Thirty-Four
Two months later
Douglas looked at his second-in-command, Finlay. This had been the last keep Douglas knew of, that Wynton owned. The bastard was richer than the king himself and held more properties than anyone had a need of.
“‘Tis a frustrating endeavor, this. Finding a rat is never easy.”
Finlay nodded opening his hand. “Aye, but closer we move, if this is any indication.”
Fresh ashes from the hearth marred his skin. “These doona appear to have been here long. He knows he’s being hunted.”
Douglas nodded. “I wish to rid the earth of him and return to my daughter. I’m much to old to be traipsing about.” He sighed, looking at Finlay who was only a few years younger than him. “It is time, friend, for us to move on and enjoy the benefits of a hard-worked life, aye? I’ve grandbairns I wish to teach to fish and hunt. Tasks that I had enjoyed instructing my son, but have more time for, now, for the bairns.”
Finlay nodded. “Aye, Douglas. It is time. I have five of my own. While Highlander warrior blood flows through me and I will always raise my sword alongside ye, I find that I desire being with my family more every morning.”
Douglas slapped his back. “And that we shall have, after we find this rat. We shall at long last enjoy all that we’ve worked for.”
“Did ye gain any information from the stableman?”
Douglas nodded his head. “Aye. The most curious bit of information. I found it odd when Madeleine told me that none of the servants who’d cared for Anne or knew Anne, remained at the keep when Maddie was a child. ‘Tis unusual, no?”
At Finlay’s nod, Douglas continued, watching the men enjoy their respite. “The stableman said most of them died suddenly the day after her birth. Four of the servants’ bodies were found, each apparently having suffered ill-fated accidents. Anne’s lady’s maid disappeared along with a few other servants.”
“Odd coincidence. The day after Madeline was born? Did they nay question this?”
Douglas shook his head. “Knowing what I know of Wynton, they wouldna have. They were justifiably afraid of that man. He had a short-temper and thought nothing of striking anyone who spoke words he didna like. My Anne told me many a story of that impulsive man. His temper was volatile, and my Anne felt the his wrath on several occasions.”
“What are ye thinkin’?”
Douglas grimaced in thought. “It seems odd. The man is a wretch, but ‘tis odd that everyone who knew my Anne was gone, and just after the birth of our daughter.”
“Mayhap he desired to isolate young Madeleine so that she wouldna have any kinship or information about her mother. ‘Twould be yet another torture for the child.”
“Aye, ye make wise points, Finlay. I canna help feeling ‘tis more, however.”
At Douglas’ thoughtful face and squinting eyes, Finlay asked, “What is it?”
Douglas nodded and a smile slowly spread. “I remember my Anne speaking of one last keep Wynton held. Said he oft traveled there, for what she suspected were trysts.”
“Had many, did he?”
“Oh, aye. Anne said he had many. Saw with her own eyes. Bastard that he was, would force her to watch on occasion.”
Finlay spit on the ground. “A true bastard he was. Where is this keep?”
“Northeast, I recall her saying, along a river. ‘Twas far enough so that she felt safe for a week’s time.”
“Lived in fear, did she?”
Douglas clenched his jaw. “Every day of her short life.”
The burning feeling in his chest returned. Pure and raw, the heartache never left him. Regrets and guilt plagued him since she left him those many decades ago. She’d forced his hand, attempting to ease his conscience. Wynton had threatened James and Anne, if Douglas ever sought her out.
Wrong he had been to believe that Wynton would maintain his word.
He’d promised that if Anne left quietly with him without any hesitance, he’d keep her safe.
Instead, from all that he’d gained in knowledge of that bastard, Douglas held no doubts that that man had punished her many a time before she’d had Madeleine. ‘Twas a miracle itself that Madeleine was born, knowing what Wynton would have done to Anne.
Two days later, they saw smoke from afar. A river was nearby.
“Must be it. Setting the keep ablaze and running anew.”
