Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Lindsey closed the
door to her chambers and leaned wearily against it. The queen had
kept her up half the night playing the virginal. She had played
every melody she knew a score of times. And still Mary had not
heard enough. The queen reluctantly agreed to retire only after
Lindsey promised to entertain her again on the morrow.
Tomorrow, Lindsey thought with a little
smile, she would be in Edinburgh, embracing her father.
She knew it was wrong to lie to one’s
monarch, but she felt she had no choice. She could not, after all,
admit what she planned. Jamie MacDonald would see her locked in her
room if he knew that she entertained such thoughts.
Jamie. Her heart skipped a beat. He had
wanted to escort her to her chamber after he saw the queen to her
suite. But Lindsey had foiled his attempts by insisting upon
retiring immediately. She had seen the look in his eyes when he
watched her. If she allowed him to kiss her again, there was no
telling what might happen. She was afraid of the feelings his
simple touch unleashed in her.
She must not allow herself to think of him.
He would be humiliated by her escape. Worse, his fury would be a
terrible thing to behold. She would have to see that she always
remained one step ahead of him. She dared not face his wrath.
Rushing to the bed, she retrieved the stable
boy’s clothing, which she had hidden underneath. Within minutes she
had removed her gown and petticoats and donned the rough breeches,
shirt and tunic. Tucking her hair beneath the hat, she made her way
to the door of the chamber and listened. Hearing no sound she
pulled it open a crack and peered out. The hall was empty.
She made her way carefully down the stairs.
When she reached the lower level she was startled to hear voices.
Quickly ducking behind a chaise, she watched and listened as Jamie
was met by Justin MacLeod.
“I saw to that little matter, my lord. They
were most grateful to have their minds set at ease.”
“Good,” came Jamie’s deep voice. “Did you see
that you were not followed?”
“Aye, my lord. I am certain of it.”
“Take your rest now, Justin. You have earned
it.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Lindsey watched as the boatman stepped
outside, pulling the door closed behind him. Jamie stood for a
moment, then turned and climbed the stairs to his room.
When his footsteps faded, Lindsey ran to the
front door and let herself out.
The grounds of Lochleven were washed in
moonlight. Little tufts of mist danced across the dark waters of
the loch. Cursing the full moon that would make her clearly visible
all the way across the loch, Lindsey made her way toward the
stables. Once inside she found Jamie’s horse and quickly saddled
him. Then she began to lead him toward the water that shimmered in
the distance.
A night bird cried, and her heart leaped to
her throat. She dropped to her knees in the wet grass. As the
bird’s wings beat the night air just above her head she felt a rush
of relief. Getting to her feet she berated herself for her foolish
fears. Why was she being so skittish? They were alone on this
island. Everyone in their party was asleep in the castle. Soon she
would be across the loch and on her way to her father.
As she approached the loch she heard the snap
of a twig and turned. At first she thought she saw the dark outline
of a tree. But as the dark form moved toward her, she realized it
was not a tree. Nor an animal. It was a man. And in his hand was a
sword, which glinted as the blade caught and reflected the light of
the moon.
* * *
Jamie entered the suite of rooms and glanced
toward the door of Lindsey’s sleeping chamber. No light showed
beneath it. It was odd that she would retire so quickly, he
thought. Especially since she had slept for most of the day. She
had not seemed particularly sleepy when they had been below stairs.
In truth, she had seemed brimming with energy.
He strode to the door, then hesitated. There
was a very good reason to keep his distance from the lady. Each
touch, each stolen kiss had taught him one important fact. He could
not go on being near Lindsey Gordon, and tempting himself, without
taking her. He wanted her as he had never wanted any other woman.
If it took all his willpower to stay away from her in the daylight,
how much more difficult would it be now, with the darkness casting
its magic spell?
He let his hand drop to his side. With great
reluctance he stepped away from her door and strode to his own
steeping chamber.
Once inside, he removed his tunic and shirt
and crossed the room to poke at the ashes and coals that gleamed in
the fireplace. Adding another log to the embers, he watched as
flame leaped along the bark.
Wiping his hands on his breeches, he paused
at the balcony window and stared at the glistening water of the
loch far below. Clouds scudding across the full moon obscured the
grounds of Lochleven, and he began to turn away. As the moon broke
free of the clouds, however, something, some movement, caught his
eye and he leaned over the balcony, straining to see what it was.
It appeared to be a man and boy fighting over the reins of a horse.
