Graham touched her arm. Charlotte did not look at him. She was still hurt by his rejection the night before.
“We will move as quickly as we can and try to find a protected place to sleep under tonight.”
She nodded and said nothing. She could feel him still looking at her but she kept her eyes averted.
When night fell, they found a bay willow to sleep under. Will caught a small meal and Charlotte lay on her blanket to sleep. She kept her back to Graham, not touching him.
She heard Graham sigh. Then he reached for her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him.
He snuggled her into the crook of his body. “I know you are angry with me. But I’ll not let you freeze tonight and I certainly won’t let anyone take you away. I meant what I said Charlotte. Everything in this world that is mine to give you, I would give. Including my life.” His finger brushed a stray hair from her cheek and she turned to look at him.
“What about your name. Would you give that to me?” Her voice trembled as she asked the question.
He did not say anything for a moment. “What if your father disowned you? You would be the wife of a locksmith.” Regret laced his voice.
“I have never cared about London or the ton or fancy dresses. I would set up an orphanage and a soup kitchen--I could help your father bring people back to the North.” Charlotte laced her fingers with his.
“Charlotte, I could never ask you to give those things up. You would hate me for it…” Charlotte cut Graham off.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t get married. You don’t seem to know me at all.” She sniffed. She could hear the other brothers shifting around her, they could hear every word.
Graham could hear them too. “Let me get you back to the manor. I want you alive first and then we can talk about our future.”
Charlotte smiled at the words our future. They sounded so good. She closed her eyes and fell blissfully asleep.
* * * *
As the first rays of light crested the sky, Graham woke up. He hadn’t slept well even after Charlotte had finally fallen asleep. He felt guilty. He knew he led Charlotte on with those last words. He wanted to get her back safely. But he would not steal her from her father and he would not knowingly ruin her life.
The rest of the camp began to wake around him and soon everyone was up and the group was moving. They needed to get back home as quickly as possible.
“Where are we?” Charlotte asked as the men moved at an even faster clip.
“We are nearing the English border. Once we cross, we have friends that we can borrow a vessel from and possibly make it home by nightfall.” Graham pulled the reins of the horse and picked up the pace. He needed to get Charlotte safely under a roof.
“I have a cousin who lives near the border. The Duke of Roxburge.” Charlotte mentioned.
Graham turned back to her and the group ground to a halt. “Are you close relations?”
She started in surprise at his intensity. “He is as close a relative as I have besides my father. Though it has been a long time since I have visited his home, he comes come quite often to London. He has a son I haven’t met yet. Perhaps we could visit and get supplies…” Charlotte stopped suddenly. She cocked her head. “Did you hear that?”
Nick nodded. He seemed to hear it too.
“What is it?” Will asked grabbing the hilt of his sword.
Suddenly Graham caught a faint sound. A soft cry that came somewhere from the left.
Charlotte climbed off the horse and ran towards the sound. Graham could have sworn it was the persistent cry of what sounded like a child.
Graham took off after Charlotte. He caught her easily and then passed her. “What are you do--” Charlotte’s voice was strangled with worry but Graham held out his hand for her to stop.
Graham canvased the area. Up ahead, he could see the tall grass moving slightly.
“Stay here,” he commanded as he crept toward the sound. He looked back to see Charlotte covering her mouth with her hand. Graham came to the spot where the grass moved and then dropped to the ground. There in the grass was a small boy.
Graham scooped the child up in his arms and ran back towards Charlotte.
“Send Will to hunt. Have Tom start a fire. Hurry.” Graham’s face was set in rigid lines and Charlotte rushed to do his bidding.
Charlotte ran towards the three men. “Get food, build a fire. We have found a child.”
The three stared at her for a long second before they dispatched. Graham came up behind her. She immediately got out both blankets. The child was still alive but freezing.
She took the boy in her arms and pressed him against her body. Then Graham wrapped them both in the blankets. He sat both of them down on his lap.
Tom worked quickly building a fire and Nick found water, giving the child a drink. The warmth plus the water seemed to bring some color back to the child’s cheeks. Will returned with a couple of pheasants and set to plucking and roasting them.
“What’s your name?” Charlotte softly asked the boy.
“Ewan MacPherson, my lady,” the boy looked as if it was obvious but Charlotte started in surprise.
“Who is your father, child?” Graham asked gently.
“Lord MacPherson,” the boy responded. Will handed the boy a pheasant wing, which he devoured.
Charlotte looked up. Her voice shook, “My cousin. The Duke of Roxburge.”
“Hello cousin Charlotte,” Ewan smiled as he uttered his greeting.
“How did you know who I was?” Charlotte looked at the boy in surprise.
“Graham must have said your name,” Tom shrugged.
Nick looked up, “I have traded with MacPherson on several occasions. He has done well here in the North while others have not. I will return the boy to his father, the rest of you press on. I will find my way home.”
Charlotte protested. “We will see him home together. I can’t leave my cousin now.” Her eyes drifted to the boy still cuddled against her.
Tom raised his hand. “Every extra second we spend in Scotland puts you in danger, we should stick to the plan. “
Graham shook his head. “Normally I would agree brothers, but I think Charlotte is right.”
