Chapter 14
“What’s wrong, lass?” Glenis asked as she cleared the supper dishes from the kitchen table.
“Ye’ve hardly said a word today” —she picked up Madeleine’s plate, shaking her head in disapproval— “and ye’ve not eaten but a mouthful of food.
‘Tis been the same for two days. Tell yer Glenis what’s on yer mind this minute, or I’ll harp at ye ‘til ye do!”
Madeleine stopped gazing out at the black night and turned from the window, her eyes meeting Glenis’s. “How is it ye always know when something’s amiss, Glenis?”
“Humph, lass, ye’ve made no effort to hide yer troubles from me. When ye winna eat my fine cooking, when ye winna talk but to answer aye or nay I know! Now I’ve had enough of yer brooding. Are ye not feelin’ well? Was it yer raid last night?”
“No, ‘tis not the raid, and I feel fine,” Madeleine said, toying with her spoon. She winced inwardly. She was hardly fine.
How could she tell Glenis about the terrifying decision she had made? It was difficult enough to admit to herself she was frightened, let alone reveal her fear to someone else, even if that person was Glenis.
“Maddie—”
Madeleine heaved a sigh. “Och, Glenis, ye’ve a right to know,” she admitted aloud. “‘Twill affect yer life as well as mine.”
“What are ye talkin’ about, Maddie?” Glenis asked, clearly confused. She set down the plate and pulled out a chair.
“Aye, ‘tis a good idea to sit down,” Madeleine said cryptically. “Ye’ll not like what I have to tell ye, any more than I like saying it.”
Glenis leaned forward in her chair, her dark eyes searching Madeleine’s. “Dinna leave me wondering, lass. Out with it now!”
Madeleine exhaled sharply. “When Garrett and I went for a ride together to Foyer’s Falls a few days ago—”
“What happened?” Glenis gasped, clasping Madeleine’s hands tightly. “He dinna touch ye, did he?”
“No, Glenis, no. Just hear me out.” She kept her voice low as she recounted what Garrett had said to her about General Hawley, his plea for her to help him and lastly, her decision.
Glenis’s hands began to tremble, and Madeleine’s heart went out to her old servant, who listened so quietly to her grim news.
When Madeleine finished, a heavy silence fell over the kitchen.
It was finally broken when Glenis rose from her chair and picked up some dishes, her movements slow and wooden as she walked to the wash table.
She methodically scraped the plates and dumped them into a large pan of steaming water, but instead of scrubbing them, she just stood there, staring at the wall.
“Glenis—” When Madeleine received no response she jumped up and rushed over to Glenis’s side. There were tears streaking her servant’s lined face.
Madeleine threw her arms around Glenis’s shaking shoulders, assailed by guilt. She shouldn’t have been so abrupt, she should have prepared her somehow. Worst of all, she didn’t know what she could say to comfort her.
“So ye’re going to give yerself up,” Glenis said softly, turning her to look at Madeleine. “I always knew ‘twould come to this one day. From the first moment ye told me ye were plannin’ to raid the English, I knew.”
“’Tis the only thing I can do,” Madeleine replied, swamped by a sense of desperation.
“Surely ye can see that, Glenis. I canna risk the lives of our kin on the slim hope that Garrett is lying, or even exaggerating the danger. I’d be a fool to take such a chance.
I have to believe the danger is very real. Tell me ye understand!”
“Aye, I understand,” Glenis said softly, wiping her damp eyes with her apron. “Though it doesna make it any easier for me. Have ye said anything to him yet about helpin’ him to find his Black Jack?”
“No, and I winna, not for another week or so.”
“Surely he’ll demand an answer from ye, lass. The captain does not appear to be a man to be trifled with, even though he’s shown himself to be fairer than most. Ye said he had less than three weeks left.”
“I already gave him my answer yesterday morning. I told him I couldna help him.”
Glenis looked at her sharply. “Ye speak in riddles, lass, and ye’re playin’ with my poor heart. Which is it to be?”
“I only told him I knew nothing of his brigand because I needed to buy m’self more time, Glenis.
I’ll not help him ‘til I’ve provided enough food for our kin to last the winter.
‘Twill take another half dozen good raids to fill the cave on Beinn Dubhcharaidh. Then,” she emphasized, “I’ll give m’self up, with enough time to spare before that devil Hawley sets foot from Fort Augustus, if he’s indeed planning such a move. ”
“Do Angus and the rest of yer kinsmen know of yer decision, lass?” Glenis asked quietly.
