Page 102 of Keeping Kate
Chapter 28
The sedan chair rocked, its seat fastened with pinions that kept the leather seat level as the chair carrier climbed the hill. Kate gripped the seat edge and looked back. Three sedan chairs followed carrying her companions, while Alec planned to make his way separately.
Ahead, the castle walls loomed dark at the top of the hill as the four chair-men brought the group through the first sentry gate, pausing as Kate explained to the guards that she and her friends hoped to visit some of the prisoners, as some of the ladies in the group feared they would soon be widows. Waved on to the next gate, they passed through as well. Once within the walls, they dismounted from their chairs, paid the carriers, and gathered to climb the sloping walkway toward the complex of buildings at the heart of the castle’s innermost courtyard.
Kate glanced toward Rob. “What now?”
“Up there, straight on,” he whispered, keeping his head tucked low inside the deep hood of his cloak. He made a very tall woman, Kate thought, as did the others. She prayed that the guards would not take much notice. “The dungeons are there, in the keep. We need to ask there.”
She nodded and proceeded alongside them. Hearing a voice hailing them from behind, she turned to see Alec, dressed in the red coat, kilt and sash that identified him as an officer of the Black Watch. But here, there were many others in similar costume, soldiers and officers both, so that he looked anonymous; she observed with pride how strikingly handsome he was in his military gear.
“Ladies, allow me to escort you. Are you here to see prisoners? Aye, this way, then.” He was cool and polite, glancing only quickly at Kate. Within minutes he had passed them through one sentry post after another and led them down a few worn stone steps to the dungeon area and then along a dark, narrow corridor that smelled of oil smoke from lanterns that covered other odors.
Kate shuddered, remembering the dungeon cell at Inverlochy Castle where she had been so mistreated. Suddenly, although she had doubted the sense and safety of a mission to try to free their friends and kinsmen, she felt resolute. Scottish Jacobites could be treated unjustly by English soldiers and under English law, often with disastrous results. Escape was sometimes the only way to help.
“Greetings, Sergeants,” Alec said as two sentries in the corridor stood and saluted him. “These women wish to visit the Highland prisoners. They fear they may soon be widows,” he whispered loudly. “You may want to allow them some privacy.”
“There are four ladies,” one sergeant observed, “and three Highland Donalds in the cell, so how many wives do these fellows have, exactly? Three can go in. Not four.”
“One is a sister to one of the prisoners.”
“Miss Cameron,” Kate said quickly, glancing at Alec.
“She can go in separately,” the guard said. “We cannot let them all in at once.”
“Unless they are prepared to convince us otherwise,” the other soldier said, holding out a gloved hand expectantly. Kate, seeing that, dipped into her purse and produced a few coins; earlier, Alec had given her the coins just in case.
“These are the Donalds here,” one of the guards said, indicating the Highland prisoners in a shadowy cell beyond. “We put them in the lower cells because they have no money to pay for better quarters. They could have clean spaces up above, decent food, beds, even a servant and books and such, if they had coin to pay. But Highlanders are notorious poor. We put all three rascals together, and we have to sit down here watchin’ that lot.”
“I see. It is a hardship for you,” Alec said. He turned. “Ladies?”
Rob, dressed in a green cloak and hood, the ruffled hem of his blue dress showing, came forward, holding a kerchief to his face. Connor and Jack came behind him, all three in swishing skirts and long cloaks, kerchiefs held to their noses. Jack hid his face with a fan, sobbing as he went past.
“Madam, go in,” said one of the sergeants, as he began to unlock the door.
The other looked askance at the bulky women filing past. “Heh,” he muttered to the other soldier, “I thought Highland women were said to be bonny.”
“Maybe these are their old mothers,” the other one said.
Alec turned to Kate. “Miss Cameron, you are sister to one of them, did you say? Would you mind waiting here until the other ladies have visited? Then I believe you can have a few moments alone with your brother.”
“Very well,” she murmured. She pushed back her cloak, so that the lantern light caught the ruddy golden glow of her hair, which she had loosened and shaken out into long, thick waves. The sergeant standing near her stared at her, eyes wide.
“Greetings, Miss,” he said, stammering.
“Sir,” she said, smiling. “Do you mind very much if I stay here?”
“N-not at all,” he said. “Would you like a—a chair?”
“I will be fine just here,” she said. “If you would not mind.”
“I will take my leave now,” Alec said, nodding. “Good to make your acquaintance, Miss Cameron.” Kate smiled, nodding in thanks, and he walked away, footsteps echoing.
Kate smiled at the sergeant standing with her. He still stared, blushing. She knew her role was to distract the guards while the Highlanders carried out their plan. Jack, Rob, and Connor had worn additional cloaks and skirts under their outfits, adding to their bulk—and those clothes would be shared, quickly as could be, with Ian, Andrew, and Donald.
The other sergeant came back, and she turned to glance at him. He blinked at her and smiled, and cordially offered her a chair. She declined, then asked after their health, asked where they were from, and if they had families.
Both were eager to talk, lonely young men who were bored with the sentry watch that kept them down in the dungeons. Showing rapt interest in all they said, she laughed prettily at their jokes, and told them how much she liked Edinburgh and the shops. All the while, they watched her, smiling, seeming entranced by her. She could only hope they were feeling the effect of the gift that lent her eyes an extra sparkle and gave her an added, mysterious allure.
