Page 39 of Claimed Highland Brides

17

SPANISH INQUISITION

D elwyn woke up when the door opened, his mind clear for the first time. An old woman entered the room carrying two bowls of steaming food. Delwyn kept his eyes closed, feigning sleep. When she bent to put the bowls on the table he lurched towards her, grabbing hold of her plaid skirt and pulling her to the ground. She squeaked in surprise, but he got his hand over her mouth before she could scream.

She bit his palm but he gritted his teeth and held on, straddling her waist as he smashed her head on the wooden floor, once, twice, hoping the pounding could not be heard from below. Eventually, she went limp and he got to his feet.

“What did you do that for?” his sister demanded from the corner where she’d wedged herself, hand over her mouth.

“We have to get out of here. My wife is in danger.”

“I’m not going anywhere; I have to wait for Neacel to come for me.”

Delwyn gritted his teeth harder, wanting to shake his sister until he realized that the Scotsman was no good, but he had no time. He did not know how long it would take before the old lady was missed or if there was someone waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her.

He crossed to the window, looking down to see if the ground was near enough to jump out. It wasn’t but the roof of the inn sloped downward and if they were careful, they could slide down and then jump the remaining six feet to the ground.

He turned to look at Maegan, who was currently shaking the old woman like she planned to revive her. With a growl, he dashed to her and grabbed her hand, pulling her away. “We have to go.”

She struggled, trying to get away from him, but he would not let her. He pulled her to the window and began hustling her out of it. “No! I don’t want to go, Delwyn. Leave me alone!”

He slapped her face in frustration and they both froze, mouths agape.

“I-I’m sorry,” Delwyn said. “That was uncalled for.” He took a deep breath. “Maegan, Neacel Hunter didn’t steal you away because he wanted to marry you. He asked the family for ransom. For you. He has no intention of marrying you.”

“No.” She shook her head forcefully, refusing to believe him. “If he wanted to abduct me then why did he bring me to Scotland?”

“I expect it’s because he wants the Douglass mine. Perhaps he meant to use the money from your ransom to buy it, I don’t know. But when father refused to pay?—”

“Father refused to pay?” Maegan interrupted in shock.

“Y-yes but I came to find you, Maegan. Mother gave me the means to and I came.”

He could see her shrinking in on herself in hurt.

“Maegan, please...you need to hold yourself together so that we can escape. Please, just help me. Climb out of the window.”

She hesitated for a moment more before putting her foot on the ledge.

“That’s it. Go on.”

“What if…what if I fall?”

“You won’t. Your boots are sturdy. Just go carefully. Slide down to the edge and then jump. You’re a brave girl, Maegan, I know you can do it.”

“Alright. I’m going.”

Behind him, he heard the old lady groan. Leaving hold of Maegan’s arm he hurried to her and banged her head on the floor once again. She lay still, and Delwyn really hoped he hadn’t killed her. He turned to the window and saw that Maegan had disappeared. He jumped towards the window, looking frantically for her and found that she was hanging by her fingertips at the edge of the roof. Even as he watched, she jumped to the ground, landing lightly on her feet.

Nodding and grinning with approval, Delwyn climbed out to the window himself, bracing himself as much as he could and then slid down the edge. Thankfully the slate-covered roof curved a little at the edge and so he did not go flying off but managed to dig his feet in and stop his forward motion.

Carefully, he turned, shimmying to the edge and letting his legs drop into the air before letting go. The landing was a bit jarring but he didn’t break or sprain anything for which he was grateful. He turned, seeing Maegan pressed against the wall, hands crossed as tears rolled down her face. Even in the cold windy drizzle that had thankfully kept everyone indoors and thus left the courtyard empty, he could tell that those were tear tracks.

He sighed, reaching out to rub her arms. She moved out of his grip, turning her face away, shoulders hunched. He sighed. “Come on, let’s go and see if my horse is still in the stables.”

She followed him silently, not making any more demur at their escape. He wondered how she was feeling, if she was alright, but he didn’t have time to worry about it.

I shall ask her about it after we get to the keep. She’ll be safe there .

He was both gratified and surprised to find that his horse was still housed in the stables. He supposed that the brigands either hadn’t had a chance to move it or did not know which horse was his. He walked boldly towards it, wondering if one of the grooms would try to stop him.

Nobody did.

He saddled the horse and led her out, helping Maegan onto the beast before climbing on top behind her. He turned his horse for home, a sense of relief and anticipation growing in him for every mile that they put Edinburgh behind them.

* * *

Fiona raised her eyebrow at the footman, one who she’d known since he was a boy. “Ye’re McReedy’s boy, arenae ye?” She came to stand in front of him, looking him in the eye.

“Aye, ma’am. I am.”

“McReedy the head groomsman?” Daividh looked from his wife to the footman in curiosity.

“Aye, sir.” The footman straightened up, back stiff as if he was a soldier.

“And yer name’s Alan?”

“Aye, ma’am.” He blinked at Fiona, as if eager to prove how harmless he was.

