Page 28 of The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (Kilgannon #2)
TEN
I was on the couch when I woke, Robert hovering over me. His face showed his relief when I opened my eyes. “Mary,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I’m so sorry. I should not have told you like that. Forgive me, please.”
“Of course,” I said hoarsely, and he stepped back from the couch and studied me while I straightened my clothing and tried to straighten my mind as well.
“I have sent for Angus,” Robert said.
I sat up and looked at him in surprise. “You would do that?”
“I have done that. But I have one condition: that you do not, nor do you allow Angus…An attempt to free Alex or the others is suspected and planned for. It will fail. And then…Mary, you know you’ll be suspected.
Troops will come to this house. I cannot always be here to protect you.
I have come here today because you might be in danger. ”
I tried to keep my voice level. “A threat, Robert?”
“A warning.”
“What could I be planning?”
He made a sharp gesture, his anger apparent. “Do not play with me,” he growled. “You would give your right arm to free him. ”
“I’d give my life to free him but I do not have the means.”
“Do not attempt it, Mary.”
Robert’s aunt and the boys burst into the room then. Mrs. Campbell fussed over me and made me recline again while the boys ducked under her arms into mine. She clucked at them but I held them even closer, finding comfort in their embraces.
“Lord Campbell said we were to come to ye, Mama,” Ian said worriedly, perching himself next to me. “He said ye needed us.”
“I always need you, my love,” I said, clutching him to me. “Both of you.” I soothed them and met Robert’s eyes over their heads.
“You’ve had a spell, Lady Kilgannon,” Robert’s aunt said, waving Robert away from the couch. “You are doing too much. You should be in bed, lass. Come now.”
I protested and we had a short discussion, but I was firm that I would stay where I was, which annoyed her thoroughly.
She withdrew and, with a toss of her hand, said she’d go and spend her energies on those who appreciated them.
I’ve lost her as an ally , I thought, amused.
My diversion was short-lived, however, for when she left, the maid announced Angus, and our wretched situation became very real again.
Angus, his face white with worry, stepped into the room, looking from me to Robert and then back to me. “Mary, lass, what’s wrong?”
“I’m fine, Angus—” I said, but Robert interrupted me.
“A word with you, MacGannon,” he said brusquely, taking Angus’s arm and leading him into the hallway, closing the door behind them. The boys turned to give me a confused look .
When the door opened again, only Angus walked in.
“Mary,” he said, “I have agreed to Robert’s condition.
” He waved aside my protests. “Two days,” he cried, his voice raw.
“He leaves in two days, lass. I canna hope to do anything with only a handful of men. I needed just a little more time, just a few more days. Damn Morag. Damn her. Now the Ramsays are held and I’m no’ sure of the Macleans.
I dinna ken where Duncan is and I’m leery of using the same methods we used before.
Morag kent everything about our plans. Damn her.
And the Mary Rose has no’ returned.” He ran his hand wearily over his forehead.
“ Mo Dia , I have failed.” He shrugged off my attempts to comfort him and patted the boys absently, ignoring their questions.
“I must go now, lass. I must warn Matthew. And move our lodgings. And find Duncan. And try to warn the others on the Mary Rose . Stay here, Mary,” he said as he left us, his voice thick with emotion.
“I’ll come to ye tomorrow. Do nothing until then.
” We stared after him as the door slammed.
The boys had a thousand questions for me then, and I had to judge what was best to tell them. In the end I told them an amended version of the truth and they bore the burden with me.
The day dragged on, but finally passed. I could not sleep that night and passed the time by packing all of our belongings.
I would stay in this house no longer than necessary.
When Angus came to me I’d be ready to go.
I didn’t know where, but I had some money now and at worst we’d find an inn somewhere.
The next day was the longest day I’d known.
No news came, no Angus, no Robert. I thought of every possibility but I knew nothing for certain.
By evening I could not sit still and I paced the rooms, the boys haunting my footsteps.
Where was Angus? And what had Morag done?
