Her Highland Secret: Steamy Historical Scottish Romance

by Fiona Faris

  “Ladies, I fear if we keep on this eternal goodbye, we shall never get to Scotland,” Richard said from the top of the carriage. This time earning a scowl from all three, as each fought to suppress a giggle at how ridiculous he looked perched on high. “Scowl all you like, but if we tarry too long your father will not be pleased.”

  On her third travel day Ella had had enough. She’d been tussled and tossed all over the Scottish countryside. Her thoughts wandered to the rumors she’s heard earlier in Carlisle about the fierceness of the Jacobites and how they were planning an uprising throughout Scotland. Ella didn’t make a habit of listening to battle talk, or the gossip of politics. But with the town being overrun with military garrisons preparing to take their leave to fight for the crown, she’d found the talk was everywhere and impossible to avoid. If anyone had asked her then she would have proudly replied that she supported, the English in their fight. Now, however after three days staring at the landscape, she thought she could see why the people here loved their land enough to fight for it. It was beautiful country side. With lush green rolling hills dotted with wildflowers and grazing sheep and enormous cows.

  For the most part the days in the carriage were long and boring. The two nights so far on the road were no better. They had spent them in horrible roadside inns with bawdy serving women who only paid attention to Richard because he put on airs like he had coin; their flirting and carrying on made Ella nauseous. So much so that she was barely able to eat the terrible stews. She forced herself to eat knowing she would need her energy for her escape. But she certainly didn’t enjoy it.

  Her backside was sore, and she was travel weary to be sure, but she hadn’t wanted to make her attempt to flee so early in the journey. For one, she was keen on learning the habits of their driver and the needs of the horses. She watched for when and how he watered the horses as well as when he changed the poor beasts out for new. Figuring her best chance of escape would be when the two men were busy seeing to their needs, when they stopped for the horses, or when they stopped for the night. Not being familiar enough with the lay of the Scottish countryside, Ella figured her highest chance of success would come during the mid-day when they stopped to water the horses.

  She helped time in the carriage pass by reading the few books she’d brought along and writing a series of letters to Amelia. The letters were calculated on her part. She asked after their father and Gwen, detailed the beauty of the Scottish landscape, and wrote benign thoughts regarding her upcoming nuptials. She had purposefully made it seem that she’d come around the marriage. Amelia of course, would never believe it, but she also didn’t intend for the letters to actually make it back to England. They were simply another tool by which to assist her escape. By leaving the letters out when they stopped, Richard, whom she was sure was spying on her in the name of her father, would find nothing odd or amiss in Ella’s correspondence. If she were truly lucky, when she did find the right moment to make her escape, her letters may buy her more time. She knew if she played the docile, content bride-to-be, when the time came Richard would be caught off guard, giving her a much better chance of success.

  She had worked out a plan of escape, figuring that more daylight would help her navigate the foreign terrain, she would wait until they stopped the horses for their first watering. If her figuring was correct it would be close to the noon hour. Being the third day of their journey, she hoped they were far enough from both Dunkeld and Carlisle that she would run less of a risk of getting caught.

  Looking out the carriage window, Ella looked longingly at the light blue sky as high white clouds floated in and out of her view. The lovely early autumn day gave her a sense of peace. Even thought it was too early for the leaves to begin to turn, the air had a slight chill that she enjoyed. Ella often ran warm, so when the weather began to turn away from summer into the cool autumn leading up to Michaelmas, she was much more comfortable in her own skin. Thankful for the good weather, she saw it as a sign of her plan’s success. With her woolen travel dress and cloak, she was quite comfortable. She had tucked some bits of bread and cheese in her cloak from the last evenings dinner. She’d also folded some parchment and a locket with a likeness of her mother on one side and Amelia on the other. These were the only possessions she needed.

  The position of the sun in the sky was high, it was close to their first watering stop of the day, and Ella was prepared to make her move. She knocked on the roof of the carriage which was her signal to Richard and the driver that she needed to tend to her necessary needs. Hopefully, timing it to the need of the horses for a rest. The carriage slowed, then stopped and Ella felt nerves begin to flutter in her stomach.

  This is it, she thought. Be brave.

  Opening the carriage door Richard looked more than annoyed at her intrusion. “Well then,” he said, sternly. “Let’s get it on. We need to get beyond Stirlingshire before stopping for the night.”

  None of that mattered to Ella for she didn’t anticipate being anywhere near Richard by nightfall.

  “Settle down Richard, we won’t be long. I’m sure the horses need water as well,” she said, sweetly, stepping down from the carriage. A small piece of bread fell from the folds of her cloak. She quickly kicked it under the carriage with her boot, hoping Richard didn’t notice.

  Outside of the carriage the day was indeed lovely. They had stopped in a small clearing off the dirt road. There were only two or three trees, the rest of the landscape was the rugged Scottish rolling hills of brush and bramble she had gotten used to over the last few days.

