Chapter 15 #3
He couldn’t sleep in Glenis’s room, she decided, dumping the dishes into the washpan.
It wasn’t safe enough. There was no lock on the door, and Garrett and his soldiers were forever passing through the kitchen, sometimes even waking Glenis to ask for this or that.
It would not do if they found Lord Lovat instead, despite his disguise.
Nor could he sleep upstairs, she thought, walking back to the table.
If Garrett heard any noise coming from the two empty guest rooms across the hall from his own chamber, he would surely become suspicious.
Lord Lovat’s masquerade was well played, but it might not hold up under close scrutiny or a barrage of questions.
No, she would have to think of something else.
She was struck by an idea, farfetched, yet she sensed it might work.
Perhaps Lord Lovat could sleep upstairs in her room.
No one would bother him there, especially if the door was bolted.
Garrett believed she had already gone to bed for the night.
Meanwhile, she could hide quietly in one of the guest rooms and wait for the dawn…
She was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when Glenis walked abruptly into the kitchen, while Simon gasped at the footsteps behind him. He ducked his head so the bonnet hid his face, and he clutched his shawl tightly.
Madeleine rushed over to her stunned servant’s side, her finger to her lips, her eyes flashing caution. “‘Tis all right, m’lord,” she said reassuringly over her shoulder. “‘Tis only Glenis.”
“M’lord?” Glenis said, her dark eyes widening at the stout female figure hunched in the chair. She glanced questioningly at Madeleine. “M’lord?”
“Aye. Ye mustna breathe a word of this to anyone, Glenis. ‘Tis Simon Fraser, our Lord Lovat.”
At Madeleine’s words, Simon twisted around and gave Glenis a wink. “‘Tis good to see ye again, Glenis darlin’.”
“God protect us!” Glenis blurted, blanching white as a sheet. She rolled her eyes heavenward, looking as if she might faint. Madeleine grabbed her arm and gave her a good shake.
“Shhh, Glenis, keep yer wits about ye,” she demanded. “We dinna have time for any hysterics. I need yer help. We’ve got to get Lord Lovat upstairs and into my room without anyone seeing him. He’ll be staying at Mhor Manor tonight.”
“Yer room?” Glenis asked, totally confused.
“Aye. I’ll explain later. Listen to me, Glenis. Go into the drawing room and break something. Anything. That should lure the guard away from his post. We’ll need only an instant to sneak up the stairs. Now go!”
With a last wide-eyed glance at Simon, Glenis bobbed her head and fled the kitchen as fast as her stiff legs would carry her. A few moments later there was a crash of breaking china.
Madeleine wasted no time. She looped her arm through Simon’s, and together they hurried into the main hallway. The guard was on his knees in the drawing room, his back to them while he helped Glenis retrieve shards of a shattered plate.
Madeleine assisted Simon up the stairs, hoping Garrett had not heard the clamor. She had a story brewing in her mind just in case. Her great-aunt Morag had come for supper and was suddenly taken ill…
Fortunately it appeared she wouldn’t have to use her story. The hallway was dark and silent, no light shone from beneath Garrett’s door. Madeleine quietly led the way with Simon close behind her until they reached her room. She fairly pushed him inside and bid him a hasty good night.
“I’ll wake ye in the morning, m’lord, before dawn,” she whispered. “Bolt the door, mind ye, and dinna open it ‘til ye hear four short knocks. We’ll have to trick the guard again, but ‘tis no matter. These redcoats are a dim-witted lot. Ye’ll be safely on yer way before dawn.”
“I thank ye, Maddie,” he said. “Sleep well.”
The door closed with a small click, and she heard the bolt slide into place. Satisfied, she turned and made her way back down the hallway.
Sleep well, she thought wryly. She wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight. While the chieftain of Clan Fraser was under her roof, she was charged with his protection.
Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. The raid! She sighed resignedly. Och, there was nothing to be done about it now.
It seemed she had raided her last supply train. The foodstuffs they had gathered in the cave would have to be enough. There was no time to carry out any more raids after tonight, other than what she had planned for the following evening. But then she would be alone.
At least her kinsmen would know to abandon the raid when she failed to meet them at the yew tree, she thought as she continued down the hallway.
She had no doubt they would understand. It was her duty to guard Lord Lovat with her life, as would any Fraser.
She would do whatever was necessary to ensure his safety.
Madeleine’s hand was on the door latch to the guest chamber when a loud thud sounded from her room, followed by a blustered oath. She grimaced, scurrying back to her door.
“Lord Lovat, are ye all right?” she called softly.
“Aye, lass. Just a bit clumsy is all. Dinna worry.”
Relieved, she leaned her head against the doorjamb. It was going to be a long night. She pushed away from the door, stiffening as a hand suddenly touched her shoulder, and her heart sank into her shoes.