Chapter 29
When Madeleine awoke the next morning she was alone in the huge bed, and for that she was more than grateful.
She sat up slowly, her muscles somewhat sore.
Her cheeks fired with shame at the rumpled condition of the bedding.
She could not believe how easily she had surrendered to Garrett, their impassioned lovemaking carrying them far into the night.
“Love had nothing to do with it,” she said heatedly, throwing off the heavy tartan bedspread. “‘Twas lust, pure and simple.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her gaze falling on the large wooden tub and her robe lying crumpled on the floor beside it.
The telling scene only heightened her chagrin.
She padded over and picked up the robe to shake it out.
The apricot satin was stained from its unexpected soaking and probably ruined.
Serves ye right, she scolded herself, whisking the damp garment about her shoulders and hurrying to the door. All she wanted to do right now was get dressed, and her everyday clothes were in the other room.
Madeleine held her breath as she peered out into the silent hallway, finding it empty. She dashed to her chamber, her bare feet making little sound, and bolted the door once she was inside. She leaned against it, reveling in her familiar surroundings.
At least she would have some privacy this morning, she thought with relief. Once her things were moved into Garrett’s room, she would no longer have any excuse to seek the refuge of her chamber. And he would be coming and going as he pleased, whether she was dressing or not!
She jumped at the sudden knock on the door, darting away when the outer latch was rattled.
“Madeleine, are you in there?” Garrett’s deep voice called out to her. “Open the door.”
She swept back her tousled hair and moved reluctantly to the door, unbolting it and lifting the latch. She cracked it, peeking out at him warily.
“What are you doing?” he asked softly, pushing the door open a little wider with his shoulder. “I was thinking to wake you, but you weren’t in bed—”
“I came in here to change,” she interrupted him, meeting his probing eyes.
“My everyday gowns are in this wardrobe.” She felt her heart beat faster as he smiled in understanding, but she tried to ignore it.
“I was going to move them into our room” —she flushed at the intimate memories those two words provoked— “after I changed.”
“You might have to wait until later for that,” he replied. “Meg Blair and Kitty Dods are downstairs. They said you had asked them to come and help clean up the house.”
“Aye, that I did,” she said, remembering her brief encounter with Meg the day before. “If ye’ll have them wait for me in the dining room, Garrett, I’ll be there shortly.”
He nodded, glancing down at the steaming pitcher of water he was holding. “I brought this for you, but be careful. The water’s quite hot.”
Madeleine took the pitcher from him, her hands brushing against his. She started, shocked by their warmth when hers were so cold.
“Thank ye,” she said shakily, avoiding his eyes as she quickly shut the door. She sensed him lingering in the hall for a moment, and she found it difficult to breathe normally until his footsteps sounded on the side stairs.
How could he have such power over her? How could he unnerve her so easily, now more than ever? she wondered, walking to the washstand. Nothing had changed. He was King George’s spy, and she was his unwilling wife.
Not so unwilling, she mused darkly, setting down the heavy pitcher. Aye, that much had changed. Last evening her desire for him had blazed like a wildfire out of control, a fire she feared could easily flare again.
Och, dinna think of it! she bade herself, but her fingers trembled as she slid the robe from her shoulders. She tied back her hair, then poured the hot water into the washbasin and bent over it. She plunged in her hands to warm them, splashing her face again and again.
She bathed and dried herself quickly, shivering from head to toe, her breath hanging in the air like a misty vapor. It was plain she would have to light a fire in every fireplace from now on to ward off the evening chill. Glenis had always seen to that before—
Madeleine’s mouth drew into a tight line as she pulled a simple woolen gown from the wardrobe and dressed hurriedly.
Glenis was gone, never to return. The fireplaces were her responsibility now, as was everything in the household, including the kitchen. Meg and Kitty would probably agree to stay on and help her, yet it was her duty to see that things ran smoothly.
After all, she thought grimly as she stepped out into the hallway, she was no longer an brigand. She had to find something to keep herself busy until Garrett’s soldiers arrived from Fort Augustus. At least then she would be able to visit her kin in Farraline and around the valley.
She walked down the main staircase, thinking of the days that stretched ahead. What with her numerous household duties and paying calls in Strathherrick, she and Garrett would see very little of each other, except at night.
Keen anticipation coursed through her at the thought, shocking her with its bold intensity.
