“Aye, brother, ye make yourself perfectly clear. Father will want to see ye, though. If ye are tae be Laird, then it must be done properly.”
* * *
“Aye, and that he will, Rhona and the bairn can accompany me on the journey, after the wedding has taken place. I would not leave the lassie here to cause mischief in my absence.”
* * *
“She will never come to love ye, brother, ye cannot force such things.
* * *
At these words, Murdoch flew into a rage and threw his brother from the chamber, cursing him for his words.
* * *
“I do not need advice from ye, brother. Remember who it is ye are speaking to.”
* * *
Slamming the door behind Stewart, he bolted it, cursing over and over again.
* * *
It was unfortunate that Murdoch could not be persuaded to leave immediately; a delay in the wedding would give Stewart ample time to help Rhona escape. But now, Murdoch’s younger brother knew what he must do. He could not allow Rhona to be spirited away to the Mackintosh castle. If that were to happen, then her fate was sealed, and there would be no chance to escape. Stewart slipped out into the courtyard and saddled the horses, waiting for his moment to escape.
* * *
Murdoch’s mood was not lightened by the news that his father was close to the grave. Such news should have delighted him; the death of his father would mean inheritance. Murdoch Mackintosh would become Laird of all he surveyed; the two great castles along with all the land that lay between them, over the moor and heather and beyond into the mountains.
* * *
Murdoch only wished for power over Rhona. His brother’s words were true, she would never love him, and all the power and wealth he possessed was nothing to her. Sullenly, he sank into a chair by the fire and fell into a restless sleep, the knowledge that tomorrow he would be married provided little consolation if the woman he was to make his wife did not love him back.
Rhona, too, slept badly. She had thought of Stewart all night, of the kisses exchanged, and how tenderly he had held her in the days before. How safe she had felt in his arms and had not felt like this since Iain had last held her, but that too brought about a sense of guilt. How conflicted she felt. Her mind was preoccupied with the thought of Stewart, but she knew that if their plan did not work then tomorrow night, she would be forced to lie with Murdoch for the first time. The thought turned her stomach.
* * *
In his cot, wee Andrew Cameron stirred, crying for his mother. She got up to see to him, holding him close to her and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
* * *
“There, there, your mammy is going to take care of ye have no fear and when ye are grown up ye shall be like your father and see tae it that wicked Murdoch is vanquished.”
* * *
Glancing down into the courtyard, she saw Stewart delivering Murdoch’s instructions to the messenger. Dispatching him into the darkness of the night with orders to ride home and inform the old Laird that Murdoch would soon return to Glen Thriel. Stewart glanced up and smiled at her in the window. The burning torchlight of the courtyard lit up his face as the two stood looking at one another: peace and longing in their eyes. Rhona knew her sense of tenderness towards Stewart was more than just gratitude for his kindness, now she longed to be held again and to escape the evil clutches of Stewart’s brother.
* * *
She could not sleep that night and sat in a chair by the fire, rocking the child at her breast and singing snatches of lullabies remembered from her own childhood.
* * *
“There's many a man of the Cameron clan
That has followed his chief to the field
He has sworn to support him or die by his side
For a Cameron never can yield.
* * *
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
'Tis the march, 'tis the march
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
* * *
I hear the pibroch sounding, sounding
Deep o'er the mountain and glen
While light springing footsteps
Are trampling the heath
* * *
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
'Tis the march, 'tis the march
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
* * *
Oh, proudly they walk, but each Cameron knows
He may tread on the heather no more
But boldly he follows his chief to the field
Where his laurels were gathered before.
* * *
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
'Tis the march, 'tis the march
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
* * *
The moon has arisen, it shines on the path
Now trod by the gallant and true
High, high are their hopes, for their chieftain has said
That whatever men dare, they can do.
* * *
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.
'Tis the march, 'tis the march
'Tis the march of the Cameron men.”
* * *
Eventually, she fell into a deep sleep, her own words mixing with memories as she sang to wee Andrew of the glorious deeds of his forbears.
* * *
She was still sitting in the chair, the fire now smoking in the hearth when Cairstine entered early the next morning. Rhona awoke with a start, and the child at her breast, began to cry, wriggling and stretching itself out.
* * *
“I am sorry to disturb ye,” Cairstine whispered, “I just wanted to ensure all was well, have ye sat there all night?”
