Rowan's Lady (7 page)

Garrick was on her in an instant, grabbing her
arms with both hands. “The brat is no’ yer concern,” he seethed as she gave her
a shake.

Arline was beside herself with worry and fear for
Willie. Her mind raced for a way to convince him to allow her to stay. At least
long enough for her to flee with Willie. Certainly, he did not mean for her to
leave immediately.

“Me laird, perhaps ye would allow me to stay, at
least until Willie’s father pays the ransom. I promise, I will ask nothin’ else
of ye--”

She saw the fury flash in his eyes and had no time
or way to respond. A large hand landed across her cheek. He grabbed her arms
again and slammed her against the wall, pinning her there. Her teeth cut her
cheek and her mouth filled with blood. Tiny flecks of white flashed in her eyes
and she felt instantly woozy.

Her hatred toward Garrick grew.

“Have ye learned
nothin’
this past year?
Are ye truly
that
stupid that ye would question me decision?” He was
yelling at her now, but she could barely hear him over the blood that rushed in
her ears.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered frantically.

He pushed her against the wall again. “Ye will
leave this castle this night. I give ye half an hour to pack and leave. If ye
argue further, I will think nothing of squeezing the life out of ye and sending
yer corpse back to yer da. Do ye understand?”

Arline nodded her head yes, but her heart pounded
no,
no, no! I do no’ understand how any one man can be so cruel!
She made a
solemn vow that if she were to survive this night, she’d never allow herself to
be hit by a man again. From this point forward, she would carry a dirk with her
at all times.

“Who will care fer the child?” It was, mayhap, the
most stupid question she had ever asked for it did nothing but inflame his
anger further.

Before she realized what was happening, Garrick
had thrown her to the cold stone floor. “Why do ye test me?” he growled as he
stood over her before one foot landed hard into her thigh. “Do ye wish to die
this night?” he asked before kicking her again.

She curled herself into a ball, covering her head
with her hands. She had indeed pushed him too far, she knew that. She’d only
been thinking of Willie. Soon it wouldn’t matter who would take care of the
child for Arline was as good as dead.

Another swift, hard kick was delivered to her ribs
and knocked what little breath she had left completely from her lungs. She’d
never known such fear before. She could not beg for mercy, could not crawl away
for she was trapped in the corner.

“M’laird!” came a muffled voice. “M’laird!”

Arline barely recognized the voice. It belonged to
Archie, Garrick’s second in command.

Archie had placed a hand on Garrick’s shoulder and
was gently leading him away from Arline. “M’laird,” Archie repeated. “Ona waits
fer ye in the kirk. She wishes to be married this night.”

Arline had never had any kind feelings toward any
of Garrick’s men. But had she been able to move, she would have kissed Archie
for pulling Garrick away from her. She lay in a heap, trying to catch her
breath and willing her stomach to settle. One more kick and she would certainly
wretch and that would not help her case with Garrick.

“Go to Ona, m’laird. I’ll take care of Lady
Arline,” Archie spoke quietly and in even tones. Arline didn’t care
why
he
was helping, but she would be eternally grateful to him.

Garrick finally turned his glaring eyes away from
Arline and focused on Archie.

“Go to Ona,” Archie told him again.

It was as if the name alone was enough to calm his
anger. Slowly, Garrick’s angry face softened before he smiled at Archie.

“I’ll take the lady back to her da, m’laird,”
Archie said. “Ye needn’t worry. I’ll have her gone before yer done speakin’ yer
vows.” He offered a reassuring smile.

Garrick shook his head. “Nay, she gets no escort.
No horse. Nothin’, do ye understand? Cast her out. She can fend fer herself.
She is no longer my responsibility.”

Archie looked appalled at the thought of just
turning Arline out. “But, Garrick!” he argued. “Ye canna be serious. We canna
just turn her out in the middle of the night!”

Garrick shoved Archie away. His voice was filled
with disdain. “Ye heard me orders. Cast her out. Now. Do no’ argue it further.
I care no’ what happens to her. I didn’t want her to begin with!”

“But, Garrick, if we do this, and anythin’ happens
to her, her father will be sorely disappointed in ye!”

