He squinted into the distance and growled. "Damn mist. I canna see the path. We will have to stop and wait fer it to lift."
She shot a nervous glance about her. How long had it been since she'd left? Would someone have discovered her absence by now? Sweet Mary, Alexander and his men might be thundering toward them at this moment to take her back. She fought to control the tremor in her voice. "Surely you know the way well enough from your travels that we can keep going. What of wild animals or highwaymen? 'Tis not safe to stop here in the open like this."
The tinker turned his gaze on her, and his expression changed. For a long moment, he simply looked at her with a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Dinna fash, my fine lady. I have traveled this way oft enough to ken the mist willna last o'er long. When it clears, we will continue. Until then, if ye grow cold… ye can always warm yerself against me."
Something in his voice caused a prickle of unease. What had she done? She knew nothing of this man. Had she traded her safe but lonely existence for something worse? The chill of the night air mixed with the thick mist sent a shiver coursing along her spine. "No. I am fine." She drew her cloak tight and tried to ease her discomfort by sliding to the far end of the wagon's seat. As the minutes eked by, she felt her eyelids grow heavy. The turmoil of leaving had left her exhausted and wanting.
She must not think of Alexander. There was no hope for her if she did not empty her heart and mind of him. Aye, somehow she must find a way to do so. Wearily, she closed her eyes.
**
The sway and bump of the wain woke her. Katherine rubbed her eyes and looked around. It was hard to tell how long they had been stopped. The mist had cleared and they were on their way once again. Away from Castle Ironwood. Away from Alexander.
Eventually, they left the protective forest canopy behind and made their way slowly across an open moor. An occasional sparkle of starlight shone amidst the clouds as they sailed across the heavens.
She darted a wary glance at the silent tinker beside her. She hadn't meant to give in to weariness, but sleep had overcome her before she realized it. Sweet Mary be praised, he'd left her untouched while she slept. When she stretched, her sore muscles echoed the ache in her heart. She bit her lip and forced her thoughts toward the future. As soon as they arrived at a port, she would find an inn where she could sleep comfortably. After a good rest and a hot meal, she would feel better. Aye, her body would, but what of her heart?
As dawn began to light the sky, the tinker turned the wain off the beaten path toward a thick grove of trees ahead of them. Soon after entering the thicket, he pulled to a halt and waited as if he expected someone.
The silence surrounding them was broken by the sound of a snapping twig. A slim, cloaked figure stepped from the shadows and approached. After reaching them, the person threw back the hood of the cloak, revealing a woman's sly smiling face. Katherine gasped. "Fiona. What—"
The girl flicked a glance at her and then turned to face the tinker. "So, I see ye found the prize ye sought. I told ye she was the one. Nay other woman in this glen speaks French but her. Now, I want my payment as ye agreed."
"Aye," the tinker replied. "Ye were right in tellin' me where to look fer her. She came along as trustin' as a bairn. Here, steady the reins, whilst I fetch yer payment."
Katherine froze. What was happening? Sweet Mary, had she been deceived again? But why? The tinker didn't know her, had no reason to wish her harm. But what of the woman who stood before her? She claimed to be Alexander's lover. No! He had vowed it wasn't so. Aye, and hadn't he also vowed to honor and protect her then left her to face their wedding night alone?
Fiona leaned forward and grasped the reins. The tinker smiled and bent down toward the wain floor. Silently and smooth as quicksilver, he slipped a dirk from his boot, straightened, and thrust it into the woman's chest. She let out a short cry of surprise and slid against the wain, the reins trailing from her fingers.
Katherine screamed and reached for Fiona, but couldn't catch her. She stared in horror as the woman fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, a dark stain quickly spreading across her clothing. Dear God, she must find a way to stop the bleeding. Frantic, she slid to the end of the seat to climb down.
The tinker, still grasping the bloody knife, grabbed her arm and yanked her back toward him. His wiry fingers bit cruelly into her flesh. "Now, my fine lady, ye will do exactly as I say, or meet the same fate. Dinna mind the bitch. She is past yer help."
