Loving A Highlander (14 page)

Chapter

Fifteen

              The moon was climbing into the sky when Isabella crossed her bedchamber to look out the window for the last time.  Its silvery light sparkled off of the water of the lake and lit the surrounding landscape.  Most nights, she would have taken the time to admire its beauty, but tonight there was no time.  She needed to flee.  Already there were murmurings throughout the castle.  A growing unease about the way she had been treated since the laird’s death, more like a guest and less like a prisoner.

A couple of figures walked by the lake.  She squinted to make out their identities and was shocked to see the constable and the governess in a heated conversation.  Their voices floated up to her on the breeze, but even though she strained to make out their words, they remained muted and garbled.

Isabella gasped as she saw the constable’s hands move upward to wrap around the young woman’s neck.  The governess struggled and fought, clawing at his hands in a desperate attempt to make them loosen, to allow her the air she needed to survive.

In a few minutes, it was over.  The young woman slumped to the ground and the constable, ever so casually, rolled her body into the lake where it floated face down.

As if he sensed he was being watched, he looked up at Isabella’s window, his gaze zeroing in on her in the dark.

Isabella shrank back from the window, her heart beating wildly in her chest.  She quickly gathered what few belongings she had and rushed to the far wall.  Drawing back the heavy tapestry that hung there, she felt along the stones until she found the one that moved.  She pressed on it and a panel swung inward to reveal a door.  Steep steps led down into an inky darkness.

She had found the secret passageway quite by accident.  During her time imprisoned in her bedchamber, she had spent hours studying the colorful tapestries that adorned the walls.  One afternoon, she had noticed that one of the tapestries on an interior wall was billowing slightly outward as if moved by a draft.  She had lifted the tapestry and peered behind it.  The stones had been covered in cobwebs, evidence that the tapestry hadn’t been moved in some time.

She had felt along the wall in search of the source of the draft.  Her fingers had stopped on one stone that had appeared different than the others.  It had wobbled slightly, as if it was not securely in place and then, much to her surprise, a section of the wall had moved inward to reveal an opening.

Unsure of where the stairs might lead, but knowing she couldn’t remain in her bedchamber waiting for someone to arrive to take her to her doom, Isabella grabbed a lit candle off of the bedside table and stepped onto the first step leading down into the darkness.

She hesitated, looking behind her, but the heavy tapestry had fallen back in place, obscuring the opening.  If someone were to step inside the bedchamber, they would have to look closely to detect the hidden passageway.

Isabella hesitated as she thought about Gerard.  He would be hurt, of that she was certain, but she prayed that he would understand.  She couldn’t stay here.  Not when she was being accused of killing the laird.  A crime that was punishable by death.

She placed her hand on her stomach and the growing child within.  Gerard would never know he was to be a father.  Would never see their child take its first steps.

Isabella sighed as she wiped away a tear.  Perhaps someday, she and Gerard would meet again, but she quickly dismissed the thought.  Theirs was a love that was never meant to be.  It had survived for a brief time, but it had been doomed from the start.  She and the child would manage just fine without him.

The dim light from the candle flickered on the narrow steps and walls of the passageway, leading down into a darkness that had no end.  Her slipper shod feet hesitated on the first step.

Isabella took a deep breath and plunged into the darkness, following the steps down as they led to the first floor of the castle, then lower.  The stones on the walls grew damp to the touch and she had to be careful of her footing on the slick steps.  She could hear water dripping far off in the distance and knew that the passage must end somewhere near the lake.  She just hoped that the constable wouldn’t be waiting for her.

Several minutes ticked by before she reached the end and she stopped in front of a door.  Silvery moonlight could be seen through cracks and she reached to open it, but was stopped by a hand on her arm.

Heart pounding, Isabella turned, expecting to see the constable and his leering face, but instead found Gerard frowning down at her.

“Where do you think you are going, lass?” he growled.

“I have to leave,” she said, her heart beat wildly as she tugged on her arm, but he only tightened his grip.  “Please, Gerard,” she pleaded.  “I can’t stay here.”

