Friarsgate Inheritance: Until You Part 30

And Maybel chuckled again.

"You are a most devious old woman," Tom said admiringly. "And I never until now realized it."

"I know my child," Maybel told him.

They had reached the path that turned off up the hill to the border keep of Claven's Carn. Rosamund brought their party to a halt as the man-at-arms they had sent ahead came riding down the hill.

"The laird and his wife bid you welcome," he told them.

Rosamund turned to the captain of the men-at-arms. "All but two may go with my cousin, daughter, and the women," she told him. "I will want torches to light the path for me, as I must go on as long as I can tonight."

The captain shook his head. "Lady," he told her, "we were hired to escort you home, and that we will do. But I will not expose my horses to certain death if you ride them through the night without proper shelter, food, and rest."

"I will give you new horses," Rosamund told him.

"You will kill my men," he replied. "The answer is nay! Look about you! The hills are already shrouded in mist that will turn to fog before long. You will not be able to make enough headway to matter before you cannot even see the path before you with a light. Take shelter here."

"I will not stop now," Rosamund said. "Give me a torch, and I will travel on by myself."

Tom thought his head was going to explode, but remembering what Maybel had advised, he said to the captain, "Let her have a d.a.m.ned torch!"

"My lord!" the man protested, but then he grew silent at Lord Cambridge's look. "Yes, my lord," he said, and then he handed Rosamund his own torch. "Lady," he pleaded, "take shelter, I beg you."

Ignoring him, Rosamund moved slowly forward, pa.s.sing them and disappearing into the mist until only a pinpoint of light from her torch could be seen.

Tom led them up the hillside to the keep. In the courtyard Logan was there to greet them despite the rain. He quickly scanned the group, and the disappointment in his eyes was evident when he did not see Rosamund. Lord Cambridge saw it, and dismounting heavily from his horse, he said, "We must speak now, quickly and privily, Logan Hepburn."

The laird did not argue, instead beckoning his guest into the keep with the rest of their party. Inside, Logan's wife was waiting to greet the guests, and she led them into her hall while Logan moved off with Tom. In a small room the laird called his library they spoke without sitting. "What has happened?"

"I will try and make this tale as brief as I may," Tom began. "When we reached Edinburgh we discovered that the Earl of Glenkirk had suffered a seizure of the brain. He was lying near death at the inn. The king sent a skilled Moorish physician of his own, and between this doctor and Rosamund the earl was saved. But, alas, his memory was impaired. He could not remember the last two years of his life at all. Do you understand, Logan Hepburn, what I am saying?"

"He did not remember Rosamund," the laird said, his voice a mixture of both regret and joy.

"She nursed him faithfully for a month until he was strong enough to return home, but under the circ.u.mstances there could be no marriage," Tom concluded. "She is filled with sorrow and anger. And tonight, as we seek shelter here at your home, she rides on alone for Friarsgate in the storm."

"Jesu! Mary!" The strong oath exploded from his mouth.

Tom restrained the smile threatening him. Maybel had been right.

"Are you telling me she is out there in the rain? Alone? Are you mad to allow her to do such a thing?" the laird of Claven's Carn roared.

"We could not stop her, I fear," Tom said mildly. "She is a determined woman, and Friarsgate is her strength. She needs to get home."

"But she does not need an ague. It could kill her!" he exclaimed.

"Perhaps you might reason with her, Logan Hepburn," Tom said.

"I would sooner reason with a she wolf," he growled, "but she cannot be allowed to endanger her life, even in her grief. I will fetch her. You will go into the hall and explain all of this to my lady wife that she may be prepared for your cousin's arrival, which will not be a peaceful one, I fear."

"Thank you, Logan Hepburn," Lord Cambridge said quietly.

Logan laughed a short laugh. "You knew I would go after her."

"Maybel knew," he replied.