Something glinted in the man’s hand. In the moonlight Jamie
recognized the blade of a sword. And then, as the figures parted
for a moment, he recognized something else. Something that sent ice
pouring through his veins. With a savage oath he raced from his
room.
* * *
“What a shame you chose tonight to go for a
ride, lad. Now you will have to die.”
As the stranger lifted his sword to strike,
Lindsey pulled her own sword from its scabbard and lunged. The man,
caught unawares, felt her blade slice his arm. With a string of
curses he barely managed to dodge her second thrust. But when
Lindsey moved in for the kill, he tossed his weapon aside and
caught her hand in a powerful grip. He twisted her arm until the
sword slipped from her fingers, then, bending her arm behind her,
he dragged her close.
“You may be skilled with a weapon, but you
cannot match my strength. Prepare to meet your maker, lad.” His
breath was hot against her cheek.
Lindsey saw the blade of the knife as he
pulled it from his waistband. As they struggled, the hat slipped
from her head and her hair tumbled down her back.
For a moment the stranger was taken aback.
Then a cruel laugh escaped his lips.
“A female. By the gods, a lass in lad’s
clothing.” He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head
back until she cried out in pain. “And a beautiful lass, at that.
What a pity my mission lies elsewhere.” He thought a moment, then
seemed to come to a decision. “I will have to take you quickly.
Maybe, if you please me, you will not have to die after all.”
As he bent his face to hers she struggled to
evade his lips. “I would rather die!”
“Then you shall have your wish. It is best to
leave no witnesses to the deed I have in mind.” He laughed, low and
deep, sending shivers of fear along her spine. He caught her by the
front of the tunic and with his knife slit the fabric of tunic and
shirt from top to bottom. Shame washed over her and she tried to
hold the remnants of her clothing across her breasts. He gave a
coarse laugh and twisted her hands behind her.
“There is no need to fight, lass. It matters
not to me how often I have to hurt you. But know this. I will have
you. With or without causing you pain.”
“Then you will have to kill me. For I will
never submit.”
She sank her teeth into his hand and he gave
a cry of rage as the knife slipped from his hand and landed at
their feet. Blood was dripping from his wound. He brought his hand
across her face so hard it sent her sprawling in the dirt. With a
triumphant oath he dropped to his knees beside her. Making a last,
desperate effort, Lindsey reached for the knife, but the stranger
was quicker. As they struggled, the blade sliced her hand, sending
blood spurting down her arm and across her breasts.
Her attacker lifted the knife high in the air
and gave a cruel laugh as she struggled to reach it.
With the knife between his teeth he closed
rough, callused hands around Lindsey’s throat, cutting off her
breath.
As she clawed at his hands, he tightened his
grip until strange lights began to dance in front of her eyes.
“I like a lass with fire,” he said with a
chilling laugh. “I can see that you are going to provide me with
much pleasure before you die.”
Lindsey struggled for breath. From the way
her attacker’s image swam in and out of her line of vision, she
knew that she was fading. Soon there would be no breath left in
her, and her life would slowly ebb. Her nails dug into the earth
and she balled both hands into fists. As he levered himself above
her and gave an evil leer, she tossed dirt in his eyes. He screamed
with pain and rage. And in the moment of confusion, Lindsey managed
to twist free. But as she scrambled to her feet, he caught her by
the ankle, pulling her down.
All hope of escape vanished. His hand swung
out in a wide arc and caught the side of her face, snapping her
head to one side. As if from a great distance she heard his voice,
low with fury. “Now lass, you will pay with your life.”
She saw the blade of his knife as he lifted
it, preparing to plunge it into her heart And then she heard a
wild, primitive sound, unlike anything she had ever heard. In her
pain-clouded mind, a vicious creature had come to rescue her. A
terrifying cry broke the silence of the night. A cry that was both
animal and human.
* * *
Jamie’s palms were damp as he threw open the
door to the castle and raced across the wide expanse of grounds
that separated him from the banks of the loch. He had never known
such fear. As he had watched the struggle from his balcony, he had
seen the hat slip and the spill of hair.
Lindsey. God in heaven. It was Lindsey,
engaged in battle with a man twice her size.
The distance between them was too great. He
knew, with wrenching certainty, that he would never make it in
time. Lindsey’s struggles would only make it worse. Her attacker
would be forced to kill her in order to subdue her. For the fiery
lass would never give up without a battle.