“No, not yet,” Madeleine replied, a brittle edge to her voice.
“First I must think of a way to spare them whatever fate the English have in store for me. I’ll not have them suffer for following my cause.
And if they wonder why we’re raiding so much during the next few days I’ll tell them the truth, that we must fill the cave for the winter. ”
Glenis sighed raggedly. “Och, lass, ‘twill be hard goin’ on as before, knowin’ what I do now. I’m fearin’ for ye, lass.” She faltered, fresh tears coursing down her hollow cheeks.
“Ye must, Glenis,” Madeleine insisted softly. “If ye’re strong, ‘twill help me to be strong. We canna show our fear, especially when I may need ye to cover for me in the days ahead. Ye must keep yer wits about ye more than ever. Are we agreed?”
“Aye.” Glenis grabbed Madeleine’s arm, a plea shining in her dark brown eyes. “Ye must let me know when ye tell the captain, Maddie. I dinna want to wake up some morning and find the redcoats have taken ye away…”
“Dinna fear,” Madeleine soothed her, a hard lump in her throat.
“And we’ll work something out fore when I do, for I’ll not have ye bearing any of blame.
” She gave Glenis a fierce hug, then released her.
She glanced over her shoulder at the half-cleared table.
“Let me help ye with the dishes, Glenis,” she offered.
“No, hinny, I’ll manage,” Glenis objected with a weak smile. “I think I’d like to be alone for a while…if ye dinna mind.”
Madeleine nodded and quickly left the kitchen, unable to bear the pain she saw etched in Glenis’s eyes. All she could think of was seeking the solace of her bedchamber.
She had wrestled with confiding in Glenis since she returned from Foyer’s Falls, and now that she had, her emotions were spent. She ignored the soldier standing guard in the dimly lit hall and reached for the banister.
“Damn!”
She started at the softly uttered curse, recognizing Garrett’s voice. It had come from the drawing room. She immediately thought to run up the stairs and avoid him once again, as she had done so well since their encounter yesterday.
It had been a brief but unpleasant scene.
Garrett had said little when she told him she couldn’t help him; only his eyes had registered his shock and dismay.
There was also a trace of suspicion, as if he did not quite believe her.
His frustration was evident when he abruptly left her and joined his men, who were waiting for him in front of the manor house.
She had never seen him lash his bay so harshly as when they rode out to spend another long day searching the valley.
Madeleine hesitated at the landing, unsure what she should do.
If she continued to purposefully avoid him, he might suspect her all the more.
Perhaps it was better to seek out his company and act as if she had nothing to hide.
Her heart began to pound at the thought, and she walked nervously toward the drawing room.
She paused in the archway, her eyes widening at the comfortable scene.
Garrett was seated before the hearth, his legs stretched out in front of him, an opened book in his lap.
He appeared so at home, except for the fact that he was not reading but instead was staring into the leaping flames with a troubled look on his handsome face.
She could well imagine what he was thinking and quickly determined she would leave at once if he pressed her further about Black Jack.
“Good evening to ye, Garrett.”
Garrett rose suddenly from the chair, the book falling to the floor with a thud.
“Madeleine,” he said, stunned by her unexpected appearance. Her unadorned beauty never failed to astound him. She could be dressed in rags and covered with filth but still she would outshine any woman he had ever known. “I thought you had long since retired for the evening.”
“Glenis and I just finished a late supper,” she replied. Her gaze moved to the armchair across from his. “May I join ye? The fire looks so welcome.”
“Yes, of course,” Garrett said. “You don’t have to ask me if you might sit in your own drawing room, Madeleine.”
She made no comment as she stepped into the room.
He caught a whiff of her scent as she walked past him.
It was sweet and clean, like sunshine, fresh air, and heather.
To him it was a fragrance more heady than the most expensive perfume.
It aroused his senses, making him all the more aware of the startling effect she had on him.
Drawing a deep breath, he picked up the book and sat down, watching quietly as she settled herself. He could not help but wonder why she was joining him when she had gone out of her way to avoid him these past few days.
Except for yesterday, he thought dryly. He found his mood darkening once more, despite Madeleine’s stirring presence. Should he ask her again? Her adamant denial had not totally convinced him she knew nothing about Black Jack. And after today’s fruitless search for leads, he was still no closer—
“What are ye reading?” she asked, her soft, melodic voice lulling his anxious thoughts.