* * *
“I could not sleep. I was restless all night and must have fallen asleep here.”
* * *
“Aye, it is naw surprise that ye were restless, any woman would be, well let me stoke up the fire for ye,” Cairstine fussed around her mistress, each trying to avoid that in a few hours’ time Rhona would be married to Murdoch Mackintosh. It wasn’t the only reason for her restlessness, but Rhona could not confide her feelings for Stewart, even in her closest friend. Her heart was filled with such emotion, such conflict, such doubt and such confusion as to be almost overwhelming.
* * *
Soon the sounds of the castle starting to wake could be heard outside in the courtyard as hooves pounded on cobbles and servants began their preparations for the day.
* * *
“I shall not look pretty,” Rhona said sometime later, “let him marry me in rags for all I care.”
* * *
“He insists ye wear the dress,” Cairstine indicated the long gold and red garment laid out on a table at the side of the room.
* * *
“It is an ugly looking thing for an ugly day if it will keep the peace though then so be it. It is of no consequence.”
* * *
“I cannot bear to see ye go through with this,” Cairstine broke down beside her mistress weeping, unable to keep her feelings to herself. “If I could do anything to stop this horrible fate, then gladly I would do so.”
* * *
“Murdoch is interested in only one prize,” Rhona replied, “he thinks he can force or buy my affections, but I shall resist him. I marry him today because I know the consequences if I dinna, not just for me but for us all, the bairn included. But just because I say the words and perform the actions dinna mean, he is my husband. A husband is a man ye can love above all else, devote yourself tae and know that he devotes himself tae ye and loves ye with all his heart. Murdoch Mackintosh is naw man like that, and I shall be naw woman like that tae him either.”
* * *
Cairstine embraced her mistress, proud at the resolve she displayed.
* * *
“Then for that dear mistress I am grateful, and I will thank God every day for ye and for your bravery, and I shall promise never tae leave your
side or allow any harm tae come tae ye, of that ye can be assured.”
* * *
Outside, the sounds of pipes could be heard as the Mackintosh clan assembled for the guard of honor. The wedding would take place in the little Kirk below the castle, the same Kirk where she and Iain had married one happy day so many years ago. Rhona was to be escorted by the Mackintosh’s, and she could already see Murdoch walking down towards the Kirk.
Chapter Nine
Escape!
It was an ugly day, the rain falling and mist hanging low over the glen. The mountains above the forest were no longer visible, clouded, and snowy.
* * *
“Ensure the pipers play when Rhona appears,” Murdoch ordered as he passed the sentries on the castle gate.
* * *
He was dressed in a tunic of black with silver trim, and at his side, he carried a sword that had been highly polished. In a cruel irony, it was the sword used to kill Iain Cameron.
* * *
Rhona looked out from her chambers above the courtyard and sighed deeply, turning to Cairstine who looked sorrowfully on.
* * *
“It is nearly time for the wedding,” she stepped towards the cot to pick up Andrew and hold him close to her. “Take care of him while I perform this awful deed.” She wondered if Stewart had changed her mind, the fear in her stomach rising.
* * *
In any other place and at any other time, Rhona would have looked the picture of beauty. The dress was of the finest fabric brought from Edinburgh. It fitted perfectly, and Rhona could not have looked more beautiful. Even in her sorrow, she looked beautiful.
* * *
“I will take good care of him, dear mistress,” Cairstine took the baby and held him to her breast.
* * *
“Then there is naw more tae delay this unhappy fate,” Rhona looked sadly at her image in the mirror before turning to the door.
* * *
It was then that a gentle tap came at the door.
* * *
“Come in,” Rhona expected the face of Murdoch Mackintosh, but it was his brother, and her heart started to beat quickly.
* * *
“Cairstine, may I speak tae Stewart alone?”
* * *
Cairstine took her leave with the bairn, leaving Rhona and Stewart alone.
* * *
The man talked quickly and quietly
* * *
“All is prepared, we will escape while Murdoch is at his business in the Kirk, they do not expect ye just, yet but we must hurry.”
* * *
“But if Murdoch catches us, he will kill ye, Stewart,” Rhona hesitated, wondering if it were the right thing to do after all. She would hate anything to happen to Stewart. After losing Iain, it would be too much to bear.
