Anguish could not come close to describing what Bart felt when he saw the knife protruding from Eleanor’s small bed. He vowed to have his little red-haired sister back, and have his revenge upon Armstrong, now. Tonight.
“Search the keep,” he said tightly. He tunneled his fingers through his hair as his mind raced through possibilities. “I want Norwyck turned upside down—explore every inch within the castle walls, every cottage in the village….”
He held little hope that Eleanor was still here. There could be no doubt that the bastard who had stolen her had gotten out and was well on his way to Braemar Keep. Which was exactly what Bart would do. He would ride to Braemar Keep himself and demand that Eleanor be released. If Armstrong refused…
Nay, he could not act precipitously, for Eleanor’s life was at stake, and Armstrong held the advantage. But only for the moment.
Forcing himself to a calm he did not really feel, Bart resolved to go forward with his plans to ambush Lachann Armstrong and his men, for he knew that it was necessary to break up the Armstrong-MacEwen alliance, and severely diminish the number of men Armstrong had under his command. ’Twould put Bart in a much better position to negotiate.
And now he had an additional tool at his disposal. He had his own hostage.
He had no doubt that Lachann would want his daughter back, unharmed. Otherwise, his plans for Mairi’s marriage to Carmag could not be carried out. Wouldn’t the Armstrong laird be appalled to learn that his hostage-taking ploy was in vain?
It gave Bart small satisfaction, in light of what his sister must be going through at this very moment.
“Damnation,” he muttered under his breath. Ellie was small and frail. She would be terrified. She had never been treated roughly, and would not know whether her captor intended to kill her or let her live. If Armstrong harmed her in the least—
“My lord,” Sir Walter said, “do we change strategies now?”
“Nay,” Bart said. He looked at Mairi for the first time and nearly winced when he saw her tear-stained face. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and she seemed smaller, more fragile now, as she held Kate in her arms, comforting her.
When she looked up at him and met his gaze, Bart saw her distress, her grief. She was truly horrified by Eleanor’s abduction.
Bart understood clearly that in order to get Eleanor back, he would have to trade Mairi for her. And, in that moment, he was unsure whether he was willing to do so.
He’d thought of little else all day, as the men worked around him, making ready for their assault upon Braemar. How to use Mairi Armstrong against Lachann.
Keeping her hostage had been the most logical choice. If Lachann had to worry about his daughter’s safety every time he raided Norwyck, the raids might stop, and Bart could keep Mairi indefinitely. But with Eleanor taken, he might actually have to make an exchange, and give Mairi up.
He cracked his knuckles and turned away.
’Twas all a fine mess. The only solution was to carry out his plan of having Norwyck knights lie in wait in the woods below Braemar Keep. Bart had men and supplies enough to last more than a week. ’Twould not be long before a large force of Armstrong and MacEwen men came outside the wall, heading for Norwyck.
If Bart’s strategy worked, he would be able to dispatch the bulk of Armstrong’s army, and get Eleanor back, unscathed.
He only now realized how much he hoped he’d be able to keep Mairi, too.
Looking at her, small and vulnerable, and caring for Kathryn, made it impossible for him to think. His throat went dry, and he felt as if the air in the nursery would choke him. Abruptly, he walked out of the chamber, went through the gallery and hurried down the steps to the great hall.
What if Sir Walter’s words were true? If Armstrong intended to wed Mairi to Laird MacEwen, ’twas no wonder she had not immediately returned to Braemar Keep for her marriage. On the other hand, she could not very well announce to all of Norwyck that she was the daughter of their most hated enemy. She had been well and truly trapped.
Bart stepped outside of the keep and breathed deeply. Eleanor was gone, and he would have to trade Mairi to get his sister back. His most trusted advisor had withheld information from him for some protracted length of time, and Bart had several hundred knights whose lives were in his hands.
Was there no end to the grief Lachann Armstrong could cause?
