Shadow Music (17 page)

Percy wasn’t as worried. While he would have preferred to have Gabrielle in marriage, he was prepared to take her as his mistress. His obsession did not require a public ceremony. If Gabrielle were banished, she would be free for the taking, and he could have her whenever and however he wanted. All he had to do was wait until Coswold washed his hands of her.

Coswold had devised a plan, too, and knew exactly what he would do. He had to act quickly because Gabrielle was still in a state of shock. He feared that she would react with a vengeance and perhaps even try to escape to her father for protection. He couldn’t let that happen.

“I think it’s a waste of my time to take the woman back to England and wait for King John to return.

Since I speak on his behalf, I will decide her fate this very minute.”

“You will not kill her,” Percy shouted.

Isla’s hand flew to her chest. “Why do you care what happens to her?” she cried. “You can’t possibly still want her.”

“Can’t you shut her up, Coswold? No one wants to hear anything more from her.”

“Be silent,” Coswold ordered as he shoved Isla away from him. “Percy’s right. You’ve said enough.”

“I mean what I say, Coswold,” Percy warned. “You cannot kill Gabrielle.”

Coswold sneered at his adversary. “No, I won’t kill her. I want her to suffer for the rest of her life, however short that might be.”

He turned his full attention to Gabrielle then and took a step toward her. The crowd gave him a wide berth.

“With the power bestowed on me by King John, I hereby banish you.” The assemblage cheered the punishment. Some clapped, others shouted approval. “Good riddance.”

“She’s getting what she deserves.”

Coswold waited for everyone to settle down before he continued.

“Do you understand what this means, Gabrielle? From this moment on, you are an outcast. You have no home, no country, no king, and no title. King John and his faithful subjects no longer acknowledge your existence. You are nothing.”

“Does she answer to the king?” someone shouted.

“She does not, for she has no king,” Coswold answered.

“What about Baron Geoffrey?” Percy asked. “Don’t you wonder what he’ll do when he hears his daughter has been banished?”

“By the time he finds out, it will be too late.”

Percy was desperately trying not to show his joy. Gabrielle would be forced outside the walls, and he planned to follow her. Once she was far enough away from the abbey and no one could see her, Percy would take her. He had enough men to ambush her guards and overwhelm them. No one would even know or care what happened to her, and if Percy wanted to, he could lock her in the bowels of his castle and keep her there for as long as he wished.

Coswold had the same intention. “Isla, go and tell my servants to prepare to leave,” he commanded in a whisper.

She nodded and hurried to do his bidding. But as she passed the scorned woman, she slowed her pace and turned her head so that only Gabrielle could witness her sly smile.

W
HAT MALICIOUS REASON DID THE WOMAN HAVE TOlie? What was her purpose? And what about the monk? Why did he substantiate her lies? What did he have to gain?

Brodick didn’t have any answers. The only fact he knew to be true was that in less than ten minutes’

time the two of them had destroyed Gabrielle’s life. They had disgraced and dishonored her, snatched her future from her, and shamed and humiliated her father. Both Baron Geoffrey and his daughter would no doubt suffer King John’s displeasure, for she was no longer of any value to him. Brodick knew there was a good chance that the baron’s lands would be confiscated—John was notorious for taking what belonged to others, including wives and daughters—and with his twisted mind and his unpredictable temper, there was also a possibility that he would have Baron Geoffrey executed to make an example of him.

And Gabrielle? What would he do to her?

“We’re seeing the English in all their depravity,” Colm said with disgust.

“Gabrielle is innocent.” Father Gelroy had tears in his eyes, so great was his distress. “She’s kind and gentle,” he insisted. “If only you knew…”

The priest stopped in the nick of time. He was about to blurt out that, if Colm and Brodick were aware of the lengths Gabrielle had gone to to protect Liam and save his life, they would know for a certainty that she would never do anything to disgrace her family’s name.

“If we only knew what?” Colm asked.

