Grace nodded slowly. “Yes, it sounds like something he would do,” she agreed. “ When Fergus and I spoke last night, Will, we were in a secure place where I am sure we could not be heard, but perhaps I was followed.”
William bristled and threw down the last of the whisky he had been drinking. “I would put nothing past that little sneak, Angus,” he said disgustedly.
“Maybe he heard that we were planning to run away to speak to Father. After all, he could still forbid our marriage.”
“Indeed he could,” William agreed. “And once he hears how Robert treats you, I’m sure he will want to break the agreement between you. Our father is a compassionate man, Grace, and he would never want to ally himself with a bloodthirsty Laird. He doesn’t want war, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to lose his daughter to a madman.”
Grace smiled at her brother, then her expression changed. “But we have to find Fergus, Will. I can’t leave without knowing what has happened to him, even if he’s dead.”
William thought for a moment, then turned back to his sister. There was a light of determination in his eyes. “We will leave, Grace. If Fergus was still with us I would stay behind and distract Robert, but I will not let you travel on your own. However, I have a different idea. Here is what we’ll do…”
19
Grace did not sleep well that night, but then she had not expected to. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw a picture of Fergus tied to a chair, his hands and feet bound, his eyes blindfolded, his mouth gagged. She tossed and turned for most of the night, but managed to fall into a fitful sleep just before dawn. When Crissy came to wake her up, she could hardly lift her head off the pillow,
and there was a headache thumping behind her eyes.
As soon as daylight pierced her vision, she moaned loudly and turned away, but Crissy was merciless. She placed a cup of warm ale on Grace’s bedside table and shook her by the shoulder. “Come, hen,” she urged. “Ye have a busy day today, an’ ye cannae lie about till noon.”
“I know, Crissy.” She sat up and began to sip her ale, and the daylight gradually began to hurt less as her eyes became accustomed to it. Crissy was swiftly and efficiently packing all of Grace’s clothes into a trunk to take with them. She had been told about William and Grace’s plans to leave, and heartily approved. “Good idea, hen,” she had agreed, nodding firmly. “This is an unhealthy place, an’ I dinnae think ye will be happy here at all.”
“I might have been, Crissy, but not without the man I love.” Grace sighed.
Crissy could find no words of comfort for her, so she kissed the top of her forehead and gave her a brief hug, then she sent for Grace’s breakfast.
When it arrived, Grace took one look at the delicious food and pushed it away. “I’m sorry, Crissy. I cannot eat this,” she said, her face a mask of disgust. “I’m just too nervous. Maybe I’ll try again when I get back from speaking to the Laird.”
Crissy looked at her critically and shook her head, but said nothing.
Grace dressed quickly, then Crissy tied her hair in a loose knot at the back of her head. When she was ready, in a loose grey traveling dress and coat, she went down to confront Robert. Her heart was thumping nineteen to the dozen and her stomach was tied in a knot, but she was determined to face him. She was not at all sure that he would be willing to let her leave, however, so she and William had devised another plan to cover that eventuality.
Robert was in his study, a glass of warm ale at his elbow. Their mutual dislike of tea was the one thing they agreed on, but it was hardly a foundation on which to build a marriage. He stood up when Grace entered, looking surprised to see her.
“Grace, good morning,” he greeted her. “You look dreadful. Did you not sleep well?” He sounded a little bored, as if he was saying all the right things, but didn’t really mean them.
Grace clenched her fists so hard that her nails were biting into her palms.‘I might look terrible, but my heart is not as black as yours, you beast.’
“No, M’Laird, I did not,” she managed to say, her voice barely a whisper.
“Did I not tell you to call me Robert?” he asked crossly. “We are going to be married, after all. And sit down, for heaven’s sake. You’re making me nervous.”
‘Married? Not if I have anything to say about it,’Grace thought viciously. “Forgive me, Robert. My father has sent for me. He wants me to come back for a little while before the wedding, and to be honest, the events of yesterday have upset me greatly. I am really not feeling myself at all. I wondered if you would mind if I went home for a wee while to recover a little?” She looked at him with an exaggerated expression of hope in her eyes, and he sighed.
“Everything is going wrong,” he complained, shaking his head. “That Patterson tribe has been a thorn in my side ever since I can remember!”
“Speaking of which, have you found any sign of Fergus?” Grace asked, barely able to hide the tremble in her voice. She was trying to play down any show of worry about Fergus, for fear of making Robert more jealous. In fact, she had been holding herself back from running downstairs and roaring at Robert for not doing more to find him.
Robert looked at her with narrowed eyes for a moment, then his face became sad, but in Grace’s eyes, the expression was merely a mask he was wearing for her benefit. “We looked for hours yesterday,” he said miserably. “But we found nothing. However, I’ve sent the men out to cover a wider area, and I feel confident that they will find him today. My poor brother.” He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then looked up at her again. “I agree. Perhaps it is better that you should go home for a while, and I will get word to you if there is any news.”
“Thank you, M-Robert,” Grace replied. She was surprised that he had consented to let her go so easily, but turned away and left, and as the door closed behind her, she was sure that she heard a great sigh of relief. Perhaps he was as glad to see the back of her as she was to see the back of him—at least for the time being.
* * *
After her return from Robert’s study, Grace was finally able to eat, much to Crissy’s satisfaction. Grace looked very pale, and there were dark circles around her eyes, but she had always had a hearty appetite; the fact that she had lost it was a very bad sign. However, now she was eating again, so whatever she and the Laird had discussed had cheered her up.
“Are we ready tae go?” she asked Grace, who was chewing her last mouthful of egg.
Grace wiped her mouth with a napkin, nodding. “Definitely!” she growled. “I cannot wait to be out of here.”