“Aye,” he agreed, “they have discovered that you are missing and are searching the castle for you.  It won’t be long before they find the passage.”  He pulled her to the right, down a dark passageway that she hadn’t noticed.

“Where are we going?” Isabella whispered, as they left the doorway and freedom behind.

“There is more than one way out,” he replied.  “But we need to be quick.  This escape route may have been long forgotten, but someone is bound to remember of its existence.  Rowan and I played here as children, but we weren’t the only ones.”

“Gerard?”

“Aye,” he said, as he pulled her along.

“The constable and the governess are the ones who killed the laird.”

He stopped then and stared down at her.  “How do you know this?”

“I overheard them speaking.”

Gerard arched a brow.  “They were talking about killing the laird outside your bedchamber?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head.  “The guards forgot to lock the bedroom door when they brought me back from the funeral.  I overheard the constable and the governess speaking in the laird’s bedchamber.”

Gerard’s brow furrowed.  “That doesn’t make sense.  The constable was Rowan’s right hand man.  He trusted him and considered him a friend.  Why would the constable wish to do Rowan harm?”

“Because he wasn’t just the constable,” Isabella said evenly, but the laird’s half-brother.  The constable felt the money and the title should have been his.”

Gerard’s expression darkened.  “That bloody bastard,” he growled.  “If he had only come to Rowan and explained, I’m certain Rowan would have given him money.  Family was important to Rowan and he always took care of his own.”

“He was important to you, wasn’t he?”

“Aye, lass.”  Gerard sighed.  “He was.  Rowan was like a brother to me.”

A noise from above drew their attention and Gerard began to run, dragging her behind him.  Fear snaked down Isabella’s spine. She could hear noises in the passage behind them and knew that the stairs had been discovered.

“Gerard, they’re coming,” she whispered, as panic welled up inside of her.  She could practically feel the weight of the hangman’s noosed as it rested on her shoulders and knew if they were discovered, she wouldn’t live to see the sun rise.

As a response, he increased his pace.  “We need to hurry, lass,” he growled.  “I shudder to think what will happen if they find you.”

“But you are the Captain of the Guard,” she huffed, desperately trying to catch her breath as they stopped in front of another door.

“Aye,” Gerard said, as he stared down at her, his expression unreadable.  “But I am only one man.  I will defend you until my dying breath, but I can’t hold off a mob single handedly.  These people lust for blood. 
Your
blood.  That is why,” he said, as he opened the door, revealing the shadowed landscape beyond, “we need to flee.”

Isabella followed him out of the passage and breathed in the cold night air.  The passage had opened up on the side of the castle away from the lake.  A line of trees stood a short distance away, but they would have to be quick to reach the safety they offered without being detected.

Gerard stopped, listening for any sign of movement.  He leaned close to Isabella, so close she could feel his breath fanning her cheek.  “When I say run,” he whispered.  “Run for the trees and don’t look back.”  He grasped her chin in a large hand and tilted her face up to his.  “Promise me, Bella, no matter what you hear, you won’t look back.”

“I promise,” she whispered, even though she knew she couldn’t leave him.  Wouldn’t leave him, even if it meant she had to give up her life, at least she would die next to him.

But, one stern look from Gerard, and her shoulders sagged.  She knew she had no choice, but to obey him.  “Aye, I will flee.”

Gerard’s eyes glittered with an emotion she couldn’t identify.  “You, lass, are like a storm cloud,” he growled.  “Entirely unpredictable.”  He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips before pulling away.

“Run, Bella,” he whispered fiercely, giving her a shove toward the trees and darkness beyond.  “Run as if your very life depends upon it.”

He didn’t have to tell her twice.  Isabella hiked up her skirts and ran.  Behind her, she could hear shouts from the guards atop the wall and could have sworn she heard the whine of an arrow as it zinged passed her, but true to her word, she did not stop.

