But as much as he wanted to leave this place, he couldn’t allow Elspeth to fend for herself. He remembered how she struggled to lift his sword. How was she going to defend herself against the outlaw? And there was no telling how many followers the criminal had. Right now, she was eager to find the fugitive, but no one knew anything about him. And if the man was as elusive as the Earl claimed, it wouldn’t be easy to find him.
The guard by the laird’s side shifted, and Angus narrowed his gaze at him. Earlier, the Earl implied that Angus resembled the nobleman’s cousin. The idea was plausible enough, but he wasn’t entirely convinced. He needed time alone with at least one of the guards to question him and maybe find out the truth. Unfortunately, an encounter with the guards was unlikely to happen.
“Tell us more about this outlaw,” Angus said.
“The outlaw is known as Tam Roy. He’s a menace tae me and must be stopped. The last place we’ve seen him is in the southern region.” The Earl continued to complain at length about the outlaw in his territory.
“But what does he look like?” Angus asked, interrupting him.
He was certain that the Earl would continue his tirade against his enemy. But Angus didn’t care about the crimes the outlaw committed. He needed details so he could prepare himself should he encounter the criminal.
“I believe he has red hair and is about my height,” the nobleman said, frowning at the interruption. “My men say he has a youthful face, but he possesses nay distinguishing features.”
“Ye are describing half the men of Scotland,” he said.
The Earl pressed his lips into a thin line. “I cannae give ye more than that. Ye will have tae conduct your own investigation.”
“Please, Angus, dinnae anger the Earl,” Elspeth said, her voice low. She then spoke louder so the nobleman could hear her. “Thank ye for your time, my laird. We should have enough information tae begin our search for the outlaw.”
The Earl nodded, mollified by the lass’s words. “I trust that ye will find him and bring him tae me.”
“Aye,” she said, nodding. “Once again, we appreciate your time.”
Elspeth grabbed Angus by the arm and pulled him toward the exit. They walked quickly through the hallway and into the courtyard without speaking.
At the far end of the enclosure, a dog barked at some animal in the barn. As usual, the servants were preoccupied with their chores and barely looked at them as they passed.
Once he and Elspeth were away from the main building, they were safe from being overheard by the Earl and his men.
“Och, this is sae wonderful, Angus,” she said, turning a bright smile at him. “Things have worked far better than I expected. And much of it can be attributed tae ye.”
Her cheeks were flushed, and she laced her fingers together as if she was trying to contain her excitement. But that emotion couldn’t be held back. She let out an impulsive squeal and flung her arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly.
Her unexpected embrace caused his arms to automatically encircle her smaller frame. At the initial contact, his body became rigid, but then he relaxed, and something else began to stir in him.
“The farm will be saved!” Elspeth went on her tippy-toes and quickly pressed her lips to his. She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes shining. “Thank ye for all your help, Angus.”
With that jubilant look, the previous doubts and frustrations he had melted away, and all he could see was her bonnie visage. She was a courageous and beautiful woman. And any suppressed feelings he had for her rose to the surface.
They were next to a stone structure, and Angus guided her toward it until they were no longer in full view of the courtyard.
He turned her to face him and placed his hands on the curve of her hips. “Ye are verra welcome, lass,” he said.
Elspeth seemed to sense a change in him, and her gaze dropped to his mouth. Unable to fight back the temptation, he lifted his hand to caress her smooth cheek. His fingers then trailed down to trace her soft, pink lips.
Mesmerized by her simple beauty, he pushed her gently against the wall. He bent his head and took possession of her sweet mouth. It was only meant to be a small kiss, but her body responded, melding into his. Suddenly, he became achingly aware of how much he wanted this lass. He increased the pressure of his lips and heard the muffled moan low in her throat. The sound of her undisguised pleasure rolled over him, and he drew her closer as he intensified the kiss.