  Walking behind a large tree, she waited until Richard turned his focus to the driver and horses to make her move. She could hear him grousing about how long they had to stop. When she was sure he was no longer concerned with her and her whereabouts, and taking a deep breath, Ella made her move. There was rough bramble blocking every which way she turned, preventing her from actually running, and slowing her walking to a crawl. She ignored the scratching at her ankles as she kept moving forward, hoping that as long as she didn’t look back, Richard wouldn’t notice her moving away.

  “Aye lovey, where ye gettin’ off too?” she heard the driver yelling behind her. Oh holy hell, she thought. I didn’t even get out of eye shot.

  “Ella, Ella, what the bloody hell?” Richard yelled. Her breath quickened. Her escape attempt was not going as planned at all. She hadn’t figured on how difficult it would be to maneuver in the fields. And she couldn’t even get to a run. Knowing she would not make it away now, she had to think fast to cover what she was doing, and hope Richard believed whatever she came up with. Taking another deep gulp of air, she turned back to see Richard barreling toward her. His face red in anger.

  “Richard, thank god,” she said, as innocently as she could muster. “I was trying to find a place for some privacy, and it seems I have gotten stuck in these brambles. Please help me?” She gave him her best pleading look, trying her hardest to convey a sweetness she didn’t feel.

  “Like hell you were. There are several trees right here that are perfect for privacy. You were tryin’ to run off, don’t bother by denying it. Where did you think you would get to before we found you again, huh?” he asked, grabbing her arm in the same soft spot where Commander Evans had grabbed her less than two weeks before. “You can’t be late or missing for your own wedding, Ella. What would your father say?”

  She winced as he dragged her out of the shrubs. He was hurting her, and she let out a yelp of pain to let him know it, but his grip did not loosen. Why did men keep tugging at the same place on her arm? It was like they all knew the best place to grab onto a woman to maximize the pain and bruising.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she replied through clenched teeth.

  “I’m sure you don’t. No matter, you’ll have plenty of time in the carriage to think about it. I hope you were able to see to your needs. We won’t be stopping again.”

  “But Richard, you don’t understand,” she begged. “I di
dn’t see to any needs. Please let me go, you’re hurting me.”

  Ignoring her pleas, he pulled her back toward the carriage, roughly tossing her inside. She silently cursed her small frame. Had she been a larger woman he would not have been able to handle her so easily.

  “Your father gave this to me,” Richard said holding up a chain and lock. “He warned me to use it from the moment we left Carlisle, but I told him I had no need.” Her eyes widened in terror. Her father had meant to cage her like an animal in order to deliver her to Evans. Of all the… “I see now that like in most things, he was right. I’m locking you in Ella, this is for your own good.” And with a click of the lock he was gone.

  “How dare you! Let me out of here at once Richard!” Ella banged on the door with all her might. “Richard, I’ll murder you with my own two hands! You are a monster!” There was no response. After a moment the coach started up again. Her escape attempt failed. Ella felt the hot sting of tears come to her eyes. She continued to use her fists on the door, until she became so tired her could no longer hold her hands up. It was a futile exercise, but she was angry at herself that she let an opportunity slip away, and at the audacity of her father’s servant to lock her up like a common prisoner. She vowed to herself that at the next opportunity she would succeed. She sat in silence, crying to herself at the folly in her first plan until she was too tired to keep her eyes open. As she drifted off to sleep, she promised herself she would find a way to escape her fate or die trying. She only hoped her opportunity would come before they reached Dunkeld.

  She reached for him, but he was further and further from her with each step she took. She knew she’d never seen him before, yet she felt she knew him better than she knew herself. He was so tall and strong. A mighty warrior with flaming red hair. Even though he stood out of her reach in the mist, his emerald green eyes shined. They were green candles lighting her way toward him. He started to fade, she yelled for him. He reached for her. She tried to run to him but couldn’t move. At her feet were brambles and shrubs. She didn’t know why but she needed to get to him. Needed to fold herself in his arms. She knew it was the only way she would feel truly safe. His mouth was moving but no sound emerged. She reached for him again. This time he faded into the oblivion…

  Ella woke with a start. She had no idea how long she slept, but the sky was lit with the pinks and golds of dusk. They had hit a rough patch, and the carriage was bouncing as if the road were filled with rocks. A sheen of sweet flowered across her brow, despite the cool air. She had never had such a vivid dream, the man with hair red as flame and haunting green eyes wanted her to come to him, and she had wanted desperately to go. Even as the details of the dream faded away the feeling of sadness of not having reached the red-haired man lingered. The dream was so real. What could it mean?

  Before she could think any more on it, the carriage jolted violently, sending Ella to her knees. What the devil is happening? She thought, struggling to get her bearings. Were they under some kind of attack?

  “Woaaaahhhh,” she heard the driver shout to the horses, then all was silent. The carriage tipped again, and Ella heard a distinct crack. She heard sheep bleating, violently, and men cursing and shouting. She couldn’t make out all of the voices, but she did hear Richard shout, “Out of the way man!!”

