The Magnificent Rogue (41 page)

“No, you were right not to interfere. It would have been too dangerous for you.” Why would Malcolm think it necessary to torture Sebastian Landfield? He didn’t doubt Malcolm derived a feeling of power from tormenting individuals, but he seldom indulged himself without reason. “Is he still alive?”

MacGrath shrugged again. “I don’t know. I doubt it. It’s been quiet since Malcolm left the cottage yesterday, and there’s no longer a guard at the door.”

“First, the woman in James’s dungeon and now Landfield,” Jock murmured. “A connection?”

“Probably,” Robert said. “Did you find out who she was, Bobby?”

“English, named Clara Merkert. James had her brought from the town of Bourse. The soldier I spoke
to said they were told to make sure no one in the village knew they had taken her.”

Bourse was not close to Sheffield, where Kate had spent her life, yet there must be some bond.

“Will you be needing anything else?” MacGrath put down his cup and rose to his feet “I should be getting back.”

“Just keep an eye on Malcolm. We’ll be in touch with you later to give you our direction. You have my thanks, Bobby, you’ve been a great help.”

Jock watched MacGrath leave the cabin before turning to Robert. “I know it may be of little interest to you, but I heard other news in Edinburgh.”

“About Kate?”

Jock smiled sardonically. “No, I told you this news would not overly concern you. It’s only the small matter of war. It’s growing closer every day. Elizabeth sent Leicester to the Netherlands to seek peace and then promptly commissioned Drake to raid Cadiz. He sank thirty-six Spanish ships. Philip’s armada will be ready to strike any time now, and in a sea battle of those proportions it may not be only England that’s involved. It would be a miracle if Ireland and Scotland aren’t drawn into it.”

“I know that,” Robert said. “As soon as we get Kate away from Alec, I’m sending you back to protect Craighdhu.”

“Sending me back? What of you?”

“I’ll make a decision on that later.”

“I think you’ve already made a decision,” Jock said softly.

Robert changed the subject “Malcolm has a residence south of the city. If Kate’s not in the city, she could be there. We’ll ride down tomorrow to Selwyth and see what we can find out.” As he saw Jock open his lips to protest, he added, “All right, we’ll see what
you
can find out. We’ll make camp nearby, and I’ll sit meekly and wait for your report.”

“It won’t be quick. We have no men at Selwyth. I’ll have to rely on bribes for information.”

“Nothing has been quick yet,” Robert said sourly.

Jock’s brows lifted. “I’ve noticed you’re a trifle on edge. I’m surprised you don’t want to post down there at once.”

“Not tonight.” He was not about to hurry to Selwyth so he could wait again if there was any other way he could find Kate. “I think we’ll go visit Sebastian Landfield.”

There was no light glimmering in the windows at 14 Greybriar Street, and as MacGrath had said, no guard at the door.

“I believe MacGrath could be right,” Jock said. “It may be too late to talk to the good vicar.”

Robert tried the door: It swung open.

The room held the sour odor of sweat and urine, but no death stench fouled the air.

He drew his sword and stepped into the room. “See if you can find a candle and get us some light.” His eyes were already becoming accustomed to the darkness, and he could discern that the room was small and almost barren of furniture.

“Serpent …”

Robert whirled to the corner of the room from where the weak whisper had come.

“The candle,” he said sharply.

“I’ve found one,” said Jock, striking flint behind him. “Be careful.”

Light flared, and Robert saw Sebastian Landfield.

Or what was left of him.

The old man was tied to a chair in the corner, and Malcolm had been using a knife instead of a whip. So much blood surrounded the chair that Robert wondered that the old man had any left in his body. He had to be near death.

“I will … not yield.…” Sebastian raised his head
to reveal eyes still burning fanatically in his wreck of a face. “Never …”

“Kate,” Robert demanded. “Where’s Kate?”

“Daughter of the Devil,” he whispered. “Not Lilith. Serpent. Writhing, changing … like the serpent in Eden. I will … not yield.…”

“Where’s Kate?”

“I will not—” For an instant the hatred vanished from his expression and became pleading. “Kill her … kill the serpent.”

He was dead.

“Charming of Alec to leave the old man here to slowly bleed to death,” Jock said as he came to stand beside Robert. “I’d say he was a trifle annoyed he didn’t get what he wanted. I wonder what his purpose was?”