“It is a risk I am willing tae take. There is plenty of time if we hurry, collect only what ye need: the men are tae busy down at the Kirk tae worry about securing the castle. We can leave by the back gate and ride full pelt through the glen. I promise ye that all will be well.”
* * *
He took her in his arms to reassure her, kissing her again: a kiss full of passion and love. His strong arms embraced her, taking away all fear.
* * *
It did not take long for her to ready herself, quickly discarding the dress Murdoch had bought and put on traveling clothes, a great woolen cloak wrapped around her. She had no time to think about the consequence of her actions, only that she must escape from Murdoch’s vile clutches. Stewart too was nervous, checking the corridor for any signs of guards who would shortly arrive to escort Rhona to her fate.
* * *
“Come, we must collect the bairn from Cairstine. Thank ye Stewart, truly ye have saved me this day.”
* * *
“We are not away yet, lassie. Come, we must go now.”
* * *
Opening the door to her chambers, Stewart peered into the corridor and taking hold of Rhona’s hand the two slipped out, just as the sounds of the guards could be heard on the spiral staircase below.
* * *
“Quickly, this way,” the two fugitives rushed down the corridor towards Cairstine’s chambers.
* * *
Rhona’s faithful friend was surprised to see her mistress no longer dressed in her wedding finery and even more surprised to learn of the planned escape.
* * *
“My lady Rhona, I should dearly love to come with ye.”
* * *
“There is no time, we must get the bairn away into safety, so long as he lives, then there is hope, and we will send word when all is well,” Rhona took the boy in her arms and cradled him beneath her cloak.
* * *
“Take good care of my mistress, Stewart,” Cairstine said, “ye as different from your wicked brother as it is possible tae be. Ye know that ye are betraying him though don’t ye and he will seek his revenge?”
* * *
“I should gladly see him revenged upon me. I have naw brother; he is but a pale imitation of a man and one I dinna wish ever tae see again.”
* * *
“Come, Stewart, we must leave,” Rhona embraced Cairstine one final time as she clasped Andrew tightly to her.
* * *
Despite the morning hour, the sky hung leaden and black as Rhona and Stewart descended from the keep and scurried across the courtyard to the rear gate of the castle. Stewart had tethered two horses, already prepared with provisions for their journey.
* * *
As Stewart helped Rhona to mount the horse, he looked into her eyes and kissed her once again.
* * *
“All will be well dear Rhona, of that I promise, now let us haste.”
* * *
Stewart Mackintosh mounted his horse as the captain of the guard stepped from the
keep. On discovering Rhona was not in her chambers, he had begun a search of the castle. “We must go now,” Stewart urged the two horses on, Rhona clinging to the reins as they raced from the courtyard and out into the glen beyond.
* * *
“What is going on?” Murdoch Mackintosh asked. He had been waiting at the Kirk with the other clansmen, but Rhona’s delayed arrival had brought him back to the castle courtyard.
* * *
“Rhona is nawhere tae be found,” the captain of the guard looked down, unwilling to meet his master’s eye.
* * *
“What do ye mean nawhere tae be found? She must be here somewhere, fetch my brother. It is he that is supposed tae be her chaperone, where is he?”
* * *
“We cannae find him either, sir, it would appear that both are missing.”
* * *
Murdoch’s face turned murderous as he rushed into the castle keep, throwing open the doors to Rhona’s chamber and searching frantically about the room as if his betrothed might be simply hiding under the bed or in the closet.
* * *
“Ye will not find her there,” Cairstine said, standing meekly by the door with a smile upon her face.
* * *
“Do ye know where she is?” Murdoch rushed towards Cairstine in a rage and roughly held her.
* * *
“All I know is that she is far from here and the treachery which ye would impose upon her. Your brother tae, for he saw through ye and your wicked designs upon my lady Rhona. He is as unlike ye as could possibly be imagined; I find it hard tae believe that ye are brothers.”
* * *
Murdoch did not heed her, his thoughts turned towards his brother and the terrible betrayal he had suffered at his hands.
* * *
“Send scouts out, find them both and bring them back here,” he cried, turning to the captain of the guard, “and when ye find them, kill my brother.” Breaking down, he beat his hands against the wall of Rhona’s chambers in rage and anguish; his hatred for his brother welling up deep inside him. Cairstine returned to her chambers, smiling to herse
lf at the image of a broken man.
Stealing the Highland Bride Page 9