They returned to the hall where their party was already warming themselves by the fireplaces. Logan went to his wife, murmured something in her ear, and then departed the company, leaving Tom behind to explain. He called to a servant to bring his cloak, and outside in the courtyard his horse was brought. After mounting it, he took up a torch and cantered through his gates out into the stormy night. At the bottom of the hill he turned onto the track leading over the border and into England. The fog was beginning to thicken now, and he was forced to move slowly. It was growing dark, as well. She had the advantage of a quarter of an hour on him, but he would catch up with her and return her to Claven's Carn.

His horse moved cautiously but steadily forward, and where the fog and mist lifted in certain places the animal moved a bit more quickly. Finally Logan saw the faint glow of her torch ahead of him. For a time he seemed to gain no momentum as he moved towards it, but then the fog lifted briefly where he rode and he hurried his horse along. The distance between them grew smaller. He had been following after her close to an hour now. He could almost see her horse now. He kept moving until once again he was given the advantage of a clear track. Rosamund was directly ahead of him in the rain, but she did not hear him for the thunder now beginning to rumble. He rode up abreast of her, but she was concentrating so hard on the road beneath her mount's feet that she didn't see him at first.

"So, madame, you are as stubborn as ever," Logan said even as he reached out to half-lift, half-pull her from her horse, placing her before him on his. His arm tightened about her waist like a vise as she immediately began to struggle.

Rosamund had shrieked with surprise, not just a little frightened at the sound of a male voice and then her removal from her horse to her captor's. She quickly realized in whose company she was. "Let me go, you d.a.m.ned villain!" she yelled.

"You have led me a merry chase, madame, but you will return with me to Claven's Carn."

"I will not!" She punched at him in an effort to release his hold on her person.

Logan Hepburn sighed. "I know what happened, you virago. I am sorry! If you had married me in the first place, none of it would have happened."

"I didn't want to marry you!" she told him furiously. "Why could you not understand that I wasn't ready to remarry? All you could do was babble on like some d.a.m.ned brook about needing an heir. You made me sound like breeding stock!"

"I didn't mean it that way. I thought you understood I loved you, still love you! I a.s.sumed because you had children you would welcome the opportunity to give me an heir as you gave Owein Meredith heirs for Friarsgate," he yelled back at her. He turned his mount and was relieved to see hers turn and follow him.

"You a.s.sumed? No, you d.a.m.ned borderer! You presumed! You did not ask. You told me what you would do. What you wanted. You never said you loved me and hoped that I would be the mother of your children. Nay! You told me that you would come and wed me on St. Stephen's Day and that I would give you heirs. You never asked me what I wanted, Logan Hepburn! Now, put me down and let me be on my way!"

"Nay, madame. You will return to Claven's Carn with me if it takes us all night to get there. You will eat a hot meal, and you will sleep in a dry bed. And your horse will get his rest, dammit," he told her.

"Bah! You have learned nothing, have you? There you go, once again telling me what I will do!" she shouted. "Well, I won't! You aren't my lord and master!"

"Rosamund, shut up!" he roared, and then unable to help himself, he kissed her mouth hard. His head spun as the familiar white heather fragrance she wore rose up to envelop him with its subtle but powerful scent.

Rosamund yanked her head away from his, slapping him with her free hand as she did. But she was finally stunned into silence. She had not been kissed since Patrick Leslie had kissed her. Why was it that men she didn't want were always kissing her?

They rode slowly on. It seemed forever, and then the horses turned from the road onto the path leading up to the Claven's Carn keep. In the courtyard he put her down from the horse and slid from his saddle. Rosamund turned about and hit him a blow with her fist. It was a hard blow, and it actually staggered him. Unable to help himself, he burst out laughing as she turned away and stamped into his house. Rubbing his jaw, he followed her.

In the hall, Jeannie came forward clucking sympathetically as she saw Rosamund enter. "Oh, you poor dear!" she cried. "Come to the fire and warm yourself. I can only imagine how desperately you desire to get home, but you must not wear yourself out, Rosamund. You need your rest. Oh, I hope you have not caught a chill or an ague. These spring rains can be so treacherous." She took her guest's soaking cloak from her and gently pressed her into a chair. "Tam, wine for the lady!" she called to a servant. "Logan, take her boots off and warm her poor feet the way you do mine when they are cold," Jeannie instructed her husband.

