Page 260

Later that night

J osephine sat on the same bench that she had been sitting on the previous night when Andrew had seen her.

It was dusk at Edinburgh and a great feast in honor of the earl was being prepared; she could smell the roasting meat and hear the sounds coming from the great hall.

Servants were moving about as darkness approached and everything around her seemed very busy except for that little garden in the midst of a busy castle.

It was like an oasis of dreams in the middle of a nightmare.

Josephine stared pensively into the reservoir in front of her, watching the water ripple gently.

In those ripples, she saw her entire time at Edinburgh pass before her eyes– her arrival, time spent with Nicholas, with Andrew, and finally Ridge.

Now, Sully was in the dungeons because of her and it was growing increasingly difficult to keep her spirits up.

Where had Andrew gone today? Why hadn’t he come back to her? It was all so very confusing.

And very sorrowful.

A sparrow landed within a few feet of her; its little head twitching as it looked at her with its beady black eyes.

She smiled faintly as it hopped about, enjoying the little bird as a promise of life’s innocence.

Things weren’t all that bad if birds still lived and sang, and flowers still bloomed, and rivers still flowed.

If Andrew wasn’t here to give her words of hope, then she could still find hope in her surroundings. At least, she could try.

She had been in the garden for nearly an hour when she heard footfalls approach. They were coming from behind her and she quickly turned to see Nicholas rounded the corner of a bush, and his blue eyes focused on her.

“I thought I might find ye here,” he said. “Ye like this place.”

Josephine looked about. “It is peaceful and beautiful,” she said. “It is a spot of beauty in the midst of this ugly castle.”

His smile suddenly took a strange twist. “I have some more beauty for ye,” he said. “I think that ye should accompany me to the great hall. There is someone there who wishes to see ye.”

Her face went taut. “Who?”

He took her hand and pulled her to stand. “Just… come with me.”

Josephine was thoroughly perplexed, but not entirely frightened as she allowed Nicholas to lead her into the castle.

He didn’t seem overly concerned for her so she knew he wasn’t taking her to meet the earl.

But as he pulled her along, Josephine recalled the events of the day, events that had her depressed and saddened.

“Wait,” she said. “I must talk to you. Have you seen Ridge?”

Nicholas shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “Why?”

“Because he imprisoned Sully earlier,” she said. “You must help me free him.”

Nicholas looked at her, perplexed. “Sully?” he repeated. “What are ye talking about?”

Josephine didn’t want to tell him that she’d been looking for Andrew but had found Sully instead. “After you and I came in from the training field, I left the castle and ran into Sully,” she said. “Only Ridge was following me and he took Sully prisoner. We must devise a plan of escape.”

Nicholas’ eyebrows shot up. “Escape? From Edinburgh’s dungeons? I think not,” he said. “However, it would be no problem to slip some poor jailer a gold piece and, accidentally, he could unlock Sully’s door.”

He was so calm, always, when Josephine’s emotions were erupting. She eyed him dubiously. “You are sure?” she asked. “He will not encounter any difficulties?”

Nicholas shrugged and resumed his walking. “Probably not,” he said. “But why in the world did Ridge take him? And what is he doing here?”

Josephine paused a moment; as much as she didn’t want to tell Nicholas everything, she found that she could no longer keep everything from him. He was close to her, and she knew she had his sympathy, so perhaps it was time to trust him. She decided to take that chance.

“Because Andrew is here,” she said quietly. “Sully came with him.”

To her surprise, Nicholas simply nodded. “I knew he would,” he said. “I knew The Red Fury would eventually come for his lady love.”

Josephine shook her head. “It is more than that,” she said. “He has come to kill the earl, as he said he would.”

“Good God,” Nicholas swore softly. “That mountainous man? Andrew certainly has his work cut out for him.”

Josephine nodded in agreement. “Have no doubt who will win, Nicholas,” she said quietly. “He has much to fight for.”

Nicholas smiled faintly at her. “I would like to think that, someday, I shall have a woman I would be willing to fight for,” he said. “I may write poetry, Joey, but ye live it. Ye live it every day.”

Josephine smiled at the sentiment. “Spoken like a man with a romantic heart.”

