The Other Highland Laird

‘Can we go to the cottage now?’ Marion asked moments later, but Brice shook his head. They waited until Brice felt there was no danger of discovery and then ran to the cottage door. Wallace shot the bolt back and opened the door a crack, expecting more strangers, but fell back to let them in with a cry of relief.

‘Who were those people?’ Brice asked. ‘Were they my father’s or Robert’s men?’

Wallace shook his head. ‘No, my laird. They were not. They were men who wanted to join forces with you.’

‘Oh!’ Brice said, with a sense of relief. ‘Did you tell them what they needed to know?’

‘Yes, my laird. I told them that you would be addressing them all two days from now.’ Wallace looked uncertainly at Marion and then back at Brice.

‘What is it Wallace?’ Brice asked, ‘I can tell something is the matter.’

‘Yes, my laird. The people who came to find you – they also brought news for Lady Marion.’

‘Who from?’ Marion asked, alarmed.

‘They said that your father and mother had returned to England; that Robert bid them leave.’

‘Oh!’ Marion’s eyes widened in consternation. ‘Do they know that I am with Brice?’

‘Word is that Robert suspects that my laird is behind your kidnapping. Something to do with the horse that my laird was riding.’

Brice exclaimed impatiently. ‘I thought the mist would be shield enough and that Robert would be far too distracted by the men I had brought along to notice the horse I was riding on.’

‘And I did not protest once I knew who my captor was,’ Marion’s tone was matter-of-fact. ‘If my captor was a stranger or someone I abhorred, I would have screamed for all I was worth.’ She looked squarely at Wallace. ‘Is Robert coming after us? How do we know that these men are really going to back Brice? What if they are spies who found their way to us through our allies, only to return and report to Robert?’

‘I can take you to your parents,’ Brice said, ‘Until all of this is over.’

‘They have returned to England, Brice, or did you not hear that?’ Marion said sharply.

‘I did hear…and I still offer to take you back to them.’ Brice paused, ‘If that is what you want.’

‘I think we must leave the cottage and go elsewhere. I do not feel safe here anymore.’

Lainie, who had been quiet thus far, spoke up. ‘I agree with my lady,’ she said.

‘Wallace,’ Brice said, ‘I wish you to go out and spread the word that the men who are to side with me against my father must be ready by tomorrow. I cannot delay further.’ He turned to Lainie. ‘Lainie, take Lady Marion to your father’s croft where she will be safe. Do not let her out of your sight until I return.’

‘I will stay you, Brice,’ Marion said mutinously.

‘No, my dear, you cannot. You must go with Lainie.’

‘I have to come face to face with Robert eventually,’ Marion argued.

‘No, you have no need to. He does not deserve an explanation from you, because he tricked you.’

‘He was honest about himself on our wedding night,’ Marion said, ‘so maybe I should be honest with him.’

‘Robert should never have married you in the first place, Marion. Don’t you see? He was using you for his own selfish ends.’ He took her hands and looked earnestly into her eyes. ‘Please, my dear love, go with Lainie and be safe until I return for you.’

Marion looked sadly at the two baskets of berries, a reminder of a few carefree moments in the midst of chaos, and then she went to her room, feeling as if she had lived there for considerably longer than just one night. She repacked her case and dragged it out of her room. That was when she heard the horses.

‘My laird!’ Wallace shouted. ‘The peasants did not wait for you but attacked Bothwell on their own and were beaten back by the Murray clansmen!’

‘Why aren’t the Murray clansmen fighting on your side, Brice?’ Marion asked, rushing back to where Brice stood, talking to the horsemen.

‘Because Robert paid them off.’

‘And because you weren’t there to prevent that happening,’ Marion said. She threw her arms about Brice. ‘I will go with Lainie, Brice. I’m sorry that rescuing me has caused you a defeat even before you had a chance to join the fight. Go now and drive Robert away. The clansmen will change sides for you, of that I am certain.’