* * * *
Dougal placed the Astrolaberors safely in its bag and stowed it in the bag slung around his neck. They had arrived on the edge of the small town of Kilmarnock in the year of 1861 and were expected at Castle Dean at sunrise. Now he stood at the window of the small inn staring out into the rain-drenched dark. A sudden squall had swept in from the sea as they had arrived and most were still abed. Not only was the weather keeping them inside; the innkeeper informed Dougal word of the uprising had run through the town like wildfire and the townspeople would turn a blind eye
They had tolerated the Knights Templar in Castle Dean for many years and would be pleased to see the Castle empty, he said. If all went to plan, the uprising of the local knights would forever banish the Council of Five and disband the order. Dougal fingered the sharp dirk tucked into the waistband of this kilt hoping fervently the rising would not result in bloodshed. But he knew the Council would resist.
With all their might.
His thoughts turned to Sofia. Using the Astrolaberors to navigate through time had never bothered him before, but today uneasiness settled in his bones; leaving her in a previous time worried him. He shook it off— it was the anticipation of the quest they were about to complete after the passion of the night he had spent with her causing this feeling of impending doom.
Nothing to do with Sofia.
He ran his fingers over the black jewel he carried next to his heart. Edward followed Dougal from the inn and they walked through the woods toward Castle Dean. The woods were alive with the morning rustling of wildlife and the trills of birds anticipating the sunrise.
The sudden scream was shrill and disturbed the peace of the woods. Edward ran ahead of Dougal heading for the Castle, drawing their knives as they ran. Jumping the small stone wall which formed the western boundary of the grounds, they encountered a group of men milling around the side of the castle.
Dougal recognized each of them as local knights. A cheer went up as they saw Edward and they ran forward and lifted him onto their shoulders. Dougal hung back in the shadows of the castle wall and waited.
“They are gone, my Lord.” One of the older knights, a wealthy landowner from Cumnock known to Dougal, slapped Edward enthusiastically on the back.
“The Castle is deserted and the servant advises they have sought retreat in St Mary's Chapel Lodge in Edinburgh. They left in the middle of the night.”
The men cheered as Edward turned to Dougal with a huge grin in his face.
“Aye, breakfast, man, and then you can go home to your woman.” Edward laughed and winked at Dougal.
* * * *
Sofia kept to the edge of the road from Troon. Her feet were cold and her wet skirts flapped about her ankles. If any traffic passed by, she would shelter in the forest and remain unseen. Until she was sure Dougal and Edward had disposed of those threatening her in Kilmarnock, she would look out for her safety. The further she walked from the coast, the deeper the sadness settled in her chest. The physical ache of yearning for Dougal had grown as her journey continued and she chastised herself. It was one she would have to live with. He had no place in her life and she certainly couldn’t live in that cold lump of stone. Once she was back in her own world, she would forget all about him.
She would.
Trying to control the shaking on her limbs from the cold devouring her body, she concentrated on her immediate problem. Her main worry was to find a way to get home...or first to Indigo in Cornwall. She would beg lodgings here for a day or two and get a message to Indigo to send Mr. Grimoult to collect her in the airship.
If only she had the necklace. It would be so easy.
The distress Indigo must have endured for the past six weeks was unthinkable. Sofia put her sister’s grief from her mind; there was nothing to be gained by dwelling on it.
As long as the boys were safe.
Dougal had assured her repeatedly they had come to no harm and Mr. Grimoult would have seen them safely back to their parents. Once she was home, she would make amends, but never would she trust herself to look after the children again.
Not until they were grown up anyway.
Distant voices and clanging from a blacksmith’s forge brought a smile to her face. Not only did Dougal reside in a cold and draughty lump of stone, he lived in a country where technology was not welcomed. Queen Victoria’s reign had seen the resurgence of technology in England, Wales and Cornwall but the stodgy Scottish parliament refused to accept any of the steam-powered machinery seen as essential in the rest of the country.
Sofia crept along quietly, not wanting to draw undue attention to herself until absolutely necessary. The watery sun was high in the sky; she had been on the road for a considerable time and her wet feet and skirts were made worse by the chill wind blowing at her back. A small bridge crossed the river that wound its way from Kilmarnock to the Firth—the path through the forest had taken her close to the water as she had walked and she had stopped to take a drink. Now she walked cautiously across the bridge and her attention was caught by the noise of a small fair ahead. Her stomach growled as the aroma of roasting chestnuts assailed her nostrils.
No matter, she had no coin.
Sofia stood shivering behind a large oak tree and observed the crowd milling on the green to ensure all was safe. Patting her braided hear and straightening her wet skirts as best she could, she joined the throng
Wandering past the vendors selling a variety of foods and wares, she observed the odd dress of the women. Compared to the fashion of Vienna and the continent, their dress was very old fashioned and plain. Excited chatter surrounded her as she pushed unnoticed through the crowd.
“Her majesty has arrived in Edinburgh!” The shrill voice of a stout woman called across the crowd. “They say the crowds in Edinburgh are huge and most of the town duly turned out to greet her and Prince Albert.”
Sofia turned slowly.