"Madame, please," Rosamund said, "I am not used to being fussed over in such a manner. I will be fine. Well-meaning though the Hepburns may be, I was quite capable of getting home by morning by myself."

"You were no more than a mile or two from here," the laird said as he knelt and pulled her boots off.

Jeannie took the footwear and set it by the fire to dry. "Her feet, Logan," she repeated, smiling at Rosamund. "Logan will have your poor little feet warm in no time at all. You must be ravenous. I will fetch you a plate myself." She bustled off.

Her belly was even more evident now than it had been at the end of March, Rosamund thought glumly. Then she started as she felt his big hands enclosing one of her feet. "What are you doing?" she demanded, attempting to free her foot from his grasp.

"Warming your feet as my lady wife has instructed me, madame," he said in bland tones, but the eyes looking up at her were filled with mischief.

He wanted her to argue with him, Rosamund realized. It would be useless, she knew, and so instead she said, "Very well, but be quick about it, Logan Hepburn. I am indeed frozen. Where is my family?"

"I a.s.sume they have eaten and gone to their beds, madame. It is late." One big hand cupped her small foot while the other rubbed it gently. He couldn't help but stare down at that foot as it nestled in his palm. It was a dainty foot, the skin soft and smooth. He had the most incredible longing to kiss it, which he forced back.

"I think you are actually beginning to succeed," she remarked.

"Logan is the best foot warmer!" Jeannie said enthusiastically as she returned with a plate of food for her guest.

Rosamund took the plate and began to eat, but her appet.i.te was not what it had once been. In fact, since she had arrived in Edinburgh to find Patrick so ill she had hardly eaten at all. Food had the tendency now to repel her rather than appeal to her. Still, for Jeannie's sake she made the attempt.

Finally Jeannie reached over and took the plate from her. "I understand," she said softly. "At least you got something down."

Rosamund looked into the young woman's face, seeing genuine sympathy and kindness. She felt the ever-present tears beginning to well in her eyes. She nodded at her hostess, but said nothing.

"Are her feet nicely warmed now?" Jeannie asked her husband.

"Aye," he said, standing up again.

"Then fetch Rosamund some wine, Logan," she commanded, and when he had gone off, she said, "I could see you wanted to cry, but would not before a man. I cannot even begin to imagine the sorrow you are suffering, Rosamund. I am truly sorry for it."

Again Rosamund nodded, wordless. Then she turned away, gazing into the fire.

When Logan returned a few moments later with the requested goblet of wine, his wife stopped him with a hand, putting a finger to her lips.

"She has fallen asleep," Jeannie said.

"I'll carry her to her bed," he replied.

"Nay," Jeannie said. "You will wake her if you do, and then she will not sleep at all, Logan. Leave her by the fire. Her cloak is dry now. Cover her with it. She will sleep the night, I think. Let us to bed, husband."

He nodded. "You go ahead, la.s.s," he told her. "I must be certain all is locked and barred."

"Of course," Jeannie answered him, and she left the hall.

Logan moved through his keep as he did every night before he retired. He checked the outer doors to make certain they were barred. He saw that the lamps were doused, the fires banked. Finally returning to the hall, he sat down opposite Rosamund. Her face was so familiar to him, for it was the face that haunted his dreams. He remembered the child he had first seen at that cattle fair in Drumfie those long years back. He had fallen in love with her then and there. Why was it that fate had conspired to keep them apart? He shook his head. Then, realizing his wife would wonder where he was, he arose and left her sleeping in his hall.

Rosamund was awake when he reentered the hall early the next morning. Awake and arguing with her hired captain-at-arms. "We still have another day's ride!" he heard her say as he came upon them.

"Yer a madwoman, lady, and I'll not go another step in yer company," the captain said implacably. "You have almost killed my men and my horses with yer pace these past two days. Pay us what you owe us, and we will be on our way."

" 'Tis but another day's travel," Rosamund said. "You cannot expect three women and a single gentleman to travel these last miles without the company of men-at-arms. Today is the most dangerous part of our journey, for we are prey to both the Scots and the English as we go. You were hired to take us to Friarsgate!"