Douglas snorted. “I’ll follow him to hell if I have need to, but he will take his last breath with my hands around his neck.”
They approach the keep with caution, and saw something they’d not seen at any of the other keeps.
Servants.
They were running about, attempting to stop the conflagration. Douglas grabbed one by the shirt and brought him closer.
“Where is Wynton?”
The servant swallowed several times before he answered. “Left. There’s a passageway in the dungeons that leads him out.”
“When?”
“At first light when a scout arrived telling him of your impending arrival.”
“We werena attempting to hide it.” Finlay growled. “We welcome a battle with that bastard.”
The servant swallowed again. “Many of his men have abandoned him. He has few now.” He looked at Douglas’ contingency. “Well, looks as if he still has more men than ye.”
“Then ‘twould be a fair fight,” Douglas snapped.
“The fire is moving quickly, and it’s near reached the dungeon.”
Douglas gave a curt nod.
“I need ‘elp!”
Another servant called out to the one Douglas held. He pushed him away.
“Go.”
Douglas motioned for his men to gather.
“We’re close! Keep moving! If ye find him,” he paused looking at each men, “Doona kill him. That honor is mine and mine alone!”
They roared.
“I will take with me ten and see where the passageway leads. Then I will have two of them return for the rest of ye.”
They raised their swords, eagerness on their faces. Once Douglas and Finlay selected ten, they began walking towards the burning structure.
“Nay, Finlay. Remain with them.”
Finlay shook his head. “I doona wish to countermand ye, Douglas, but I will be accompanying ye. Leave Tamhas in charge of them. This be our last fight, I shall fight alongside ye.”
Douglas pursed his lips in anger. “I willna argue because I doona wish to lose time. Verra well, stubborn arse. Men, grab a cloth and wet with yer waterskin. Hold it over yer noses as we go in if the smoke has permeated the air. Let’s go on then.”
They marched into the keep and took the stairs quickly down. Their coughing began immediately and they covered their noses and mouths with the wet cloths.
“Hurry!”
Douglas heard the fire sweeping through the keep, devouring all above them. While it had not yet reached the dungeon, the smoke was strong there.
“Here!”
They turned through the main space where metal poles formed several smaller enclosures. Douglas thought they must have housed the poor souls Wynton had punished here for Lord only knew what reasons, justified or unjustified. Larger areas of the stone walls had filthy chains dangling down.
“There are servants here!”
Douglas and his men hurried over to a grouping of seven men and women. One was coughing hoarsely.
“These two are dead, Laird!”
Douglas spared a glance at one of his men, who took blankets and covered the two dead servants. Of the five remaining, two were upright, and the other three were prone and unmoving on the dirty floor.
“Help those two out of here!”
“Wait! She needs help. She’s close to death.”
Douglas looked where the woman pointed. He nodded and swept his hands to reinforce his order for them to leave. Without speaking so as not to breathe in more smoky air than necessary, he pointed to two of his men to carry two of the three out. Douglas bent down and picked up the woman who the servant had called attention to. He couldn’t see any of her features, her hair was in such disarray, but from the shallow and barely perceptible breathing, this lady was near death.
Douglas and his men hurried down a long pathway, the one he hoped was the secret passageway the servant had mentioned. After what seemed like an interminable stretch made worse by the choking smoke, Douglas exited through a concealed door. Once outside, he greedily breathed in clean fresh air. One of his men came over to take the woman from his arms and lay her down. Douglas watched from where he was bent over, breathing deeply and coughing, as his man felt for a pulse.
“She willna live, Laird. Her breathing is barely perceptible, and her pulse is too faint.”
“Let us attempt to save them.” He looked at Rory. “Take one other with ye and bring Tamhas and the remaining men here. Thereafter, we’ll find that bastard.”
Rory nodded. “Aye, Laird.”
Once Douglas felt that he was breathing normally, he walked over to the servants on the ground.