She reached the grove of trees, shaking and out of breath and turned to find herself very much alone.  The expanse of land stretched out before her, bathed in moonlight, but there was no figure running to meet her.

With a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, Isabella turned and melted into the darkness.

Chapter

Sixteen

All night she walked, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and the castle.  The sounds of the forest were all around her and even though she had grown up in the dense woodland, she knew that it could be dangerous at nighttime when wild animals came out to hunt their prey.

Isabella listened for sounds of men pursuing her, but other than the animals, she was very much alone.  She had heard the soldiers in the garrison talk about fairies and witches that lived in the forest.  Beings who only came out at night to harm travelers who dared to enter their territory after dark.

Even though these men were strong and most had seen battle, not a one of them wished to encounter the mystical beings.  Isabella knew that they would not step foot into the forest while it was dark, but once the sun crested over the hill, the hunt would be on and it would be best if she were far away.

She stopped to rest beside a large oak tree and jumped when a footstep crunched in the fallen leaves behind her.  She picked up her skirts and prepared to flee again, but a hand closed around her arm.

“Bella,” Gerard rasped.

Isabella turned and sagged against him in relief, but stepped back when he grunted in pain.  He stood, clutching his right shoulder.  The broken shaft of an arrow could be seen through his fingers and blood oozed from the wound, dampening his shirt.

“You’re hurt.”  Isabella blinked back tears.  Now was not the time to get upset.  Gerard needed her help before he lost too much blood.  “We need to get the arrowhead out of your shoulder before infection sets in.”

Gerard swayed slightly on his feet.  “There is no time.  Daylight is only hours away and soon they will be searching for you.”  His feverish gaze met hers.  “They won’t stop until they find you, Bella.  Rowan was too well loved for them to let the person they believe to be his killer go unpunished.”

“Eva won’t let them hurt me.”  But even as she said the words, an image of the lady of the castle rose up in front of her and she knew that the laird’s wife would be too consumed with grief to be much help.

“Eva won’t have a say in it if they catch us, lass,” Gerard said, as he resumed walking and motioned for her to follow him.  “They won’t take you back to the castle, but string you up from the nearest tree.  I’m sure they won’t hesitate to hang me next to you for helping you escape.”

Isabella gasped as she hurried to keep up with his long strides.  “But these are your men!  Surely they must be loyal to you.”

“They are the
laird’s
men,” he corrected with a sigh.  “And as such, they are loyal to the core.  I will be viewed as a traitor.”

They lapsed into silence as they walked, skirting fallen logs and large rocks.  Soon, weak sunshine filtered through the bare branches of the trees and an unspoken message passed between them.  They picked up their pace, knowing without a doubt, the soldiers would be hot on their heels.

It was midday when they stopped again next to a brook, its water cold and swiftly flowing.  It had been snowing all morning.  Soft flakes drifted down around them to cover the ground.  Gerard bent on one knee in the freshly fallen snow.  Leaning forward, he cupped his hands and brought the water to his mouth for a drink. 

He gestured for her to do the same.  “Drink now, lass.  Our journey is a long one and I don’t know when we will have the opportunity again.”

Isabella wished for a container in which to carry water with them, but her trip hadn’t been well thought out and she had nothing with her that would serve the purpose.  She crouched down to do Gerard’s bidding and moaned as the cold water soothed her parched throat. 

The snow was tapering off now, but a strong wind had taken its place.  It whipped through the forest, snaking around tree trunks and causing the bare branches to clatter over their heads.

Isabella turned to Rowan and noticed he was pale.  He clutched his wounded shoulder as he stayed on bended knee.  His head bent toward the ground.  She reached for him.  “We need to tend to that shoulder before it gets any worse.

Gerard protested feebly, but didn’t stop her when she eased his shirt aside to a get a closer look at the wound.  Her breath caught when she saw the broken arrow shaft imbedded in his skin.  The skin was puckered and an angry red and she knew infection had already set in.

