by Fiona Faris
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 didn’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 sh
outing 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.
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About the Author
Fiona Faris is an American author of authentic historical Medieval & Scottish romance books. She started writing historical highlander romance after she visited the Scottish Highlands years ago with her husband.
Her books have received startling reviews about the humor, the darkness and the romance they have.
She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and their two sons. Before she started writing romance, she experienced the various occupations: translator, dog-training, and a substitute English teacher for the most part of her life... However, nothing could ever compare to writing stories depicting the majestic and mysterious Scottish Highlands!
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