“If you only knew her,” he hastily said. “She is innocent of these terrible accusations.” Colm turned to the priest. “We already know she’s innocent.”

“Aye, we do,” Brodick agreed.

“You do?”

Brodick sighed. “We do,” he repeated. “But at the moment, that doesn’t matter, does it? Look at them.

They have all condemned her.”

“Yes, they have.” Gelroy was wringing his hands. He stared at Gabrielle as he whispered, “Terrible things will happen to her if they take her back to England and hand her over to King John. That lecherous man is capable of vile deeds, and I will tell you this, when he is finished with her, he’ll…” He couldn’t go on. Gabrielle’s future was too horrible to speak of.

“The woman who accused her…” Brodick began.

“Isla,” Gelroy said. “I heard them say her name.”

“She lies,” Colm said.

Gelroy agreed with a nod. “She will have to answer to God for this.”

“But what about the monk?” Brodick asked. “Why did he confirm her lies?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know this monk?” Brodick asked.

“I do. He’s young and eager to serve, and I believe him to be an honest man. I can’t imagine why he would say that he had seen Gabrielle. It has to be a mistake, and I’ll seek him out and ask him to tell me exactly what he thinks he saw.”

“The damage is already done,” Brodick said.

Gelroy’s shoulders slumped. “Yes it is. They have ruined Lady Gabrielle’s life. Shame to them.”

“Priest?”

“Yes, Laird MacHugh?”

“When I leave the abbey, you’re coming with me.”

Gelroy had the sudden urge to throw himself over the parapet. He took a step back, judged the distance to the steps, and then found a bit of courage. He wouldn’t run. He would politely decline.

“You’re inviting me to serve your clan…”

“If you choose to think of it as an invitation, you may.”

“And if I decline?” the priest gulped.

“You won’t.”

The lump in Gelroy’s throat made it difficult for him to speak, and it took every ounce of self-control he possessed to stand before the MacHugh. Praying that the laird had indeed come to the abbey to seek a priest, and not, as Gelroy feared, to exact revenge for his brother, he rasped, “I will be happy to go with you.”

Brodick laughed. “Now who’s telling lies? Your face gives you away.” Embarrassed, Gelroy admitted, “I do have trepidation, but I will do my best to minister to the MacHugh clan.”

“Go and gather what you wish to take with you,” MacHugh ordered.

Brodick waited until the priest was out of sight before speaking. “I’ve heard it said that once a priest finds a home with any clan, it’s impossible to get rid of him. I’ve a feeling you’re going to be stuck with Gelroy for the rest of your days.”

Had Gelroy heard Brodick’s prediction, he wouldn’t have agreed. The sooner he could complete his duty and be away from the MacHughs, the better.

He didn’t wish to irritate the laird by dragging his feet, and so he ran all the way back to his quarters to pack his holy water and oils, his stole, and the rest of his possessions. Laird MacHugh had ordered one of his younger soldiers to accompany the priest, and Gelroy thought the laird did so to make certain he wouldn’t try to run away.

God only knew Gelroy wanted to flee, but with Lady Gabrielle in such need, he had to put his own fears aside. All he could think about was finding a way to help her.

He thought she would be worried about her guards waiting for her. It wouldn’t do for them to join in this monstrous persecution. Four guards and one woman standing against a hundred incensed men…no, no.

The guards must stay outside the gates until this dreadful drama was over. Then, God willing, they could help Gabrielle find shelter away from these terrible people.

Gelroy headed for the front gates. The warrior blocked him. “You’re to go back to Laird MacHugh,” he said as he took the two bags filled with Gelroy’s things. “I’ll see that these get tied to one of our saddles.”

“Pray be patient with me,” Gelroy replied. “I must give Gabrielle’s guards orders to continue to wait.

She would not want them to come inside the abbey, for there is danger here. It will take but a minute.” The warrior agreed with a quick nod.

Stephen stood with Gabrielle’s horse just north of the gate. He came forward when he spotted Gelroy with the Highlander.

