“Did what?” Alison asked with a puzzled expression.
Old Garrett displayed several broken and missing teeth in a wide grin. “I took your message to ’em, m’lady.”
He was still clinging to her hand and gazing at her with calf eyes as if he were a lovesick lad of twelve.
“That’s enough,” David said. “Release the lady.”
The old man dropped her hand as if it were a burning pot on the fire.
“Leave us,” David told him, and waited to speak again until the door closed behind the old man. “Ye made a good choice with Old Garrett. Though I had all the roads watched, he got by us the first time.”
David had been sitting on his horse on a hill above the Edinburgh Road when he spied the lone figure crawling on his hands and knees through the tall grass. For days, he had expected the Lady of Blackadder to attempt to get a message through to her Douglas kin. He and his men kept watch on the road, hoping to catch the messenger on his way to Edinburgh, or failing that, to see the Douglas warriors galloping out of Edinburgh in time to withdraw and postpone their attack on Blackadder Castle.
What had puzzled David about the fellow sneaking through the grass was that he was traveling in the wrong direction. He’d nearly let the old man go.
“The first time?” Lady Alison asked. “I don’t understand.”
“I caught him on his return from Edinburgh,” David said.
“Garrett got through!” Lady Alison said, triumph flashing in her eyes.
“Aye.” He waited for her to realize what that meant, but she had too much faith in her brothers to see the truth.
“If ye have any sense,” she said, “you’ll make your escape before my brothers arrive with all their men.”
“When I caught Garrett,” David said, speaking slowly, “he was carrying a message for you.”
Her violet eyes went wide as David handed her the parchment from the leather pouch at his belt. The seal was broken—he had read it, of course—but it was clearly recognizable. From the way her hand trembled as she took the letter from him, she must have an inkling of what was in it.
He watched her closely as she read it. She drew her delicate brows together, forming a slight crease. Then she drew in a sharp breath, and the color drained from her face.
“Come, sit down,” he said and took her arm.
She showed no awareness of his presence as he guided her back to her chair. Her gaze was unfocused, and she sat down hard. He took the chair opposite, where he could watch her face to gauge her reaction.
“My brothers knew of my plight and did not come,” she said in a whisper. A single tear slid down her cheek.
David prided himself on his steady nerves, but that tear sent panic racing through his veins.Merciful God,don’t let her fall to weeping.
She should have known not to expect better of the Douglases, being one herself. Perhaps now she would be ready to accept her fate.
“They could have saved me,” she said, her voice so low he could barely hear her. Finally, she raised her gaze from the parchment, and the pain in her beautiful eyes struck him like a fist in the chest.
“It would make no difference, lass, if your brothers had come,” he said, lifting her chin with his finger. “Once I made up my mind to take you and your castle, no one could have saved ye.”
***
Alison was vaguely aware that Wedderburn’s finger was under her chin, but she did not push him away. After the shock of her brothers’ abandonment, it took all her strength just to remain upright.
The words on the parchment still burned across her vision.
Have patience, dear sister, and take heart. Every day, more men join our side, and I am certain we shall soon restore our family to our former glory. Once our success is assured, I will send help at the soonest possible moment.
Until then, hold fast.
Archie
George’s scribbled note across the bottom of the letter hurt her even more than Archie’s callous refusal to come to her aid. George had always been her ally. If Archie showed some initial reluctance, George was supposed to persuade him. Archie listened to him. Georgecouldhave persuaded him.