He jerked his head toward a small hut half hidden by the trees. "Climb down and walk o'er to that crofter's hut. Someone waits there to see ye. He has paid me well to bring ye to him and I dinna wish to displease him."
Absolute terror welled up inside Katherine. In frantic silence, she fought against the panic that threatened to paralyze her. She trembled as the light of dawn wavered and merged with the tinker's face, leaving her light-headed. Jerking her frightened gaze from him, she looked once more at Fiona lying silent and motionless on the ground. Heaven help her, she could do nothing for the woman. She forced herself to breathe and swung her legs over the side of the wain.
Her dizziness increased, and her trembling hands slipped on the wood, making it difficult to climb down. The moment her feet touched the ground, the tinker was beside her, pushing her forward. She stumbled and he jerked viciously on her arm. "Keep movin'," he growled and held the bloody knife to her side.
Her feet turned to lead. It took every ounce of strength she had to remain upright and continue walking. With each faltering step, she prayed silently. Please, no. Help me. Whether her thoughts were meant for God or Alexander she couldn't be sure. A slight rain started to fall and she shivered as she stumbled closer to the hut.
The tinker tightened his grip on her arm and shoved her forward.
Desperately, she shot a swift glance around her.
He shook his head. "'Tis naught here to help ye, wench. Keep movin'."
She was alone. The total isolation of the area added to her terror. If she couldn't get away, would she suffer the same fate as Fiona? Or would it be worse?
Suddenly, the tinker pushed her across the open threshold of the hut then stood in the doorway, blocking it.
She stumbled, righted herself, and stood frozen in the sudden gloom. After the dawn's brilliance, her eyes struggled to adjust to the dimness of the interior. Could she find a way to escape?
The darkness temporarily hid the inside of the building. She heard the scratch of a flint being struck as a small lantern was lit. Its faint glow threw the room into a myriad of light and shadows.
A lone stranger sat at a crude table, motionless and silent. As if he was waiting. His visage showed the passage of time. A few strands of gray mingled in his golden hair and fine wrinkles gathered at the corners of his thin lips. He was slim, not as broad shouldered as Alexander, yet the cruel glint in his icy blue gaze held her frozen in fear.
The man's tight smile showed no warmth. "So, finally we meet ma petit fille. You have the look of your mother. That is unfortunate, for it only reminds me of her disloyalty. But I will soon settle that debt." He motioned to her. "Come closer girl and curtsy… to your father."
Katherine looked into his face past his tight-lipped smile, to the evil glint in his eyes. Then the darkness closed in around her and she knew nothing more.
**
The undulant rhythm rocking back and forth brought Katherine back to consciousness. Even though she opened her eyes slowly, the room swirled and dipped in front of her. She closed her eyes, gripped the edge of the bed beneath her and drew a slow, deep breath. Ah. That was better.
Gradually, she peered out between her lashes. No, she was not that light-headed. The room was moving.
The creak of wooden timbers and sounds of waves splashing against a hull echoed dizzily in her ears. She was on a ship. But how had she gotten there? Wearily, she rubbed her temples. Her head and body ached. She must move, find a way out. Forcing herself to sit up, she scanned the room
. She was alone. But where, and why?
A simple wooden bench and small worn sea chest sat along the opposite wall beneath a small porthole window, the only source of light and fresh air in the room. Muffled voices drifted through a closed door at the far end of the ship's small cabin.
Gingerly, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She held tight to the rough headboard until the sickening sensation left her. It took an eternity before she could stand on her own. The floor rose and fell beneath her as she inched her way along the wall, to the room's only entrance. Nearing it, she leaned back for support and listened. There had been voices, but now all was silent. As she waited, the door opened.
Cold blue eyes met her gaze. "It is not polite to eavesdrop on another's conversation, ma fille. I see your mother was lax in your schooling of proper etiquette. I shall have to remedy that. I was too gentle with her. I will not make that mistake again."
Katherine clutched the wall. "What do you want? How did I get here?"
