by Lily Baldwin
She nodded through her tears. “I promise,” she said, her heart pounding.
Hugh drew a shaky breath and he stepped back. Then he turned to Jack. “Do not delay.” A moment later, Hugh was gone.
Isabella gripped her stomach while she watched Hugh leave her house and her life forever. The room was spinning.
“Do not panic, Bella,” Jack said, grabbing her shoulders.
Swallowing down her tears, she nodded, gaining strength from his midnight eyes. She turned to her father.
“I do not regret what I said, Bella.” His voice broke. “I spoke the truth. A truth I have swallowed everyday since the last time I brought your mother home.”
For the first time in years, her father’s eyes shone bright and clear. A sob tore from her throat, and she threw her arms around his neck.
“Listen to me, both of ye. ‘Tis imperative that we leave now,” Jack said.
She looked over her shoulder at Jack. Her eyes narrowed on the vein pulsing at his neck. She nodded, then turned back to her father. She took hold of his hands and brought them to her lips, then she said, “Papa, we must go.”
Lord Redesdale’s eyes darted about the hall. “But what of our home, our things?”
Jack’s fist came down hard on the table behind her, causing her to jump. “They’re no longer yers,” he growled. “The only possession ye have now is yer life and the lives of yer daughters.”
Bella’s heart sank. “Catarina.” She grabbed Jack’s arm. “My sister’s husband, he is not a kind man. There is no telling what he might do.”
Jack squeezed her hand, then turned to Quinn. “Ride to Ravensworth castle and retrieve the Lady Catarina.”
Quinn nodded and bowed low to Isabella. Lifting his head, his dark eyes smiled up at her. “Fear not, Bella. I will steal your sister away.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and raced from the hall.
“Jack,” Abbot Matthew said. “We must hurry. We’ll leave the wagon and help ourselves to Lord Redesdale’s horses.”
Jack nodded and grabbed Isabella’s elbow, pulling her toward the door.
“Wait,” she said.
Jack shook his head. “No more delays, Bella.”
“But would not coin be helpful to us?” she said.
He threw his hands up. “Aye, coin is always helpful.”
She pressed a kiss to his lips. Then turned to her father and reached into his pocket, retrieving a key. “I will be right back,” she said before racing from the hall and up the stairs to her father’s solar. Unlocking the large chest beside his bed, she grabbed several bags of coin and her mother’s jewels. Piling everything into a leather satchel, she swung the bag over her shoulder and raced back to the hall.
“We are ready, Jack,” she said, barreling into the room.
“Why does everyone keep calling him Jack?” her father said. “I thought his name was Brother Peter.”
Isabella grabbed his arm. “I’ll explain after we’ve escaped with our lives.”
Chapter Fifteen
They had left Berwick at a gallop and did not slow their pace until just after dawn when they reached monastic land. The abbot and his monks continued on toward the monastery while Jack, Bella and Lord Redesdale disappeared into the woods. Jack expelled a tense breath. For years, the forest had hidden him and his family away, allowing their crimes to go unpunished. The trees had been watchful guardians to which he entrusted those he loved most, and would no doubt give them sanctuary one last time. Patches of mist circled around jutting rocks and wove through the underbrush, painting the earth in white shadow. His appreciative gaze followed the ghostly wisps. He smiled, dropping the reins. While his horse picked its own way toward camp, he wrapped both arms around Bella’s waist. She smiled up at him. The morning sun slanted through the leaves, streaking her unbound sable waves with gold. He absently wove his fingers through her hair as he bent his neck back, admiring the tangled, green canopy overhead. Having glimpsed the cold interior of a great fortress, the richness of the forest struck Jack as never before.
Trees like sentinels creaked in the wind, announcing their return as they rode into camp. The pit fire burned bright, and the log seats were fully occupied by three of his brothers, his wee lassies, Rose, and one unexpected visitor. Jack frowned when he met Bishop Lamberton’s stern gaze, but an instant later a chorus of girlish squeals erupted as his lassie’s raced toward him. He slid from his horse with Bella in his arms and set her down in time to feel the impact of five girls’ unabashed delight.
