Page 41 of Highland Jewel
Niall stood in the open doorway. His eyes were red, and a growth of whiskers covered his jaw. He looked weary, as if he hadn’t slept since she last saw him.
He came in, removed his hat, and waved off the servant, who was waiting to take his coat.
“I can’t stay but a minute,” he said in explanation.
Maisie gestured to an open door beyond the examining rooms. “Come into the drawing room.”
She left the door slightly ajar for the sake of propriety, but Maisie didn’t care who might walk in on them. Her arms were around him as soon as they were alone.
“Thank God, you’re all right. Tell me. Tell me that you’ve found her.”
His lips pressed into Maisie’s hair, and he held her in the circle of his arms for the longest time before finally letting go.
“Not yet.” With a deep frown marking his face, he stalked to the far side of the room.
She tried to think of the names of the places where some of Archibald’s friends had been held. She pressed a fist into her stomach as she recalled the condition some of the prisoners were in when they arrived here. “Bridewell?”
He shook his head. “She’s not there. I’ve spoken to everyone I could, even the governor of the prison. All I’ve been able to ascertain are two things. Fiona was arrested, and they’re holding her somewhere away from Edinburgh.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.” He slammed his fist into the other hand. “I’m on my way to Glasgow now. I have an idea that someone there might be able to shed some light on it.”
“Who?”
“It doesn’t matter. You can’t be involved in this.”
Tears burned the back of her throat, but she fought them back. Not involved? How could she possibly not be involved? Guilt threatened to tear her apart. Everything was her fault. From the first moment when the two women had met, they’d walked this path step for step. The campaigns, the protests, the meetings, encouraging women to rise up and speak out. But when it came to facing those wolves, she’d handed her friend over to them. Fiona’s arrest was all her doing. Maisie glanced at Niall. She wanted him to say something to ease herguilt, but he couldn’t. No one could. Her actions were hers to bear.
“What can I do? How can I help?” She took a step toward him. “I can go and stay with Mrs. Johnston and the girls.”
His gaze caressed her face. “They’ve already left the city. I arranged for them to go to the west, into the Highlands. They’ll stay with an aunt of ours on the coast.”
That meant that he wasn’t expecting Fiona to be released anytime soon. Maisie hugged herself around the middle. There were words she wanted to say. Apologies she felt compelled to make. Forgiveness that she needed. But she was afraid to speak as grief and guilt tore at her heart. He’d warned them about this. Niall had repeatedly told them that they could be in danger. They’d ignored him. They assumed their words weren’t important enough to draw the notice of the authorities.
But what was haunting her was why Fiona should be the one who was arrested and not her? She’d have gladly switched places.
Niall tapped the brim of his hat and glanced at the door. She heard footsteps in the hall. Someone was coming.
“I need to go, but will you keep your promise?”
Maisie knew what he meant. The promise to remain here, hidden. What other choice did she have? She bit her lip and tasted the saltiness of tears and nodded. “I will.”
The door of the drawing room was pushed open none too gently and Archibald walked in. From the dark expression on his face, Maisie guessed her brother-in-law was not pleased.
“Good day to you, Miss Murray. Dr. Drummond.” Niall bowed and went out, unaware of Archibald’s hostile demeanor. Or ignoring it.
Maisie felt her heart lurch as she heard the front door open and close. She rushed to the window behind a writing desk and pressed her palm against the cold pane of glass, watching for a last glimpse of Niall as he rode away.
When he left the room, he looked like a man marching toward a hopeless battle, looking defeat in the face, but willing to meet his fate with grim determination. Maisie wanted to run after him and remind him of all he meant to her. If there was anyone who could rescue Fiona from the shackles that bound her now, it was Niall. They all believed in him.
“Pray, bring her back.” Her words were a whisper, intended for no one but him.
The door behind her slammed shut, but she knew she wasn’t alone. Archibald had come in here to rebuke her, scold her as if she were a wayward child, and she willed herself to receive it in her customary manner of patience and silent fortitude.
“My directions were absolute. You willnotdisobey me in my own house.”
His sharp tone shattered her intentions. She couldn’t take it any longer. As she pushed away from the window, every fiber of her being strained against her self-control. The spirit of rebellion fought to break the chains she’d worn for too long.
