She avoided Wade’s Road altogether and set off at a hard pace northward across the valley. She barely noticed the vibrant purple patches of heather, just beginning to bloom, a sign of the approaching autumn.
It did not take long for Garrett to catch up with her. When he reined in his bay beside her mare, she did not acknowledge his presence. Nor did she answer when he said her name.
Garrett did not speak again. Theirs was a long, silent ride back to Mhor Manor, accompanied only by pounding hooves and the whistling wind around them.
Chapter 14
“What’s wrong, lass?” Glenis asked as she cleared the supper dishes from the kitchen table. “Ye’ve hardly said a word today” —she picked up Madeleine’s plate, shaking her head in disapproval— “and ye’ve not eaten but a mouthful of food. ‘Tis been the same for two days. Tell yer Glenis what’s on yer mind this minute, or I’ll harp at ye ‘til ye do!”
Madeleine stopped gazing out at the black night and turned from the window, her eyes meeting Glenis’s. “How is it ye always know when something’s amiss, Glenis?”
“Humph, lass, ye’ve made no effort to hide yer troubles from me. When ye winna eat my fine cooking, when ye winna talk but to answer aye or nay I know! Now I’ve had enough of yer brooding. Are ye not feelin’ well? Was it yer raid last night?”
“No, ‘tis not the raid, and I feel fine,” Madeleine said, toying with her spoon. She winced inwardly. She was hardly fine.
How could she tell Glenis about the terrifying decision she had made? It was difficult enough to admit to herself she was frightened, let alone reveal her fear to someone else, even if that person was Glenis.
“Maddie—”
Madeleine heaved a sigh. “Och, Glenis, ye’ve a right to know,” she admitted aloud. “‘Twill affect yer life as well as mine.”
“What are ye talkin’ about, Maddie?” Glenis asked, clearly confused. She set down the plate and pulled out a chair.
“Aye, ‘tis a good idea to sit down,” Madeleine said cryptically. “Ye’ll not like what I have to tell ye, any more than I like saying it.”
Glenis leaned forward in her chair, her dark eyes searching Madeleine’s. “Dinna leave me wondering, lass. Out with it now!”
Madeleine exhaled sharply. “When Garrett and I went for a ride together to Foyer’s Falls a few days ago—”
“What happened?” Glenis gasped, clasping Madeleine’s hands tightly. “He dinna touch ye, did he?”
“No, Glenis, no. Just hear me out.” She kept her voice low as she recounted what Garrett had said to her about General Hawley, his plea for her to help him and lastly, her decision. Glenis’s hands began to tremble, and Madeleine’s heart went out to her old servant, who listened so quietly to her grim news.
When Madeleine finished, a heavy silence fell over the kitchen. It was finally broken when Glenis rose from her chair and picked up some dishes, her movements slow and wooden as she walked to the wash table. She methodically scraped the plates and dumped them into a large pan of steaming water, but instead of scrubbing them, she just stood there, staring at the wall.
“Glenis—” When Madeleine received no response she jumped up and rushed over to Glenis’s side. There were tears streaking her servant’s lined face.
Madeleine threw her arms around Glenis’s shaking shoulders, assailed by guilt. She shouldn’t have been so abrupt, she should have prepared her somehow. Worst of all, she didn’t know what she could say to comfort her.
“So ye’re going to give yerself up,” Glenis said softly, turning her to look at Madeleine. “I always knew ‘twould come to this one day. From the first moment ye told me ye were plannin’ to raid the English, I knew.”
“’Tis the only thing I can do,” Madeleine replied, swamped by a sense of desperation. “Surely ye can see that, Glenis. I canna risk the lives of our kin on the slim hope that Garrett is lying, or even exaggerating the danger. I’d be a fool to take such a chance. I have to believe the danger is very real. Tell me ye understand!”
“Aye, I understand,” Glenis said softly, wiping her damp eyes with her apron. “Though it doesna make it any easier for me. Have ye said anything to him yet about helpin’ him to find his Black Jack?”
“No, and I winna, not for another week or so.”
“Surely he’ll demand an answer from ye, lass. The captain does not appear to be a man to be trifled with, even though he’s shown himself to be fairer than most. Ye said he had less than three weeks left.”
“I already gave him my answer yesterday morning. I told him I couldna help him.”
Glenis looked at her sharply. “Ye speak in riddles, lass, and ye’re playin’ with my poor heart. Which is it to be?”
“I only told him I knew nothing of his brigand because I needed to buy m’self more time, Glenis. I’ll not help him ‘til I’ve provided enough food for our kin to last the winter. ‘Twill take another half dozen good raids to fill the cave on Beinn Dubhcharaidh. Then,” she emphasized, “I’ll give m’self up, with enough time to spare before that devil Hawley sets foot from Fort Augustus, if he’s indeed planning such a move.”
“Do Angus and the rest of yer kinsmen know of yer decision, lass?” Glenis asked quietly.
“No, not yet,” Madeleine replied, a brittle edge to her voice. “First I must think of a way to spare them whatever fate the English have in store for me. I’ll not have them suffer for following my cause. And if they wonder why we’re raiding so much during the next few days I’ll tell them the truth, that we must fill the cave for the winter.”