“We need to get the arrow out,” she said calmly, even though her heart raced.  Men had died from lesser wounds and she worked quickly to make sure Gerard didn’t join them.

Gerard hissed as she began to ease the broken arrow from his body.  He reached up a hand to clasp hers.  “You don’t have to do that, lass.”

“Aye.”  Isabella nodded.  “I do, or it will be the death of you.  I need you alive, Gerard Mackenzie,” she said, as she bent back over her task.

“So you do care about me,” he murmured, in a voice laced with pain. 

Startled, Isabella looked up and met his pain filled gaze.  She thought about the nights she had spent in his arms.  Nights filled with heated words and passion.  Nights she feared would never happen again.

“Of course, I care about you, you silly fool,” she scolded, as she yanked the broken arrow free.  Scooping up a handful of snow, she held it to the wound.

Gerard attempted a smile, but fell short.  “That’s how I like to see my Bella.  Your cheeks burn a fiery red when you are angry.”  He hesitated before adding.  “And at other times.”

Isabella’s cheeks flamed even hotter, but she didn’t acknowledge his words.  Instead she bent to tear a strip of material from the hem of her skirt.  She used it to bind his wound, but frowned when the material became quickly soaked with blood.

She bent again and tore off another strip of material.  Soaking it in snow, she once again bound the wound, satisfied when the blood didn’t seep through.

“That is the best I can do for now,” Isabella said, as she straightened.  Reaching out a hand, she helped Gerard to his feet.  “We need to find shelter before the day is through.  I don’t look forward to spending another night braving the elements.”

Gerard grunted in response, but then nodded.  “Aye, lass.  It is shelter we need.  We can’t keep up this pace much longer.”

It was almost dusk before they found the shelter they sought.  A small cottage tucked away at the foot of a hill.  A thin curl of smoke drifted up from the chimney only to be whipped away by the wind.

The flicker of a light shown in a window as they neared and through it they could see a small family seated around a table.  The mother and father were laughing and the children, a young boy and a girl, were giggling along with them.  The entire scene was cozy and was out of place in the dense dark woods.

“Should we stop here?”  Isabella turned a questioning gaze to Gerard who had been quiet for quite some time.

A hint of a smile played about Gerard’s lips, the first she had seen from him since the ordeal had begun.  He scratched his chin thoughtfully.  “Well, I don’t know, lass.  Let me look over the other houses around here and then I will give you my answer.”

Isabella flushed.  It had been a foolish question.  This was the first dwelling they had come across in their travels and would likely be the last for many miles to come.

“Let’s get you inside,” she said firmly, “before you catch your death from the cold.”  She knocked loudly, hoping the family would hear her over the increasing wind.

It wasn’t long before the door opened a crack, spilling firelight out into the gloom.  “What do you want?”  A rough looking man asked as he squinted at them.  “We have nothing of value for you to steal, if that is what you are after.”

“No,” Isabella rushed to reassure him.  “We aren’t here to steal from you.  We need your help.  My…” She hesitated. “My husband has been injured and needs a place to rest.”

The man opened the door wider to get a better look at them, but not wide enough for them to pass through.  His eyes narrowed as he studied Gerard.  After a few minutes he sighed and opened the door to allow them to enter.  “Ye might as well come in out of the cold and have a bite to eat.  There isn’t much, but what we do have we are willing to share with you.”

Gerard and Isabella both murmured their thanks as they stepped into the room.  A cheerful fire burned in the hearth.  It wasn’t a large room and was dominated by the table that sat at its center.  Up above in the sleeping loft, the head of a toddler could be seen.  The young boy peered down at them with wide eyes before ducking out of sight.

The man’s wife welcomed them with a hesitant smile.  “Sit,” she said, motioning for them to sit in the chairs the children had vacated, “and I will bring you some stew.”

Isabella’s stomach rumbled loudly as she breathed in the mouthwatering scent.  She hadn’t eaten since yesterday and her stomach was protesting.  “Thank you, we appreciate your hospitality.”

