Keen anticipation coursed through her at the thought, shocking her with its bold intensity. Angrily she forced it away, a new resolve burning within her. Her lust had clearly overcome her better judgment once, but she would not allow it to happen again. Perhaps if she went to bed late enough this evening, he would already be asleep.
Aye, that’s exactly what she would do, she decided, turning into the dining room. She stopped in her tracks as Meg and Kitty jumped up from their chairs and curtsied clumsily.
“What are ye doing?” she asked incredulously. “Get up, the both of ye.” She immediately sensed that their awkward behavior had something to do with her being the wife to an Englishman. “‘Tis me, yer Maddie Fraser. I havna changed, nor grown two heads, no matter what ye might have heard.”
Usually so lively, Meg was strangely subdued. “Should Kitty and I call ye Lady Marshall,” she mumbled, glancing at the pretty, red-haired girl beside her, “now that ye’re married to the major?”
Madeleine swallowed hard, her cheeks burning. So she was right, she thought. The word was already out. “Ye’ll do no such thing,” she replied firmly. “Ye’ll call me Maddie, just as ye’ve always done. And ye must tell everyone in Farraline to do the same, in case they’re wondering.”
The two young women visibly relaxed, even venturing smiles that clearly showed their relief.
“There, that’s much better,” Madeleine said, smiling back. Yet she quickly sobered, waving them into their chairs. She sat down next to them, her voice falling to a whisper. “Now, before we set to work, I want ye to tell me exactly what ye’ve heard in the village. Was it Angus who told ye I was wed?”
Meg nodded, opening her mouth to speak, but Kitty piped up before she could say a word.
“There was a ceilidh last night, Maddie, and everyone came, even the bairns. Angus said ye saved their lives by agreeing to marry Major Marshall the day before ye were all to hang!” she blurted in one breath, her eyes shining with awe.
“Aye,” Meg added, “they’re more than grateful to ye, Maddie, saying ye’re the bravest Fraser lass Strathherrick has ever known.”
“So they dinna think I’m a traitor?” Madeleine said quietly, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Ye—a traitor?” Meg exclaimed. “I canna believe ye would say such a thing after all ye’ve done for us, Maddie. Aye, we know about the raids and ye giving yerself up to protect Strathherrick from Butcher Cumberland’s bastard brother. And we know ye married the major to spare yer kinsmen the hangman’s noose. Major Marshall admitted as much to Angus.”
“What exactly did the major say?” Madeleine asked, her temper flaring.
“He told Angus the only way he could secure King Geordie’s pardon for ye was to wed ye, Maddie, but that ye dinna agree to it at first, saying ye wouldna be a traitor to yer kin,” Kitty quickly recounted. “‘Twas only when ye discovered ye would save Angus and the others that ye finally agreed.”
“Aye, much of that is true, but ‘tis a lie about why he married me,” Madeleine said, her eyes flashing indignantly. “Did the major explain to Angus why he went through such trouble to obtain a king’s pardon?”
Meg and Kitty glanced uncomfortably at each other, Meg speaking at last. “Angus asked him, Maddie, but Major Marshall said ‘twas between ye and him alone.”
“Now there’s an evasive answer for ye,” she said through clenched teeth. “And a lie as well. There’s nothing between the major and m’self. Nothing.”
Strangely, her words seemed hollow to her. Had last night truly been nothing? With great effort she drove the disturbing thought from her mind, reaching a sudden decision as the young women stared at her silently.
Since she wouldn’t be able to visit Farraline for several days, she might as well pass on her warning about Garrett through Kitty and Meg. She could be assured her kinsmen would hear of it before the night was out with these two chatterboxes serving as her messengers.
She was stunned by her unexpected stab of guilt, accompanied by a most unsettling sense of betrayal. She was hardly betraying Garrett, she reasoned with herself, irritated by her prickly conscience. She was protecting her people!
“I want ye both to listen carefully,” she began, leaning toward them. “When ye go back into the village, I want ye to let everyone know what I’m telling ye now. ‘Tis the truth behind my marriage to Major Marshall, and a warning to our kin not to be swayed by anything he might say or do.” She lowered her voice, hastily relaying what she believed were Garrett’s true motives in acquiring the king’s pardon.
“He offered to spy on us if King Geordie granted him yer lands and a pardon for ye?” Kitty said with a gasp when Madeleine had finished.
“Aye.”
“And he married ye thinking ye would smooth the way for him with the Frasers of Strathherrick?” Meg asked, stunned.
“He believes I’ll be useful to him, nothing more,” Madeleine said quietly, almost to herself. “Well, he’ll soon realize he’s sadly mistaken.” She glanced from Kitty to Meg. “I’ve changed my mind about ye helping me with the cleaning, at least for a few hours. I’d rather ye go back into Farraline right now and pass along what I’ve told ye. Will ye do that for me?”
“Oh, aye, Maddie,” Meg said somberly, her eyes wide and round. Kitty bobbed her head, her red curls bouncing.
“Good,” Madeleine said, walking with them to the front door. “When ye’ve finished, come back to the house, but not if it takes ye ‘til well in the afternoon. The days are so short now, and the nights fall early. I dinna want to worry for ye with these redcoats about Mhor Manor. They’re some of Hawley’s foul jackals.”
The young women nodded as they stepped outside, glancing fearfully at the soldiers who seemed to be everywhere; sitting on the grounds eating their breakfast, leading horses from the stable, talking and joking among themselves.
“There’s so many more now than we saw earlier this morning,” Kitty breathed nervously.
“I’ll watch ye walk down the road,” Madeleine assured them softly. “Remember, if it’s grown too late stay home, and see that ye have yer fathers escort ye when ye do return.”