Garrick would not listen to reason. “I do no’ care
what her father thinks. Turn her out, turn her out now.” He said nothing else
as he stomped away leaving a disgusted Archie and a terrified and confused
Arline in his wake.

Archie went to Arline and knelt down. “Are ye all
right, m’lady?”

Arline wanted to laugh at the absurdity of his
question. All right? Nay, I am no’ all right. I hurt, I am afraid, and I
ashamed. I have failed an innocent little girl.

Instead, she lied. “I will be fine soon. I thank
ye for helpin’ me, Archie.” It was a struggle but she managed to pull herself
to sit, with her back leaning near the door that led to the chamber next to her
own. “Please, let me at least get my breath and wash before ye cast me out.”

“Take yer time, m’lady. He’ll be quite busy with
Ona for the next few hours.”

Arline drew her knees up and placed her palms on
the floor. She could see the concern written in the lines of his face and in
his hazel eyes. Why he was concerned did not matter much to her at the moment,
she was simply grateful for it.

Droplets of blood trailed down the front of her
night dress. She could feel her cheek begin to swell as it throbbed painfully.
Her thighs and ribs throbbed along with it.
Damn, ye are a fool!

She closed her eyes and moments later heard
footsteps coming toward her.
Please do no’ let it be Garrick back to kill
me,
she prayed silently.

“Archie,” a young man called as he approached.
“Garrick wants ye in the kirk.”

Archie muttered a curse under his breath and stood
upright. He stood with his fingertips on his hips and looked as though he were
trying to assess the situation thoughtfully.

“He says fer me to throw the trash out,” the young
man said proudly as he leered down at Arline.

Archie grabbed the young man by the collar of his
shirt and shoved him against the wall. “Do no’ show her further disrespect
young Gunther, elst I’ll show ye the end of me blade.” Arline stared up in
utter surprise at Archie’s threat. When on earth had the man come to be her
champion? She found his sudden change of attitude toward her quite confusing.

“Back off, Archie!” Gunther threatened. “Since
when do ye care what happens to her? Garrick certainly does no’ hold her in any
high regard. Why should ye?”

Archie took a deep breath and let it out slowly
before releasing his hold on Gunther. “No matter what
your laird’s
opinion
of her is, she is still a lady and deserving of yer respect. Ye treat her with
compassion, Gunther, or, I swear I will gut ye through.”

Gunther sneered at him but remained silent as
Archie went back to Arline. “Me lady, I fear I must leave to see to Garrick.
Please, go to yer room and pack. I shall return as soon as possible to escort
ye out.”

Arline stared up at him, dumbfounded at his kind
tone and offer of assistance. “Thank ye,” she murmured softly.

Archie offered her his hand, which she politely refused.
“I do no’ think I can stand just yet. I will be fine in a few moments. Please,
now, go see to yer laird.”

Archie gave a curt nod before turning to leave. He
warned Gunther one last time to leave the lady alone and show her no ill
treatment.

Gunter waited until Archie was out of sight before
he said anything to Arline.

“Our laird wants ye out of his castle this night.
I would strongly suggest ye hurry and do as he says.” He crossed his arms over
his chest and looked at her as if she were covered in manure.

She’d learned her lesson with Garrick and dared
not do or say anything that would give the young man reason to act rashly.
Inwardly however, she was cursing him to the devil.

The door to her chamber seemed too far away at the
moment and she would have to pass by the young man in order to get to it. She
chose instead to slip into the empty chamber that sat next to hers. The empty
room was part of her chamber but it had never been furnished for her.

She took a deep breath and rolled to her knees,
embarrassed and humiliated. Using the latch to the door for balance, she slowly
and carefully pulled herself up to stand. She nearly tumbled into the room for
the latch hadn’t been fully engaged.

 Pain irradiated from her ribs to her toes but she
wasn’t about to let anyone see it. She especially would not give Gunther the
satisfaction.

Carefully she pushed the door open and stepped
into the dark room. There was no moonlight or lit candle to help her find her
way. It was nearly as black as pitch. She slowly closed the door behind her and
took a deep breath.

She hadn’t taken three steps into the room when a
hand came around and clamped across her mouth while another held her about her
waist. She nearly jumped from her skin as the room spun around her.