But an object hurtled through the air and hit him in the back. He lifted his head and frowned when he saw a clump of dirt on the ground. “Who threw this?” he asked.
Elspeth leaned limply against the wall, looking slightly dazed. She shook her head. “I dinnae understand what ye are talking about.”
But then a hiss sounded behind them. He looked to where a cluster of empty barrels sat. And crouched among the crates, he saw Jon beckoning to him.
“What are ye doing in there?” Angus asked as he walked over to the barrels.
He then noticed the other lad eating a piece of smoked fish. The boy had almost finished cleaning the meat from the bones. At his scrutiny, Alec looked up with a guilty expression on his face.
“We just want tae ken whether the servant is still around,” Jon said. “She was here a few minutes ago.”
“There’re many servants about,” Elspeth pointed out as she joined them. She saw the fish in the lad’s hand, and her pretty face screwed up with horror. “Did ye steal that fish?”
“We were hungry,” Alec said, as if his explanation justified their actions. “A whole lot of them were hanging on the rack outside the smokehouse. We dinnae think anyone would notice.”
“But a servant did,” his brother added. “She’s out looking for us, sae we ducked in here. We want tae make certain that all is clear before we come out.”
Elspeth let out a long-suffering sigh. “Did ye nae eat this morning?” she asked. “The two of ye are always hungry —”
“Sae there ye are!” a woman shouted behind them.
The lads paled and jumped up, ready to run for their lives. But Angus stopped them. “Stay,” he said. “I’ll handle this.”
The servant marched over to them. Although her cheeks were red with exertion, fury also marked her round face.
“What seems tae be the problem?” Angus said calmly.
“These brats have stolen the Earl’s prized smoked fish. This offense deserves a severe whipping.”
“I can pay for the fish,” Angus offered. “How much does it cost?”
“How much does it cost?” she scoffed. “It costs a lot of time and effort tae make. My da will say: ‘Jem smoke more fish.’ I’ll tell ye, I already have enough work tae do.” She let out an irritated sound. “I’m going tae take these thieves tae the steward, and he’ll punish them.”
The servant started to launch further into the injustice of the crime when she happened to glance at Angus. A flicker of recognition sparked in her eyes, and her ire abruptly disappeared.
“Perhaps the steward wouldnae have a problem with the theft after all.” She paused for a long moment and said, “The auld Earl is dead.” She studied his face as if to gauge his response.
“I wasnae aware there was an auld Earl,” he said mildly.
“Ye werenae aware?” Jem’s brows furrowed in confusion.
He started to question the servant more when Elspeth reached over and touched the other woman’s sleeve. “I noticed that the Earl’s son has inherited the title,” she said. “When did this happen?”
“’Twas almost a year and a half ago,” she said in a hushed voice. She looked over her shoulder as if she feared that she might be overheard. “Laird Artur is next in line tae claim the title since his half brother is dead. I believe the Queen will formally confirm his rank in thirty days. We’re sure tae have a feast then.”
“’Tis strange that I havenae heard the news of the auld Earl’s death,” Elspeth said.
“The laird was v
erra upset over his father’s passing, and we arenae tae talk about it,” she said.
“All right,” Elspeth said, acknowledging the other woman’s apprehension. “Tell me, what’s it like tae work for the new laird?” She turned to admire the well-kept buildings in the enclosed area.
“’Tis the same as working for any laird,” Jem answered.
“If we arenae getting in trouble, can we have more fish?” Alec asked, interrupting her. “I’m still a wee hungry.”
Angus expected the servant to refuse the lad’s request, but he was surprised when she agreed to take them to the kitchen.
“My da is the castle cook,” she explained. “He might spare ye some food. Follow me.”
The lass led them through a shortcut to the kitchen tower. As they headed to the kitchen, he had a strange sense that he visited this place before. All the buildings seemed familiar. And even as Jem took them down a different route, he knew exactly where everything was located.
