Connie Mason (23 page)

“Why did you come here? Not that I’m complaining,” Tavis added. “You’ve always been mine, lass.”

“I’m still Damian’s wife. Where else would I go?” Telling Tavis that her marriage had been declared illegal served no purpose, Elissa decided.

“You’re mine,” Tavis snarled.

Maggie appeared with a plate of food, and Elissa began to eat while Tavis paced back and forth before the hearth. When she’d eaten her fill, she pushed away from the table. “Please excuse me, I’m exhausted.”

Tavis gave her a leering smile that froze the blood in her veins. “Go find your bed, lass. I’ll be up to join you later.”

“You’ll find my door locked,” Elissa said with cool disdain. “Attempt to touch me and you’ll lose whatever small control you have over my kinsmen. Burning their village was an act of cowardice and they donna trust you. The Frasers are not powerless. We have allies. You’ll likely find yourself in the middle of a clan war if you violate me.”

Elissa could see rage building inside Tavis and decided a hasty exit was wise. She saw Maggie hovering nearby and held out her hand. “Come, Maggie. Help ready me for bed.”

Hand in hand they ascended the narrow staircase to the solar. “Have you seen Sir Richard?” Elissa whispered.

“Nay. I’ve been forbidden to visit the prisoners.”

“Are they being given food and water?”

“Aye, just barely enough to keep them alive. What are we to do, Elissa?” Maggie asked worriedly.

“Donna fear, I have a plan. But I’ll need the help of everyone loyal to me. Where is Nan?”

“She spoke out against Tavis and he banished her from the keep. He was afraid she’d put a spell on him. I heard she is living in that old hut in the forest.”

Elissa knew exactly where to find the hut. It had been built above the exit to the secret tunnel. “Thank God she’s safe,” Elissa said. “How are Mama and Lora?”

“Fine, though Lady Marianne is worried about Sir Brody. I wish we could help them.”

“I donna think ’tis possible. What I hope to do is get Mama, Lora, and you, if you wish it, safely out of the fortress. Are either Dermot or Lachlan inside the keep?”

“Only Dermot. Lachlan is with his family in the village. The gate is kept closed. Tavis willna allow anyone to leave or enter without his permission.”

“I hope Mama is still awake,” Elissa said when they reached Marianne’s chamber. Maggie opened the door and Elissa stepped inside. Marianne was sitting in a chair by the fire. She saw Elissa, gave a cry of gladness, and opened her arms to her daughter.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Elissa fell to her knees and greeted her mother with kisses and hugs.

“What happened?” Marianne asked, dabbing her tears with a dainty handkerchief. “Did Damian convince the king to release you? Are you well? You look peaked. Where is Damian?”

Elissa took a deep breath and began to recount her tale, leaving out nothing but the depravations she’d suffered while imprisoned in the Tower. She didn’t want to distress her mother now that her ordeal was over. Marianne interrupted at that point.

“Damian must have convinced the king to release you. I knew he would. He was that determined to gain your freedom. Where is he? I dinna hear sounds of battle below. He has retaken the keep, has he not? I’ve been so worried about Sir Brody.”

“That’s not exactly what happened, Mama,” Elissa explained. “The king refused Damian’s plea on my behalf.” She paused to dash away the tears spilling from her eyes. “Then the Hanover changed his mind and said he’d spare my life if Damian wed Lady Kimbra. The king had already declared our marriage illegal, so Damian agreed. But instead of letting me return home, the king sent me to St. Mary by the Sea Convent.”

“Even I know those walls couldna hold you. I wish things could be different,” she lamented. “Tavis Gordon controls the keep and we are his prisoners.”

Elissa lowered her voice. “We’re going to leave Misterly, Mama.”

Marianne grew excited. “Can we do it? We’ll need to be very careful. I wish Nan were here.”

“Dermot is here, we can depend upon him to help. Tavis has informed me that he intends to share my bed, so we must leave before he grows impatient and breaks into my chamber.”

