“How do we ken ye will make yer way back here?” Jamie asked her after consulting with his uncle for a bit.
“Ye ken I will, sir,” Erica replied in a light tone, “because I say so…and because me faither is bound to honor the contract. Ye would nae deny a young woman the trifling fallals she grew up with, would ye? They are of great value to me in the heart…and in the pocket. And thus, these items will pass to our bairns, Jamie, when they grow up. I cannae think how me maid, Gertrude, came to misplace the box o’ precious gemstones, but she did, and we are the only ones to ken the hiding hole. Nay message could hold the power to explain the box’s whereabouts in an adequate fashion for someone else to find it. I’m sure ye understand me dilemma. Also, we hope the laird has regained his strength somewhat to rise from his bed afore our return.”
She knew she had him at the words: value and precious gemstones.
“By all means, me dear betrothed,” Jamie gushed, “set forth an’ go retrieve these beloved items. I would not have ye leave behind one portion o’ yer dowry, no’ for anything. But hurry back anon so that ye might warm me bed for me soonest.”
“I bet ye have some fool doin’ that for ye already,” Erica muttered under her breath.
Then she backed out of the hall and ran for the stables the moment the sentries closed the doors behind her.
Faithful Gertrude was waiting there for her, but this time Finn was allowing Erica to have her way.
“If I’m to be there an’ back again in the shortest time, Trudy, I must ride forth without ye,” Erica said, accepting Finn’s help as he lifted her by the ankle and she settled herself into the saddle, riding sideways like a good little young lady. “Stay here an’ look after yerself. We will be back soon.”
“But my lady!” Gertrude gasped. “Ye cannae ride forth alone with only Mister Finn here to guide ye and look after yer good name! Whatever would yer mither an’ faither say?”
Erica glanced over her shoulder, and when she saw Finn giving his horse the license to trot, she only waited to say, “Look where all me ladylike sensibilities got me, Trudy—betrothed to a lecher an’ a prig. If I jeopardize my good name by making this journey with only Finn for company, then so be it. I deem it fitting that my name’s reputation matches that of me future spouse’s!”
She kicked her horse into a sprightly canter so they might put as much space between themselves and Buchanan Castle in the shortest space of time. Erica did not even look back when she heard Gertrude’s wail.
