At least this way,her family would be safe.
“The Highlands?”Eva said, a glint of excitement in her eye. The stories they were told had never seemed to bother her. In fact, she used to make fun of them. “Really?”
“Yes.”
Margaret was shaking.Trying to hide it, she clenched her fists at her sides. She refused to lose her nerve, but every minute she remained in the manor made her stomach tighten.
“I always knew you were brave,”Eva said before pulling Margaret into a hug. “Oh, how I envy you. I’ve always wanted to see the Highlands.”
“Eva…”
“Perhaps you want company,”Eva suggested, smiling though the light didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I could change and pack a bag.”
Margaret would have lovedthe company, but she couldn’t willingly drag her cousin into this mess. The only way she could ensure this worked was to go alone.
“You must stay herewhere it’s safe,” Margaret said, wishing her words didn’t steal the glint of excitement from Eva’s eyes.
“Then I’ll visit you,”Eva declared. “I’ll visit when you find somewhere safe to stay. Perhaps you’ll meet a handsome Highlander who’ll sweep you off your feet.”
“Perhaps,”Margaret murmured though the thought of being wed to one of those beasts made her sweat beneath her shift. “Or perhaps I’ll find a nice lady looking for a maid.”
“That’s nota position befitting of you,” Eva argued. Then, she shook her head, likely in an attempt to stop her train of thought. “Promise you’ll write as soon as you can.”
Margaret nodded,her gray eyes tingling as tears threatened to form. She didn’t trust her voice not to betray her. This was the most difficult decision she had ever made for herself. Leaving her home and her aunt and uncle, who took her in when she had no one else, had never crossed her mind. Until now.
“Oh, Margaret!”Eva cried, lunging forward to wrap her cousin in another bone-crushing hug. “I beg you’ll be safe. Keep your wits about you, please.”
“I will,”she promised, returning the embrace. “You know I will.”
The girls lingeredin each other’s arms. Both seemed to understand that this could be the last time in a long while that they’d see one another. Margaret drew as much strength as she could from Eva’s presence, hoping to absorb some of her fearlessness about the unknown land into her marrow.
“I’ll doeverything I can to delay Mother and Father from sending a search out for you,” Eva said when she finally released Margaret from her grip. “But you must send word when you’re safe. Otherwise, I will urge them after you.”
“I expect nothing less,”Margaret replied, taking a step away.
She lookedout the open door into the unforgiving darkness beyond. It called to her, telling her this was the only way. And while she was still frightened of the new experiences waiting for her, she had a sense that she was always meant to leave—perhaps in the same way she’s leaving now.
“Please lock this behind me,”she said as she stepped over the threshold into the cool night air, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She looked at Eva, committing her features to memory. “Wouldn’t want anyone getting in.”
“Of course,”Eva said, giving her a watery smile.
Then,fearing she’d never leave if she didn’t do it, Margaret took hold of the door and closed it. She stood there, waiting for what, she didn’t know. It wasn’t until the lock clicked back into place that she started her journey, well and truly on her own.
I praythat I don’t get killed the second I cross the border.
2
Margaret’s feet ached, yet she kept her pace steady. While she was no longer in England, no longer within the confines of Duke Cunningham’s influence, she knew that she had to find somewhere safe to rest her head. She didn’t want to risk her luck with stray Highlanders.
She thought,not for the first time in the last few hours, that she should have asked the couple who allowed her to ride in their carriage until the sun rose to take her to a village. They’d only promised to keep her from getting caught by bandits, and she hadn’t wanted to take advantage of their kindness.
I’msure that lying low in the forest here would provide better protection than any place back home. It’s not like the Duke can get me here. He has no idea I’m not in England any longer. I won’t be abducted nor beaten. I’m safe.
Despite her exhaustion,Margaret was giddy with the revelation that she’d managed to escape without Duke Cunninghamnoticing. It seemed that her plan had worked. She’d succeeded in protecting her family.
Now,the only thing she had to worry about was protecting herself. She’d been blessed not to have encountered another soul, save for the couple, on her journey, but she was not daft.
If she didn’t find somewhereto stay, she was opening herself up to all the horrors she’d heard about in the stories she’d been told.