“What about Sir Richard, Sir Brody, and the others?” Marianne asked.

“I’m sorry, Mama, but there is naught we can do for them without placing ourselves in danger. I know Damian will retaliate when he learns Tavis has gained control of the keep. We must trust him to find a way to free his men when he returns.”

“Oh, Elissa,” Maggie commiserated. “How sad for ye to lose Damian to Lady Kimbra. He must hate it as much as ye.”

“Damian willna wed Lady Kimbra.” Elissa whirled, surprised to find Lora standing in the doorway.

“I thought you were sleeping,” Marianne said.

“I was, but something awakened me.” She smiled at Elissa. “I’m glad you’re home, Lissa.” She ran to Elissa and gave her a fierce hug. “I heard what Maggie said about Damian and Lady Kimbra, but it’s not true. Nan said you and Damian would be together always, and that you would have his bairn.”

Marianne’s eyes widened. “Is it true, daughter? Are you carrying Damian’s bairn?”

“Aye, but he doesna know yet.”

“You must take good care of yourself, daughter,” Marianne cautioned. “I understand why you are anxious to leave. Tavis is an angry man; one never knows when he’ll explode or upon whom he will vent his rage.”

“I canna go with you,” Maggie maintained. “I’m sorry, Elissa, but I willna abandon Sir Richard. I’ll leave you now, before you reveal your plan.”

“Are you sure, Maggie?”

“Verra sure, Elissa. Take Dermot with ye.”

“You must love Sir Richard very much,” Elissa observed.

“Aye, ’tis why I canna bear to leave without him. How soon before ye go?”

“As soon as possible.”

“May God go with ye, Elissa.”

Damian reached Misterly on a frigid, windswept night. Though he shivered beneath his woolen cloak, he thanked God for the bitterly cold weather that kept his enemy safely tucked in their warm beds. Damian’s horse danced beneath him as Jem rode up beside him.

“What are your instructions, my lord?”

“There’s an underground tunnel leading from the keep to an outside exit concealed inside a hut in the forest. I’m going to enter the keep through the tunnel and assess the situation,” Damian explained. “You and the other three men can follow after a short interval.”

Damian led the way to a small dilapidated hut deep in the forest. Hidden by gorse and brush, it was old and looked as if it had been neglected for many years. When Damian had explored the tunnel after Elissa’s escape, he had found the exit.

Damian dismounted a short distance from the hut and approached warily, surprised to see a light shining through slits in the boarded up window. He drew his pistol and reached for the door handle. The door opened abruptly. Damian tensed, then relaxed when he recognized the bent figure standing in a pool of lamplight.

“Nan! Bloody hell, woman! What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for ye,” Nan said. “Ye must rescue our lass and rid the keep of Gordons.”

Damian gave her a strange look. “Elissa is at the convent, not inside the keep.”

“Believe me, me lord, Elissa is inside the keep,” Nan maintained. “She dinna know Tavis had control of Misterly until she was inside.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was turned out of the keep with naught but the clothes on me back. Tavis fears me, as well he should, and I’ve been living here ever since. ’Tisn’t so bad. The villagers provide me with everything I need. But ye must hurry,” she warned, “while darkness is yer ally.”

Damian entered the hut, went straightaway to the cot sitting in a corner, and moved it so he could get to the trap door concealed in the floor beneath. He brushed away the coating of dirt and lifted the door by its metal ring.

“Ye’ll need a light,” Nan said, handing him the lantern.

Damian accepted the lantern, nodded his thanks, and lowered himself through the opening. His feet found the ladder and he descended to the tunnel floor, cautiously making his way along the narrow passage. He had reached a sharp curve at the halfway mark when he heard the sound of voices echoing through the tunnel. Someone was ahead of him, coming his way! More than one, he guessed from the hushed whispers. He doused the lantern and flattened himself against the wall, tense, waiting. Had Gordon found the tunnel?