The tinker walked up and held the door open wider as the older man, dressed in satin and brocade, sauntered into the ship's modest cabin. Walking over to the simple bench, he pulled out a fine lace handkerchief from a wide embroidered cuff. He dusted the seat before he sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
He nodded to the tinker. The man entered, closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Katherine fought the urge to run for the entrance, knowing she would never get past him. She threw a worried glance back at the richly dressed Frenchman. Drawing a deep breath, she asked again, "What do you want with me?"
The man took his time and then answered in French. He studied her while he toyed absently with his handkerchief, pulling it over and over through his long be-ringed fingers. Neither he nor the tinker made any move to aid her as she leaned quivering against the cabin wall for support. "Do you not know ma fille? I am Duc Phillipe Ja Bier, your father."
Fear threatened to swallow her in darkness again. She gasped for breath. "No!"
The man's cold voice continued as if she hadn't spoken. "You are on board a ship headed for France. Jules, here, has been looking for you and your mother for some time now. When he traced your whereabouts to Scotland and contacted me, I came to personally escort you back to France where you belong."
His words echoed her mother's story. She shivered as they rippled across her skin with the icy touch of winter.
The duke shrugged nonchalantly, as if her distress was of no concern. "Your mother foolishly thought to keep you from me when she left. She should have known no one ever takes anything from me." He let out a short sigh of apparent displeasure. "For years, it did not matter what had become of you and your mother. But now, I find I have need of you." Ja Bier looked over to the tinker. "You were correct. She understands French quite well."
"Oui, Monsieur."
Turning back to Katherine with a tight-lipped smile, he said, "Jules spoke your barbaric tongue very convincingly, did he not? Ah, at least your foolish mother had the good sense to teach you to speak French as well. We could hardly communicate in a civil manner if we had to use only English and that other so called language you speak."
Duke Ja Bier yawned behind his lace handkerchief as if the situation bored him. "Getting you under my control has proved a tiresome task. I had you traced to some castle belonging to that Scot dog, Gordon. I was quite displeased to find you had left a few days ahead of my arrival and to be wed to some Highland Scot barbarian, no less. It took some time to find a person who knew the family and who was willing to aid me in securing you."
He shook his head and continued. "I always knew your foolish mother had no sense, but it seems she also lacks all pride concerning herself and her daughter. I was aghast when I heard you had been given to a Scot. What a waste of perfectly good female flesh. Ah, well. I will remedy that, soon enough."
Katherine could only lean against the wall and watch as a repulsive grin settled on his lips. Shock robbed her of speech.
"By the way, whatever did you do to that sly girl, Fiona? She delighted in helping me find you and assist in your, uh, shall we say, return to France. It was she who sent the message, telling you to go to that other castle, iron trees, was it? Oh, no matter. Then she set up the meeting between some of my hired agents and your escort. Unfortunately, the meeting did not prove successful. I had to send Jules in to bring you to me."
The totally unconcerned tone of his voice hit Katherine like the splash from an icy mountain burn. Adrenaline surged through her veins. "Meeting? You mean bloody murder by ambush! One man was killed and another badly wounded from that attack! Who are these scum you paid to attack us on our journey? I will see they are repaid for such treachery."
"Ah, ma fille, do not stir yourself over the matter. The peasants on whom you would seek retribution have already been dealt with. The ruffians who were to bring you to me were unable to accomplish their task so they were disposed of. The girl, Fiona, was very helpful in securing their aid. She could be most persuasive it seems with the local male riff raff, eh, Jules? You did enjoy watching that did you not? Yes… it was entertaining. She was quite, shall we say, cooperative."
He smiled sickeningly, as if at some lurid memory. "Her message luring you away was indeed clever, as was the bloodied bed sheet she gave your husband as proof of your infidelity. It seems she was quite convincing. She assured me of his total lack of interest in getting you back."
Ja Bier casually picked a piece of lint from his sleeve and smoothed his ringed hand over the rich fabric. His movements were slow, almost graceful. The jewels in his rings caught the light and reflected a glow upward onto his face. But even their sparkle could not lessen the coldness in his expression. "From what Jules tells me, you were more than happy to leave your home and husband behind. This is a foolish trait you have inherited from your mother. Ah, well, it worked to my advantage this time. But you will find it quite impossible to do again."
