No, dinna think the worse ‘til ye know for sure, she told herself. Glenis might have gone directly to Tullich. Aye, that made sense.
“Maddie, are ye all right?”
Madeleine blinked, meeting Meg’s worried gaze. “Aye, I’ll be fine,” she said faintly. “Go on now, Meg. I have to get back.”
“If ye’d like, Maddie, I’ll come to the house in the morning and help ye clean up,” Meg offered. “Those redcoats left the place in a fine mess. Shall I bring Kitty Dods with me? ‘Twould be a lot of work for just the two of us, now that Glenis is g—” She bit her lip as if she just realized what she was saying.
Madeleine nodded numbly. “Aye, ye may bring Kitty.”
Meg said no more but turned and scurried away as Madeleine wheeled her horse around and set off at a wild gallop toward Mhor Manor.
Chapter 28
Madeleine dodged the wagons choking the drive and dismounted near the front door. Her gaze frantically swept the estate grounds, but there was no sign of Garrett. He had probably gone up the road to direct the rest of the cavalcade.
She dashed into the house and up the stairs, deciding to share her unsettling news with him after she had changed. If she didn’t find him then, he would have to wait until she returned. She took only an instant to glance in each room as she passed, relieved to see that the upstairs had been left remarkably untouched.
No doubt because Hawley’s pompous commanding officers had enjoyed these rooms, she surmised with disgust, hurrying down the hall to her own chamber.
She pushed open the door, stunned to find everything exactly as she had left it but for the unmade bed. She did not waste time contemplating who might have slept there. She rushed to the wardrobe, her hands shaking as she unbuttoned her riding coat and whisked it from her shoulders.
If she left for Tullich immediately, Madeleine thought as she twisted out of her skirt, she would be at least halfway there before dark. The road was clearly marked. She would have no trouble finding the village nestled on Loch Ruthven’s western shore.
She quickly dressed in a frayed fustian gown, reveling in the freedom of the wide skirt, then kicked off her riding boots. She replaced her silk stockings with thick, woolen ones and donned a pair of sturdy brogues. Lastly she fastened a heavy tartan shawl around her shoulders for added warmth.
It felt so good to be dressed in her old clothes, she thought, flying to the door. With a last glance at her room, she sped across the hall and down the side stairs. Glass crunched beneath her shoes as she walked through the drawing room to the front door, but she gave it little heed. She stepped outside into the fading afternoon sunshine, searching for her mare.
She spied the animal munching contentedly in the tall grass just beyond the drive, a soldier holding the reins. Her eyes widened as the young man clucked his tongue and began to lead the horse toward the stable.
Madeleine ran after him, shouting above the din of rumbling wagon wheels, bellowing cattle, and neighing horses.
“Hold on with ye!” she cried, catching up to him. “Where are ye taking my horse?”
“I’ve orders from Major Marshall to brush her down, m’lady,” the soldier answered, still walking.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said, yanking the reins from his hand. “‘Tis my mount, after all.” Before he could stop her she had hoisted herself into the saddle and swerved the mare around, only to find herself suddenly yanked out of the saddle from behind and enveloped in a strong pair of arms.
“What!” she gasped, struggling to wrench herself free from whoever was holding her around the waist. “How dare ye! Let go!”
The arms only tightened, drawing her closer. Warm breath fanned her neck, and she shivered, tensing at the familiar voice which was just above a whisper.
“You must realize I can’t have you stealing out by yourself, Madeleine, not with so many of Hawley’s soldiers about. As your husband, I’m determined to protect you, yet I can’t be everywhere at once. I’d rather you remain here with me, at least until my own soldiers arrive from Fort Augustus.”
Madeleine twisted in Garrett’s arms and glared at him over her shoulder. “I believe I have more to fear from ye than from Hawley’s soldiers,” she said angrily. “Let go of me, Garrett.”
To her surprise he did, though he still stood very close to her. Too close. She stepped back, hugging her arms to her chest in a vain attempt to quiet her trembling.
“Where were you going?” he asked, his eyes staring into hers in a manner which never failed to disconcert her.
“I think ye mean whereamI going,” she responded tartly, trying to compensate for what he was doing to her senses. She fought to keep her voice steady, her words spilling forth in a rush. “I just spoke with Meg Blair, and she told me Glenis never arrived at her home the night ye discovered I was Black Jack. I sent Glenis to Meg’s, thinking ‘twould be safer, then the next morning she was to set off for her sister’s in Tullich.” She paused to catch her breath, wondering why Garrett was looking at her so strangely. “No one’s seen her since that night,” she continued, “not here or in the village, so I’m going to Tullich to see if she’s there—”
“Glenis didn’t stop at Meg’s,” Garrett interjected quietly. “You don’t have to worry after her, Maddie. She’s fine.”
Astonished, Madeleine could only stare at him.
“Glenis is at her sister’s in Tullich, just as you wanted her to be.”
“How…how do ye know?” she asked hoarsely, her mind racing. Why hadn’t Glenis gone to Meg’s? Surely she must have realized it was dangerous for her to be on the roads so late at night, considering what was to happen.