A circle of light advanced toward him, widening as it drew closer. He heard disembodied voices speaking in hushed tones and squinted through the murky darkness, trying to identify the approaching figures. Sweat popped up on his forehead as he tried to decide whether or not to retreat before he was discovered. Then a face suddenly appeared in the glow of light and Damian nearly collapsed with relief. Dermot was slowly advancing down the passageway, followed closely by Lady Marianne, Lora, and Elissa. A smile stretched his lips. He should have known his resourceful Elissa would find a way out of a dangerous situation on her own.

Damian stepped into the circle of light. “Good evening. ’Tis a perfect night for a stroll.”

“Damian!” Elissa stumbled forward, one hand clutching her throat, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Is that you?”

“Aye, love, who else would crawl beneath the earth to save his beloved and discover she has rescued herself?”

“How did you know I was at Misterly? Where is Kimbra?”

“Kimbra is out of our lives for good. I’ll explain everything later. Nan was at the hut when I arrived. She told me you were inside the keep.”

“I left the convent with the Reverend Mother’s help and returned to Misterly for Mama and Lora,” Elissa said, “but I had no idea Tavis had gained control of the keep. He wanted me to stay and share his bed but I dinna want that. I knew I couldna hold him off for long, so I enlisted Dermot’s help and made plans to leave through the tunnel. We chose tonight because the bitter cold weather made everyone eager to seek the warmth of their beds instead of lingering in the hall.”

Damian’s heart swelled with pride. No one but Elissa could manage such a brave feat. “You are a wonder, love. Thank God for your courage. Are my men still alive?”

“Aye, they’re alive.”

“Where are they?”

“I know where they are, yer lordship,” Dermot spoke up. “Send the womenfolk on their way and I’ll show ye. Are ye alone?”

“Nay. The men who accompanied me to London will follow shortly.”

“Let me come with you,” Elissa pleaded. “I can help.”

“Take your mother and sister to safety, love,” Damian said. “Wait inside the hut with Nan until I send for you.”

“Who will protect your back?” Elissa asked. “You are outnumbered. You need me.”

“Surprise is on our side. Gordon doesn’t know about the tunnel and won’t be looking for an attack on a night such as this.”

“Damian, let me…”

“Elissa, obey me in this. I won’t be able to concentrate knowing you’re inside the keep. Don’t you know I love you?”

“You love me?”

“More than my life. I’ve known it for a long time but couldn’t find the words to express what’s in my heart. The thought of losing you gave me the courage to unburden my soul.”

“Oh, Damian, I love you, too, but feared you dinna return my feelings.”

“I’m sorry it took so long. Please keep yourself safe for me, love. Please go now, and take your mother and sister with you.”

“You’ll let me know when I can return?”

“The very moment.” She nodded and took the lantern from Dermot. Damian touched her shoulder and turned her toward him. “Elissa, I love you,” he declared, then kissed her.

“We’re nearly at the end of the tunnel,” Dermot said. “Sir Richard and the others are confined in the storeroom off the armory.”

“I know the room,” Damian replied. “’Tis a large, windowless chamber that the previous lord of Misterly used as a temporary jail. If I recall correctly, it has a wooden bar that slides into place on the outside. Is the chamber guarded?”

“Aye, but the cell was rarely used by Lord Alpin. There is a guard, but he’ll likely be asleep. Here we are, me lord,” Dermot hissed as he doused the lantern and eased the door open.

Damian stepped past Dermot and glanced into the hall. He saw nothing but flames dancing in the hearth and an empty chamber filled with shadows. He stepped out of the tunnel but remained concealed beneath the staircase until Dermot joined him.

“Wait here for Jem and the others,” Damian ordered. “I’m going to free Sir Richard and the rest of my men. I won’t be long.”

Damian crept through the hall to the narrow stone steps leading down to the armory. Flattening himself against the wall, he slowly descended the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he peered around the corner into the chamber used to store ancient armor and more modern weapons used by the fortress guards. A lantern hanging from the ceiling revealed a man stretched out on a bench, apparently sound asleep. Moving stealthily, Damian rendered him unconscious with a quick rap on the head with his pistol butt.

