The Border Lord's Bride (41 page)

Ellen turned to the younger man. "Your cousin is to be trusted?" she asked him.

"Robert is an honorable man, lady. My hand to God on it," the monk answered.

"How long will it take us to reach Aldclune?" she questioned.

"If we leave at first light we will be there before noon," Brother Griogair said.

"I will be ready," Ellen responded.

"You will have to ride astride if we are to make the charade real," he said.

"I am used to riding that way," she told him.

"I will pray for you, my daughter," Prior Kenneth said.

"My husband will reward you for your kindness," Ellen replied. "Thank you."

The two monks withdrew, and shortly afterward a young monk came with a trencher of fish stew, a wedge of cheese, and a goblet of apple cider for her. Ellen thanked him. She did not sleep well, every sound causing her to waken, listening, fearful. She was only now realizing what a dangerous thing she had done when she crossed the mud of Solway Firth without realizing the tide was coming back. She would remember till the day she died the peculiar roar of the water as it spilled up the firth. If the monks had not seen her she would have surely drowned.

But better death than another night with Sir Roger. And what was she going to tell Duncan?

Should she tell him that Sir Roger had touched her, fondled her, attempted to rape her?

Finally the early light began to show through the shutters of her shelter. She arose, eager to get started. She could hear the monks‘ voices raised in prayerful song as they celebrated the second Mass of the day, prime. The first Mass, matins and lauds, had been celebrated after midnight.

Ellen washed the sleep from her face, undid her braid, which was now dry, and combed out her hair. She made a face at how sticky her hair was from the seawater, but she would have to live with it for a time, she knew. Replaiting her hair, she then put on the itchy brown robe and sat down to wait for Brother Griogair.

When he arrived shortly after, he carried with him a fresh chunk of buttered bread, telling her, "I thought it would be better to eat astride rather than waste the time here. I know how anxious you are to put as many miles between you and England as possible."

"Aye," Ellen agreed. "I will not feel safe until I am with my kin again."

The monk led her to the monastery stables, which contained three horses. None looked either young or fast. They saddled two beasts, led them outside, and, mounting, rode to the gates of St.

Andrews to be let out by the porter.

"No one on the road or coming from the sea," the porter told them cheerfully.

They rode in silence, eating their bread as they went. What was there to say? Ellen wondered.

The silence around them meant that everything out of the ordinary echoed and caused her to start. Ellen had to admit to herself that she was still very frightened that Sir Roger Colby would appear out of the void and carry her off again to his castle. How long had he sought her, and how must he have felt, realizing that somehow, some way, she had escaped him? She knew he had been aware that her taunts were meant to prick at his pride, but she had also believed that her challenge would appeal to that pride. And it had! But she had been very fortunate at finding the mile-wide cross of Solway Firth, and escaping drowning when the full-bore tide had roared back up that channel of the Irish Sea. And lucky that the monks had seen her, rescued her, sheltered her, and were now taking her to a place of safety.

They rode for several hours, and then on a rise a short ways ahead of them in a green meadow was a large stone house, much like Duffdour, but lacking in walls.

"There is Aldclune ahead of us," Brother Griogair said, breaking their long silence.

Reaching the house, they dismounted, and servants took their horses, greeting the monk warmly.

He led her inside to a gracious hall where a man and woman were seated at a high board, being served the main meal of the day.

"Griogair!" the man said, standing. "What have you brought us?"

"Robert," the monk greeted his cousin. "My lady Anne."

Robert Ferguson suddenly stared hard at Ellen. "God‘s boots! You are the laird of Duffdour‘s wife, are you not?"

"How is it you recognize me?" Ellen asked him.

"I was one of the men at Duffdour late last spring when plans were made to stop the English raiders. I had heard you had been taken by that villain Colby. Your husband has ridden both sides of the border for months seeking you."

Ellen began to cry, and at once Anne Ferguson came down from the high board, putting her arms about the young woman, comforting her.

"The lady escaped yesterday from Colby, but she will tell you the tale herself, cousin," Brother Griogair said. "She damned near drowned crossing the Solway just before the tide came back in.

Fortunately several of us walking the beach saw her."

"He…he…rescued me," Ellen sobbed.

"Oh, you poor thing," the lady Anne said.

