Page 58 of Keeping Kate
Chapter 16
The bed beneath her sagged, though no more so than her spirit. Back at the inn again, seated in the upstairs room, Kate looked out the window at the sunny sky, at heathered hills and trees tipped with autumn. She wanted to be out there, or in Duncrieff Castle by now. Instead, she was locked in this room with a guard posted outside—two old women, no less. She huffed in exasperation.
Before he left a little while ago, Alec Fraser had explained he was taking no chances, fearing she might try to escape again. He had arranged for old Mistress MacLennan and her even older sister to sit on chairs outside the room to make sure the girl within stayed put until he returned.
“I am not so foolish as to post a male guard outside your door,” he had said. “I must ride out to look for Jack—I am that concerned about him. And you need to be confined on your honor. But I warn you, Mistress MacLennan and her sister are not very talkative. They very much fear you’ll try to cast a spell on them.”
“Why?” she had demanded, rushing toward the door as he began to close it.
“I have no idea. Perhaps they have heard the rumors,” he said lightly, deliberately misunderstanding.
“Why are you doing this—I want to come with you!” As he closed the door, she yanked off a shoe and threw it in utter frustration. It smacked against the door and fell just as she heard the key turn in the lock, then heard footsteps on the stairs.
She was not sure what explanation Alec had given the ladies, but when they brought a tray of food to her shortly afterward, they gaped at her, deposited the tray in a hurry, and scuttled out without a word. Again the key turned, and she was alone.
At least she was free of shackles this time. And she had the crystal pendant back in her keeping, which made her feel a bit safer, more herself. She took a minute to examine the lock, then peeked through the keyhole to see the little old ladies perched on their chairs in the corridor with their sewing and knitting. With a sigh, Kate sank to the bed, felt the exhaustion of the last few days creeping up on her, and slept for a bit.
Now, awake and refreshed, she heard a man’s voice outside the door, but it was not Alec. Going to the door, she tapped on the wood. “Hello! Hey!”
“Aye?” The voice belonged to a young man. “What do you need, Mistress Fraser?”
“Who is there?” She pressed against the door. “Where is Mistress MacLennan?”
“Och, the ladies were weary, sitting so long here, so I offered to be here for a bit. I understand you are not to leave. Are you sick? I am Davey MacLennan, Jean’s brother.”
“Oh, how nice to meet you! Thank you, I feel quite well.” Kate smiled. With luck, Alec Fraser was about to regret leaving her here this day.
“Would you like some food or drink, Mistress?”
“That would be lovely, Davey, thank you.”
“Captain Fraser says ye’re not to be let out of there, no matter what. Are ye sure ye feel well? We thought ye might be ill.”
“I am fine. I needed some rest. We had a silly spat, my husband and I. He left, but I am sure it would be fine for me to come out now.” She jiggled the latch.
“He said ye were no’ to go downstairs. We are to keep ye safe ‘til he returns.”
“Thank you, but it is not really necessary.”
“He was quite firm about it, Mistress.”
“I see. Do you know where he is now?”
“He hasna come back. But he said that ye shouldna come down to the public room in case the dragoons return. I think he frets about his wee bride near soldiers.”
“Perhaps,” she said through the door, touched to think Alec thought of her safety after all.
“He has a temper, yer husband,” Davey said, “for he argued wi’ two dragoons before he left—they accused him o’ hiding something.”
“Davey, what do you mean? Accused him of what?”
“Them redcoats said they found Highlanders carrying guns they shouldna have.”
“Weapons that should have been confiscated?” She listened, hand to the door.
“Not the rusty weapons that most Highland men turn over to the army,” Davey said, referring to the common practice, “but fine, shiny flint locks o’ Spanish make. The English want such weapons, hey.”
“Spanish,” she repeated calmly. “I wonder who these Highlanders are?”