Will looked furious as did Tom and Nick. Graham continued. “I have to believe that fate is guiding us this trip. We have found this child for a reason and returning him is necessary. I don’t know why yet but I am sure we will find out. Besides, surely a family member of Charlotte’s will help us on our journey.”
Charlotte beamed at Graham but Tom looked skeptical. “What if he doesn’t believe us? What if he wants to keep Charlotte and return her himself? He might not understand the danger the Marquess poses. There is that business with the messenger and the tree the other night.”
Ewan sat up. “He knows about the Marquess’ magic. I told my father that he kidnapped Cousin Charlotte.”
All five of them stared at the child not saying a word. No one had mentioned the kidnapping in front of the boy. They were sure of that. And while strange things had happened, magic seemed a bit farfetched. Still, it was incredibly strange what the child just seemed to know.
“Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you. My father will help you too.” Ewan smiled sweetly.
“You might be right, brother,” Tom muttered softly. “Fate is guiding our hands.”
Charlotte and Ewan climbed on the horse. Charlotte snuggled the boy into the blankets as his eyes drifted closed. She smiled softly at the child and then looked at Graham. Their eyes met and he gently touched her arm and then the boy’s head. She had spent many hours caring for children at orphanages but something about holding this boy made her yearn for a child of her own.
The brothers easily found a more travelled road and quickly got directions to the home of Lord MacPherson.
By mid-day the group had arrived at a stately manor. It was surrounded by a large wall. In front of the wall tw
o rivers joined together. They were the Tweed and Teviot rivers and they seemed to ring almost the entire structure. The area between the wall and the rivers was planted with at least seventy bay willow trees.
“Bloody hell,” Will muttered roughly.
“I think you mean heaven,” Charlotte responded.
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER NINE
The group began the journey up the drive to the estate. They had not made it far when the front doors burst open and a crowd of people raced towards them.
Some held weapons, and the brothers closed ranks in front of Charlotte and the boy. The gates swung closed behind them and for a moment Charlotte felt utterly trapped.
Nick hailed the group, “I am Lord Nicholas Fairfield, I am known to the Duke. I have found a child in the woods and am simply returning him.”
A man stepped to the front. “Bloody hell Nick, is that you?” Lord MacPherson quickened his pace and raced to the group.
“Cousin Ewan!” Charlotte called and waved.
“Blimey, Charlotte?” Ewan MacPherson yelled while in a full sprint.
The boy began to squirm in Charlotte’s grasp so she passed him down to Graham who set the boy on his feet. Little Ewan raced to his father.
“Papa,” he cried. Lord MacPherson swept the boy up in his arms.
Nick stepped forward. “It is good to see you, my lord. I know the circumstance is a bit strange. You know we mean no harm.”
The duke looked at him questioningly as he snuggled his son closer.
Nick nodded toward the group of men still holding swords and axes. “The men behind you still look ready to murder us.”
Surprise lit the duke’s eyes. “Put down your weapons lads. This is family.” He turned to Nick. “How did you find him?” His voice cracked slightly as he spoke.
“Lady Beaumont heard his cries as we made our way through the woods this morning. We started a fire to warm and feed him and then lit out for your home.”
The Duke of Roxburge looked sharply at Charlotte. He held his hand up to her which she gladly accepted and swung down from the horse. He caught her up in a hug. His eyes made a quick sweep of the group. Charlotte cringed. She was without chaperone travelling with four unmarried men.
“What brings you this far north?” His eyes pierced into them.
Nick paused for a moment, “It is a lengthy tail that we would be happy to share. We have been travelling many miles a day and if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, we would greatly appreciate any hospitality you could give us.”
Lord MacPherson nodded, “Of course. Anything you desire is yours. I cannot begin to repay you for the return of my son.” His eyes swept over his cousin and her peasant apparel. He said no more, though. Lord MacPherson turned and the rest of the group followed.
Within the hour, the group had bathed and was provided fresh clothing. Charlotte glanced down at herself. It felt wonderful to be clean again.
Everyone congregated in a parlor where a luncheon had been set out. Ewan MacPherson motioned for them to eat first.
When the meal was done, Ewan spoke, “I cannot thank you enough for returning my son to me.”
Nick spoke for the group, “Of course, my lord. It is a happy chance that we came upon him. How was it the boy was in the woods?”
Ewan’s shoulders drooped. “The nanny took him for a walk. He wanted to look for some birds. He normally stays within the walls. But he climbed up to see a bird and then just disappeared over the side. A guard was there in less than a minute but it was like he had vanished into thin air.” Ewan paused, “We have escaped a great deal of the tragedy that has befallen the north but strange things happen outside these walls.”
Ewan looked at each of them. He seemed to be searching their eyes for their reaction but each brother nodded his understanding.
“We have not escaped the hard times you speak of and we have seen firsthand the strange occurrences that mention.” Graham looked at Charlotte. When their eyes met, Charlotte moved closer to him. She always felt safer when she was near him. He reached for her hand and then began the tale of how they came to be at Lord MacPherson’s gate.
