Page 63 of Edge of Yesterday

Chapter Twelve

Julianna squinted against the afternoon sun that streamed through the tiny window in her tower prison. Her heart jumped when she spotted riders approaching Strone Hall. There was no mistaking Lady Kristen’s pale hair amongst the half dozen men who accompanied her cousin. Was it possible Kristen had come to negotiate her release? But Kristen couldn’t possibly know that Hugh had taken her.

How could she alert Kristen to her presence? Julianna reached for her silver comb before remembering that she’d lost it in the struggle with Hugh’s men. She whirled and raced to the small table near the hearth where sat a copper goblet and pitcher of wine. She tossed the goblet’s wine into the ewer and hurried back to the window.

With a quick prayer that no guardsman would see the glint of sunlight on metal, she held the goblet up to the window. It took several tries before she was able to reflect sunlight off the metal. Again, she managed a glint, and again, before someone in the courtyard turned and started to look up. She jumped aside. Her back struck the stone wall, her breath coming hard and fast.

She counted to four, then cautiously peered around the edge of the window. The person who had turned to look up was gone and Kristen had entered the courtyard. Julianna’s pulse jumped. Cailean accompanied her cousin. Tears stung her eyes. She didn’t know how, but they were here to rescue her. She scanned the other men and recognized no one else. That made sense. They wouldn’t want Hugh to recognize any of her father’s guards.

How could she know if they had seen her signal? Should she call out to them? Nae. That would start a fight, and five men were no match against fifty, even if one of those men was Cailean Ross. Lennox may have hidden in the trees with his warriors. She scanned what she could see of the forest. He would never stay behind at Raghnall.

Her heart beat faster. One way or another, Lennox would not leave without her, even if it meant a battle with all of Strone Hall. But Lennox would never involve Kristen in a fight. That meant Julianna had until Kristen left to escape without bloodshed.

Kristen and her escorts dismounted and strode toward the castle. Julianna began to pace. How was she to escape? She gave the door another yank but it remained locked, as it had the other dozen times she’d tried. She had yet to see Hugh, and had no idea why he had kidnapped her. Yet Lennox clearly knew who had snatched her. Why would Hugh risk war with her father? They weren’t feuding, and they lived too close for Hugh to think he could get away with a demand for ransom. He had to want marriage and thought it safest to act during her father’s absence. But he was addled to think that her father and Lennox would let him live after this abduction.

Had Hugh sent a message to Lennox that he held her? Nae. If that were the case, Lennox would have come with Kristen and Cailean.

An ache began to pound in her head. She sat down on the hearth bench and rubbed her temples. Too many unanswered questions.

~*~

Cailean strode on Lady Kristen’s right while another man walked to her left. Others took up the rear as they followed a warrior across Strone Hall’s modest courtyard, up the few steps and into the great hall. An older woman emerged from the screens passage on the far side of the hall, clearly leaving the kitchens.

Her gaze fell on Lady Kristen and her face lit with delight as she approached. “Lady Kristen, ‘tis good to see ye. We were no’ expecting you. Is anything amiss?”

Lady Kristen smiled. “Nothing more than being a little tired, Libby. I have been about all day, visiting the sick among my father’s tenants, and thought perhaps I might stop and rest a bit before continuing home.”

The older woman nodded. “Ye always were a tender soul. You do look a bit tired, and dusty. Mayhap you would like to refresh, as well?”

“I would welcome the opportunity to wash my face.”

Libby nodded. “Come with me. I will have wine and food laid out for you in the ladies’ solar.”

“Ye are too kind, Libby. There is no need to go to so much trouble. I am happy to rest myself here in the great hall.”

“Heavens, no. I cannae leave ye here with these brutes.” She grunted and nodded in the general direction of the men who sat at the tables. You will be more comfortable in the solar. I will tell Lady Bess that you are here.”

“Is she home?” Lady Kristen asked. “I thought she visited her cousin in Inverness.”

“Aye, but she returned two days ago. She will be pleased to see ye.”

“And I her. What of Hugh, is he home? I have not seen him in some time.”

Libby shook her head. “Nae, he isnae here. But I believe he will arrive later tonight.”

“Perhaps I will be fortunate enough to see him.” She looked at Cailean and said, “You and your men may refresh yourselves as you please. I will call you when I am ready to leave.”

Cailean angled his head in acknowledgment, then nodded to the men. They started toward the tables as Libby led her to a narrow staircase. His men sat at one of the tables while Cailean sauntered over to the hearth near the staircase that Libby and Kristen had used. When Libby disappeared into the kitchen, Cailean glanced at the men, now scattered about the room. When he was certain no one watched, he nipped into the stair tower and hurried up the steps.

The flash of sunlight off something metallic they’d seen in a window of the east tower had to have been Julianna trying to contact them. One glint could be someone walking past a window. Half a dozen flashes was by design. Cailean reached the third floor and hurried down the corridor to a hallway that turned left. Left, right, left, right, and he would arrive at the east tower, if Lady Kristen’s directions were correct.

He made the final turn and spotted a very narrow staircase just as Lady Kristen described. So far, he hadn’t encountered anyone, but Lady Kristen had warned him to beware going up the tower steps. Only one man could travel up or down the stairs at a time. If he got trapped while descending there would be no escape.

Cailean drew his sword and peered around the edge of the wall. A classic medieval turnpike staircase, the steps constructed in a well that hid all but a few feet of stairwell. The tower chamber was about twenty-five feet straight up, but if someone waited beyond a turn they could cut him down before he realized they were there. Conversely, anyone up there would be trapped by him. They could call out for help but they wouldn’t get past him.

Cailean lifted a low burning sconce from the wall and crept up the stairs, ears straining for telltale heavy breathing or a scratch of leather or steel against stone. He heard nothing. Sconce stretched out before him, he proceeded carefully until he reached a chamber. To his relief, a thick, long timber barred the door. He had feared a lock that required a key. This was too easy. A chill slipped through him.

He was tempting fate. Changing history.