“He wanted Landfield to swear Kate was Mary’s daughter.” Robert smiled mirthlessly. “But even torture doesn’t sway madmen.”

“Shall I cut him loose and send for MacGrath to arrange for burial?”

Kill her … kill the serpent
.

Robert turned away. “Leave the bastard to rot.”

“She’s here,” Jock said as they rode into their camp in the forest a short distance from Selwyth Manor. “For all the good it will do us. Malcolm has an army of guards at Selwyth.”

“She’s a prisoner?”

Jock shook his head. “Not visibly. I’m sure she would be stopped if she tried to escape, but she’s allowed to move freely about the castle and the gardens. She goes for a ride in this very forest every day, suitably accompanied by guards … for her protection.”

“Then we can take her.”

“Not if she doesn’t want to go.” Jock paused. “It’s a hellish task rescuing a woman who doesn’t want to be rescued.”

His words were unpalatable, but Robert couldn’t deny their truth.

“Then I’ll have to convince her that she wants to be rescued. Can I get into the castle?”

Jock thought about it. “Possibly. Bribery is always possible with Malcolm’s servants. They have no liking for the bastard. I’m sure the guards were warned about an attacking force trying to take Kate away, not one person coming into the castle. The only hazard would be if one of Malcolm’s officers recognized you.” He stood up. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“My lady!”

Kate turned at the call to see Kenneth Morrow, Alec’s captain of the guard, coming down the garden path toward her. She smothered a twinge of impatience and smiled sweetly. “How nice to see you. Is it not a glorious morning?”

“Glorious. May I say you look just right in this garden,” he remarked with clumsy gallantry as he fell into step with her. “Just like a flower yourself.”

She was not in the least flowerlike, she thought in disgust. Since she had few weapons in this battle, she had thought to try Jean’s tactics and attempt to create a picture of feminine winsomeness. It was not a role that suited her temperament. If she had to shyly lower her eyes one more time, she felt she would vomit. She smiled again instead. “How kind you are. Will you walk with me?”

He shook his head. “I have duties to perform. I’ve only come with a message. Sir Alec will have the pleasure of joining you for supper tonight.”

She tensed. She had known Malcolm would come, but she was still not ready. “How pleasant.”

“Will you wish to ride today?”

She turned a corner in the path. “I don’t see how I can resist the chance when the day is so bright and the company so—” She inhaled sharply.

Robert!

The man kneeling and digging in the earth of the rose bed was dressed in rough loose trousers and tunic, his head covered by a hat pulled down to shade his eyes, but there was no doubting his identity. She had studied every line of his body, knew every gesture, every texture.

“Is something wrong, my lady?”

“No, of course not,” she said quickly. “The sight of the roses took my breath away. I must ask that gardener to gather some for the table tonight.”

Good God, what the devil was Robert doing here?

Captain Morrow repeated, “You wish to ride, my lady?”

“Oh, yes, but I’ll send a servant to tell you at what hour. I wish to enjoy the garden for a while. It is such a beautiful day.”

He continued to walk with her. “It is true. The roses are quite splendid since they opened.”

He must not look too closely at those roses, Kate thought. He had accompanied them from Kilgranne, and he would recognize Robert. She directed his attention to a flowering apple tree. “But then all the plants are exquisite here at Selwyth, so different from the Highlands.” She sat down on a marble bench. “I believe I’ll sit here for a short time.”

He stood before her, gazing at her with a foolish grin. What would it take to get the man to leave her? “Really, I’ll be quite safe by myself. I’m keeping you from your duties.” She smiled sweetly. “You’re so good to take such care of me.”

“It is my honor and pleasure.” He hesitated and bowed. “Until later, my lady.” He turned and walked back quickly toward the castle.

She scarcely waited until he was out of sight before she jumped to her feet and flew toward the rose bed. “Are you mad?” she whispered as she stopped beside Robert. “Leave at once!”

Robert didn’t look at her as he continued to turn the earth with his spade. “I didn’t think your swain was ever going to depart. It appears you’ve been charming more men than Alec.”

“He may be of use to me,” she said absently as she gazed at him. Just the sight of him was making her tremble. “And no one charms Alec Malcolm.”