As the search of the grounds commenced, Bart walked across to the knights’ quarters. The men were ready. Most were quiet—even solemn—as they passed the night before departing for battle. Some prayed; some drank and talked quietly with one another, reliving other battles.
Bart knew he would not sleep. He hoped that Eleanor would be found, safe and sound, somewhere within the castle walls. But he knew that was entirely unlikely.
As he joined in the search, there was no doubt in his mind that she was well on her way to Braemar Keep.
Once Mairi settled Kathryn in the bed in her tower room, she began to pace. There must be something she could do to get Eleanor back.
Obviously, Bartholomew would send word to Braemar, telling Lachann that he held Mairi at Norwyck. That would be the best way to guarantee Eleanor’s safety.
Eventually, there would have to be a trade, and Mairi had absolutely no doubt that Bart would give her to Lachann in exchange for his sister. ’Twas as it should be.
But what if Eleanor managed to escape Lachann?
What if Mairi could prove her allegiance to Norwyck, and her love for Bartholomew?
She walked from the fireplace to the bed and back again. She had to think! There had to be a way for her to show Bartholomew what he meant to her. ’Twas not just that marriage to Carmag was repugnant to her…. Nay, she felt so strongly for Bart Holton that she could not give herself to another, even if he were the comeliest man in all of Britain.
The fact that ’twas Carmag MacEwen her father had chosen, or that the MacEwen had several ships to use for—
That was it! Months ago, Carmag had bragged about his ships, and how he could move so many men down the coast to attack the English lords whenever he fancied….
Was that how Eleanor had been stolen? Had she been secreted onto a ship off Norwyck’s shore, then hidden away in a cavern on his beach?
Clearly, Lachann would never have taken the child through the village on a direct path to Braemar. If anything, he would have used his ally’s resources to complete his dastardly task.
Mairi had to remember everything Carmag had told her about his lands and his possessions. He had boasted and bragged the entire time he’d visited in France. He must have said something that would be useful to her….
Mairi looked down at Kathryn, who was finally sound asleep. At least she would be safe here tonight, with a guard keeping watch by the tower stairs. No intruder would expect the child to be in the tower, and no one would get past the guard.
Wringing her hands with frustration at her inability to act, Mairi could only wish Eleanor safe. She did not want to believe that Lachann would harm a child, but she remembered her father all too well. He was a cold, self-centered scoundrel who thought of naught but his own desires.
She was afraid that when Lachann received word that Mairi was a hostage at Norwyck, he might be spiteful enough to call Bartholomew’s bluff and harm Eleanor. Mairi did not delude herself into thinking her father would want to keep Eleanor safe in order to insure his own daughter’s continued health.
Since he believed Mairi had drowned, ’twas likely her father had already figured another way to convince the MacEwen to ally himself with clan Armstrong.
There was no time for Mairi to find out. She checked on Kathryn once again, then left the tower room. When she met the guard at the foot of the stairs, he was not inclined to let her go.
“M’lady,” he said, “I have orders to keep you here in the tower.”
“Aye, I know that, Raulf,” she replied. “But I just remembered something that Lord Norwyck should know. I must find a footman to
fetch him for me.”
A look of indecision crossed the guard’s face and Mairi took advantage of it. “Only one of us can go. You must remain here to guard Lady Kathryn.”
Mairi breathed more easily when Raulf finally agreed. She could see that he was unsure of his decision to allow her to go, so she hurried away before he could change his mind and detain her.
She could not tell Bartholomew of her plan, for ’twas too risky, too dangerous, and doomed to fail if Bart and his men escorted her. Yet ’twas her only chance to prove her allegiance and get Eleanor away from her father.
Surefooted, Mairi hurried down the steps to the great hall, walked briskly through the empty, cavernous space and went to a door near the chapel that led to the courtyard. Cloaks hung on hooks near the door, and she took one before slipping outside.
Walking quickly, she made her way toward the postern gate, grateful that there was a full moon, yet worried that someone might see and recognize her in the moonlight. There were men all about, presumably searching the grounds for any signs of Eleanor and her abductor.
