruse, and if that happened, Fagan didn't want her placed in more danger than she already was. She needed to be careful.

Ruairi slapped him on the shoulder. “We're making good time and should be able to reach Mildmay sooner than expected. Come now… I see the look on your face. I remember holding the same expression on mine nae too long ago. Ye know he gave me his blessing before I wed Ravenna. As long as Grace tells her uncle how she feels about ye, I see nay reason why he shouldnae do the same for ye. He does care for his nieces as though they were his own daughters.”

Fagan nodded. “That's what worries me. I am nae a Highland laird, only a Highland captain. Mayhap he will nae see me worthy of his niece, a lady.”

Suddenly, thundering hooves pounded the ground toward them, and Fagan's hand moved to the hilt of his sword. When he spotted more of the king's men, he stiffened. Ruairi stepped forward, and Fagan counted roughly fifteen of the English. The English guards parted down the center of the path, and when one of the men dismounted, Fagan realized that Ravenna was right. Every time he laid eyes on Lord Mildmay, the man made him think of a pirate, with his dark looks and cool demeanor.

“Laird Sutherland and Mister Murray, to what do I owe this pleasure? I can only assume you were coming to see me for aid with the mercenaries.”

“Casterbrook—”

“Yes, whatever are we going to do with Lord Casterbrook, Laird Sutherland?” Mildmay lowered his voice and stepped away from the English guards. “My men have been watching Casterbrook ever since we returned from the Highlands. I had my suspicions, but I did not want to mention this to Ravenna or Grace until I was certain.”

“He gave evidence against the Earl of Orkney to the king's advisors,” said Ruairi.

“Oh, yes. That he did, but by involving my family, Lord Casterbrook will pay for his carelessness.”

Fagan cleared his throat. “He intends to replace ye as the king's advisor. The only reason he wanted to wed Grace was because she's your niece.”

When Ruairi elbowed Fagan in the arm, he realized his slip of the tongue by calling Grace by her Christian name. If Mildmay noticed, he didn't comment. He only laughed in response, then ran his hand through his black hair.

“I never cease to be amazed at how young men think they can conquer anything and everyone. First, let us rescue my niece from the mercenaries, and then I'll deal with Casterbrook myself.”

“The men are already dead,” said Ruairi. “Casterbrook holds the lass against her will. He brings her back to England, but I ordered my men nae to engage the king's guard.”

Mildmay turned his head from side to side as if it ached. “Let's remove my niece from the presence of that arrogant whelp, shall we? I don't want her in the clutches of that man any longer than she's already been made to endure. Let's give him a surprise and meet him on the trail.”

“Och, aye. 'Tis best to catch him unawares. Let's rescue the lass and kill the bastard,” snarled Fagan.

When Mildmay gazed at Ruairi for confirmation, Ruairi nodded. “Ye heard my captain.”

* * *

“Again, my dear?” An annoyed expression crossed Daniel's face, especially since this was the third time today Grace had delayed their journey.

“I don't know what's wrong with me. Perhaps I caught something when the men held me in the cave. I didn't have food or water, and I slept on the damp ground for over a sennight. My entire body aches.”

“There's no need for apologies. We'll stop here for the night. I would never forgive myself if you became ill on the journey.”

She smiled her thanks. “Although I need to rest, I don't think there's any need to further delay the men, especially since we'll be in Edinburgh soon. Do you think you should let them take their leave? I'm sure they want to be home—”

At the mention of the king's guard, Daniel's eyes never left hers. “The men will do as I command, but yes, I see no reason to keep all of them here with us. With any luck, we'll be in Edinburgh sometime on the morrow.” He paused. “But I would not want anything or anyone else delaying our travels, and I'd be remiss if I didn't keep a handful of men to escort us.” He continued to study her, and she lightened her expression.

“Of course. Whatever you think is best.”

As Daniel spoke in hushed tones with his men a few yards away, Grace sat down on a large rock. She smoothed her hair, wanting nothing more than to take a long, hot bath and sleep for days. She could stop Daniel for as many times as it took to reach Edinburgh, but she prayed her delays weren't useless. The carriage ride had provided her with ample time alone to think things through. As soon as she and Daniel reached Edinburgh, he would insist they wed. And the man she loved was in England with no idea where she was. Grace knew she had no other choice.

Tonight she would make her escape.

As the hours passed, she sat with Daniel, listening to his words but not really hearing him. She tried to make an effort to shut him out. His voice was grating on her nerves. In fact, everything about the man was. She glanced at the horizon. The sun would be down soon, and even if it wasn't yet, she decided now was the perfect time.

She stood. “Pray excuse me.”

“Stay close.”

“I will.”

Grace knew Daniel was watching her like a hawk as she made her way into the brush. Once she was out of sight, she didn't hesitate. Making a mad dash through the trees, she did not look back. When she found the trail, she lifted her skirts and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She'd already made a decision that if she heard the men following her on horseback, she'd dart into the forest for cover until she knew she was safe.

Her breathing was ragged, but she dared not stop. One way or another she would return to Fagan. There was a sharp stab in her ribs but she pushed through the pain. She willed herself to continue. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but men shouted in the distance.

She stole a quick glance over her shoulder. Horses were approaching. She didn't hesitate and ran into the trees. Her dress became tangled in the brush. As she was pulling her skirts free, she didn't realize that a piece of material was left behind. She tripped over a fallen branch and fell to the ground. She heard the men talking around her and couldn't find the courage to look where they were. She lay flat on her stomach and lowered her head to the ground. She didn't move. She didn't make a sound. Grace had never been so frightened in her life.

“Search the trees. I want her found.”

“Yes, m'lord.”

She dared not lift her head for fear of being caught. She didn't think Daniel would be kind once he found her, and she wasn't thrilled to be in his company again anytime soon. She was forced to lie in wait, but she'd been in worse situations than this—all within the last few weeks.

“There are no signs of her, my lord.”

“Wily minx. She had me dismiss the men only to make her escape, and I played right into her hands. I will not make that mistake again. Take half the men south. She couldn't have gone far. Send the other half north, but I don't think she turned around.”

“Yes, m'lord.”

Grace closed her eyes and held her breath for as long as she could. She was afraid that if she breathed, Daniel or his men would find her. The sound of hoofbeats galloped off into the distance, but she wasn't a fool. She'd remain as still as a statue until she was certain all the men had left.

Several moments passed, and the trees shielded her in darkness. She no longer heard the men, and she listened very carefully for the slightest sound of one of their mounts. Slowly, she lifted her head. She looked from left to right, and no men were in sight. Finally, God had heard her prayers.

She pushed herself to her feet and brushed the dirt from her hands. She paused, gazing around at the tall trees and foliage for any sign of movement. Nothing…and that was just what she wanted. As she took a step forward, someone cleared his throat from behind.

Grace jumped.

“The next time you decide to run, you may not want to leave your skirts behind, my lady.”

She whipped her head around and shot Daniel a cold look. He stood there waving the material from her dress in an arrogant manner. She gazed around to see four of his men encircling her. He'd never sent his men anywhere. He was clever. She'd give him that.

“And just where do you think you're running off to, my dear?”

“Anywhere away from you, and will you quit calling me that? I never liked it. I will never marry you, and I will never betray my uncle. Go to hell, Daniel.”

His eyes darkened. “I have no doubt the devil is holding a place for me and waiting for my arrival, but it won't be today.” He closed the distance between them, and Grace refused to be held against her will—again. She didn't care if the man had an army of men at his back. She would not go willingly.