“They’re all near death, Laird.”
“Press their chests as if they’re drowning. Let us force into them some fresh air.”
He watched as his men did just that.
Douglas wasn’t certain whether staying behind to care for unknown servants was an intelligent decision, but it was a most moral one. He walked over to the woman who was near death. Douglas sunk to his knees besides the frail woman. He could see the bones in her hands. The dress she wore was many inches too large for her frame. Her hair was brittle and looked like a bird’s nest. He looked over to the others who were slowly recovering. They all looked like they’d been through an ordeal.
Douglas began chest compressions as he’d ordered his men to do on the others. He was taking care not to use too much of his strength on the fragile woman. As he began his motions, his hands were bothered by a small, circular, hard disc he presumed was metal, at the woman’s bosom. There was no chain that he took notice of, and there was no obvious pocket. When he felt that the woman was breathing easier, he took a closer look at her clothing, determined to find the circular piece of metal.
“There it is,” he whispered. He was hesitant to get the object, not wanting to offend the rules of propriety, especially considering that the woman was not conscious. Curiosity pushing him forward, he found the hidden pocket in the inside of her bodice, near the top of the neckline. The woman’s chest bones were easily seen underneath her thin skin.
“No woman should ever be treated in such an ill manner, lass.” He sighed. “My apologies for this liberty, but I must see what ye hid here.”
He easily broke through the light threading sewing it closed and reached in for the small trinket with only a finger; the opening was meant for the small hands of a woman. It wasn’t a disc, but a ring. When he looked at his hand where the ring rested, his breath caught.
His world stilled.
His head spun.
He stopped breathing.
Douglas reached and gently parted the woman’s hair from her face, and sat back, transfixed.
“Nay…”
His whisper was hoarse. He felt at once cold and hot, confused and clear-headed.
“Canna be.”
He blinked, believing he was seeing an apparition.
Douglas’ heart seemed to beat when it wanted to, taking a rest twice as long as one beat took.
“Will Lady Anne live?”
The servant’s rusty voice seemed to shake Douglas out of his stupor. The sound Douglas emitted from his throat was inhuman in its pain. He looked at the ring in his hand.
His family’s ring.
The wedding ring he’d intended for her to have for his heart would never belong to another.
Douglas hurriedly felt for her pulse. It was too faint, and in any one else, he’d give up hope that they would live.
In his Anne?
He’d conjure the devil and broker an agreement to save her life in forfeit of his soul.
“Anne?”
That one name, one word, uttered from his very lips held all of his world’s hope, longing, and fear.
She couldn’t die now.
Not when he’d found her!
Not when the Lord saw fit to reunite them while they were on this plane and not on the next.
It was truly a miracle.
His prayers had been answered, even if they were nearly two and a half decades late.
His Anne was here.
And she was alive.
Barely.
He began chest compressions anew.
“Please, my heart. Come back to me.”
Douglas leaned over her and breathed some air into her, as the wise healers in his clan had taught him long ago was a method to help those who’d swallowed water when nearly drowning.
He hoped it would also be fruitful for those caught in the perils of smoke.
Finlay walked over to him.
“Douglas…is aught wrong? D’ye wish for me to bury her? It doesna seem that she will survive.”
Douglas ignored his words, choosing only to growl in denial.
“Fock, fock, fock!”
Her pulse was still very faint, as was her breathing.
“Give her time, Laird. Mayhap fresh air will enter her slowly and awaken her.”
Finlay knew his laird always attempted to save innocents, but his attentions to this particular woman were highly unusual.
“Douglas…”. Finlay began to truly worry about him.
Had something addled his mind?
Douglas looked up, eyes darkened with hope and fear. “‘Tis Anne.”
Finley’s eyes rounded. “Lady Anne?” He took a closer look at the disheveled woman.
Douglas spared a nod before beginning his ministrations anew. Several long moments stretched and all who watched were certain that Lady Anne would not regain her life.
