Days of Gold (Edilean 2)

Harcourt took her hands away from his face. “I have things I have to do to get ready for our journey,” he said, his voice kinder. “And you have to take a bath and get some sleep.”

“I’ve slept too much,” she said. “I slept most of the way here.”

“Edilean,” he said, sounding like a father talking to a disobedient child, “I have things to do for us. I’ve been working since I got your letter. I wish you’d not waited so late to tell me what was happening. I’ve needed every moment to prepare for going to another country. Here.” He handed her another bottle of the laudanum. “Take this and you’ll sleep all day. I’ll come and get you tomorrow at midday and we’ll go to the ship. After that I’ll keep you awake for days.” He kissed her, but only quickly. “Now, will you obey me?” he asked.

“Yes, but I don’t want to,” she said, sounding sulky. “I wish I could spend every minute with you. Did you get my dressmaker in London to make me a wardrobe? I could bring nothing with me.”

“I got what I could,” he said, “but there wasn’t time to get much. When we’re in America we’ll buy what you need.”

“But this is Glasgow. I could shop here.”

“Edilean!” he said angrily. “Will our entire lives be like this? Will you disobey everything I say?”

“No,” she said, her head down. “It’s just that I’m frightened. James...” When she saw the anger on his face, she drew back. “All right. I am rather tired. I’ll sleep tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“That’s a good girl,” Harcourt said. “I’ll get someone to take you to the inn. This one isn’t safe, and that driver of yours knows where it is. I don’t trust the look of him.”

“Angus McTern?” she asked. “But he’s the reason we’re together. If he hadn’t—”

“Yes, dear, I’m sure he’s the finest of his class. Now, listen. I’ve hired a room for you on the top floor of the Green Dragon, and—”

“But I want to be near you.”

“I am staying there,” he said impatiently, then calmed himself. “You’ll have quiet up there and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“All right,” she said, turning away.

“Don’t I get a kiss from my bride?” Harcourt asked as soon as her back was turned.

“Oh, yes, James,” Edilean said as she threw her arms around his neck and put her lips on his. But he soon pushed her away and began dusting himself off.

“If I don’t leave now I’ll never be able to go. I’ll see you tomorrow, and Edilean...” His eyes softened. “I look forward to our wedding night.”

Smiling, looking as though she had stars in her eyes, Edilean turned away and went to a maid standing in the doorway and followed her out of the stables.

Angus stood where he was, his head leaning back against the wooden slats of the stall and closed his eyes for a moment. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his bones that something was wrong. Maybe it was the way the man treated the girl, but, too, there was something not right in what he’d said. Angus couldn’t put his finger on it, but he didn’t like James Harcourt, and certainly didn’t trust him.

When Harcourt left the stables, Angus followed him.

7

ANGUS HAD HAD a lifetime of disappearing into the bushes in daylight, so sneaking about the darkened town was easy for him. Twice he saw handbills with a drawing of his face, and both times he pulled them down and stuffed them inside his shirt.

Harcourt didn’t go far. Just two streets away, he went into a pub, and Angus saw through the window that he went to a table to join three men who welcomed him with loud cheers. And why not? Angus thought. Tomorrow the man was leaving for another country and he was getting married. Perhaps the reason he was so anxious to get away from his bride was because he wanted one last night with his friends. Angus could understand that, and for a moment he considered turning away. Maybe he’d go to Edinburgh. Maybe he’d go far into the Highlands and live. He doubted that the men up there would ask too many questions about where he came from.

But Angus couldn’t make himself leave. There was something about that girl and the way she trusted people that made him feel he had to take care of her. “Just until she’s on the ship,” he told himself as he went into the pub.

He knew he was taking a chance by showing himself, but no one looked at him. He had a couple of coins with him so he ordered a beer and took it to a table near where the four men were sitting. For a moment Angus was tense, concerned that Harcourt would recognize him, but he didn’t look at the dirty, bearded man who sat at the next table.

“I make a toast to my new wife,” Harcourt said. “She may not be a beauty, but as an earl’s daughter, she does have a title.”

Angus put his tankard down and couldn’t help but stare at the man. No beauty? Edilean was no beauty? And what title did she have? But then titles had never been part of his world, so maybe she had one but he hadn’t heard of it.

“So her father is rich, heh?” one of the men asked.

“No dowry,” Harcourt said, “and no beauty, but our children will have that title.”

“But, James, with your looks you could have held out for more. You should have got a wife who comes with a wagon load of gold.”