Keeping herself hooded and cloaked, Mairi reached the gate and inched it open on its rusty hinges, praying that the squeak of metal would not alert anyone to her presence. Slipping through the small opening, she crept away from Norwyck’s walls.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The footpath was well illuminated by the moon, but there was a frigid wind blowing over the water. Mairi hugged her cloak to herself and trudged along the sand. She followed the curve of the beach toward the north, and the caverns in which Carmag MacEwen hid his boats. If only she could get that far tonight, she would feel successful.
Naught impeded her as she headed north across the broad beach, neither the wind nor the strange night sounds that assailed her. She girded herself against any fear of the night, and continued on, walking for more than an hour. When she passed the place where she and Bartholomew had once made beautiful, passionate love, she did not allow herself to dwell upon the memory of that fine afternoon, but kept walking. Eventually she came to a sharp incline, rough terrain where the beach gave way to a steep rocky rise.
Mairi had no choice but to climb.
Halfway up she had to sit down and rest. She huddled next to a large outcropping of rock and caught her breath while her muscles relaxed. And she wondered if this was the way Eleanor had been taken.
’Twas entirely possible Mairi was mistaken. Mayhap Lachann had managed to get the child out of Norwyck keep and past the village walls without being discovered. His audacity should come as no surprise, for that seemed to be his way now—to confound his opponent by attacking at odd times and in strange ways.
Mairi was so tired she did not know if she would be able to continue on. She glanced up at the sky and saw that there was barely a cloud to be seen, and the moon was still high. But there were many hours of night remaining.
She had to keep on.
Rising to her feet again, she resumed her climb up the stony hill and finally reached the top.
Her legs were tired and sore, and her hands were scraped and nicked from hanging on to the rocks as she climbed. Ignoring her little injuries, she walked on, mindful that if MacEwen had taken Eleanor and hidden her in one of his caverns, Mairi would have to reach the place before morning. She did not want MacEwen or his men to see her before she had a chance to determine where Eleanor was and how to free her.
Mairi walked along the escarpment for a while, keeping well away from the edge, and started scanning the water for any sign of boats or a quay. The sea was clearly visible, with a wedge of bright moonlight shimmering from the horizon to the shore.
Mairi could see naught down there.
Beyond weary, she did not know how much farther she would be able to walk, and worried that MacEwen’s caverns were down below her even now, where she could see no sign of them. What if she went past them? What if she missed her chance to get to Eleanor?
Something up ahead caught her eye, something bright and orange. A small fire, perhaps?
New energy seeped into Mairi’s muscles and bones. She moved ahead more quickly now, hopeful that she’d found her quarry. What other reason would there be for men to be camped just up the beach from Norwyck?
Stealthily, Mairi crept toward the glow and discovered a haphazard camp with a crude shelter at the edge of it, made of blankets thrown over a low branch. She prayed that Eleanor was underneath. ’Twas not much protection against the wind, but better than naught.
Mairi pulled up her hood to cover most of her face. She skirted around the camp and approached from the inland side, where some low trees and brush grew. ’Twas not a great deal of cover, but hopefully enough.
Several horses were tethered nearby, and Mairi knew then that these men planned to ride west to Braemar Keep. They would not be sailing to MacEwan’s stronghold further north. Four men dozed around the fire, and another sat up, keeping watch. At the moment, he was gazing out toward the cliffs over the beach.
With her voice masked by the sound of the waves crashing upon rocks below, Mairi spoke softly to the horses as she approached. Shaking with uneasiness, she nonetheless took a moment to rub each horse, just as Bartholomew had shown her with Pegasus.
Then, in the shadows, she moved away from the horses. Mairi knew she would not be able to get inside the blanketed shelter without attracting the watchman’s notice, so she would have to deal with him somehow.