Good lord, what now?

Frederick and Daniel had witnessed a good portion
of the attack on Lady Arline. They were hidden in the dark room with the door
slightly ajar. Frederick had to restrain Daniel to keep him from bursting
through the door and running Garrick Blackthorn through. As much as Frederick
wanted to assist the lady, his first priority was Lily.

His mind raced for a way to do both. Just as he
had decided to damn the consequences and go to the lady’s aid, the man appeared
and pulled Garrick from her. Frederick was thankful for the man’s assistance
and prayed God’s forgiveness for not intervening sooner.

He and Daniel had been quite relieved for the
man’s assistance. They were forced to wait in silence, praying that the
occupants would soon clear the corridor. They were trapped and could not do
much until everyone left. The only other option was to leave the way they’d
come in, via the balcony.

They were surprised when the lady entered the room
they were in. It was a small room with nowhere to hide. And if the lady lit a
candle they would certainly be seen.

So they did the only thing they could think of.

Frederick now held the battered, trembling woman
against his chest with one hand firmly over her mouth. “Me lady, please do no’
make a sound. We mean ye no harm,” he whispered into her ear.

His assurance that they meant her no harm did
nothing to quell the fear or ease her pounding heart. Had she not just had the
hell nearly beaten out of her, she would have fought and struggled. She wished
for no more.

“Lady, I swear it to ye, we truly mean ye no
harm,” he tried to reassure her. “We ken ye hurt. And were we able, we would
have gutted Blackthorn for ye. If I let ye go, do ye promise no’ to call out?”

Arline nodded her head realizing that had they
meant her any harm, they would have done away with her by now. She breathed a
sigh of relief when he carefully lowered his hand from her mouth. Had he not
still been holding her about the waist, she would have fallen to the floor.

“I ken ye hurt, m’lady and fer that, I be truly
sorry. I am Frederick of Clan Graham and this is Daniel,” he said, still
holding her closely. “Are ye well, m’lady? Can ye stand?”

Arline nodded her head again, her voice frozen in
her throat. Slowly, the arm around her waist loosened. Suddenly a memory of
Carlich flashed in her mind. Her first husband, a sweet old man who had died
eight years past. He told her that a man’s heart could be seen in his eyes. She
wished she could see his face so she could better judge his sincerity.

She felt woozy and lightheaded but managed to push
it aside by taking a few deep breaths. Finally, she was able to speak. “I do
no’ ken why ye be here, and frankly, I do no’ care.” She was wasting valuable
time and needed to get to her chamber next door, to Willie and somehow come up
with a plan to get the child out.

“If ye’ve come here to kill Blackthorn, ye have me
blessin’, now please, I must leave.”

Frederick stopped her with a light touch to her
arm. “M’lady, we are here to find our laird’s daughter.”

It took a moment for his words to sink in. Hope
rose again, washing her body in warm relief.
Praise God!
“Ye’ve come for
Willie?” she whispered excitedly.

“Willie?” Frederick chuckled. “Her name be Lily,
m’lady. But she canna say her l’s verra well, so it comes out
Willie.
”

Arline rolled her eyes, feeling dumb that she had
not figured it out sooner. “Lily!” she repeated, much relieved to learn the
child had been given such a beautiful name. It made perfectly good sense, now
that she could think on it.
Lily.

“I’ve been takin’ care of her,” Arline told him.
“She is a most precious little girl.”

“We thank ye kindly, m’lady,” Daniel finally spoke
from the shadows. “Her da will be verra grateful to ye.”

“Och, ’twas the only right thing to do,” she told
him.

Arline was about to take the men through to her
room when a knock came at the door. Fear rippled up and down her spine. She
whispered to Frederick and Daniel to remain quiet as she stepped to the door
and slowly opened it.

“Ye best hurry if ye wish to leave the castle
alive.” Gunther had returned. “The laird sent me to check on yer progress.”

Arline stepped into the hallway and closed the
door behind her. The presence of the two men behind her gave her hope as well
as energy to press forward.

“I will only need a few moments,” she told
Gunther. “Ye may assure yer laird I shall be gone from this place verra soon.”