Who was she talking about? Queen Victoria has been dead for three months. She shook her head in confusion?
What new Queen was this?
Perhaps the Princess Royal had taken over the throne on the death of Victoria, her mother, but Sofia knew that to be high unlikely as Princess Victoria had married Prince Frederick William of Prussia three years ago. Sofia and Indigo had followed their love match with interest as the royal couple had first met at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851 and Indigo swore to this day, the Princess Royal had purchased some of her cosmecuticals.
Sofia pushed through the crowd holding her wet skirts high to avoid the mud trampled on each side of the path.
“May I trouble you, madam?” she asked quietly with her head bowed. “Who is visiting Edinburgh?”
“Why the Queen and her Prince of course.” The woman looked at her with interest. “It has been the talk of the country since the trip was planned. They disembarked at Leith only yesterday.”
Sofia raised her head slowly. “Her Royal Highness, the Princess Frederick?”
The woman was no longer listening. The crowds parted and a hush fell over the assembly as a group of six men walked though the fair. Sofia shrank into the crowd, and hurried to step behind a tented stall.
Merde.
The men wore the cross of the Knights Templar on their tunic.
They were still here, so it seemed Dougal and Edward had been unsuccessful.
Oh, God. Let them be unhurt.
The stout woman followed her behind the tent and held out a bag of chestnuts.
“You are a trifle pale, my sweet. Would you like to try one of my chestnuts?” She gestured to the tent.”I have the best stall at the market.”
“Please tell me, is it the Princess Royal in Edinburgh?”
The woman walked over to where Sofia was leaning against the stone wall at the edge of the grassed area, and reached out to Sofia’s forehead. “Have you had a wee bit too much sun, lovey?” Her voice was concerned. “Although it’s nought been a hot day? And you are shivering.”
&n
bsp; “Please?” Sofia’s voice was rising and heads turned. “Who is in Edinburgh.” The foreboding in her chest was making in difficult to breathe.
“It is our Queen Victoria and her beloved Prince Albert, of course,” replied the woman. “They are touring Scotland.”
“But… but she’d dead?” Sofia’s voice rose even further. “She was poisoned in May.”
“Methinks you are not feeling too bonny, lassie.” The woman came closer and put her large hand beneath Sofia’s elbow.”Come and sit in my tent for a rest and I will get you some ale.”
Sofia’s head was spinning and she was no longer listening to the kind woman.
What was happening to her?
Where was she— or of greater importance—when was she?
She reached out and grasped the woman’s arm and spoke urgently. “What is the date…please?”
“It is the first of September,” was the slow reply.
“In what year?”
“Why in the year of our Lord, eighteen forty two.”
The last thought in Sofia’s mind before the world went black was that if it was eighteen forty-two, she was only ten years old
Not only had the murdering bastard faked her death, he had taken her back in time.
* * * *
Dougal shared a meal with Edward and the knights despite his anxiety to return to the island …and Sofia. The Council had moved to the sanctuary of Edinburgh and the danger was gone…for the present. It was time to tell Sofia of the details of her kidnap and the use of the Astrolaberors to navigate her to the past. It was imperative she understood; it had been the only way he could ensure her absolute safety but he had a feeling it would take some sweet talk to convince her of this.
He set forth in the midmorning and guided his horse westward to the coast under a watery sun. Thoughts flitted through his mind as the horse followed the deserted path and a warmth filled him as he thought back to the night they had shared.
She must understand.
Over the months she had been in the castle, his admiration had grown for this woman. Slight of stature, but strong in spirit.
He smiled and reached up to touch the black jewel at his breast.
She would understand.
His fingers touched the jewel and with his free hand he pulled on the reins. The horse whinnied in protest at the sudden jerk. Dougal slid to the ground and pulled the black stone from the pouch slung around his neck. It was burning hot…and making a sound. Curiously, he turned it over and around and narrowed his eyes as he noticed a small hand on the back of the stone moving from side to side. He hadn’t noticed it before. Shaking it from side to side, the hand continued to move and the humming sound became louder.
It was not a necklace; it was some sort of device. He had removed it from Sofia’s neck when she first slept in his castle, before she awoke from the effects of the Astrolaberors travel. The stone vibrated in his hand and he looked at it for a long moment, before remounting and heading for the coast road.
Another question for Sofia…
Chapter 15
Indigo de Vargas y Irausquínno and her husband the Sherriff of Cornwall stepped from the dirigible in a field just south of Carlisle. Indigo had wanted to ignore the Scottish regulations which prohibited the flying of the steam-powered airships across the border however had listened to the calm words of her husband and they now awaited the arrival of the carriage that would deliver them to Kilmarnock. “It is best if we draw no attention to ourselves until we arrive at the castle of the Earl of Rothmore.”
Indigo looked at her husband with affection as he spoke. Always the calm and considered partner in their joint decision making, he had rescued her from many a scrape since their marriage ten years before. Now in his position as Sheriff of Cornwall, he was privy to information from the parliament and had recently received word of some nefarious activities in Kilmarnock related to the Earl of Rothmore. They had decided it was time to travel north from Cornwall.