Obviously she’d been aware of the plans afoot.
If this was her revenge on Alex, it was hurting many more people.
Well after our evening meal one of the Campbells brought me a letter from Robert.
He wrote that Alex and the other prisoners would be taken to ships bound for England the following afternoon.
If I wanted to see Alex pass as he was marched with the others down to Leith, Robert would arrange a spot for us.
There was to be no misunderstanding of his offer; his condition still applied.
I told the messenger that I would accept Robert’s offer and asked him to thank Robert for me.
And then I told the boys that Alex was leaving the next day.
Morning came at last and the boys looked at me with huge eyes, silent for once.
They dressed quickly, with none of their usual bantering.
And then we waited. Breakfast was a quiet meal.
Even Robert’s aunt was subdued and I wondered what she had been told.
I sat in a chair and watched the clouds gather in the sky, big gray clouds, full of threats, but no rain yet.
I read to the boys but kept missing words and drifting off into my own thoughts and they did not correct me.
Luncheon was impossible to eat. I sat watching the boys and watching Robert’s aunt watch them.
And then, at last, Robert was at the door with his Campbells, looking as though he’d not slept since I’d seen him.
“Alex leaves in an hour,” he said without preamble. “Come with me now. All of you. Let’s go.”
I sprang from my chair. “Robert, where is Angus? ”
He shook his head. “I don’t know where he is,” he said flatly.
“Oh, my dear God, Robert! What has happened? Something has happened to prevent him from coming to me. Do you know anything?”
“I don’t know where Angus is.”
“I don’t know what to do! What will I do now?”
He looked at me gravely, then gestured to the door. “You’ll come with me, Mary. We’ll find Angus later.”
I took a deep breath and tried to be calm. And then I nodded.
We followed Robert downstairs and through the streets toward the castle, his Campbells at his heels.
The boys had asked no more questions. They knew their father was leaving again and that we were powerless to prevent it and that was all that mattered.
At last we reached a spot close to the entrance to the castle itself.
I was surprised to see how many others waited in the weak sunlight.
It was a quiet crowd, its numbers steadily increasing as we waited.
At least it did not have the air of a celebration, which I had feared.
Those who had jeered at the Jacobites in the past were silent today, or they were elsewhere.
I stood quiet, with my thoughts screaming in my head.
Where was Angus? Had he been successful?
But no, if Alex were free now, Robert would not have brought me here.
Dear God , I prayed, keep them safe. All of them .
I do not know how long we waited, but I was very weary when we heard the drums from within the walls.
The big doors swung open and a troop of soldiers, four abreast, marched forward.
And then more. And more. They lined the narrow pathway above us, stationing themselves every few feet, weapons at the ready.
The crowd stirred but was peaceful. The first prisoners were led out, filthy men, chained at wrist and ankle, their hair and beards unkempt, plaids and shirts tattered.
These were the men who had stayed behind when the leaders of the rebellion ran to safety, and these the men who would pay the price of their decision.
That they knew this well could be seen in their faces, their expressions still defiant.
I searched for Alex, as the people around me erupted in shouts and calls and sobs, but he was not there.
The soldiers held the crowd back without violence and the group shuffled past us, their chains clinking.
Somewhere down the street I heard the drone of bagpipes and near me a woman was keening.
There was a pause and I feared that no more prisoners were to come by us, but another group appeared soon, Murdoch among them.
He did not see us at first but I waved and called and at last he looked our way.
His grin was wide as he shouted greetings to us and pointed behind him, then waved as he was quickly pushed past. Godspeed, Murdoch , I said silently, may God protect you, dear friend .
And I refused to think of Morag and the havoc she had wrought.
A third group passed us but still no Alex.
Around us many had seen their loved ones, and shouts between the prisoners and watchers filled the air.
I craned my neck to see over the soldiers in front of me and jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned to find an ashen Angus behind me.
Over his shoulder I saw a soldier talking quietly to Robert, gesturing to Angus.