“And so how did ye come intae possession of the letter ye brought tae the hoose?”

“A man stopped me as I was returning from the market. I escorted Mistress Fitz and was weighed doon wi’ her bags. She walked ahead and disappeared tae the kitchens. The man called me, gave me the letter, and asked that I deliver it t’ye.”

“Did ye ken him?”

He looked earnestly at the laird. “No sir.”

“Mmphmm.” Daividh blinked thoughtfully. “An’ ye’ve never seen him around?”

“No sir.”

“They dinnae come near the keep usually. They save their troublemaking for the mines,” Simon cut in.

“But ye’re sure he was one o’ them?”

“Aye. I remember him from the battle…” His glance flicked to Fiona and then back to Daividh.

The laird nodded his understanding and turned away. “Thank ‘e Alan. Ye may go.”

The footman bowed to the ladies and left. Daividh heaved a sigh. “Fiona? Jamesina? Would ye leave us? Simon and I mun’ discuss next steps.”

“I’m no leaving?—”

“It’s our problem too?—”

The sisters spoke at the same time and Daividh whirled around to face them, mouth already open to protest. He shut his mouth with a click and sighed with resignation. “Alrigh’ then. Let us sit doon and make a plan.”

“We mun’ find oot where Delwyn is!” Jamesina said at once.

“How can we do tha’?”

Jamesina paced, thinking frantically. “Is the man still here? The one who delivered the letter?”

Daividh shook his head. “I doubt it.”

“Aye, but we have an address. This Angus McTavish!” Fiona stepped forward excitedly, trying to stop Jamesina mid-pace by grabbing onto her hand.

“Tha’s true!” Jamesina exclaimed. “Shall we write tae him?”

“No. I think we mun’ go tae Edinburgh ourselves. If’n Delwyn is in trouble, we dinnae ken how much time we have.”

Simon stepped forward. “But we cannae leave the keep undefended. An’ if ye’ll allow me, Laird, I shall go tae Edinburgh and seek out this McTavish. I can take a few trusted men wi’ me. That way ye can stay here and protect the women.”

Jamesina looked desperately at Daividh. “I want to go to Edinburgh. I must!”

Daividh shook his head. “No. Ye mun’ stay here. Let Simon go. He will send a message an’ he needs yer help in some way. If’n ye go wi’ him, ye’ll just slow him doon. Wi’out looking oot for ye, he can ride fast.”

“I dinnae need—” Jamesina began to protest.

“Jamie! Do ye no trust us anymore?”

Jamesina bit her lip, looking at her sister with bleak eyes. “O’course I do.”

“Then let Daividh do what he feels is right.”

She deflated, dropping down onto the bench seat. She sighed, lifting her eyes to Simon. “When will ye go?”

“I will gather some men and head out at once. If we ride fast, we can be at Drumacree by midnight. Edinburgh early morning, the day after tomorrow.”

Jamesina nodded, acknowledging to herself that she could never have kept up with that pace. “Go then. And bring him back, please.”

“We shall do our best.”

* * *

They procured another horse with some of the gold Delwyn had obtained at the beginning of his journey and were able to go faster as Delwyn’s horse did not have to bear both of their weight. Still, Delwyn was hard put not to insist on a faster pace. Maegan was not used to riding for long distances. She was not dressed for rough living and complained constantly.

Delwyn tried to remember that she was very young and had just recently had her heart severely broken. She was also probably very embarrassed by everything and facing scandal should she return to London.

She is allowed to feel put out .

Still, it was a hardship to remain pleasant when all he wanted to do was ride hell for leather and make sure that the Hunters had not done anything to his new family. He burned with guilt because he’d brought trouble to their unsuspecting door.

“We have to hurry.”

“Yes, you’ve said that at least ten times. I understand.” She spurred her horse on while pouting.

Delwyn sighed tiredly, refrained from rolling his eyes, and followed her.

* * *

Jamesina was asleep when they came for her. Covered in so many layers of plaid and burlap, it was impossible to see her womanly shape. Her hair was covered with a bonnet and she had an arisaid over that. Jamesina sat up as she felt a shadow loom over her and the woman pressed her down, covering her mouth.

She squirmed, trying to find some leverage to sit up but then felt a thud, and everything went dark.

* * *

When Jamesina woke up she was bouncing up and down on a horse, her head hanging down. The urge to vomit was undeniable and she heaved as last night’s supper exploded out of her.

Someone made a sound of disgust close by and she could hear the clip-clop of other horses around her. She tried to lift her head but found she could not because her hands and legs were tied together beneath the horse. She could not lift her head without contorting herself in ways she was not comfortable with.

“Who are ye? What d’ye want wi’ me?” She was gasping for breath as she spoke, her chest tight from being pressed against the horse’s side.

Her captors ignored her and she turned her head, trying to gauge where she was. It was still dark although she could see the horizon begin to lighten with the dawn. The countryside was familiar. It seemed as if they were on the road to Drumacree. She did not know if that was a good thing or not.