Then he turned his attention to the storeroom where his men were confined. It took but a moment to lift the bar and throw the door wide.

“You’re free. Come out,” Damian called through the opening.

Sir Richard stepped out, squinting against the sudden glare of light. “Is that you, Damian? Bloody hell, man, you’re the last person I expected to see. How did you get into the keep?”

A stream of men surged out of the storeroom. “I’ll explain later. Is everyone all right?”

“More or less,” Richard allowed. “Thank God you came when you did. We’re ready and eager to reclaim the keep.”

“Arm yourselves first,” Damian said as he chose a sword for himself. “Select your weapons from the armory and do it quietly, lest we rouse the Gordons from their sleep.”

One man dragged the limp guard into the storeroom and secured the door while the others chose the weapons that suited them best.

“We’re ready,” Sir Richard said.

Sir Brody fell into step beside Damian. “I’m worried about Lady Marianne and Lora. They could be in danger.”

“They’re no longer in the keep,” Damian replied. “Elissa took them to safety.”

“Elissa was here?” Sir Richard said. “I had no idea. What about Maggie? Did she follow Elissa and the others to safety?”

“I didn’t see Maggie, Dickon. She wasn’t with Elissa.”

Damian reached the top landing and led his men into the deserted hall. Dermot stepped from the shadows. Then Jem and the men who had followed Damian through the tunnel revealed themselves.

“Ye met with success,” Dermot greeted. “I hope yer men fared well.”

“Aye. They are all accounted for. Gather close for your orders. Jem, take two men up to the parapets and disable the guards. No killing unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Aye, my lord,” Jem said, as he and two men broke away from the group and melted into the shadows.

“Sir Brody, I assume there are guards in the courtyard as well as in the gatehouse,” Damian continued. “Take two men with you. You know what to do.”

“Aye, my lord,” Brody acknowledged.

“Dickon, I’m assigning you the most dangerous job of all. How many Gordons are there in the keep?”

“At least fifty men,” Dickon recalled. “But I overheard two guards talking, and one remarked that half of them returned to their homes and families. Those who remained are billeted in the barracks.”

Damian digested this information. “Take the remaining men to the barracks, Dickon. You’re to subdue the enemy and confine them in the storeroom until I can deal with them. Remember what I said about bloodshed. Avoid it if you can.”

“Consider it done, Damian. I assume you’re going after the Gordon chieftain yourself.”

“Aye.” He turned to Dermot. “Where will I find the bastard?”

“He’s taken yer chamber for himself,” Dermot replied. “I’ll go with ye.”

“Nay. Find Maggie. Make sure she stays in the solar.” Damian wanted neither the old man nor Maggie hurt.

“Thank you for thinking of Maggie,” Dickon whispered as he moved off toward the barracks.

Grim-faced with determination, Damian crossed the hall and ascended the stairs to the tower. He paused before the chamber door, withdrew his sword with one hand, turned the knob with the other, and pushed the door open. The whisper of sound was barely audible but it evoked an immediate response from Tavis Gordon. He leaped from the bed, his naked form lithe and nimble in the glow of firelight as he reached for his sword resting against the wall.

“How did you get in here?” Gordon roared.

“I sprouted wings and flew,” Damian taunted. “Surrender, Gordon. My men have gained control of the keep.”

“I donna believe you,” Gordon spat, thrusting his sword at Damian.

Damian easily evaded the sharp point and brought up his own sword to defend himself. “Even as we speak my men are rounding up your clansmen and locking them away for safekeeping. You’re on your own, Gordon, I strongly advise you to lay down your sword.”

“Never!” Gordon rasped. “You stole my woman. Both Elissa and Misterly should be mine. Alpin Fraser promised them to me. I’ll kill you!”