“Jack,” they cried.
“Let him breathe, lassies,” Rose said. Jack reached over the girls and gave Rose a quick hug, knowing it was Bella who actually held Rose’s interest.
“My lady, ye’re back!” Rose said, turning to the woman at his side.
Jack smiled down at Bella who had reached out to embrace his sister. “I never thought I would see you or this place again,” Bella said.
Rose’s eyes welled with tears. “Are ye here to stay?”
“No, Rose,” Jack said. His sister’s eyes flashed at him. He threw his hands up in mock surrender. “None of us are.”
Rose arched her brow at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’ll explain,” Jack said, laughing as Florie shouldered her way past Moria to hug his leg.
“Welcome back,” Ian said, picking his way around the girls. “Where’s Quinn?”
Rory stepped forward. “Aye, Jack, where’s Quinn?”
Before Jack could answer a throat cleared behind him. He turned and looked at Bishop Lamberton.
“Judging by your present company,” the bishop said, looking pointedly at Lord Redesdale. “You clearly have much to explain. However, I insist you first remove the robe you wear.”
Jack nodded, peeling Florie off his leg. “Forgive me, Bishop. I meant no offense.”
Jack disappeared into his hut, emerging minutes later divested of his monastic robes. As he walked back toward the fire, he smiled when he saw Bella’s appreciative gaze travel from his tall black boots, past his black hose, to the black tunic belted at his waist. She smiled her approval. He fought the urge to sweep her up into his arms and retreat back to his hut. With regret, he turned from her and looked at her father. “Lord Redesdale, I would like ye to meet Bishop Lamberton; my brothers, Ian, Rory, and Alec; my sister, Rose; and my wee lassies, Moira, Florie, Anna, Mary, and Maggie.”
Ian was the first to step forward. He bowed, but Bella’s father shook his head. “You need not bow, lad. I am lord of nothing now, except my own conscience. I have or rather I will, in due course, be stripped of my titles and wealth.”
Jack crossed the glade to his horse and pulled the satchel of coin out of his saddle bags, giving it to Lord Redesdale. “Yer claim of poverty is not entirely true.”
“How has this come to be?” Bishop Lamberton said, his eyes darting between Lord Redesdale and Jack.
Jack cleared his throat. “In short, Lord Redesdale—”
“Please, Jack,” Lord Redesdale interrupted. “Call me David.”
Jack smiled slightly and nodded. “David has denounced King Edward and is now guilty of treason.”
The bishop’s eyes widened with surprise. “Then your lives are in danger.”
“That is the truth of the matter,” David said.
Jack nodded. “We must leave. All of us,” he said, raising his voice for his family to hear.
“Wait.” Ian grabbed Jack’s arm. “What of Quinn? Is he hurt?”
Jack shook his head. “Quinn has journeyed to Ravensworth Castle to retrieve Isabella’s sister. Now that Catarina is no longer a lady, Bella and David fear her husband will not honor their marriage.”
“Or worse,” Bella chimed in.
Brows drawn, Rory asked, “What are the rest of us to do?”
“We must flee,” Jack said. “Doubtless Edward has men already searchin’ for our trail.” Something pulled at Jack’s tunic. He looked down at Florie’s smiling face. “Is i
t time to play yet?” she said.
He squatted down and motioned for all of his lassies to come to him. “Nay, my lassies, we cannot play, for we are goin’ on an adventure. And I need all my girls to help Rose with preparations.”
“Where will we go?” Rose asked.
“To the Isle of Colonsay,” he said. Then he turned to Bella and David. “Our father’s people come from there. I am confident we will be welcomed.”
“But what of the other children, Jack?” Ian said.
Jack pressed his eyes closed to think. He had not considered the dozens of other children still reliant on his support.
“We’ve stolen coin hidden away in the hole,” Alec said, his voice flat and his eyes downcast. “That should keep them fed for a while.”
Isabella whirled around to face Alec. He must have sensed her gaze, because he looked up. She had never seen his face up close. His long, black hair fell across eyes as black as Jack’s. “Show me the hole,” she said.
