Page 2 of Savage Kilted Highlander (Temptation in Tartan #9)
CHAPTER TWO
T wo nights after the awful dinner with Earl Belton, when the other occupants of Ashbourne Court lay sleeping, and the clock had just struck one in the morning, the three siblings quietly left the house and went to the stable block. Once inside, Henry lit a lantern, and in its dim, flickering light, the three had prepared for Constance’s departure.
“Constance, we do not know when we shall see you again, so please remember that Henry and I love you very much. We will be thinking of you every moment while you are away and praying that you reach your destination safely,” Amelia had beseeched her elder sister, her voice choked with tears as she clung to Constance, kissing her cheeks over and over again. “And I hope that when you do, all will come to pass happily, as you wish it. But please, be careful!”
In the shadowy recesses of the stables, the horses in their stalls whinnied and snorted softly, as though sensing the heightened emotions pervading the air.
Constance nodded. “I shall, my darling Amelia, I promise. God will watch over me on the journey. And look,” she paused to summon a smile as she gestured at the mannish outfit she was wearing beneath her long woolen cloak, “as Henry suggested, my disguise will help to protect me from unwanted attention. So, there is no need to be too worried for me, I assure you.”
Constance wished she felt as confident as she was trying to appear for the benefit of her younger sister. Not knowing when they would meet again, she took a few moments to commit to memory Amelia’s familiar petite figure, with her mass of light auburn hair, and her soft hazel green eyes, which always seemed to sparkle with good-humor and curiosity. Only seventeen, Amelia was sensitive and a worrier, and Constance had no wish to add to Amelia’s distress by openly displaying the sorrow and fear bubbling beneath her poised exterior.
“I shall miss you both very much, but I am sure all will be well,” she continued with false brightness, giving Amelia’s hands a final squeeze as they broke their embrace. “I am so very grateful for all the help you have given me, my dear one.”
“I shall pray for you every night,” Amelia promised, tears beginning to fall from her bright eyes.
“Thank you, darling, I shall do the same for you. May the Lord keep you and Henry safe while I am gone.” She planted a final kiss of farewell on Amelia’s soft cheek, her heart aching to leave her.
“There, Connie, you are ready to go,” her elder brother Henry said with his usual composure as he finished adjusting the girth strap on his sister’s favorite mare, Lucy. He made a show of checking the saddle was fixed securely in place before patting the horse’s flank and turning to face Constance. She smiled tremulously at him in love and gratitude. She suspected he was busying himself in an attempt to hide his emotions, putting a brave face on the situation just as she was trying to do, for Amelia’s sake. When their eyes met, her heart clenched to see the sadness and concern hidden there.
“I shall miss you.” He took her in his arms, hugged her, and kissed the top of her head. Pressed against his chest, Constance felt his heart beating fast beneath his coat and knew that his calm demeanor concealed a welter of conflicting emotions beneath.
“Thank you, brother, and thank you for all you have done to help me to get away without Father knowing,” Constance told him, trembling with overwhelming sorrow at their leave-taking. “I do hope you will not get into too much trouble for it.”
“Do not worry about Father. I know how to handle him,” Henry replied soothingly, pulling back to look her in the eyes and resting his hands on her shoulders. “The important thing is that you succeed in your quest.” His tone changed, becoming more earnest as he added, “Do not forget what I have told you, sister. Be under no illusion that this is an easy task you have set yourself.”
“You know I have to do it,” Constance said as much to bolster her own resolve as convince him all over again of the necessity of what she was about to do.
“I have tried my best to persuade you not to go, so I will not argue with you further,” he told her with sad resignation. “Take no unnecessary risks, stay alert for danger on the road, and do not trust anyone,” he warned her. “Do you have the knife I gave you, in case you run into any trouble?”
“Yes, I do.” Constance patted the waistband of her borrowed trousers beneath her cloak, where she had hidden the knife. “But just carrying it makes me feel nervous. I pray I never have any occasion to use it. It would be my downfall, never having used a knife as a weapon before.”
“Hopefully, you will not have to. The mere sight of it will deter any threat,” Henry said reassuringly, pulling the hood of her cloak up around her face and tucking in her hair. How she wanted to believe him, for in truth, she was terrified by what she was about to do.
“It is late, Connie,” Henry said. “You had better go. Here, let me help you up.” He leaned down and joined his hands, boosting Constance into the saddle. “It feels strange to ride astride like a man,” she murmured, settling herself and gently steadying Lucy beneath her with a light touch of the reins. “But I suppose I will soon get used to it again.” She was used to riding side saddle like the English lady she was, but as a child, Henry had taught her how boys sat when no one was around, after she had insisted endlessly that she wanted to copy him.
“You will, and it will be faster and safer this way,” Henry assured her, resting his hand on Lucy’s broad flank.
“And the sooner you reach your destination, the safer you will be,” Amelia chimed in, dabbing at her nose with a tiny lace hanky as she gazed up at Constance.
“It is but three or four days’ ride if you stick to the main highways, where there will be plenty of people about. You have the money I gave you for staying at the inns along the way?” Henry asked.
She nodded. “Yes, in my purse.”
“Good. Come, I shall open the gates for you,” Henry said, briefly checking the courtyard to make sure no one was watching them before taking hold of Lucy’s bridle and leading her out into the stable courtyard. Stifling sniffles, Amelia followed them as they walked slowly down the long drive between the shrubbery until they reached the mansion’s wrought-iron gates. Henry pushed them open.
“I hope I shall see you both again soon,” Constance told them, unable to keep her voice from cracking with emotion at last. Leaning down, she kissed them both on the cheek.
“Goodbye, sister, may God be with you and protect you,” Amelia sobbed.
“Be safe, Connie, and remember everything I have told you,” Henry urged her, his usual composure laced with quiet intensity.
Unable to speak for the lump in her throat, with tears she could hold back no longer escaping from her eyes, Constance nodded. She pressed her knees to Lucy’s flanks and walked the mare slowly out through the gates and into the lane. She turned the horse right, intent on following the lane to the main road leading north to the border. With a restraint that took almost all the strength she possessed, she looked back only once and waved at her brother and sister.
Henry was standing with his arm around the shoulders of Amelia, who was now openly weeping as though her heart would break. Constance knew exactly how she felt, for the pain in her chest was like nothing she had ever felt before. Part of her wanted to turn Lucy and abandon this mad idea of hers. But the other part was resolute and would not allow it. If she married the Earl, she would be forced to leave her beloved siblings anyway. It was that thought that pressed her to go further. So, she rode on down the moonlit lane, reminding herself of what a precious discovery lay at the end of her journey and how it would make everything worthwhile.