“Jock seems to think you capable of leading him around like a tame bear.” He stabbed the earth with sudden violence. “But bears have been known to turn and maul their trainers.”

“Why are you here?”

“What else would a loving husband do when his wife abandons him?”

She could sense the anger in him. Well, that was what she wanted him to feel toward her. “Have the pride to accept his dismissal and go his own way.”

“Oh, no,” he said softly. “You won’t try that ploy again with me. Though I was most irritated when you humiliated me in front of the clan.”

“I’ll do it again,” she said. “And I’ll keep on doing it until you realize I want nothing more to do with you. Didn’t Jock tell you I—”

“Jock gave me your message. He did not believe you, and neither did I.”

“Then you’re a fool. You owe me nothing. You’ve kept your promise to Elizabeth. I’m the one who left. Go back to Craighdhu.”

“And let you stay here on James’s doorstep, where any minute Alec may decide to trade you for James’s favor?”

“He won’t do that.”

“How do you know? You’re in unknown waters. Ambitions change and waver from day to day here. James smiles at a noble, and it makes ripples throughout the kingdom. Elizabeth sends James a sharp note, and new opportunities present themselves. In the blink of an eye you may prove dispensable to Alec.”

“He wants the crown. He needs me to get it,” she said. “And we won’t be on James’s doorstep for very long. We’ll be leaving for England as soon as Alec ties up a few loose ends here.”

“England,” Robert repeated, startled. “Why?”

“He says it will be easier to arouse support below the border.”

He shook his head. “Mary’s sympathizers are much stronger here in Scotland. Where do you go in England?”

She tried to remember. “Warwick and Kenilworth, I think he said.”

“What?” He frowned. “That makes no sense. Both are strongly Protestant.”

“It appears Alec disagrees with you.” She forced a smile. “Since he wants the English throne as well as Scotland’s for me, I’m sure he knows where our best support can be found.”

“The throne,” Robert repeated. “I’m supposed to believe that’s what you covet most in the world.”

She lifted her chin. “Why shouldn’t I?”

His control suddenly snapped, and he took a step forward and grasped her by the shoulders. “Stop lying to me, Kate. You don’t do it well at all. I’ve come to take you back to Craighdhu.”

“That part of my life is over. I won’t go back.” She wished he would take his hands away. They felt too good, too familiar. “Where is your sense? You’ve always been so concerned about your Craighdhu. You’re endangering it to even suggest I return.”

“Let me worry about Craighdhu.”

“Then do so.” She swallowed. “And let me attend to my own affairs.”

“Damn you, listen to me. You can’t stay here.”

“I
will
stay here. Go away, Robert. This is what I want.”

“The hell it is.” He jerked her close, his eyes blazing down at her.
“No more lies.”

She suddenly broke and flared in turn, “Where else do I have to go? I can’t go back to Craighdhu. I would destroy it. You were right, and I was wrong. I’ll always be a pawn waiting to be used.”

“But I’d wager you have no intention of letting Alec use you.”

“No.” She took a deep breath and then said baldly, “I’m going to kill him.”

His grip on her shoulders eased a fraction. “I thought as much.”

“I’ll kill him and then go away. It’s the only way Craighdhu will be safe. The only way I’ll be safe.” The only way to keep Robert safe.

“Gavin is my friend, Kate. After what happened at Kilgranne, I had every intention of disposing of Alec.”

“And then let James use his death to take Craighdhu? No, it has to be me.”

“You won’t be able to do it. Killing requires a certain innate hardness you don’t possess.”

“I could learn.”

He shook his head.

“You’d be surprised at what I’ve learned already.” She tore away from him and started up the path. “So leave me alone. I don’t need you.”

“I’ll go away for now,” he called after her, “but perhaps you’d be interested to know that I stumbled on one of those loose ends Alec was so concerned about tying. Sebastian Landfield is dead.”

She halted in shock and turned to face him. “Sebastian?”

“He was tortured to death. It seems he wouldn’t be manipulated in the direction Alec wished him to go.” He smiled mirthlessly. “For once the vicar is giving you a lesson by example to which you should pay the utmost attention.”

Sebastian was dead. She could feel no regret at the passing of her old enemy, but it was difficult to comprehend
that he was not alive, no longer a threat to her. “It seems … strange.”