Raising the sword in both hands, Gordon slashed viciously at Damian, unaware that he lacked Damian’s skill as a swordsman. Damian laughed at Gordon’s clumsy efforts and easily deflected the blade. Then he went on the offensive, feinting and thrusting until Gordon was backed into a corner. Gordon hacked furiously at Damian, but he must have realized defeat was at hand, for he began screaming, “A Gordon! A Gordon!”

“No one will come to your aid, Gordon. Toss down your sword before I’m forced to kill you.”

“Not if I kill you first, Englishman!”

Damian thrust and feinted as he dodged and pirouetted to avoid the bite of Gordon’s sword. Metal clashed against metal again and again as the blades met in a duel of strength. Gordon’s naked body was streaked with blood, and a lucky thrust had nicked Damian’s shoulder, but neither man acknowledged his wounds. Tiring of the game, Damian deftly brought the swordplay to its inevitable end.

Damian’s next move came so fast Gordon failed to react quickly enough. Gordon’s sword flew out of his hand at the same time the tip of Damian’s blade pressed against a vulnerable spot on Gordon’s neck.

“Go ahead, bastard, kill me!” Gordon challenged.

“That would be too easy,” Damian bit out. “Get dressed.”

A noise at the door distracted Damian and he turned slightly, spitting out a curse when he saw Elissa standing in the opening. “What in bloody hell are you doing here?”

“I had to come. I couldn’t bear not knowing what was going on. What if you were hurt?”

The brief distraction gave Gordon a window of opportunity. He picked up his sword and flung it at Damian. Instinctively, Damian ducked as the blade whizzed over his head. Elissa screamed as the tip of the sword pierced through her sleeve and lodged in the doorjamb. His heart pounding with dread, Damian rushed to her side, fearing that she’d been seriously wounded.

Suddenly he was pushed aside and nearly trampled upon as Gordon fled past him and out the door. Concerned about Elissa, Damian made no move to stop him. Grasping the hilt of Gordon’s sword, he pulled it out of the doorjamb and tossed it aside, relieved when no blood stained the blade.

“Are you hurt, love?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.

“Nay, the blade dinna touch my flesh.”

He grasped her shoulders and pulled her against him. “Thank God. I ought to give you a good thrashing for disobeying me, but I’d much rather kiss you.” Reluctantly he released her. “But it will have to wait. I have unfinished business with Gordon. Stay here. This time do as I say.”

Just as he turned away, an ungodly shriek resonated up the staircase, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Motioning for Elissa to remain behind, he sped along the passageway and down the treacherous stone steps. When he reached the bottom landing, he saw Dermot bending over a figure sprawled limply at their feet.

“Gordon?” he asked, kneeling to examine the body.

“Aye,” Dermot said. “Broke his neck. Are ye and Elissa all right? I saw her follow ye up to the tower.”

“I’m fine,” Elissa said from behind Damian.

Damian swiveled around and glared at her. “I thought I told you to stay where you were.”

“Whenever did I do what you asked?” she said pertly. “Is that Tavis? Is he dead?”

“Aye to both questions. I’m sorry, love, I never intended to kill him.”

“Don’t be sorry, Damian. Tavis lost my respect long ago. Mama was against the marriage from the beginning; it was Papa who wanted it. Tavis and I both hated the English, but we differed in that I wanted no more bloodshed. There has been enough to last a lifetime. What Tavis planned could have destroyed us.”

“His days of planning treason are over,” Damian said, rising when he saw Jem striding toward him.

“The guards on the parapet are no longer a threat to us,” Jem reported.

Before Damian could answer, Sir Richard and Sir Brody returned from their missions.

“Gordon’s men have been rounded up and confined in the storeroom,” Sir Richard said.

“Did they put up much of a fight?”

“Nay. It was a bloodless coup. They surrendered without a struggle when we awakened them.”

“The guards in the courtyard threw down their arms when they saw us, and we had to awaken the gatekeeper so he could surrender,” Sir Brody reported.

“Is that the Gordon chieftain?” Richard asked, prodding Gordon’s lifeless body with his toe. “Is he dead?”