She followed him down the path that led to the stream where she, Rose, and the lassies had enjoyed their picnic. Before too long, he stepped off the path toward a patch of dense thicket. “’Tis there,” he said.
She stared him hard in the eye. He remained aloof, his face like finely carved wood—beautiful but unchanging. She circled around him and parted the brush and saw the black hole, though she dared not looked down.
Bella arched her brow at him. “This is where you wanted to stick me?”
Alec shrugged. “It seemed a good idea at the time.”
She stalked up to him and brushed a lock of black hair from his eyes. Despite his shield of impassivity, she could feel his power as one feels the strength of a caged animal. Then she remembered Rose confessing that he had the sight.
“You feel nothing to keep from feeling everything,” she blurted.
His expression never altered. “Let’s go,” he said. Then without another word, he turned around and headed back toward camp.
She followed after and remembered Rose telling her that she had a special place for Alec in her heart. Now Bella understood why. He was so cold and distant, it would have been hard to love him otherwise.
Back at camp a bustle of activity was underway. She crossed to where her father stood. “Are you well, Papa? You seem confused.”
He smiled. “I am not confused, perhaps a trifle overwhelmed. As far as I can tell, Rose and Jack’s lassies are coming with us, but Jack and Bishop Lamberton appear to disagree on whether or not his brothers should come.”
Jack raked his fingers through his hair as he looked hard at the Bishop. “I cannot divide my family.”
“Do think they will be safer with you,” the Bishop replied. “You are on the run, Jack. There will be a price on your head. But your brothers are still unknown, traceless.” The bishop paused, drawing a deep breath. “Damn it, Jack, Scotland still needs saints.”
Jack pressed his lips together while he thought. “Then they will have to decide for themselves.”
Rory who had been standing by chimed in straightaway. “I’m sorry, Jack, but the cause is in my blood. I want to stay and be useful to the bishop. I want to fight for Scotland.”
Jack closed his eyes against the tightening in his chest. Instinct bade he fight to keep his family together. Still, at two and twenty, Rory was a man. He met Rory’s pale blue gaze. “A tiny isle is no place for ye, at least not now. But mind ye’re careful. Stay out of trouble, and stick to the code.”
Then Jack crossed the glade to where Alec stood alone. He waited for Alec to look at him or speak his choice, but his younger brother remained silent, his eyes fixed on the ground. After several long moments past, Jack had his answer. He pulled Alec into a fierce hug. “Make yer way to Colonsay one day,” he said.
Then he stepped back and looked to his youngest brother. Ian was sitting on the ground, letting Moira braid his long, tangled red hair.
“What say ye?” Jack said, then held his breath.
Ian looked up at Jack. “Bishop Lamberton is right. Yer an outlaw now and so are Bella and David. Ye cannot run with five wee ones. I will take Rose and the lassies to Colonsay myself. We will strike out on our own.”
Jack expelled the breath he’d been holding. He placed his hand on his youngest brother’s wide shoulder. “Thank ye, Ian.”
Bishop Lamberton stepped forward then. “I will ensure the other children are taken care of, which settles matters. Now, you must put some distance between you and Edward’s soldiers.”
Jack clasped his offered hand. “Thank ye for everythin’.”
The Bishop smiled. “You have given more than your share to the cause, Jack. Now is your chance for that peaceful life I know you dream about when you think no one is looking.”
Jack winked and wrapped his arm around Bella’s waist. “I am already there.”
Chapter Sixteen
Her soul soared to the tops of the surrounding mountains. She breathed the fresh, crisp air and felt its elusive truth, untamed, unpredictable—and now, for the first time, so was she. She nudged her horse in the flanks, skirting jagged rocks and rugged, jutting slopes. Storm clouds gathered, climbing up the mountains. A crack of lightning sliced the sky, unleashing torrents of heavy rain. She threw her head back and cried out as wild as any creature ever to cross mountain or moor.
She looked back. Her father huddled beneath his cape but a smile stretched his face wide. He had been delivered up from his grief. This was a new world, one far from pain.
