Meredith felt a wave of compa.s.sion for this woman. If only there were some way to erase her pain.
"When Catherine de" Medici ordered me returned to Scotland, it was Brice Campbell who gallantly offered to accompany me. And when I first returned to the Highlands, Holden Mackay promised Brice Campbell that I would be taken care of as befits a royal seamstress."
Rowena"s voice hardened.
"But when Brice Campbell returned to his own castle, I was told that the only thing I would be given was the humble cottage where I was born. I have been forced to accept whatever sc.r.a.ps my lord Mackay tosses to me. I am no better than a beaten dog. It is the way Holden Mackay keeps all of his people obedient to his every wish."
Meredith"s earlier resolve returned. She must escape this madman. At any cost.
"Here, my lady," Rowena said, lifting the white gown in her hands. "
"You must hurry and prepare for your laird. He will be coming for you soon."
When the woman crossed the room, her eyes widened in surprise. In Meredith"s hand was the small, deadly dirk.
"My lady..."
"Be still." Meredith moved closer, lifting the knife in a menacing manner.
"Put down the gown and remove your clothes."
"My..."
"Quickly."
When Rowena had removed her clothes, Meredith pointed to the white gown.
"Now put it on."
"But my lady, it will never fit."
"Do it."
Meredith watched as the woman, with trembling hands, pulled the gown over her head.
"You will sit there," Meredith ordered, pointing to a bench in front of the fire.
When Rowena was seated, Meredith hurriedly pulled on her shirt, tunic and breeches, then stepped into her boots. "With your cloak to hide beneath, the guards will not stop me."
"Perhaps. But they will know that I am not you," Rowena protested.
"Aye." Meredith paused, then lifted a lacy shawl from the bed and placed it over the woman"s head. With her hair covered, and the folds hiding the slight hump on her back, the guards would be fooled if they were given only a glimpse.
"Hold out your hands," Meredith commanded.
"My lady, there is no reason to tie me," Rowena said softly as Meredith tore the ribbons from her chemise to use as cord.
"I would gladly take your place in order to help you escape this prison."
Her words came as a surprise.
"I thank you." Meredith looked into the woman"s eyes and could read her sincerity.
"But think about your own safety. If it looks as though you gave me aid or comfort, Holden Mackay would have every reason to kill you. If, however, he finds your hands tied and your mouth covered, he will believe that I overpowered you." She smiled.
"As I nearly overpowered him in the forest."
The woman nodded at the wisdom of Meredith"s words.
"Forgive me," Meredith whispered as she tied Rowena"s hands.
"And thank you for not fighting me." She smiled then, and Rowena realized how truly lovely she was.
"As desperate as I am to escape Holden Mackay, I know that I could not have used this dirk on you."
"G.o.dspeed."
"Thank you." Meredith tied a strip of cloth across Rowena"s mouth, then fixed the folds of the shawl until she was satisfied that the bindings could not be seen from the doorway.
She tucked the dirk into her waistband, then bundled up the gowns that were strewn about the bed. When all was in readiness she drew the hood of the cloak about her head, took a deep breath, hunched herself over and pulled open the door.
The guards caught a glimpse of the woman, gowned in white, sitting quietly on a chair before the fire. As Meredith pulled the door shut behind her and started toward the stairs, she could hear the guards laughing and speculating about the fate of the poor wench.
With her heart pounding and her palms damp with sweat Meredith descended the stairs. Just as she reached the bottom she found herself face-to-face with Holden Mackay.
His steps were slightly unsteady as he approached her. In his hand was a tankard. He reeked of ale.
"Have you made the wench ready for me?"
"Aye, my lord."
As she began to move past him his hand snaked out, forcing her to stop.
Her heartbeat began hammering so loudly in her chest she was certain he could hear it. He had seen through her disguise. She had not hunched herself over far enough. Perhaps a strand of her hair peeked out from beneath the hood. Something had given her away.
"Ten gold sovereigns," he said.
"The sum we agreed upon."
"Aye." Her throat was so constricted with fear that the word came out as barely more than a croak.
She opened her palm and prayed that her hand would not tremble. He dropped the coins with hardly more than a glance, then stalked up the stairs.
It took all her willpower to keep from running. But if she was to fool the guards at the door, she must behave as Rowena would.
With halting steps she approached the huge front doors. A servant removed the bracing timber and pulled the heavy doors open. When the guards outside spotted her, one of them retrieved her horse, and even secured the bundle of gowns behind the saddle.
With the guard"s a.s.sistance, Meredith pulled herself up and nudged the horse into a trot.
As she rode across the courtyard she spotted two riders approaching.