Page 37 of Highland Jewel
“What can we do?”
“We must be careful,” Fiona stressed. “And we must be watchful for spies among us.”
“What are you saying? That we can’t trust each other?”
“I’m saying we must look to our right and our left and see who stands beside us. We must get to know our sisters. And we cannot be fooled if someone says,Let’s burn down the Canongate Tolbooth and free the prisoners.Don’t even believe it if she says,Why don’t we truss up the constable and toss him into the bog at North Loch.That person could be working for the government.”
“And if she says,Why don’t we truss up your lazy, good-for-nothing husband and toss him into that bog?”
“Your husband?” Fiona replied. “Send word and I’ll help.”
The burst of laughter that followed was a good sign that these women weren’t too frightened by the bad news and the warnings.
Later, after the meeting broke up, Fiona sat in a chair to catch her breath after another coughing fit as Maisie and Ella put the room back in order.
“I feel guilty that I came to your house this afternoon. You should be home in bed now and not here.” Maisie stuffed the letter, the newspaper, and the extra flyers into a satchel.
“I’m fine. Catriona and Briana are already over it, and I will be, too, in a day.” She pushed to her feet as Maisie retrieved their coats.
“I’ll come back to your house with you. I want to make sure you get back in bed.”
“No need. I’m fine. Really.” She pulled on her coat and each of them grabbed their satchels. “Enough about me. What did you think of the meeting tonight? Are they wiser for knowing of what really happened at Cato Street?”
“Definitely. And they’re far better prepared to stopthe mouth of a husband or a father or a brother when he tries to say,See what’s happening? Radical conspiracies and revolution. Is that what you want?” Maisie was still excited from the effect of the meeting. To have so many like-minded women together, working toward the same cause, was thrilling.
“Has anything changed at home?”
Fiona’s question shifted the direction of her thoughts. Maisie shook her head. Her friend knew Niall had asked her to marry him, but she had yet to share the happy news with anyone. And the past eight days felt like eight years. “Every night, I try to do it, but I’ve never gotten a chance.”
Since the night of Niall’s proposal, Infirmary Street had seen patients arriving at all hours of the day and night. Maisie had mentioned to Isabella several times that she wanted to speak with her in private. Finally, her sister came to her bedroom last night and sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyelids drooped with weariness, and her shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Before Maisie could bring up the subject, Isabella had stretched out on the bed and fallen asleep.
“But I shall speak with my sister tonight. She promised me this morning that she’d make time.”
They started for the door. Maisie knew that Niall understood how much she loved him and wanted this conversation behind her. He was already proceeding with his entry into James Watt’s company. He was to meet tonight with a clerk who’d traveled up from Birmingham with contracts and documents that needed signing.
Fiona threw her arms around Maisie. “I couldn’t ask for a better sister.” They held each other for a long time.
These were precious moments for Maisie. She knew there was still the slightest possibility that Isabella might not be amenable to this marriage; there were no guarantees. Maisie was prepared to walk away from them if she must. The problem wasn’t so much her sister, however, as it was Archibald.
She really didn’t know how difficult he would be, and Niall had said that would be a concern for him. He cared nothing about any dowry. That wasn’t it. He would take her with just the clothes on her back. He simply felt that family was important. Vitally important.
“We’d better go so you can get to your sister.”
The women left the hall arm in arm. Outside, the flagstones were slippery from the freezing rain that had been falling. Across the way, the Wednesday service was letting out of the Canongate Kirk. The street had the usual traffic.
“No brother of mine to walk you home.” They stopped under the flickering streetlamp. “Shall we find a hackney cab for you as well?”
“No need. It’s not so far. But I’m still worried about you.”
“I’m a mother. What my children have, I’d gladly take from them. And I’ll be as good as new by tomorrow.”
Maisie glanced at a carriage that was stopping at the curb. Before she could say another word, someone grabbed her from behind.
“Let go!” She tried to pull free. “What are you doing?”
Another man had his hand over Fiona’s mouth and was wrestling to get a grip on her.
Maisie screamed as her assailant yanked her backwards, nearly dragging her off her feet. As he pulled her away, he banged into two men passing by.