Angrily she forced it away, a new resolve burning within her.
Her lust had clearly overcome her better judgment once, but she would not allow it to happen again.
Perhaps if she went to bed late enough this evening, he would already be asleep.
Aye, that’s exactly what she would do, she decided, turning into the dining room. She stopped in her tracks as Meg and Kitty jumped up from their chairs and curtsied clumsily.
“What are ye doing?” she asked incredulously. “Get up, the both of ye.” She immediately sensed that their awkward behavior had something to do with her being the wife to an Englishman. “‘Tis me, yer Maddie Fraser. I havna changed, nor grown two heads, no matter what ye might have heard.”
Usually so lively, Meg was strangely subdued. “Should Kitty and I call ye Lady Marshall,” she mumbled, glancing at the pretty, red-haired girl beside her, “now that ye’re married to the major?”
Madeleine swallowed hard, her cheeks burning. So she was right, she thought. The word was already out. “Ye’ll do no such thing,” she replied firmly. “Ye’ll call me Maddie, just as ye’ve always done. And ye must tell everyone in Farraline to do the same, in case they’re wondering.”
The two young women visibly relaxed, even venturing smiles that clearly showed their relief.
“There, that’s much better,” Madeleine said, smiling back.
Yet she quickly sobered, waving them into their chairs.
She sat down next to them, her voice falling to a whisper.
“Now, before we set to work, I want ye to tell me exactly what ye’ve heard in the village. Was it Angus who told ye I was wed?”
Meg nodded, opening her mouth to speak, but Kitty piped up before she could say a word.
“There was a ceilidh last night, Maddie, and everyone came, even the bairns. Angus said ye saved their lives by agreeing to marry Major Marshall the day before ye were all to hang!” she blurted in one breath, her eyes shining with awe.
“Aye,” Meg added, “they’re more than grateful to ye, Maddie, saying ye’re the bravest Fraser lass Strathherrick has ever known.”
“So they dinna think I’m a traitor?” Madeleine said quietly, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Ye—a traitor?” Meg exclaimed. “I canna believe ye would say such a thing after all ye’ve done for us, Maddie.
Aye, we know about the raids and ye giving yerself up to protect Strathherrick from Butcher Cumberland’s bastard brother.
And we know ye married the major to spare yer kinsmen the hangman’s noose.
Major Marshall admitted as much to Angus. ”
“What exactly did the major say?” Madeleine asked, her temper flaring.
“He told Angus the only way he could secure King Geordie’s pardon for ye was to wed ye, Maddie, but that ye dinna agree to it at first, saying ye wouldna be a traitor to yer kin,” Kitty quickly recounted. “‘Twas only when ye discovered ye would save Angus and the others that ye finally agreed.”
“Aye, much of that is true, but ‘tis a lie about why he married me,” Madeleine said, her eyes flashing indignantly. “Did the major explain to Angus why he went through such trouble to obtain a king’s pardon?”
Meg and Kitty glanced uncomfortably at each other, Meg speaking at last. “Angus asked him, Maddie, but Major Marshall said ‘twas between ye and him alone.”
“Now there’s an evasive answer for ye,” she said through clenched teeth. “And a lie as well. There’s nothing between the major and m’self. Nothing.”
Strangely, her words seemed hollow to her. Had last night truly been nothing? With great effort she drove the disturbing thought from her mind, reaching a sudden decision as the young women stared at her silently.
Since she wouldn’t be able to visit Farraline for several days, she might as well pass on her warning about Garrett through Kitty and Meg. She could be assured her kinsmen would hear of it before the night was out with these two chatterboxes serving as her messengers.
She was stunned by her unexpected stab of guilt, accompanied by a most unsettling sense of betrayal. She was hardly betraying Garrett, she reasoned with herself, irritated by her prickly conscience. She was protecting her people!
“I want ye both to listen carefully,” she began, leaning toward them.
“When ye go back into the village, I want ye to let everyone know what I’m telling ye now.
‘Tis the truth behind my marriage to Major Marshall, and a warning to our kin not to be swayed by anything he might say or do.” She lowered her voice, hastily relaying what she believed were Garrett’s true motives in acquiring the king’s pardon.
“He offered to spy on us if King Geordie granted him yer lands and a pardon for ye?” Kitty said with a gasp when Madeleine had finished.
“Aye.”