"Can you send to Duffdour, cousin?" the monk asked Robert Ferguson.

"I‘ll send to Cleit first, for Cleit is nearer, and he is Duffdour‘s half brother," the laird of Aldclune said. "He can send to Duffdour, and my clansmen and I will escort the lady to Cleit. If we leave within the hour we can shelter at our cousin David‘s home tonight, and reach Cleit by late tomorrow. Does Colby know where she is?"

"Come and sit down at the high board," Anne Ferguson said. "You must eat before you continue on your journey. You can tell us, if you want, what happened." She escorted Ellen to a seat and, signaling a servant, saw a trencher of hot rabbit stew brought to her, along with a small goblet of ale. "Eat, my dear; you look fair worn."

Ellen gratefully ate the food placed in front of her. When she had finished she quickly explained what had happened, telling the Fergusons the same tale she had told Brother Griogair and Prior Kenneth. The laird of Aldclune swore softly, and his good wife tsked, shaking her head sympathetically.

"You‘re a braw lass," Robert Ferguson said when she finished. "I‘ll gladly ride with your husband when he avenges you, lady. But now we must hurry if we are to reach my cousin‘s home by sunset. Thank you, Griogair, for bringing the lady of Duffdour to us."

And then she was on the road again, but this time she had been given a decent horse, although she still wore her monk‘s robes. Brother Griogair rode away from Aldclune as Robert Ferguson, his clansmen, and Ellen started in the opposite direction. And they rode at a good gallop for three more hours, reaching their destination just as the late-October sun was setting. David Ferguson‘s wife, Sine, offered Ellen a change of garments, but Ellen declined, feeling safer in her monk‘s robes. She told her story again after the light evening meal was served, and was again met with much sympathy.

At dawn they set out again. David Ferguson and a dozen of his men had joined them. They stopped when the sun was at its zenith to rest the horses and attend to their own needs. They had oatcakes and cheese for nourishment, which they ate as they rode. And then as the day waned and the sun was sinking to the west behind them, Cleit Keep was before them. Ellen had never before in her life been as glad to see any place as she was to see her brother-in-law‘s home. The Fergusons were warmly welcomed into Conal Bruce‘s hall, and all the more so because of whom they brought with them.

Ellen fell into Adair‘s arms, suddenly weeping wildly again. And Conal Bruce himself felt tears pricking at the backs of his eyelids. He knew how much his older brother loved this woman, and how painful the last few months had been for him. When he heard Ellen‘s tale, however, he knew that those months had been far worse for her than they had been for Duncan Armstrong.

Adair, however, sensed that Ellen was not telling them everything. Seeing her sister-in-law‘s head drooping, she whispered to her husband that she would take her off and tuck her into bed.

Leading Ellen to a small guest chamber, she took the brown robe, laughing. "Tomorrow I shall give you a respectable gown to wear."

"No," Ellen said. "I am safer in the monk‘s robe."

"What happened?" Adair said quietly.

"I have told you what happened," Ellen replied.

"You have told us the tale you wish us to hear, sister. Now I want you to tell me the truth.

Whatever you say ‘twill be between us. Did he rape you?"

Ellen began to weep. "Aye, and nay," she finally sobbed.

"He fondled you?"

"Aye. And he put his tongue on me where he should not."

"He touched you where only your husband should touch you? Tell me, sweeting," Adair cajoled.

"I can tell this pains you. Tell me, and be rid of the pain."

"Sir Roger says women are all whores and sluts," Ellen wailed. Then she wept harder.

Adair had a sudden thought. "Did he give you anything to eat or drink before he began his seduction?" she inquired, curious. "As he grew older, my father often had difficulties making his body perform as he would have it do. He took potions that helped keep his lust well fueled. They call such thing aphrodisiacs, and many of them come from the East."

"I was left without food or water for three days, and then I was given bread, a bit of cheese, a cup of wine," Ellen said. "When he came to my chamber that night and woke me he admitted to having drugged the wine so I would sleep. Then he forced a vial of some liquid down my throat.

Afterward I felt filled with such lust as I have never known. It was terrible. Everything tingled and throbbed and yearned to be sated. I tried to fight it, Adair. I swear to you that I did, but I could not!"

