Maggie, behind her mistress, and unseen, pressed herself back into the shadows of the doorway. To her surprise, a hand caught at her arm and slowly eased her back into the building. Startled, she turned about to see David Kira, a finger to his lips, warning her to silence as he quietly closed the door behind them. He drew her back down the hallway of the building, and into a side room.
“Why did ye nae help my mistress,” Maggie demanded.
“One man, and a Jew? It would have been worth my life, mistress. You, however, I have saved. I will let you out the back door, and you must run to your master and tell him what happened. Your horse will be returned to Glenkirk House by nightfall,” he said. Then, opening a small door in the room’s outer wall, he beckoned her through. “Go down the alley, lassie, and you’ll find yourself back on the High Street. You know your way from there, do you not?”
Maggie nodded. “Thank ye, sir,” she said, finally, remembering her manners, and giving him a smile.
“Hurry!” he told her. “I expect there is a need for urgency.”
The door closed behind her, and Maggie did just as the banker had advised her. She ran. Down the alley and out onto the High Street, but she did not go directly to Glenkirk House, which was located off the Cannongate. Instead she ran to Leslie House, which was set on a small street that bisected the HighStreet. It was nearer, and Master Adam would have a horse to get her to Glenkirk House all the quicker. Maggie ran on, praying that she would remember the right street. Then she recognized it, and, turning, she dashed down it, swiftly reaching the door of Leslie House, and pounding upon it with all her strength.
The servant answered looking askance at the disheveled Maggie. “Yes?” he said loftily.
Maggie pushed past him. “Master Adam! Master Adam!” she called urgently, and Adam and Fiona Leslie came forth from the library. “‘Tis my mistress,” Maggie gasped, her breath coming in desperate gasps. “She’s been taken!” and Maggie began to cry.
Fiona took the girl by the arm, and drew her into the library. Adam poured a small whiskey and shoved it at the servant.
“Drink it, lassie. Ye canna hae a fit of hysterics now. Drink it down and tell us what hae happened,” he said.
Maggie coughed and sputtered, but she managed to get the potent amber liquid down. She stood silent for a moment as if gathering her strength, then, taking a deep breath, said, “We went to Master Kira’s, and when we were coming out this man with a strange accent, he was nae a Scot, even a Sassenach like these southerners are, said my mistress was under arrest, and his men put her on her horse and rode away. They dinna see me, for I was behind her, and then Master Kira pulled me back into the building and let me out the back to come and tell my master, but ‘tis a long walk to Glenkirk House from here, and ye were nearer, and I need a horse for mine was left behind, and Master Kira said he would hae it back to us by nightfall, but I need one now!” She stopped as if to catch her breath.
“God’s foot!” Adam Leslie swore. “‘Tis that damned Englishman, and why the hell dinna we know he was back in Edinburgh?”
Maggie began to cry in earnest now, tears streaming down her face, her sobs loud and most pitiful to hear.
“Cease yer caterwauling, lassie!” Adam Leslie roared. “I need to think, damnit.”
“Ye need to get Jemmie,” Fiona said, and she put her arms about the weeping Maggie. “There, there, lassie. Ye did absolutely the right thing coming here first.” She turned back to her husband. “Adam, dammit! Get on yer horse, and find the earl!”
James Leslie thought his head would explode so great was his anger when he learned that his wife had been taken by Piers St.Denis. Still, he forced himself to remain calm, mainly with the help of Adali, who laced the earl’s tea with whiskey and made him quiet himself as he drank it.
“Breathe slowly, my lord, as I have taught you,” Adali said. “Anger will but create a confusion inside your mind. You must not allow your wrath to produce chaos within your thoughts. We are dealing with a madman who is both clever and, to my great surprise, resourceful.”
James Leslie nodded and drank the hot tea.
“What blather is this?” Adam Leslie demanded impatiently. “We need to gather up our men and find the bastard, so we may slaughter him for his incredible presumption in laying hands on a countess of Glenkirk!”
“Nay,” the earl said quietly. “We need to outfox this madman, Uncle, before he can harm Jasmine. I have lost one wife to insanity, and I will not lose another.”
“Where could the marquis have taken my lady?” Adali asked.
“If he still hae that damned warrant, he may hae gone to the castle. We’re in luck if he hae, for I know the governor. He’s a sensible man and will nae act hastily unless he is entirely certain of himself,” Adam Leslie said. “I’ll go up the hill, but ye are toremain here. That warrant has both yer names, laddie. Why the hell hasn’t our messenger returned from England? He should be here by now!”
Adam Leslie went “up the hill,” as he had so colorfully put it to his nephew, to Edinburgh Castle. There he sought out his friend, Robert Chrighton, who was currently the castle governor, but the governor had not seen Piers St.Denis since the spring. He was shocked by Adam’s tale.
“He did hae a warrant as I recall,” the governor said.
“A forgery,” Adam Leslie said bluntly. “His half brother admitted it to the steward at Glenkirk before he deserted the marquis. Ye know the king’s signature, Robbie.”
“Time hae past since Jamie was here,” the governor said. “He hae grown older, and his hand may nae be as steady.”
“So,” Adam Leslie said triumphantly, “ye were suspicious!”
“The seal was genuine,” the governor hastily told his guest.
“But the signature was nae! Dinna fret, Robbie. We sent a messenger down into England to tell the king what was happening. He’ll be back soon wi the truth. If St.Denis brings the countess of Glenkirk to the castle, ye’ll send word, will ye nae?”
“Aye, and I’ll keep her ladyship comfortable, and safe.”
