Page 24 of The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (Kilgannon #2)

“Thank you,” I said to each of the three men and followed Captain Jeffers.

The halls were damp as I was led down two flights of stairs and into a small, dark room where a disgruntled man sat behind a desk.

Captain Jeffers introduced us, but Colonel Porter did not stand.

He was at least ten years older than I, the ruddy blotchiness of his complexion ugly above his red collar, his gaunt chest making the buttons of his uniform sag.

He watched me with small blue eyes that narrowred as I entered. I steeled myself.

“Mistress MacGannon, is it?” His tone was imperious.

“Yes,” I said and sat without bidding on the chair opposite him. Captain Jeffers stood behind me.

“Your husband is a prisoner here.” Porter’s tone bordered on disrespectful and I measured him.

English. Smug. His mother had bought his commission, no doubt, I thought.

This man would have no cause to be partial to me.

I was a member of that class to which he believed he correctly belonged but knew he did not.

And he now had power over me. And Alex. I tried my best goddess look, but I was trembling inside.

“Yes,” I said evenly. “And I have come to see him.”

“Kilgannon is the man who aided the Duke of Fenster in France, sir.” Captain Jeffers’s tone was politely persuasive.

“Yes.” Porter did not even glance at Jeffers. He studied me. “I believe you are someone’s niece,” he drawled.

“I am the niece of the Duke of Grafton and of Lord Randolph.”

“Tories.”

“Peers.”

“Your husband is Scottish. And a Jacobite.”

“My husband is Scottish.”

“Interesting that you would marry him.” I was silent. “And now he is held for trial.”

“Yes.”

“For treason.” He smiled unpleasantly. “He will die, madam.”

“My husband has not yet been tried, sir.”

The briefest of smiles touched his lips and he nodded. “Of course, madam. But he will be. And he will be found guilty.”

“We cannot know that for certain.”

“Actually, madam, we can.”

I lifted my chin. “I am here to see my husband, sir.”

“Men under my authority who are accused of treason are not allowed visitors. You must leave.”

I struggled to control my temper. “I have never heard of such a thing. I have come to see my husband and I will see him, sir.”

“You speak as though it were your decision to make. Alexander MacGannon is not allowed visitors. That is my decision. The man has been charged with treason.” Porter leaned forward, licking his lips.

I fought the wave of revulsion that washed over me.

“Do you understand the word, madam? It means one betrays one’s country. Perhaps it runs in the family? ”

I ignored his gibe. Be calm , I ordered myself and took a deep breath. “I understand the word, sir. But under English law the prisoner has certain rights.”

“We are in Scotland, madam.”

“English law is still enforced, I believe.”

“Madam, I think you do not understand your position here. You are the supplicant, not the bestower.” I did not trust myself to speak.

“You threw away the ability to claim your English blood when you married this…Scot. You are now Scottish, madam, and the wife of a traitor. And traitors can only be controlled in one fashion. It is very simple.” He slumped back.

“You are not allowed to see him. Do not ask me again.”

I felt my fury climb. “Why?” I asked coldly.

“Why?” His anger was immediate and very visible. He rose and leaned over the desk. “Why? You ask me why? Who are you to question my decision?” Our eyes met, his enraged and piggish.

“An English citizen. And his wife. Why can I not see him?”

“Because I have decided that you will not. MacGannon is a very difficult man. You will not see him.”

“Why?”

“I have decided it is so, madam.” He sank back in the chair.

“I would like to see your superior.”

“I have no superior,” Colonel Porter said.

I almost laughed. You have many superiors , I thought.

Every man who has been kind to us is your superior .

But I was silent. If I inflamed him further, who knew how Alex would pay for my anger?

I could not risk it. I rose and brushed my skirts, trying to think of an appropriate answer.

Behind me Jeffers cleared his throat. It was hopeless .

“Thank you for your time, sir,” I said and turned to the door.

“Easily dissuaded, eh?”

I froze and met Captain Jeffers’s sympathetic eyes. Do not let this disgusting man anger you , I commanded myself, or Alex will pay . I turned back to Porter. “Sir,” I said quietly, “I am at a loss. What is it that will persuade you? Money? I will gladly pay to see my husband.”

“Are you bribing me, madam?” The colonel’s tone was menacing.