"Not another mile in yer company, lady," the captain said. "Pay us now."

"Pay him," Logan said. "You can trust him no longer, madame. If you force the issue, he will wait until he is out of sight of Claven's Carn, take his monies forcibly, and leave you stranded. My clansmen and I will escort you the rest of the way."

For once Rosamund did not argue with Logan. She might have been grief-stricken, but she was no fool. His words made perfect sense to her. Reaching into her gown, she drew forth a leather bag of coins. Opening it, she emptied a third of the coins into her hand, stuffing them into a pocket. Then, drawing the bag shut, she tossed it to the captain. "You were hired to take me to Friarsgate, not Claven's Carn. I have paid you for the distance you traveled with me. Now, take your men and get out of my sight!"

With a curt nod to the laird, the captain walked quickly from the hall.

"I do not like being indebted to you, Logan Hepburn," Rosamund said.

"You are not," he replied. "You are my nearest neighbor for all you are English. I would be a bad neighbor if I did not escort you to Friarsgate under the circ.u.mstances."

"I would not waste the day here," she said sharply.

"As soon as your party is ready, lady, we will go," he told her.

"How is your son?" she asked politely.

His craggy face lit up. "He's a braw wee laddie, he is. They say he is my image, and it may be true, but he has his mother's disposition."

Rosamund couldn't help but smile at his words. "Then you are indeed fortunate, Logan Hepburn," she told him.

Now he laughed. "Meaning?" he teased her.

"I think we need not go into it, my lord," she answered him.

He nodded. "Aye," he said, "for you and I will never agree on anything, will we, Rosamund?"

"I cannot predict the future, Logan Hepburn," she told him wearily. "Once I thought I could, but it has been proved otherwise this spring."

Tom came into the hall, followed by Maybel, Philippa, and Lucy. "Ah, you are up already," he greeted her jovially.

"Do not speak to me, you traitor!" she told him. Then she said, "Our men-at-arms have taken their monies and decamped. The captain would not take us farther. The laird has kindly offered to escort us home today."

"Gracious! Everyone is already up," Jeannie said, coming into the hall. "I am a poor hostess, I fear." She bustled about, speaking with her servants, seeing that the morning meal was quickly served.

"The lady of Friarsgate's escort has run off," Logan told his wife. "My men and I will be their protection on the final leg of their journey home today. We should be back by dark, la.s.s." He kissed the top of Jeannie's head.

"Of course you must accompany Rosamund and her party," Jeannie said. "It is the most dangerous part of their trek. Take enough men so that the robbers lurking in the hills will be deterred from attacking." She turned and smiled at Rosamund. "Borderers, I have discovered, be they Scots or English, can be difficult and rash in their actions."

Rosamund found herself smiling back briefly. "Aye, they can," she agreed.

The meal was served, and they sat themselves at the hall's high board. Lucy had gone to the kitchens to be fed, but Maybel was considered an honored guest by virtue of her long service and her marriage to a Bolton. There was hot oat stirabout served with pitchers of heavy golden cream and equally golden sweet honey. Loaves of fresh bread were placed upon the table along with two bowls of hard-boiled eggs, a crock of newly churned sweet b.u.t.ter, and strawberry conserves. Both watered wine and ale were offered.

"Philippa!" her mother cautioned as the young girl signaled a servant to pour some ale into her goblet. "You will drink watered wine or plain water."

"Mama!" Philippa protested. "I am nine now!"

"You will not have ale at breakfast until you are twelve," her mother said.

"Your mam certainly never did," Maybel enforced Rosamund's ruling.

"Oh, pooh!" Philippa complained, but then she nodded at the servant with the wine pitcher to serve her.

"I remember being her age," Jeannie said with a small smile. "Nine is neither fish nor fowl. It is a hard age for a girl."

When the meal was finished Logan announced that he would a.s.semble his men, and they would depart shortly. He hurried from the hall.

They attended to their needs, and then Rosamund thanked their hostess for her kind hospitality. No mention was made of the lady of Friarsgate's reluctance to shelter at Claven's Carn the previous evening.