Her gaze scanned the cabin, taking in the bundles of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling and the large cauldron over the fire. 

“My name is Audry and this is my husband, Bardolf,” the woman said as she placed steaming bowls of stew in front of them.  She motioned to the two children who were watching quietly.  “And this is our son, Hemmet and our daughter, Violet.”  She next pointed to the sleeping loft where the toddler was once again watching the scene below.  “And that little one is our son, Ian.”  She smiled.  “He is a bit shy around strangers but once he warms up to you he will talk your ear off.”

Isabella smiled at each of the children in turn but received wide eyed stares for her effort.  She knew the children’s behavior was normal and tried her best not to be offended.  More than likely they had never seen a stranger or at least not often living out here in the middle of the forest.

She thought back to her own childhood growing up in similar surroundings and knew how the cottage and the small clearing around it was the center of the children’s world. 

Audry frowned as she looked at Gerard’s shoulder.  The bandage was once again soaked through with blood and it appeared to be causing him no little amount of pain.  “How did you injure yourself?” she asked, as she sat a plate with a couple of slices of bread on the table.

Gerard’s voice was no more than a whisper when he answered.  “I was shot by an arrow.”  He attempted a smile.  “A hunter must have mistaken me for a deer.”

Bardolf’s eyes narrowed.  “I haven’t seen hunters this far into the woods in quite some time.”

Isabella looked across the table at Gerard.  It was obvious the man wasn’t buying their story.  What if he turned them out into the cold?  Or worse, sent word to the castle that he had two suspicious people at his cottage.  Maybe the castle’s soldiers had found the cottage before they did and had already warned its inhabitants to be on the lookout for a man and a woman.

If Gerard was worried, he didn’t show it.  Or perhaps he was too tired and in too much pain to care.  He gave Isabella a reassuring smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.  His brow was creased with worry as he leaned back in his chair.

Isabella took a bite of her stew.  It was surprisingly good, but she had to force it down.  Her stomach had been queasy for a few days.  Morning sickness and the laird’s death and being accused of murder hadn’t helped things.

She watched their hostess.  She was obviously pregnant.  Her apron scarcely covered the mound of her stomach.  If she had to guess, there would be a new little one in this household before too much longer.

“Do you have a tincture for a queasy stomach?” Isabella addressed the woman.

Audry smiled knowingly and then cast a glance at her husband and Gerard who were deep in conversation.  “Are you expectin’ a wee bairn come spring?” she whispered.

“Aye,” Isabella said softly.

Audry’s smile widened.  “I bet your husband is proud.  I know Bardolf strutted around here like a proud rooster when I was expectin’ for the first time.”

Isabella looked quickly at Gerard, but he had his back to her and didn’t appear to be listening.  “He doesn’t know.”

Audry clucked her tongue sympathetically.  “Aye, sometimes it is best to wait and see if the bairn takes before telling anyone.  I speak from experience, I had many a pregnancy that ended in heartache and tears.”

Isabella placed a protective hand on her stomach.  She couldn’t lose this child.  Even if she and Gerard went their separate ways, she would have a child to remind her of the love they had shared.  Maybe a lad with Gerard’s vivid blue eyes or a lass that possessed his charming smile.

She blinked back tears.  “Aye, it would be heartbreaking to lose this little one. I’m not certain I could bear it.”

Audry brought Isabella a cup of herbal tea to soothe her stomach.  “If you don’t carry this child to term, there will be others.  Your husband is a strapping young man.  I’m certain there will be plenty of children in your future.”

Isabella didn’t answer, but took a sip of her tea.  Would she and Gerard have other children?  Oh, how she longed for it to be true, but fate had a way of wreaking havoc on a person’s life and this time she was afraid she would lose her heart.

A fierce wind howled outside the cottage and the nighttime shadows had thickened by the time Audry showed them to their bed, a straw pallet on the floor in front of the fire.  Isabella and Gerard thanked the woman and then sank down onto the thin mattress to rest.