Page 33 of Keeping Kate
“You are a stubborn wee thing,” he said. “Listen, my lass, you are not off to a certain beheading. I am only taking you to a judge’s inquiry, as ordered.”
“And that could lead to a hanging. All I want is my freedom.”
“So do we all, lass. Only freedom.”
“What freedom could you want? You have all you need. An officer of rank and privilege from a good family, who apparently only wants to his duty or be damned. You crave nothing more than that, I’m sure.”
“You have a mouth on you,” he growled out. “I crave the sort of freedom that brings a peaceful life. The sort that makes a man’s life the most content it could be.”
“Then get rid of your red coat, Lovat Fraser.”
He only exhaled, as if tolerance more than peace was what he needed. “Careful of the rocks here,” he finally said, sounding patient. “And listen to me, Kate-whoever-you-are. You will go to Edinburgh either with me or with Colonel Grant. And I would far rather you were in my company.”
“Why should you care who takes me to prison?”
“It is the manner of the taking that concerns me.”
His implication was clear. Suddenly Kate felt grateful for his protective nature. But she could not stay with him for all that. “Release me and solve this for everyone.”
“It would solve it for you, but only until you were caught again.”
“Let me escape, and see if I can ever be caught again.”
“Colonel Grant would be so disappointed,” he said wryly. “He and I do not see eye-to-eye about most matters as it is.”
“You agreed with him about packing me off to prison.”
“I am following orders, as you pointed out. General Wade assigned you to my custody—though I admit I took you out of there sooner than he intended. And I will keep a close watch over you until the courts decide what’s to be done with you.”
“Is that why they are in pursuit? You took me out against orders?”
“In a way.”
She nodded, walking along. “So you had a wild moment there.”
“I suppose I did. But it has passed now. Watch your step there.”
“Thank you.” She negotiated a dip in the ground. “Do you think they will release me if they cannot prove charges?”
“I hope for your sake they do, my dear. Or should I say, Miss Hell.”
My dearsounded so much better. “Are you taking me directly to prison?”
“I was thinking of taking you to my home in Edinburgh for a few days. Just until we sort out what is to be done with you.”
“That is the first good news I have had in a long while.”
“Is it?”
“I want a proper bath after the hospitality of your prison.”
“It is not my prison, lass, believe me. You may have all the baths you like, and decent clothing too, until the Lord Advocate decides when my custody of you ends. It would greatly help matters if I could give him your name.”
“It would greatly help me if you would just let me go, here and now. Tell the judge, ‘Sir, I lost her in the Highland hills. It could not be helped.’ Something like that.”
He sighed. “I will just have to register you with the courts as Marie Katherine Hell. Or do you prefer MacHellion?”
“Register me as the Queen of Nonny-nonny, for all I care. Why does Colonel Grant care what becomes of me if Wade already gave you charge of me?”
