The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (19 page)

"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
Ramsey’s
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
grey
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 casde, 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.

"We have failed, Mary," Angus whispered into my ear, his voice raw. "We were arrested in the night after I left ye. They took Matthew away. And Gilbey. I dinna ken where they have been taken. Two of Jamie Ramsay's brothers are dead and I dinna ken where the Macleans are. The
Mary
Rose was seized as she arrived this morning and the men on it are held."

I stared at him open
mouthed as his words took effect. Some part of me had always believed he'd free Alex, and I struggled to let the dream go. "Oh, Angus," I said as the meaning sank in.

"They have my son, Mary," he said. "They have my boy and they're holding him to ensure my good
behaviour
. They say they will release him, and Gilbey as well, if Alex sails on that ship. And kill them if no'. Mary, even if I wished to risk their lives, I have no one to aid me. We've failed. I've failed."

I clung to him, hearing the despair in his voice. It was worse than I'd feared. Somehow I'd always thought the only risk we were taking was in freeing or not freeing Alex. I'd not taken it the next step and thought how much more we had to lose. Matthew, I thought. And Gilbey. Dear God. "And the others?" I asked.

"I dinna ken. I wasna in a position to ask many questions."

"Oh, Angus. What happened?"

"We were taken two nights ago, after moving to what we thought was a safe place. The soldiers burst in on us in the wee hours. There were just the three of us and we tried, but it was over as soon as it was begun. They held us in some garrison rooms, all separated, and they questioned me. I dinna ken what they did to Matthew or Gilbey. They let me go about two hours ago. That's when I heard of the Mary Rose's seizure.
Mary
, we are undone."

"We had very little chance of success at best, Angus. We knew that. It's all right. We'll try another way later." I leaned back and looked into his face. "We'll find another way. Let's get your boy back. And Gilbey."

"It was Morag, Mary," he growled. "She betrayed us. She told the soldiers where we were and she told them Matthew was my son." He ignored the tears streaming down his face and I wiped them away, ignoring my own. Ian and Jamie wrapped their arms around him and he patted them as he fought his emotions.

"It's all right, Angus. It's all right."

He shook his head angrily. "No, Mary, it's no' aright. It'll never be
a right
again. If I ever find her ..."

"Don't, Angus. Don't." I gestured to the boys. "We'll find another way."

He shook his head again tightly and pressed his lips together. I leaned my head against his shoulder and we huddled like that while we waited. I knew I'd convinced neither of us with my brave talk. Dear God I prayed, keep Matthew and Gilbey safe. And Alex.

At last I spoke. "Angus, how did you find us?"

"Went to Robert's house. His men told me where ye were. Has Alex gone by yet?"

I shook my head and looked behind me at Robert. "Angus," I asked, "did Robert have you captured?"

Angus shook his head. "No, lass, I dinna think so. He wasna with the soldiers who came, and I dinna see him where I was held. He may have been told, but I canna think he had a part in it. No, it was Morag. For revenge on Alex. For revenge, lass."

I nodded and he turned from me, wiping his eyes, and then pointed to another group of prisoners approaching. But no Alex. And we waited again, this time in silence. I turned to look at Robert and met his eyes, his expression unreadable. He'd known. He perhaps had not directed the arrest, nor even known of it beforehand, but he'd known when he'd come to get me today. He was the first to turn away.

And then Alex was there, standing in the gateway blinking at the light. I held my breath as he paused for a moment and looked at the crowd below him. His hair was loose and floated above his shoulders, his beard a copper slash across his cheeks. His plaid was grimy but his shirt was clean, and his chin went up as he was pushed forward. I could not speak, but I raised my arm. Beside me Angus was shouting, his voice lost in the din. The boys squirmed between us, shouting "Da!" and before I knew what they intended they'd darted out into the pathway, heading for their father. I found my voice then and screamed, straining against the soldier's arm as he held me back, and Alex looked our way as his sons flew to him. The boys evaded the hands that reached for them and threw themselves into Alex's waiting arms. He lifted them to him, enclosing them in the chains and his embrace, and they clung to him. And then he had them point us out. He tried to push his way toward us, but was prevented from reaching us by the soldiers who massed in front of him. He put the boys carefully on the ground, but the soldiers did not harm them, only gently guided the boys back toward us.

"Alex!" I screamed. "Alex, Alex!"

"Mary!" Alex cried, fighting to stand as the other prisoners were forced past him. "I love ye, Mary Rose!" Hands were on my arms, pulling me back, and Alex was pushed into the crowd of prisoners behind him. Angus reached a hand past me and clasped Alex's for a moment before they were torn apart. He shouted at Alex in Gaelic, and Alex answered with the MacGannon war cry. Angus, his face ablaze now, bellowed it back to him as we were shoved against the wall.

Alex disappeared from sight. My arms went around the sobbing boys as they reached me, and Angus met my look with an agonized expression. Behind us Robert watched without visible emotion.

I do not remember much in detail after that. We waited until the rest of the prisoners passed by, and then followed with the crowd as it made its way to the
harbour
. We spoke
little
, watching in silence as the prisoners were herded onto the waiting ships. We never saw Alex at the
harbour
and could only guess which ship he'd been placed on. And then we turned away from the
harbour
to
find a spot to watch the ships sail, and saw Robert, still waiting, with his coach behind him. I could not speak when he gestured to his coach. I shook my head and Angus did not even look at him. Robert followed us at a distance.