"I thought as much," Adair said in a satisfied tone. "Whatever it was that Colby gave you, Ellen, that is what forced your body to react to his wicked, lustful torture. But even so, you still attempted to resist. I think you are very brave."

"Then why do I feel so shamed?" Ellen said softly. "How will I be able to face Duncan, knowing that another man made me feel passion? And how can he share a bed with me, knowing I am less than chaste now?" And she began to sob again.

"Do not be such a little fool, Ellen," Adair said sharply. "You will tell your husband the exact same tale you have told us. That you were imprisoned in a dungeon for many weeks. That you were then kept in a tower alone and without company for more weeks. That of late Sir Roger had taken to fondling you and kissing you in his hall. That when you realized he meant to force you to his will, you taunted him in such a manner that you were able to escape Colby Castle," Adair said.

"Why did I not attempt to escape before that?" Ellen wailed.

"Because you were waiting, praying to our Blessed Mother for your husband to come and rescue you. And when you could wait no more, when you realized that possibly Duncan did not know where you were, you did what you did. The shock of your incarceration finally wore off as you realized the danger you were in, and that you had no one, no one but yourself, to rely upon,"

Adair responded. "God‘s nightshirt, Ellen! Surely someone must have known that Colby had a home somewhere else other than Devil‘s Glen. He‘s English, for God‘s sake! He reports to his king."

"Oh, merciful Mother of God!" Ellen cried. "I forgot the most important thing of all, Adair. Ian Johnston is alive, and Colby means to make an attempt on the king‘s life with Johnston‘s aid.

Our king!"

"What?" Adair jumped up from the bed where she had been seated. "I must get Conal. Do not dare to sleep until we get back!"

Ellen nodded, watching as her sister-in-law ran from the little chamber, returning several minutes later with Conal Bruce.

"What is this about an assassination?" he wanted to know.

"Colby received a messenger from King Henry a few days ago. As his king had forbidden him the court he was quite pleased. The message was in the form of a riddle, and Colby could not at first understand it. King Henry had sent to say that there was a thorn in the lion‘s paw. If Colby would remove the thorn then he would be welcomed back to King Henry‘s court. He told me the riddle, and I said the lion was obviously King Henry himself. As soon as I said it Colby realized that the thorn was our own King James! That King Henry was asking him to kill Scotland‘s king!

Then he brought Ian Johnston up from his dungeons, where he had languished for months, and together they began planning. I know nothing more, because that same morning I tricked Sir Roger into letting me loose, and I fled."

"You must send to Bothwell," Adair said.

The laird of Cleit nodded. "I will dispatch two messengers in the morning. One to Duffdour, so Duncan may come and collect his wife, and the other to Hailes to Hercules Hepburn, so he may notify Patrick. I have no idea where he would be. Perhaps the earl is at Hailes. Perhaps he is with the king, but Jamie must know immediately what is afoot." He patted Ellen‘s shoulder. "You‘re a braw lass, Ellen MacArthur. My brother is fortunate to have you as his wife," he told her, and Ellen began to cry again.

Conal Bruce looked aghast. "What have I said?" he asked his wife.

Adair shook her head. "The shock of it all is just beginning to touch her," she told him. "I‘m afraid she‘s going to be like this for a while. Go back to the hall, my lord." And when he had gone Adair said to Ellen, "I‘m going to leave you to get some sleep. Hopefully it will settle your nerves. You were not to blame for what happened these past weeks. There is only one person to blame. That is Sir Roger Colby. I hope he is prepared to run, but he cannot run far enough, Ellen.

Duncan, his brothers, and their friends are going to find him, and when they do they will kill him. If they do not he may kill our king, and we cannot have England telling Scotland what to do again." Bending, she drew the coverlet over Ellen‘s shoulders. "Go to sleep now, lass, and dream of the man you love, for I doubt he‘ll wait for his clansmen once he learns you are here safe at Cleit. Good night."

Ellen lay awake in the comfortable bed for some minutes after her hostess had left her. She was safe! And she was almost home. She thought of what Adair had said to her, and she knew Adair was correct when she said Ellen was not to blame for what had happened to her. Somehow she would save Duncan from torturing himself for not rescuing her from that evil man. I will bear this burden even if it kills me!