“No, of course not,” I said evenly, “but I would be delighted to contribute to the cost of maintaining troops in Edinburgh.”

He watched me through narrowed eyes. “You may ask me again in four days, madam. I will consider your request then.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said and sailed out the door, trembling with anger. I was halfway down the hall when Jeffers caught me.

“Madam, I am sorry he was so difficult. We will try again.”

I took a shaky breath. “Is it me? Or does he treat all visitors like that?”

“It is you. Or, actually, it is your husband.”

“But why?”

“Kilgannon has been … unrepentant.”

I laughed then, my heart suddenly lighter.

Unrepentant. An understatement, no doubt.

Good for you, my darling man , I thought.

“I’m sure he was,” I said. “Well, we will try again. I thank you for your help, Captain. You are very kind.” I held out the bundle of Alex’s clothing.

“Do you think there is any way to get these to him?”

“I will see to it,” he said, taking the bundle from me .

“Thank you, sir. You are kindness itself.” I turned to leave.

“Madam.” He took my elbow and turned to me.

“I have thought of something. Come with me.” He led me down a hallway I had not noticed before.

“And pray be quiet,” he said over his shoulder.

We made two turns and then climbed two flights of stairs.

I was feeling quite disoriented when at last we stopped in a hallway, one side filled with windows that overlooked a tiny courtyard two stories below us.

I turned to the captain with a curious look.

“From here, madam,” he whispered, “you may see your husband. In just a few moments some of the prisoners will be brought outside. He may be with them.”

“Thank you,” I said, my eyes filling with tears. “Thank you for being so very considerate.”

“It is my pleasure, madam.” He looked down at the still-empty courtyard and then back at me.

“I am simply repaying a debt. Your husband risked his life, Lady Mary, to aid the Duke. I was supposed to be with Duke John that day but had been reassigned at the last moment. I would have been devastated if he had met with harm, but thanks to your husband the Duke was untouched. What I can do here to repay his courage is very little.”

“It is very appreciated.”

“It is very little,” he answered, embarrassed.

We stood in silence then. The hallway overlooked one small part of the courtyard, and soon a group of people had gathered at a balcony to our right.

Several women, fashionably dressed, were accompanied by men in uniform.

They chatted and gaily pointed down as though they were at a party.

I followed their gaze. Below us a group of prisoners were being led by soldiers into the courtyard.

It took me several moments to recognize Alex and the man next to him.

Murdoch Maclean. They were filthy and chained at wrist and ankle, but the two of them talked cheerfully to each other and gazed insolently up at the watchers while the soldiers prodded them to form a line.

Alex had a beard now, copper against the blond of his hair.

I strained to see his face and tried to open the window.

Captain Jeffers spoke quietly. “The windows are fixed, madam, and just as well. I must ask you not to try to get your husband’s attention. It will go very badly for me if we are discovered. And perhaps for Kilgannon.”

I nodded and let my hands fall to my waist. Alex looked healthy.

His clothing was grimy, his bonnet crooked on his head, but his stance was defiant.

The group on the balcony was calling jeers down to the prisoners, one woman waving her handkerchief tauntingly while the men with her laughed.

The prisoners watched her and some called comments.

Alex and Murdoch talked to each other, looking at the visitors, and then Alex leaned over to his friend, saying something that made Murdoch grin.

The two exchanged a look and began singing.

After a few lines the other prisoners joined them.

I could not distinguish the words, but the group on the balcony stepped back as if singed.

The woman who had been waving her handkerchief now clutched her throat.

The soldiers in the courtyard grabbed Alex and Murdoch roughly and dragged them away.

Alex was laughing. I pressed my forehead to the window and tried not to cry.

The next few days were a miserable blur.

The smells of the city assailed me and I spent much of my time with an uneasy stomach or worse.

For two days after the visit to the castle I was so sick and despondent that I could barely get out of bed.

I kept telling myself that the sickness was a normal part of my pregnancy and would pass, as I had been told.

But surely it should be over by now? Perhaps something was going wrong with this pregnancy as it had all the others.

The thought paralyzed me. Since I’d arrived I’d accomplished nothing, but I could not think what else to do.

I waited for the fourth day to come. It was on that morning, when I was feeling too queasy to face the world, that Angus marched boldly up to the front door and demanded to see me.