A blow to the head was the most likely solution, so she searched for a likely weapon. Never once allowing herself to become squeamish over it, she crept up behind the fellow and struck him hard with a rock. Awkwardly, she broke his fall and eased him down to the ground. Then she slipped back into the darkness to wait and see if any of the other men would awaken.
After a few minutes of continued silence, she stole into the rough shelter. ’Twas even darker inside, so she shifted one of the blankets in order to see. As she did so, Eleanor sat up abruptly.
Mairi had the wherewithal to clap one hand over the child’s mouth and speak quietly into her ear. “Eleanor! ’Tis me, Marguerite,” she said, using the name that was most familiar.
Mairi could feel Eleanor’s panic subside, and she removed her hand from the child’s mouth. “Let’s get away from here, Ellie,” she whispered. “Come quickly.”
Without another word, the two slipped out of the shelter. Mairi led Eleanor from the camp, and kept walking until they were a good distance away.
“How did you find me?” the girl whispered.
“When all of Norwyck was searched, and there was no sign of you, I remembered some talk about ships and caverns,” Mairi replied, “and thought mayhap ’twas Carmag MacEwen who brought you this way, and not…Lachann.”
“I tried to fight them, but I could not get away,” Eleanor said. Mairi crouched down and hugged the girl to her. “I was so afraid, Mairi,” she whispered. “I bit one of them and then I…I don’t remember what happened after that. The next thing I knew, I was out of the castle and one of those men was carrying me up the beach.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Mairi said softly as she stood again. “You’ll be safe again soon. We just have to go back down the beach without getting caught.”
She untied her cloak at the throat and took it from her shoulders. “This is much too large for you, but I want you to cover up.”
“I am cold,” Eleanor said, allowing Mairi to drape it over her shoulders. “I feel like there’s been ice in my bones since they took me from Norwyck.”
“If we keep up a good pace, we’ll be home soon,” Mairi said. “But there’s a rough spot not far from here and we’ll have to take care climbing down.”
“Aye,” Eleanor replied. “I climbed it before. The man put me down and made me climb even though my head hurt and I was sleepy and cold.”
“I know you’re tired now, Eleanor,” Mairi said to encourage the girl to keep moving. “But ’Tis an easy walk then, after we get past that incline. We’ll have you back in your b
ed at Norwyck before you know it. And you’ll be able to tell your sister and brothers of your adventu—”
They’d gone only a few steps when they heard voices behind them. “Ellie, run! All the way to Norwyck!” Mairi urgently cried. “Hide if you must, but don’t let them catch you!”
Eleanor was covered by the dark cloak and she melted into the night, but Mairi was much more visible in her yellow gown. She ran inland, and the men followed. She managed to evade them for a time, giving Eleanor a chance to hide or to get far enough away that they would never catch her. But Mairi’s fatigue eventually overcame her.
She tripped and fell, and as she did so, one of the pursuers grabbed her ankle.
“What?” the man said when he saw her clearly. ’Twas obvious he’d expected to find Eleanor lying there. “Who are ye?”
“I am Mairi Armstrong,” she replied haughtily, “and I’ll thank you to unhand me.”
“Where’s the little lass?” the leader asked, looming over her.
Mairi pulled away from her captor’s grasp and shrugged.
“Well, ’tis even better,” the other man said, pulling her roughly to her feet. “We were sent to fetch ye back to Laird MacEwen. When we couldna find ye in Norwyck’s keep, we took the little lass—”
“You’re lying!” Mairi cried. “You did not even know I was alive.”
“Yer father and Laird MacEwen learned of ye not more than a week ago,” he said, pulling her back toward the camp. “Come on.”
Mairi kept her silence as she marched beside her captor, though she wondered how her father could possibly have known she was alive and well at Norwyck. When they reached the little shelter, the Scot pushed her into it. “Best ye get some sleep now, my lady,” he said. “We’ve a long ride ahead of us in the morn.”
A short while before dawn, Bart and his knights mounted their horses and headed for the castle gate. This was the day he would demand the return of his sister.
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