But from one moment to the next, she inhaled so sharply and began a fit of coughs. He quickly sat her up. Douglas, for want of doing something and not knowing what, took his waterskin and brought it to her lips. Anne drank greedily but began coughing violently, choking.
“Slowly, Love. Slowly.”
Douglas was choking on his words, for other reasons. He saw Anne pause at his words and suddenly looked up at him. Frustratedly moving hair out of her face, her eyes teared and rounded when she saw him.
“Douglas?”
Her whisper was faint, both hopeful and pained. Another coughing fit did not prevent her from lifting her hand. Uncertainty reflected in her gaze and she let her hand fall back on her lap without touching him. Douglas stared at it, wide-eyed. He reached her hand and gently held it, bringing it up to his cheek where it had intended to go.
“Ohhh.”
Anne closed her eyes and began crying. She coughed in between, her throat scratchy. Her words were low and gravelly.
“Can it be? Or did I at long last die and am now in the Lord’s embrace with an apparition of my love?”
Douglas chuckled, but it was low. He’d only ever cried once. When he’d been told of Lady Anne’s death after the birth of a bairn he didn’t know was his, he’d fallen onto his knees and very nearly took the roof off the top of the keep with his bellows of raw anguish.
He’d been inconsolable for days, fortnights, months.
He’d been in the midst of finalizing courses of action to retrieve her.
And now, looking upon the face he only ever thought he’d see again in the afterlife- he cried. Tears of relief, of joy, and of anger for all they’d had to live through.
But they were here.
Together.
A miracle he thought would never be.
Douglas grabbed her arm and she cried out in pain. Horrified, he looked down.
“It hadn’t been set right.”
Breathing heavily through his mouth, he easily pushed up the sleeve of the large gown and saw bruises on her arms. Her arm bent unnaturally.
Douglas’ eyes met hers, and then he looked down again as he pushed the sleeve of the arm up. More bruises marred her delicate skin. He looked closely at her throat and saw that they had not been rings of shadows, but bruises from choking.
“He did this.”
Anne nodded her head. “Aye.”
He met her eyes. “I will kill him, my love. He will suffer for every hit, every bruise, and every violation against ye.”
She shook her head. “He has many men, Douglas.” She stopped when a fit of cough restricted her throat. After a moment, she continued.
“Please. Do not. I don’t want to lose you. We’ve just found one another.”
He brought her hand up and kissed it, closing his eyes.
“I vow to ye, my love. Ye willna lose me again.”
The grip on his hand belied the frailty of her hands.
“I promise. Ye will return with me, and ye shall meet Madeleine and our grandbairns.”
Douglas choked on his words, his emotions overpowering him. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb smudging the tears falling from her eye.
“Madeleine?”
Her voice was a whisper. Fresh tears appeared in her eyes. She looked confused.
“The baby died. He told me.”
Douglas closed his eyes and rested his forehead on their joined hands.
He would make Wynton suffer. The desire to do just that was prickling his skin in awareness.
He looked up at the woman he’d loved for over two decades and found it difficult to tell her that the love child they’d created survived the birth.
“Madeleine is alive. I didna know that until more than three years back. I hadna known ye were with child when ye left or I would have never let him take ye and my child.”
She sighed. “I hadn’t known either. I discovered that soon after I arrived with him.” She looked away, tears falling from her face. “I had to think quickly, lest he know.” She swallowed thickly and couldn’t meet his eyes.
“I let him have his way with me. My only concern was protecting our baby.”
Douglas gently took her chin and upturned her face to him.
“Ye’ve nothing to be shamed of, Anne. Ye did what ye needed to do to survive him.”
She nodded, tears washing down her face. A smile broke through. “‘Twas a girl? He respected me in one wish- I wanted to name the babe Madeleine if ‘twas a girl.”
Douglas smiled. “I remember us discussing names once. We both loved that name verra much.”