After a while, the dark clouds scattered, releasing the sun’s warmth and light. The road wound around craggy boulders and small forests of Scotch pine and then straightened, running alongside a large field left to fallow. At its edge, they passed a black smith’s forge. Black plumes of smoke coiled out from rooftop vents. Further down they came to a village green with a small, stone kirk at its center. Few people milled about the sleepy hamlet, but those who were crossing the green or bringing wheat to the mill beyond the kirk stopped and stared at Bella, Jack, and David.
“Yer clothes are too rich,” Jack said, under his breath. “Yer da’s, too.”
She looked down at her sodden yet fine tunic with its intricate embroidery and golden threads. Bella looked about. “Where is the tailor?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “There is no tailor, not for miles and miles. Bella, most people make their own clothes.”
She blushed while at the same time squaring her shoulders. “Then I must learn.”
“I think that a fine idea,” Jack said. “But it does not solve our immediate problem. Yer tunic invites suspicion.”
“True,” she said, looking about. Then she spied a young woman with a basket of laundry in her arms passing between two huts. She looked at Jack. “Wait for me at the outskirts of the village.”
Jack and her father exchanged skeptical glances. “What are you planning to do?” David said.
“Just go,” she said. When neither man moved, she scowled. “Fine, I will go.” She nudged her horse forward, following after the girl and her basket.
Bella spotted her near the edge of a field. She was laying out clothes on top of tall grasses. After the girl had emptied her basket, Bella waited until she was out of sight before scurrying into the brush to steal what they needed. She snatched a kirtle and tunic for herself and a pair of hose and tunic for her father. Then she dropped several coins into the pocket of an apron spread out under the fleeting sunshine. Her heart pounded as she ran back to her horse. Shoving the items into her bag, she pulled herself up into her saddle and made a dash for the road.
“Let’s ride,” she shouted, passing Jack and her father. She continued her race long after the village had disappeared from sight. God above, forgive her, but she felt incredible.
~ * ~
They rode until the sun began to dip in the sky. Jack led them to another village. This one was larger and offered accommodations for travelers.
“Thank goodness,” David said to Bella when
Jack left them to talk to the proprietor of a bustling alehouse. “For the first time in years, my limbs are filled with vigor. Still, I do not believe I am quite ready to sleep out of doors.”
“Luck is on our side,” Jack said when he returned. “We’ve the last two rooms.”
A wave of relief passed over her father’s face the instant before his brows drew together with concern. “Prepare yourself, daughter. Our room is sure to offer little by way of comfort.”
Jack cleared his throat. “David, yer beddin’ down on yer own.”
Bella’s heart started to pound. She met Jack’s hot gaze.
“But where do you intend to sleep?” David asked Jack, and then his breath caught as his eyes darted between Jack and Bella. “Surely, you do not intend to share a room with my daughter.”
Jack drew back a step. “That is exactly my intention.” He threw his hands out. “But do not fash yerself. First, I plan to wed her.”
Bella looked at Jack. A shiver shot up her back, curling her toes. She could not draw breath. Her heart raced.
“That is…if ye’ll have me,” he said, his voice soft and low. He reached out and grazed the backs of his fingers down her cheek.
She threw her arms around his neck. “Nothing could make me happier.” But then, remembering her father, she stiffened and drew away. “Papa?” she said, her eyes pleading for him to understand her heart.
A scowl furrowed her father’s brow. In that moment, he was every bit Lord Redesdale; the relieved and spirited David had vanished. “Of all the offensive, improper….” His voice trailed off as he looked about the room, clearly scanning their rustic surroundings, the simple tables and coarse inhabitants. When he looked at her once more, his face had softened—David had returned. He stepped forward and cupped her cheek. “It seems my new life demands I relinquish control, a daunting but not unwelcome task. I have no qualms with the match if this is where your heart lies. He has proved himself to be an intelligent man of great heart. More than that, he clearly loves you.” He turned his gaze to Jack. “I could ask nothing more for my Bella.” Then his smile faded. “But forgive me for saying so, you do already have a lot of children.”