“Gabrielle will be joining you soon. Do you have her clothes and other necessaries with you?” Father Gelroy asked.

Stephen shook his head. “We have some of her things. Her maids packed her trunks. We plan to catch up to them by late this afternoon. Why do you ask?”

He hated to lie, but Gelroy excused the sin by telling God he was only protecting the guards and Gabrielle from a mob wanting blood.

“She wanted me to make certain because her plans have changed. She will tell you in just a few minutes when she joins you. She bids you stay and wait for her here.” Stephen had no reason to doubt the priest, for he knew that Gelroy had become a friend to Gabrielle.

As Gelroy hurried back to the wall, the MacHugh clansman accompanying him remarked, “You lied to that man. Why?”

“To protect him and the others. The lady would want it so,” he added. “She wouldn’t wish for them to try to interfere in this debacle, as they would be sorely outnumbered.” His escort continued to follow Gelroy and wouldn’t leave his side until the priest was halfway up the stairs. Gelroy knew that the man was also suspicious that he might decide to hide. When he reached the top step, he stopped and waited for one of the lairds to bid him to come forward. Brodick noticed him and motioned to him.

Gelroy cleared his throat to get MacHugh’s attention and said, “Laird, I cannot leave until I know that Lady Gabrielle will be safe from these monsters. With your permission, I’ll go and stand by her side.” Before MacHugh could respond, Gelroy straightened his shoulders and turned to Brodick. “Laird Buchanan, Gabrielle’s father isn’t here to defend her honor, and you are her only relative. You must help her.”

“Do not tell me my duty, priest.” Brodick’s voice was harsh. “I know it well.”

“Yes, of course you do,” he said, nodding vigorously.

Dismissing Gelroy, Brodick watched the crowd below. They were being whipped into a frenzy by Coswold and Percy.

“Colm, I’ll take her home with me. I can protect her there.”

“Keeping her safe won’t restore her honor,” Colm said grimly.

Brodick agreed. “She deserves better.”

“Her father…he isn’t like those barons?”

“I wouldn’t allow him on my land if he were,” he replied. “I know him to be a righteous man.”

“Send word to him that his daughter is staying with you, and he’ll come and get her.”

“It isn’t that simple. Baron Geoffrey will have to gather his vassals and prepare for war. If the king confiscates his property—”

“He’ll be powerless.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “Gabrielle needs a strong protector. She’s my wife’s cousin. It’s expected that I would shield her, but that wouldn’t prove she is innocent.”

“What do you care what others think?”

“I don’t care,” he countered, “but if Gabrielle were my wife, I would kill any man who would dare attack her honor.”

“As would I,” Colm said.

“But she has no husband to defend her honor.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“I think perhaps you should take her home with you.”

Frowning, Colm said, “And what would that accomplish? What difference would it make if I offered her my protection instead of you? You’re as strong as I am.”

“I cannot marry her.”

The statement lay between them for a long moment before Colm responded. He knew exactly what Brodick wanted. “You ask too much of me.”

“You have a debt to repay. I ask what you can give.”

“Marriage? No. It’s out of the question.”

Brodick shrugged. “It makes sense to me. If you marry her, everyone will know you believe her to be innocent. You would not marry a whore. You’re respected and feared by most of the other clans. You could restore her honor by giving her your name.”

“No. You will have to come up with another solution,” Colm answered emphatically.

Brodick wasn’t deterred. He knew Colm MacHugh would eventually do the honorable thing.

“Do you suggest there might be another laird more powerful than you who hasn’t taken a wife yet?”

“I am not suggesting anything, Buchanan. This is your problem to solve, not mine.”

“A wife for a brother. You save her life as I helped save your brother.” Colm’s jaw was clenched tight.

A Buchanan called out. “Lairds, Lady Gabrielle is leaving. They’ve opened the gates.” Brodick looked at the commons just as a man stepped forward and spit on the ground in front of Gabrielle.