Charlotte had expected shock or disbelief from her cousin at certain parts of Graham’s story but to her amazement, Ewan seemed not at all surprised.
“Graham, you have fought for my cousin’s safety admirably. We are in your debt. You are a true warrior.” Ewan reached over and patted Graham’s shoulder.
Graham gave a single nod and then continued the story. Lord MacPherson listened intently until they reached the part in the story with the bay willow. He gave his cousin a long look.
“How did you know the bay willow would protect you?” Lord MacPherson asked Charlotte.
“I didn’t. I just wanted to clear my head. It called…” She was going to say it called to mebut she knew how strange it sounded.
“You’re not wrong, lass. You did well to trust your instincts. How did you find yourself under the tree?” Ewan looked pointedly at Graham.
“I noticed Charlotte gone, I went to look for her. I…” Graham’s cheeks actually pinkened slightly. Charlotte’s eyebrows shot up.
“I’ve got some things to say and I need you to listen with an open mind.” Lord MacPherson looked at each of them as they nodded their understanding.
“I’m sure you know that the Marquess of Huntly is extremely dangerous. Beyond being powerful and rich, strange things happen in his presence that can’t be explained. Now normally I would say you didn’t stand a chance but some force is working on your side or you wouldn’t have made it this far.”
Graham agreed, “We have thought the same.”
“Good. I am glad you are willing to entertain the possibility of some events being otherworldly. Some even whisper about him having magical powers. I’ll tell you honestly that I had a great uncle who claimed to possess the same. He is the one who planted all of the bay willows.”
“And your son?” Will asked in his straightforward manner.
A pained expression crossed Lord MacPherson’s face, “We have kept him here in Scotland, and not let him travel to England, because strange things also happen around him.”
Will turned to Graham. “You were right. Fate guided our hand.”
Lord MacPherson’s eyebrows shot up. He studied the third brother. “I heard you were in the war. How are your skills with a sword?”
“Good enough.” Graham’s lips turned down in a grim frown. “It was always going to come down to a final confrontation, wasn’t it?”
“Yes it was.” Lord MacPherson turned to Charlotte, “What happened to your other suitors lass?”
Charlotte started in surprise. She hadn’t expected the question and she answered honestly, “They all fell away one by one. Some misfortune befell them. How did you know?”
“Like I said, strange things happen around the Marquess and people act strangely too. Under normal circumstances would your father have allowed you to take this journey? Even chaperoned?”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “Never. But I didn’t even think it was magic. I thought my father was just desperate to have me married.”
Lord MacPherson nodded. “The Marquess can influence the mind. I am sure your father was being pushed into marrying you so that he would accept the Marquess.”
“But he set up visits with other eligible men along the way. Why would he do that if the Marquess was influencing him?”
“As far as I can tell, he can only make suggestions, he can’t dominate a person’s thoughts. He might make someone feel like their situation is hopeless so he sells his land to the Marquess. He made your father feel like you must marry so that the Duke accepts the only offer. Regardless, the only way to put a stop to this is for you to marry someone else.” Fear fluttered in Charlotte’s chest. Who would her cousin suggest?
The room grew deathly quiet. Silence stretched out until Ewan spoke again.
&nbs
p; “Normally I would recommend the oldest son but under the circumstances, I would say Graham is the appropriate choice.” Ewan looked at the other man. The brothers all nodded in agreement.
“I am the third son. I couldn’t without her father’s permission.” Graham looked at her, his hesitation in his eyes. Charlotte nearly forgot to breathe as she waited for his answer. Their eyes met. She understood his hesitation but she pleaded with her gaze to take her cousin’s offer.
“Under normal circumstances I would agree. But he has kidnapped her and attempted to marry her without permission. Another suitor could take months to find and then a wedding months after that. Coupled with his ability to influence the mind, it is too risky. Besides, it is obvious you have feelings for each other. You are saving her. And it is clearly you who must fight him.” MacPherson eyed the sword strapped to Graham’s side.
“Think of it this way. If you lose, she will become a widow and free to marry someone else. If you win, I would wager that her father will forgive you and aid you in becoming a lord. I will sponsor you in your introduction to polite society and I will tell my cousin that it was at my suggestion. He will understand that you are saving his daughter. From everything I have heard, I can’t think of a man more worthy for her hand.”
Graham looked at Charlotte. Charlotte stepped closer as their eyes met. She reached for his hand. “We will figure the rest out together.”
Indecision marked his face for a split second before he jerked his chin down once in agreement. Charlotte beamed.
Ewan smiled as he spoke, “I will call the preacher. You must have your wedding night here and then we will get you outfitted for your return journey in the morning. Don’t worry about the Marquess, you are protected here.”
Charlotte gave Graham a sideways glance. Tonight would be her wedding night.
Nick spoke for the first time in a long time. “How are we protected?”
“The bay willow has long been regarded as a force of good. It is a sign of health and prosperity. Its branches were hung over the beds of maidens to keep them safe and it used on Palm Sunday here in the north. But my uncle told me it held actual magical powers to ward off evil. He planted them around our walls and they have protected us ever since.”
Stealing a Lady's Heart: A Regency Fairytale (Fairfield Fairytales Book 1) Page 7