Nicholas patted her hand as they walked in silence, making their way to the massive receiving hall. Josephine, once again, began to wonder why Nicholas had brought her here, but she did not ask again. She would know soon enough.

“He’s going to do it at the wedding, isn’t he?”

Nicholas had asked the softly-uttered question just as they neared the door of the hall. He sounded rather concerned about it and Josephine looked at him.

“I do not know,” she said honestly. “I do not even know when or where the wedding is to be. The king has discussed nothing with me. I am living in complete ignorance of my destiny.”

Nicholas felt great pity for his friend’s situation. He felt her sadness and uncertainty, and tried to think of a way to lift her spirits. But, given the situation, he didn’t want to sound callous about it.

“Whatever happens, my lady, and wherever it happens, ye can be assured that I and my sword will be there,” he said. “I may not be very good, but I shall do my best to assist Andrew as needed.”

Josephine looked at him, touched. “Thank you, Nicholas,” she said. “But I hope that will not be necessary.”

It was a bonding moment between them, a moment of true friendship. Josephine knew that she would call him a dear friend until the day she died.

Nicholas led her into the foyer on the way to the receiving hall. There were quite a few servants in the foyer, servants that looked strangely familiar to her. She glanced about her in puzzlement, and then the thunderbolt hit.

Justine and Donald were looking right at her.

“Torridon,” she whispered in shock, then let go of Nicholas’ arm and rushed into the receiving hall. “ Justine!”

*

Justine and Donald arrived at Edinburgh Castle with a caravan of wagons and servants.

Justine didn’t travel lightly, bringing her trunks and possessions on what was presumably a short visit.

The majordomo of the castle was caught quite off guard by their arrival, but once Justine announced she was the king’s cousin, she was promised suites of rooms within the hour.

The man had them wait in the great hall and they obliged, servants scurrying in from the kitchens with trays of refreshments for the king’s cousin.

Justine ignored the food and, instead, passed a haughty eye over the riches and wealth that decorated the room.

Donald, however, was stuffing his mouth with pears in wine, all the while watching in amusement as Justine pretended the surroundings did not impress her.

The truth was that it was all a little overwhelming.

They were tired from their journey and were eager to see Josephine.

The emotions were mixed because of the uncertainty of the situation– what had happened since Josephine had been brought to Edinburgh?

Was she well? And where were Sully and Andrew?

There were a great many questions and, as of yet, no one was able to answer them.

They’d come to Edinburgh for those answers but, in a sense, were fearful to know them. But that all ended when Josephine abruptly appeared and ran at them, swallowing her sister up in her enthusiastic embrace.

It was a joyful reunion with Nicholas at Josephine’s side. Nicholas and Donald reunited warmly, like the friends they were, but the focus was on the women as they hugged and gasped. It was clear there was much surprise, on both sides.

“Why are you here?” Josephine asked. “How on earth did you know to come to Edinburgh?”

Justine knew Nicholas was standing there and she didn’t want to give too much away, given that Sully and Andrew were here. Knowing that Nicholas was close to the king, she didn’t want to give the men away.

Justine shrugged. “Where else would you go?” she said, eyeing Nicholas with some distrust. “How did you know I was here? We have only just arrived?”

Josephine pointed to Nicholas. “He told me you were here.”

All eyes turned to Nicholas, who simply shrugged as he looked to Josephine. “I saw yer sister arrive as I was out on the grounds,” he said. “There is no big mystery about it. She arrived not long after the earl did.”

The mood of the reunion plunged, and both Justine and Donald looked at Josephine. “The earl?” Justine repeated. “The one you are betrothed to?”

Josephine nodded her head, trying not to show how utterly miserable she was about it. She didn’t want to show that out in the open for all to see.

“Aye,” she said, swiftly wanting off the subject. Instead, she pointed at her sister’s all-black clothing. “What is this? Why are you dressed like this?”

Justine looked down at herself, clad in her usual dark attire.

At least, it had been usual until she’d married Sully, but her sister didn’t know what she had planned.

Cards, readings, divining her sister’s future…

Sully and Andrew had come to Edinburgh to help Josephine one way.

She’d come to help in another way entirely.

“I must dress appropriately if I am to properly entertain,” she said, then put up a hand as Josephine tried to question her further. “Please do not argue, Josephine. Just… trust me.”