  Unable to right herself to see out the window and determine what was happening, bracing herself between the cushioned seat and the floor of the carriage, she held on for dear life. The shouting grew louder and the whole of the carriage fell hard to one side in a loud crash. She knew then they had lost a wheel. She was shaken but thankfully unharmed. Looking around, her eye caught a splintering in the wood right at the top hinge of the door. Her mind raced. She could easily pull the hinging off, releasing the door at the opposite side from where Richard had placed the lock. She looked out the window to check her surroundings, it looked as if there was only farmland around them—that, of course, would explain the sheep.

  What luck, she thought. Wondering if the strange man from her dream was indeed her guardian angel, bringing her the perfect opportunity to escape. Now all she needed was the perfect moment. She didn’t have to wait long. Ella righted herself as best as she could in the crooked carriage and waited patiently as Richard came around to the window.

  “You alright?” he asked, brusquely.

  “I think so,” she replied. “But perhaps you can let me out of the coach while you fix the wheel?”

  “Not a chance. Driver and I have to walk up to the village to get help to get this fixed. Damn sheep! It shouldn’t take long. You’re staying put, under lock and key, where you can’t get into any trouble,” he said. She was certain he hadn’t noticed the broken door.

  This was the opportunity she needed. It would take them at least the better part of an hour to walk where they needed to go, maybe two if they stopped for ale and food. But if she simply agreed with Richard to stay put, he would be suspicious. She needed him to think she was outraged at being left. She needed to shout at him about leaving her vulnerable with no means to protect herself or get out of the prison of his making. She needed to be crazed with anger. When they were younger Amelia and Ella would stage plays and puppet theater to entertain themselves. Ella always relished playing the part of the damsel in distress, waiting for her knight in shining armor to come and rescue her. This was an excellent opening to bring those skills out again. Taking a deep breath, she pinched herself hard, bringing tears to her eyes.

  “How dare you!” she shouted at him. “How dare you leave me out here stranded and alone! What if I am robbed or worse, what will father and my betrothed think of you!!!” She laid it on as thick as icing on one of cook’s sweet breads. Hoping for the exact cruel reaction she got. Richard sneered.

  “I won’t be fooled again by your trickery. Don’t worry, Ella, you’ll be fine! I’ve no doubt your father would do the same, as would your betrothed, were either of them here,” he said. Ella hid her glee. He was falling for her act. She knew she could depend on his air of superiority, coupled with his ignorance, to prevent him from seeing the truth of her ploy. Some men were easier to fool than others. Thankfully Richard was one of the easy ones.

  “You are a brut!” she shouted back, doing her best to sound indignant. He gave her his regular sly, pointed smile, letting her know he fell for her act. She hated everything about him. She waited patiently, until he stepped away from the carriage window before she smiled. Her plan had worked. At least the first part. “Be patient this time,” she told herself, quietly. Only a bit more to be sure they had gotten out of eye shot and she could get to work on that door. She needed to find something that would help her open it, so she could finally be free.

  Chapter Four

  The waiting was the worst part, but Ella was determined not to make the same mistake she made during her first escape attempt by allowing impatience to ruin her get away. After she thought a good quarter of an hour had passed, she calmly checked her cloak, all was well. She had her meager rations. It was this moment or never. Using her hair pin to help dislodge the hinges, she worked to release them from the door. Satisfied she had loosened the door enough, she pushed against it with all her might. The door wouldn’t budge.

  “No!” she shouted out. “No, no, no!” She tried again, this time she backed up from the door and tried to run toward it. It was no easy feat. The carriage still sat at an impossible incline, and even though she was small, there was no room inside for her to get the momentum she needed to gather any additional strength. She had only succeeded in hurting her shoulder, and the door didn’t move an inch.

  Determined not to be discouraged, she took the unladylike position of placing her body on the floor of the carriage, she had seen boys in the stables back home use their legs as leverage when trying to move heavy objects or even the horses and cows. Why couldn’t she do the same? She hiked her cloak and skirt above her knees and took a deep breath. Counting to three, slowly, she raised both legs and kicked the door
with all her might. Letting out a scream as she did, and to her surprise and delight the door moved. She repeated her kicking several times and the door finally came off its hinges. She squealed in delight, but there was no time to stand around and admire her hard work. She gathered her skirts about her and climbed down from her prison. She felt the weight of her situation fall off of her. No matter the next challenge, for this moment she was free.

  The sun had dipped low behind the rolling hills of the countryside. Before leaving the mud pit where the carriage had crashed, she made sure to create a distraction with her footprints in the mud. She hoped she’d been successful in making Richard think she had travelled back the way they came to the south; however, she had actually gone to the north and west. She knew she would be soon close to the dreaded Scottish Highlands, but it was a risk she was willing to take.

  As a child she had been terrified when their governess told her and Amelia stories of the brutish men from the north of Scotland, who would kidnap blond-haired English ladies such as herself, with fine features and manners. Telling her about how valuable her light grey eyes would be in the highlands, not being of an average shade of most Scottish lasses. The governess would scare her into believing if she was a difficult child, the Highlanders would come like thieves in the night and capture her from her bed. Being terrified of the horrible stories she made sure to behave, not wanting to be taken deep into the highlands and having a brute force her into marriage and making more Scottish babies.