“Aye,” Damian said. “He fell down the stairs and broke his neck.”

“Good riddance,” Richard said. “It looks as if Misterly is yours again. Have you seen Maggie?”

“I left Maggie in the solar,” Dermot said.

“I’ll fetch Lady Marianne and Lora if you tell me where to find them,” Sir Brody offered.

“I’ll show him the way,” Dermot said. Damian nodded and the two men departed.

“What shall we do with Gordon?” Sir Richard asked.

“Take his body to the tool shed for now. The rest of you are free to seek your beds. I expect no further trouble.”

“Is it really over, Damian?” Elissa asked. “Has the king truly given his blessing to our marriage?”

“’Tis over, sweeting.” He held out his hand. “Shall we go to bed?”

Hand in hand they climbed the stairs to Elissa’s bedchamber. It was nearly dawn; the eastern sky was turning from black to gray as Damian helped Elissa undress. Then he swept her into his arms, carried her to their bed, and tucked her beneath the quilt. He felt her gaze following him as he stripped off his clothes and washed the blood from his body.

“You’re hurt!” Elissa exclaimed.

“’Tis just a nick.”

“Let me bandage it.”

“No need. It’s already stopped bleeding.”

Sighing with pleasure, he joined her in bed and gathered her in his embrace.

Elissa snuggled against him. “I feared we’d never be together like this again.”

“So did I, my love.”

“Make love to me, Damian.”

“Are you sure? You must be exhausted.”

“Not too exhausted to make love with my husband.”

With mouth, hands and tongue, he kissed, caressed, and stroked her to unbridled passion, until her body became a living flame in his arms. They loved, rested, loved again, then finally settled down to sleep.

Suddenly Elissa reared up on her elbow.

“Damian! Wake up!”

“I don’t think I can rise to the occasion again for at least an hour,” Damian murmured sleepily.

“Please, Damian. This is important.”

“Can’t it wait? We’re both exhausted.”

“I suppose, but I thought you’d want to know that I’m carrying your bairn.”

“Hmmm, that’s nice.”

Disappointed by Damian’s reaction, Elissa sighed and lay back down. Suddenly he jolted upright. “What did you say?”

“I’m going to have your bairn.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“I just did. You’re right, go to sleep. This can wait for another time.”

“Like hell! How long have you known?”

“I suspected before I was arrested and taken to London.”

His arms came around her and she felt him shaking as he held her against him. “’Tis a miracle you didn’t lose the babe, after what you’ve been through.”

“Are you pleased?”

“Ecstatic. We’ll found a dynasty for Misterly.” He grew thoughtful. “Nan was right, wasn’t she?”

“Aye, but I dinna want to believe her. She said we’d have a son.”

“Son or daughter, it makes little difference. I’m sure this won’t be the last child we make together. I love you, Elissa. I was a fool not to realize it. Can you forgive me for treating you the way I did?”

“Aye, my love. I wasn’t exactly reticent in voicing my hatred for Englishmen. Who would have thought the Demon Knight had a soft heart?”

“I didn’t know it myself until a Highland lass came into my life. You found something inside me I had no idea existed.”

Elissa sighed dreamily. “And I found my one true love.”

They slept through most of the day, finally emerging from their chamber to partake of the evening meal. Their appearance was cause for celebration, and everyone lifted their cups to them in salute. Marianne and Lora’s greeting was no less exuberant. Everyone began to talk at once as the meal was served and consumed with gusto. After he had eaten his fill, Damian asked Sir Richard to bring the prisoners to the hall.

“What are you going to do with them?” Elissa asked.

“Send them to London, I suppose.”

“Must you? Without Tavis stirring up trouble, the Gordons will present no further danger to England.”

Damian stared at her. “Are you suggesting that I release them?”

“Aye. Most of the men have families to support and it hasn’t been easy for them. Most of them live in caves or crude huts unfit for habitation. Ask the men to swear fealty to you and release them.”