“And where is MacGregor? It willna do for him to see us leaving.”
“My son is still busy admiring his new armaments. The blacksmith summoned him a while ago to meet with him and the blademaster. Between them, he’ll be entertained for an hour or more. We’ll be out of the gate before he kens we’re gone.”
“On our afternoon visit to the village.”
“Just so.”
Jamie cocked an eyebrow at Caitrin and she smiled. Good. “Let’s be on our way, then.”
“Malcolm and Nan will join us. I suggest yer men make their own way out, but quickly.”
“Indeed,” Jamie agreed as he opened the door and nodded to Kyle. “We are going. Get what ye can carry and make yer way quietly to the stables. Make sure all the other lads are out as well. Thank God Ewan is already on his way to the Aerie.”
“Aye.” Kyle led them to the stairs then left them to complete his errand.
Jamie kept one hand on the hilt of his dirk, but they all rode out of the keep without incident, the ladies chattering the whole way about the upcoming market day to divert suspicion. Madeleine had arranged the “outing” brilliantly. And riding would allow them to get away much faster than walking through the highland forest.
Jamie breathed a sigh of relief as they passed through the gates.
Madeleine led them through the village, pointing out the market preparations in a loud conversational tone, meant, Jamie was certain, to ensure their visit neither aroused more notice than usual, nor gave the villagers any useful information to later pass on to her son. When they turned a corner and were out of sight of the last of the villagers, Madeleine urged Caitrin and Malcolm on. “Uilleam and a few men loyal to me await ye in those trees,” she said, pointing to the forest beyond the edge of the village. “Go now. Jamie, stay with Fletcher and me until we get further along, then ye and Kyle can leave. I want Fletcher and I to be noticed a bit longer, then we’ll go, too.”
“Madeleine, ye impress me,” Jamie told her with a grin. “But do ye risk being detained?”
“Nay. Even if he finds out in time we’re all out here, he canna touch me without our people raising arms against him. And to be fair, this is as much Fletcher’s doing as mine.”
“Da, thank ye.” Caitrin laid a hand over her heart. “I didna think ye believed me.”
“Go on with ye, lass,” Fletcher answered.
Jamie noted a glimmer of a tear in his eye and forgave him everything. He’d been stubborn and blinded by his own goals, but in the end, Caitrin came first.
“I’ll see ye soon, daughter.”
“Ye’d better!” She turned to Nan. “Ye’ll be safe with my da and Lady Madeleine. I’ll see ye soon, too.” Then her gaze fell on Jamie “Ye will be right behind us, aye?”
“Of course. I willna lose ye now.” Caitrin’s brilliant smile lightened his heart and he reached across the space between their horses to grasp her hand. He no longer cared what Fletcher saw transpire between them. They would marry, and Fletcher knew it. Jamie released her hand.
Malcolm slapped her horse’s rump and sent her on her way. He saluted Madeleine briefly then caught up to Caitrin and rode with her into the trees.
Jamie fretted at the passing minutes as they idly rode around the village. Madeleine kept up her commentary. When they reached the other side, Madeleine nodded. He and Kyle prepared to ride into the forest, but not before Fletcher took him aside.
“I’m taking Madeleine back to Fletcher. She’s agreed to become my wife. And with his mother there, MacGregor willna dare retaliate. His clan willna stand for it. She’s too well regarded, despite her son.”
“I wish ye both well,” Jamie said, genuinely pleased by this turn of events. He shook Fletcher’s hand, and then he went to Madeleine and kissed her cheek. “Be safe.”
“We’ll help confuse the trail for my son and his men. He willna ken who went where.”
“Ye have thought of everything.” Jamie grinned and kicked his mount into motion. Kyle flanked him. He should be thrilled at the way their departure had turned out, but he still felt that tingle under his arm, in his ribs. Once they were out of earshot of anyone in the village, he told Kyle, “We’ve got to find them. I know where Uilleam is supposed to be taking Caitrin. But I dinna ken if he has other plans.”
Chapter Nineteen
Caitrin was safe enough with Uilleam, Malcolm, and the others, but she would have been much happier to have Jamie with her. They’d been riding for more than an hour, and the thick grove they traveled through kept her from seeing more than a few feet in any direction. Sunlight filtered weakly through the dense canopy above. She felt confined, boxed in, even more so than when MacGregor had locked her in her chamber for days at a time.
How would Jamie find her in this forest?
“Where are we going, Will?” She kept her voice low, not that it mattered. The trees swallowed up any sound she might make.
“To a friend of yer da’s,” he answered as quietly as she had. “A cousin, too.”