As he sped across the grounds his fury grew
until it devoured him. If he could not save Lindsey, he would
avenge her death. Her attacker would never live to harm
another.
He saw the man’s hand swing out, saw Lindsey
fall to the ground, saw the man kneel over her.
Consumed by blind fury he raced on, his mind
no longer able to form coherent thoughts. He knew only that the
woman he loved was being savaged. And he could not save her.
He saw the man’s hand lifted, saw the glint
of moonlight on the blade of the knife. With a last burst of
desperation he gave vent to his hopeless rage with a cry of
torment. The sound of it filled the night, along with another, more
savage sound.
Jamie stared in amazement as the dark form of
Wolf leaped through the air and landed on the stranger, sending him
sprawling. Shrieks of anguish rent the silence as man and beast
struggled. The primitive cries echoed and reechoed on the night
air. And then, as suddenly as it had all begun, there was only
silence.
Jamie knelt over Lindsey’s still form. For
one terrible moment his heart stopped.
Lindsey’s eyes were closed. Her clothes had
been torn from her. Blood and dirt smeared her face, her arms, her
breasts.
With great tenderness, he touched a hand to
her throat and felt the feeble pulse. Alive. She was alive. He
expelled a long, unsteady hiss of breath and drew her into his
arms.
At his touch she stirred. Her lids fluttered,
then opened. Through the haze of pain she struggled to evade his
hands.
He gathered her close to his heart and
whispered, “Nay, my lady. It is Jamie MacDonald. You are safe
now.”
“The man...”
“Lies dead.”
“You killed him?”
“Nay, my lady. I could not reach you in
time.”
“Then who...?”
“Wolf.” As if from a distance she heard the
heavy panting of the hound as it stood guard over the lifeless body
of her attacker.
From the direction of the stables, Justin
MacLeod hurried forward carrying a torch. He stared in disbelief at
the scene that greeted him.
“My lord. What has happened here?”
“It would seem we have an intruder on the
island.” Jamie’s eyes glittered with smoldering hatred. “Do you
recognize this man, Justin?”
The boatman strode toward the body, then
halted when Wolf growled, low and deep in his throat. Glancing at
Jamie he whispered, “Do I dare to go closer, my lord?”
“Aye.” To the animal Jamie called,
“Wolf.”
The hound dropped to the ground, all the
while watching the man who approached. When Justin was close enough
to see the body, he lifted the torch and stared for long minutes,
then turned to Jamie.
“I have never seen the man before, my lord.
Do you think he followed me here?”
“It would appear so. Or mayhap he knew of the
queen’s plans and has been waiting for an opportunity to attack.
See to the body, Justin.”
“Aye, my lord. And the animal?”
“He has comported himself admirably, Justin.
He saved the lady’s life. See that a good portion of game is left
in a clearing for him each day.”
“Aye, my lord.” Justin smiled. “It will be
done.”
With great tenderness Jamie lifted Lindsey in
his arms and carried her to the castle. As he did, the hound
watched from his position beside the body of the stranger. When the
castle doors closed behind them, Wolf stood, then slowly walked
away toward the safe cover of the forest.
* * *
Inside the castle, Genevieve and Fergus
Macnab cowered behind closed doors. The primitive shrieks that had
awakened them had filled them with terror. Now, as Jamie approached
carrying his burden, Fergus threw wide the doors to admit him.
“My lord.” Mistress Macnab’s voice trembled.
“What has happened?’’
“Lady Lindsey has been hurt. Bring hot water
to bathe her wounds and clean linen to bind them.”
“Aye, my lord.”
As Jamie climbed the stairs, the two
scrambled to prepare the necessary items. A few minutes later, when
they entered Lindsey’s sleeping chamber, they found her lying in
her bed, with Jamie kneeling beside her.
“Shall I bathe her wounds, my lord?”
“Nay.” Jamie took the basin of water from
Mistress Macnab’s hands and bent to the task.
When the two continued to stand and watch,
Jamie said abruptly, “Place the linens on the table, mistress, and
leave us.”
The old woman was about to protest when her
husband placed a hand on her arm and shook his head. He had seen
the look in Jamie MacDonald’s eyes. It would not be wise to argue
with him while he was consumed with such blazing passion.
Without a word the two servants crept from
the room. Jamie was not even aware that they had taken their leave.
He was aware of but one thing. Lindsey was alive. And if he had to
tie her to her bed, he would keep her safe from further harm.