"A boar?" Wesley"s expression brightened and he turned, hand on sword hilt. "It"s been years since I"ve seen a boar."
"Not now, Wesley!" Ridley barked.
Resentment clouded Wesley"s face, but he complied, falling into step beside Fayth, who was being dragged along roughly. Wesley was only a year older than Fayth"s two and twenty years, though at times he seemed much younger. He should be his own man now, not Ridley"s reluctant servant. But Papa had left him nothing and Ridley promised rich rewards.
Wesley elbowed her sharply.
Fayth frowned at him.
He shook his head meaningfully, his mouth a thin, hard line, the scar on his cheek standing out darkly.
Fayth knew this was his way of begging her to behave, but she would have none of it. "What"s the matter, Wesley? You want to chase the boar? Then just do it. Why do you need Ridley"s permission?"
Ridley came to an abrupt halt and looked between the two of them. He was not ignorant of Fayth"s games and so he eyed her accusingly. He squeezed Fayth"s arm so hard she gritted her teeth to hold back a groan.
Wesley stared incredulously at Ridley"s gloved hand. "Christ, Ridley, are you trying to break her arm? Let her go!"
Ridley"s hand tightened so Fayth gasped, rising on her tiptoes to somehow contain the pain. Just as Wesley"s eyes narrowed and he stepped forward, Ridley released her. Fayth stumbled against Wesley, who caught her, cradling her abused arm in his hand.
They both stared at Ridley"s retreating back. "Move!" he shouted, not even turning.
Wesley led Fayth forward, muttering under his breath.
"Help me, Wesley."
Wesley shook his head, avoiding her gaze. He"d left his helm with his horse and the ma.s.s of brown curls shone in the sunlight. Fayth wanted to touch him, to shake him until he was her Wesley again.
"What would Jack think of you now?"
Wesley looked at her then, his face closed in anger. "Much has changed since Papa and Jack died. You"re the only one who doesn"t understand that."
"I don"t understand why it has to change," Fayth persisted, praying she was getting through to him. "You promised me I wouldn"t end up like Caroline-you promised!"
"You knew what was at risk when you botched the Maxwell raid. Ridley advised you of the consequences. There"s no one to blame but yourself." Seeing her mutinous expression, he said in a softer tone, "I just don"t understand. What else is there for you? You must wed. Why not Carlisle? At least you"ll be rid of him soon. Why must you fight us?"
Fayth shook her head sadly. "You"re no different than Ridley. Don"t forget how Papa shunned his methods-said he was without honor. You had honor once."
"Ridley makes things happen."
"Ridley speaks naught but falsehoods. How do you know all he promises you is truth?"
His hand that had been cradling her arm steadily tightened until he squeezed her as tightly as Ridley had.
"I know," he ground out through clenched teeth, as if trying to convince himself.
Fayth tried to yank her arm away. "Let go! You"re hurting me!
Wesley released her abruptly, his face paling as he looked from her arm to his own gloved hands.
They reached the dirt where Ridley awaited them. He sent Wesley away with a look and shoved Fayth into the litter so she fell facefirst into the mound of pillows. She lay still, contemplating what she would do next. Should she tell them Red Alex was in the forest? There was a time when Wesley had wanted to avenge Jack"s death as much as she did. He might still want to hunt Red Alex down. Though she"d happily dance on Red Alex"s grave, it was unlikely they"d find him. Half the men on the borders were after Red Alex"s hide and none had come close to snagging him. She toyed with the idea of setting Ridley on the outlaw as the cavalcade began its slow snaking journey through the forest. She sighed. Ridley probably wouldn"t believe her anyway. He"d accuse her of creating yet another diversion to aid her in more escape attempts. And he"d be right.
An unusual sense of hopelessness washed over her. Her whole life since Papa"s death seemed a series of near escapes. All she wanted was for life to return to normal-as it had been before Papa died. Fayth"s eyes drifted shut as fatigue filled her in heavy waves. A strange lethargy settled over her and her mind became blissfully blank. No thoughts of her brother, who forced her into this union; no thoughts of Jack, the man she almost married, or his murderer, the black-hearted Red Alex; no thoughts of her sister, Caroline, whom she"d betrayed and hurt...
Caroline. No, even in sleep Fayth could not escape what she"d done. The memories oozed through the thick haze of her mind. The fire again, the screaming. Fayth gasped, forcing her eyes open. Sweat stung them. Icy fingers trailed down her spine, even as her body swelled with an inexplicable restlessness. Bile soured her throat and she pushed a curtain back, securing it open. The cool breeze couldn"t sweep away the lingering feel of Jack"s murderer, holding her like a lover. And he"d almost had her again, there in the wood. I"ve been following ye since ye left Graham Keep. Why? Why would he follow her? Was he bent on revenge for what she"d done? The thought that he might possibly want revenge-after all he"d done to ruin her life-made her seethe with contempt.
The body of an enormous-and gaudily arrayed-stallion suddenly blocked her field of vision. Fayth"s gaze rose until she met Ridley"s winter blue eyes and bearded face. His plumed helm rested on his knee.