But this was impossible, he thought. He didn’t know the Earl. In fact, if Elspeth hadn’t insisted on going to Freemond Castle, he would never have known of its existence.
“The servant seems tae recognize me,” he said to Elspeth when Jem went ahead of them to open the door to the kitchen.
“Ye must really resemble the Earl’s cousin,” she said distractedly as they followed the servant and entered the vast chamber.
The kitchen was busy, of course. And it was hot. With their faces flushed with heat and anxiety, the help raced around the enclosed space, manning the various cooking stations. The massive fireplace was set at the center of the room as three small iron pots dangled directly over the heat source.
A few paces away, two more vats bubbled away over separate cooking fires while an attendant stirred the thick stew with a large stick. In another section of the kitchen a sizable keg was pushed against the wall. A wooden ladder leaned on the wall next to the crate; it had two uncooked chickens hooked onto a bar, waiting to be roasted.
“Let me ask my da for some food,” Jem said, heading into the heart of the cooking area.
A few minutes later, the servant returned with her father. The cook set down a platter of bones on the table. “That’s all I can give ye,” he grunted.
As soon as the cook left, the lads pushed forward and grabbed the bones, which still contained meat and marrow.
“This is terrific!” Jon said. His lips were shiny from the juices left on the bones.
Angus helped himself to a bone as well, knowing this type of meat wasn’t typical fare for commoners. Elspeth, on the other hand, didn’t seem interested in the tasty offering. Instead, she continued her conversation with the other woman, who appeared more relaxed and talkative.
“I can ask my da if we can find a place for ye in the kitchen,” Jem said.
“’Twould be lovely! I’ve only known farm work,” Elspeth said. But then a thought seemed to occur to her, and her expression fell. “Unfortunately, I cannae pursue the kitchen work yet. We’re on a quest tae find Tam Roy. What do ye ken of him?”
“Tam Roy?” Jem asked, her brows quirked in surprise. “He’s the outlaw that the Earl has been searching for this past year.”
“Why does the Earl hate him sae much?” he asked.
“He’s the Earl’s greatest enemy. Somehow he monitors the laird’s every move. When the Earl’s men go tae sell his guids at the market, they always get ambushed by Tam Roy. And then the bandit disappears like the morning mist. ‘Tis probably why the laird hates the outlaw sae much.”
“Ye appear tae ken a great deal about the outlaw,” Angus observed.
“Lots of people have heard of the man,” Jem said, shrugging. “He’s a legend in this region. ‘Tis said that he distributes the Earl’s guids tae the poor, but I dinnae ken if this is true.”
Angus listened with interest as the servant revealed more about the outlaw. While the fugitive was the Earl’s enemy, he was also a hero to the people. Once again, Angus had a sense that something wasn’t right. As he learned more, he feared that he and Elspeth were getting involved in a mess that they didn’t fully understand.
Chapter 16
Angus studied Jem as the others ate the meat from the bones. He couldn’t understand how the kitchen servant had recognized him. He had convinced himself that he imagined the glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Yet a part of him couldn’t fully accept it. In one moment, she raged at the lads for stealing smoked fish, yet when she faced Angus, her attitude suddenly changed. Why?
A few minutes later, the bones were picked clean. Alec looked forlorn when Jem carried the platter away, but he didn’t dare ask for more. They were all aware of how privileged they were to eat the discards. The bits of meat left on the bones were flavorful, and the rich food only made them want more. Unfortunately, the cook was unlikely to offer them anything else.
But as much as Angus enjoyed the scraps, his mind continued to turn over the issue. The reasons that others provided somehow didn’t ring true for him. And while it was easier to leave things alone, a side of him still wanted answers. This drive, however, was temporarily suspended when he decided to focus on building his future. Unfortunately, the plan was aborted when he encountered the Earl’s guards. His interest further peaked when he met Jem.
Angus lagged behind while Elspeth and the lads left the large chamber. Jem was about to turn back to the kitchen when he stopped her.