He leaned back against the wall and leisurely crossed his arms in front of him. "The girl, Fiona, was very informative as to your mother and the sinful life she has led with that Scot dog. Yes, all in all, the wench was very helpful. She was quite inventive in bed as well. I enjoyed her body. It is a shame I could not keep her with me, but she would have proved troublesome later." The Frenchman turned his tight-lipped smile on his accomplice. "For as worldly as she was in all of our dealings together, she was quite ignorant in whom she should trust, was she not, Jules?"
Jules snorted. "Oui, Monsieur Duc."
Katherine's glance darted from the cool voiced man seated before her to the tinker and back again. "You won't get away with this, Ja Bier. You and your murdering henchman will be caught and punished! Even if my husband chooses to abandon me, my mother and da will not! They'll hunt you down and see that you both receive the punishment you deserve. When they come for me, you'll pay with your lives!"
Ja Bier's few wrinkles and slightly graying hair masked the strength and physical agility he still possessed. Swiftly, he strode over to Katherine and slapped her viciously across the face, knocking her to the floor. "Never again speak of that Scot dog as your father! I am your sire, not he. He has no right to be called your father. You are issue of my seed. Remember that."
Her trembling fingers brushed her hair from her eyes. "No, Ja Bier. 'Tis bitter shamed I am, you sired me. But you'll never be my father. Angus Gordon raised me with love and kindness. He will always be my father!" Lifting her chin, she glared at him and fought against her fear.
The flash of his jeweled rings gave her little warning before pain hit her again. Ducking her head, she flung her arms over her face. His fists pummeled her. The right side of her face burned. The skin grew tight. Already painful swelling was making it difficult to keep her right eye open. The split in her lip stung and she tasted blood.
Ja Bier grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her face close to his. "Foolish chit! I am your sire, and as such, will decide all that you do and think and say. I control everyt
hing about you. Never forget that or you will suffer worse for it I assure you." He flung her hair from him and she fell back against the wall. Jules followed him from the room and she heard the door lock as she lay on the floor in pain.
Ja Bier's voice came as if from a long way off. "Leave the girl to think on my words today and tomorrow with nothing to eat or drink. She will soon see who is master here or suffer for her stubbornness."
"Oui, Duc Ja Bier."
Jules' voice faded and she lost all feeling of pain to the blessed blackness that engulfed her.
Chapter Twenty-one
Retreating footsteps sounded in the corridor as Alexander stared at the empty bed in Katherine's chamber. Emotions flared inside him. Anger. Resentment. But more than that. Fear. The fear of feeling truly alone again. He'd just recently realized how much of his thoughts and feelings she had become a part of. Only when he was with her, did he feel truly happy.
Now she was gone. She had slipped away before he could prove his true feelings. But how did she leave? Where did she go? Did she leave alone? Unprotected? Perhaps she convinced someone to help her escape. Alexander hung his head, ashamed. Could he really blame her after the cruel way he'd treated her?
He pressed his fists to his temples. God, what a fool he'd been. Katherine was as loving and pure in spirit as she looked. He should have told her the truth. Convinced her of his feelings before she felt compelled to leave him. By the saints, he must find her. Bring her back.
Alexander turned and ran back to his chamber. Donning his hauberk, he grabbed his claymore, and vaulted down the stairs to the main hall. He burst through the doors at the front of the keep. Most of his men were mounted and ready. Shouting, he ran toward them. "Men of MacGregor, we ride!"
Malcolm called to him from across the courtyard. "M'lord, hold. The young laddie, here, may know somethin' of Lady MacGregor's disappearance." He pointed to a young boy standing beside him.
Alexander turned and ran in their direction. As he skidded to a halt in front of them, the lad jumped back. Moonlight shone on his pale young face. "What know you about the Lady MacGregor?"
Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) Page 26