Indigo blinked away the tears threatening to fall. It was three months since Sofia’s death in the Alps and the grief was permanently lodged in her chest. She had fought to hide her despair for the sake of the four boys and Mr. Grimoult who blamed himself for the tragic death of Sofia.
Jory and Jago were still quiet but were beginning to lose a little of the raw grief they had carried when they returned from the Alps. As much as she had wanted to travel immediately to Scotland and confront the Earl of Rothmore on his isolated island, Zane had convinced her she was needed by their boys.
Also Sofia’s assistants from Vienna, Johann and Genevieve had arrived unannounced at their manor two weeks ago unaware of Sofia’s death. They explained Sofia had sent them on a quest to investigate the strange happenings in Vienna and had been inconsolable when Zane had told them of her death and the fire in the laboratory in Vienna.
The information Johann and Genevieve had gathered and the intelligence that had come to Zane in his position as Sheriff continued to point to Scotland and the town of Kilmarnock.
“We will draw no attention to ourselves until I meet this man.” Indigo said as they waited for the carriage in the early morning chill. “I will kill him with my bare hands.”
A brisk wind blew across the bare fields and a smell of snow drifted down from the hills.
“Slow and easy, my dear.” Zane reached over and tucked her coat high around her neck. “We will talk to the earl before we make any decisions. I don’t like the feel of this whole investigation. Duke Lorca is involved and you know he cannot be trusted. It does not sit comfortably with me”
“Better than most,” she said with a cynical laugh. “But, Zane, I will see this man pay for the murder of my sister.”
“Yes, my dear. When we establish he is involved in her death. Too much information has just appeared without explanation. I remain to be convinced of his responsibility.”
“He pushed her over the Alps.” Indigo’s voice rose and Zane put his finger over her lips as heads turned. There were other passengers waiting for the carriage which would go onto Edinburgh after Kilmarnock.
“Come.” He took her hand and led her away from the small group. “Now that we are closer to Scotland, we shall try the device one more time.”
When news had first reached them of Sofia’s demise, Indigo had refused to believe her sister was dead. At all hours of the day and night for the first month, she had tried to raise her through the communication device Zane had given Sofia to wear around her neck.
A slim hope was lodged deep in her heart, but she knew if Sofia was alive she would have contacted her long before this.
“Very well.” She sighed. “We may as well fill in the time we must spend waiting for this…this archaic transport.”
They turned their back to the group and Zane pulled back the frilled white cuff of his sleeve and opened the top of the chronometer on his wrist. He flicked one of the small cogs on the edge and a faint humming began. A smile spread across his face as Indigo stared up at him.
“We have located the device, my dear.”
“Where…how far… can you raise her?” The excitement built in Indigo’s chest and her words ran into each other. She grabbed Zane’s arm and dropped her gaze to the device which was hummed as the cogs spun furiously.
“I can plot the co-ordinates if you give me one moment.” He shook her hand off his arm impatiently. “Keep calm and do not raise your hopes. It may be that whoever took her life removed the device and has it on their person.” He frowned as he tapped away with one finger on the side of the device.” Although it is strange that we did not pick up the signal before. The only way the signal may be obscured is if it is in the proximity of a time slip device.”
Zane tapped away for a few more minutes and Indigo paced the road, the stony ground crunching beneath her feet. Finally he beckoned her across.
“Approximately fifty-five degrees north and five degrees west,” he said, the satisfaction evident in his voice. Indigo looked
up at him and for the first time in three months she could see Zane had allowed a glimmer of hope into his thoughts. “The device is close by to us. By my calculations—and I sent a message to Mr. Grimoult and he has confirmed it on your analytical engine— the device is currently moving west past Dundonald Castle.”
“And where is Dundonald Castle?” she asked impatiently.
“It is situated on a hill overlooking the village of Dundonald, between Kilmarnock and Troon not far from here.” Zane looked at her. “It is heading at a slow rate directly for the Isle of Rothmore.”
“We are soon to have answers.” Indigo dared not let hope enter her mind again. She could not stand to be disappointed and she steeled her resolve as the clatter of horse’s hooves approached.
“Come. The carriage is here.”
* * * *
Dougal decided to cross to the island before using the Astrolaberors to return to the time where Sofia waited. The co-ordinates were set for midday and there was two hours to wait, so he tethered the horse in its enclosure and made his way down to the shoreline and entered the small cave where his boat was hidden.
As he pulled it onto the shingle, the drumming of hoofbeats from the road above the cliff top reached him and he secured the boat behind a rock arch. Stepping into the shadows at the base of the cliff, he waited for the horse to reach the top of the cliff.
Perhaps Edward had more news about the disappearance of the Council to Edinburgh, but he doubted it. It was most unusual for anyone to come to this part of the coast unless they had reason to visit his castle.
Voices drifted down to him.
“A boat—there is a boat on the sand,” a deep voice called out.”Look down beneath that arch.” There was a softer reply which sounded like a younger man’s voice but the wind carried the words away.
Dougal pressed his back into the cliff and removed the dirk from his waistband as a premonition of doom enveloped him.
Summer of the Moon Flower (The de Vargas Family) Page 11