“Tell me,” he said. “Ye seem tae recognize me. Do ye ken who I am?”
“I thought ye were one of the auld Earl’s men,” she said, averting her eyes and appearing slightly embarrassed. “But I was wrong. Look at how ye dress. Ye are more like a farmer than a high-ranking commander.”
“What’s the name of this fighter ye speak of?”
Angus moved aside as a worker rolled a barrel of wine past them.
She looked over her shoulders with some trepidation. When she turned back to him, her tone became brisk. “See here, I dinnae have time tae talk about the commander. I thought ye looked like him, and probably made a mistake in offering ye food.”
Jem started to say more when a crash sounded behind them. Her father bellowed her name.
“Supper preparations are underway,” she said. “I need tae get back tae work.”
Not waiting for his response, Jem quickly disappeared into the hot kitchen. Angus stood rooted in his spot, watching the servant blend in with the busy workers.
Was it a coincidence that he resembled not one but two people? If he bore a striking resemblance to the Earl’s cousin, then why hadn’t Jem mentioned this? Instead, she told him that he looked like a high ranking commander that frequented the castle, yet she was reluctant to tell him more. And combined with the flash of memories he experienced, he somehow knew his way around this place. Why did he know so much about Freemond Castle? And how was he connected to the old Earl?
***
Elspeth retraced her steps back to the kitchen. She could hear the clanging of pots and pans, and the cook barking orders to his staff. Somewhere in the cavernous kitchen, a chicken squawked right before it was killed. She was relieved when she saw Angus’s brawny frame standing near the doorway. She picked up her pace.
“Are ye coming, Angus?” Elspeth asked.
“What?” he asked, appearing slightly dazed when he turned at the sound of her voice.
“We made it tae the courtyard when we realized that ye werenae with us. I was wondering what was causing your delay.”
“I was speaking with Jem.” The distant look in his dark eyes faded, and he started to move away from the entrance.
“I like her,” she said. “At first, I thought she was going tae murder the lads, but she turned out tae be friendly and helpful.”
“’Tis because she thought I was someone else,” he said.
Her brows creased. “Ye mean she thought ye were the Earl’s cousin?”
“Nay, she thought I looked like a warrior that knew the auld laird.”
His expression was grim. Clearly, Angus believed this piece of information was significant.
“Sae ye have the notion that ye might be this warrior?” she said, praying that he would answer in the negative. They had a mission to fulfill, and there was no room to pursue other interests.
“’Tis a possibility that I’m him, but I’ll have tae ask around. It might take a few days until I learn more from those guards and maybe speak more with Jem.”
His response alarmed her. “Ye cannae mean tae extend your stay,” she said.
“I’ll need a couple of days. I doubt the delay will make much difference.”
“But, of course, it’ll make a difference.” Although she meant her words to be spoken lightly, her comment hung heavily between them. “If we dinnae begin our search now, Tam Roy might move elsewhere.”
Elspeth swallowed the lump that appeared suddenly at the base of her throat. She was optimistic that they would find the criminal. Combined with the details the Earl offered and what Jem told them, they had enough to begin their pursuit. As far as she was concerned, they were close to resolving her family’s issues. However, if they waited, they might not be able to track down the outlaw.
As they exited the kitchen tower, she felt a strong sense that time was running out. If they didn’t get the money soon, her family would get evicted. She knew the challenges she faced if she pursued Tam Roy on her own. But with Angus’s help, her chances of success were much higher. But, if they couldn’t capture the outlaw, then this entire journey was all for naught.
“Perhaps I can help ye look into your past once we capture the outlaw and claim our reward.”
Angus looked as if he was torn. But Elspeth bit her lip and stared back at him.
“Ye promised tae help me,” she reminded him, although she was unable to keep the accusation from her voice. When he didn’t respond right away, she straightened her spine. “Fine. As I told ye before, I can go on my own.”
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