He glittered like a jewel. A green velvet surcoat covered his heavy mail sark. A thick gem encrusted chain spanned his chest, holding the ermine lined cloak in a graceful fall off his shoulders. He"d not forgone his pa.s.sion for indecently short breeches. The slashed green velvet barely covered the tops of his thighs and an obscenely large codpiece covered his groin. His horse was no less adorned, its mane and tail braided with ribbon. Feathers, ta.s.sels, and bells jingled and bobbed with every step.
The a.s.sessing gaze that raked her found her wanting. He was still furious. "Can you not at least try to do something with that hair?"
"What"s the matter, Brother? Are you afraid Scratchton Carlisle of Louseland won"t take me if I"m not perfectly arrayed? Surely he"s used to scurvy-ridden women, being a Scot."
Ridley shook his head, sighing. "We"re not so different, you and I-if only you could see it."
Fayth scowled. "And is your betrothed an old hag?"
Ridley laughed. They both knew the earl of Dornock"s daughter was barely seventeen. "I care naught for her, just as you loathe the idea of Carlisle. Oh, it galls you to admit it, but it"s true. You lost your love and now you must make do with what"s left. Just as I lost mine-"
"Mona was never yours! She was Papa"s and he"d beat you to a bloodied pulp if he knew how you pawed at her!"
He looked around, annoyed, to see if anyone overheard. "Enough."
Fayth smiled slightly. Nothing could get to him like the mention of Mona. Everyone loved Mona. She was kind, beautiful, wise. But Ridley loved their stepmother in a most unseemly and incestuous manner. His fury had been immense when she"d helped his prisoner, Sir Patrick Maxwell, escape-and left with him.
"G.o.dspeed her for escaping your sick l.u.s.ts," Fayth said.
His face was a rigid mask. She might pay for her words later, but he would not strike her now, not in front of everyone. Never in front of Wesley, who watched them, frowning, several horses behind. Wesley. Once Fayth and Wesley had been inseparable. Fayth"s betrothed, Jack, had been Wesley"s closest friend. It had seemed the three of them were destined to be thick as thieves their whole lives.
Ridley smoothed a hand over his beard, visibly trying to compose himself. "When we arrive at Lochnith, you will wed Carlisle. If you stay put and be a good little wife, I promise you, things will turn out well for you in the end."
Fayth knew much of what he planned from listening at closed doors. The Graham host accompanying Ridley was enormous, swollen to several hundred men-at-arms and retainers. It was necessary, as they traversed the lands of many sworn enemies. Although Ridley had obtained safe pa.s.sage from them all, he took no chances. He also planned a bit of a foray after the wedding. Fayth"s betrothed was gifting Ridley with an estate at the southern end of the Rhins of Galloway-Gealach, it was called. Currently, however, Carlisle did not hold it. It had been taken by a band of outlaws several years ago and he had been unable to oust them. Ridley was determined to eradicate the outlaws, or destroy the tower trying.
It was all very tiresome to Fayth, being the instrument of men"s doings and yet excluded from even discussing them. She sighed, weary of her brother and his plots.
"I want no part in your evil deeds."
"Just like Mona, eh? Well, don"t think for a minute that she"s free of me. You think she escaped?" He laughed, an ugly, unpleasant sound. "I let her go. I know precisely where she is-she and her dunderhead knight. And when I"m ready, I"ll have them both back."
Fayth said nothing, her stomach shriveling up tight. How had he become so powerful? His reach so far? Mona must be warned. His words strengthened her resolve to escape. She must find Mona and warn her. Unfortunately she had no idea where her stepmother was, but a plan had been forming for weeks now. She would seek out Mona"s family. They lived in a little hamlet in the English West March. If Mona wasn"t with them, hiding from Ridley, then surely they would have some clue as to her whereabouts. Ridley believed she was the keeper of the legendary Clachan Fala. It was true Mona was a Musgrave and a healer, but Fayth thought it unlikely there was such a thing as the Blood Stone, so why would there be a keeper?
First, she had to escape. She slid a look at Ridley. He still stared at her with extreme displeasure. Fayth retreated inside the litter and drew the curtains, preferring no view at all to his face.
Fayth had been unable to orchestrate another escape before they arrived at Lochnith and she was imprisoned again. She prowled her chambers, her desperation growing. Guards were stationed outside the door. Since Fayth had a proclivity for enlisting the help of servants, she"d not been allowed any attendants. She wasn"t even allowed a lady"s maid until after the marriage had been consummated.
At the thought of the approaching wedding night, Fayth recalled Mona"s warnings about Carlisle. He"s a cruel man, with evil desires. Your wifely duties will be unbearable-and will quite possibly kill you, if you don"t kill yourself first. Should you be forced to go through with this union I will prepare poisons for you that will kill him slowly, make it look as though he succ.u.mbed to an ailment.
Fayth patted the pocket sewn into the underside of her kirtle. The poison Mona had given her. It was meant for Carlisle. Fayth didn"t know if she could do it. If she couldn"t even kill Jack"s murderer, how could she hope to poison an old man?
Fayth clutched the vial through the silk of her skirts. The very idea made her ill. She knew her brothers had something dreadful planned for Carlisle, that this marriage and peace were a ruse. She was sickened she"d been made a p.a.w.n in it. Just like Caroline. Only somehow, Caroline had found love and happiness, foiling Ridley in the end.