“They told me that the babe was stillborn.” Anne cried softly.
“Then what?”
It was obvious to him that she didn’t know much of what had happened. Just how long had she been isolated?
“I don’t know. The birth was difficult for me. He didn’t allow anyone save for two to help me- my lady’s maid and a servant. They wouldn’t allow me to see the baby. She didn’t cry when she was born. They took her away.”
Anne had to stop, tears flooding her eyes. Douglas smoothed them over with his thumb.
“The bleeding wouldn’t stop. My lady’s maid sought the assistance of a healer, disobeying his orders. Had she not, I would have died. After much time waiting, I lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was in the dungeon here with only my lady’s maid and servant. I was very weak, and we all doubted that I would live.”
She rested her forehead on his chest.
“Truth was, I didn’t want to. If I had to live without you, at least I had the baby, but the baby had died.”
Douglas brought her within his arms and hugged her. He closed his eyes at the pleasure of holding her.
“My love.”
Douglas’ voice was rough, emotion overwhelming him. His fingers smoothed out the knots in her hair. She pulled back.
“I lived, and in the meanwhile, more servants had appeared. Every week, someone would bring food and water for us. We had to ration all of it. We feared that he would stop even that kindness. Once a month, he would come to see me.”
She looked away, more tears gathering in her eyes.
“He collected what he called his due, for our debt, which was the food and water. If I didn’t do as he pleased, the food and water would stop.”
Her cheeks were red and she would not meet his eyes even when he tried to get her to.
“How bad did he hurt ye?”
Her breath was tremulous when she released it from her lips.
“Very bad.”
Her breathing was fast and she began coughing again.
“Did he force himself on ye?”
She nodded, still not meeting his gaze. “I️ would agree to allow him once, but…”
“Even the first occasion was duress. Rape. Ye didna want it, Anne. He manipulated ye in the worst of ways, holding yer verra livelihood and that of the servants at risk if ye didna submit. How many occasions?”
She didn’t answer.
“More then once?”
She nodded.
“Every month he appeared?”
Anne nodded again.
“He hit ye.”
Her nod was curt with her eyes closed. She was biting her lower lip. She squeezed her eyes closed tightly and finally opened them.
“Eventually, I accepted my burden. Without my cooperation, we would all die. I could not fail them no matter how badly I wished to die. I could not condemn them to that fate when all they’d done to earn his wrath was attempt to help me during my most vulnerable state.”
She sighed.
“After a few years, I realized I did not have to resign myself to that fate. He never would answer my questions as to what he wanted with us. I surmised that he simply wanted to punish me for my relations with you.”
Anne finally made eye contact with Douglas.
“He knew we had lain together. He knew that I loved you…that I continued to love you.”
Anne breathed deeply and began to cough. She attempted to breathe calmly, slowly, and the coughing subsided.
“The servants and I began plotting escapes.” She squeezed her eyes. “We failed many, many times. He took one with the intent of making an example with his murder. I offered myself instead.”
“Did he accept?”
She nodded silently.
“Did he beat ye?”
“Aye. And much, much worse. His violations of my body were… barbaric.” Her words finished on a whisper.
Douglas placed a palm on each side of her face.
“I will extract from him revenge for every beating, every rape, and every punishment he levied on ye, Anne.”
His thumbs were running circles on her cheeks.
“Once I have had our revenge, we will go. Ye can meet our daughter and our three grandbairns.”
She smiled and leaned into his hand.
“I very much want that. And James?”
She looked at him, bringing her uninjured arm to his cheek.
Douglas smiled. “Ye know that I love ye yet more because ye loved my son.”
Her smile lit her eyes. “He was a sweet, loving boy.”
Douglas laughed. “Boy he isna any longer. Even then, Anne, he was at yer height.”
She laughed, nodding. The laughing caused another round of deep coughing. Douglas soothed her back with his palm.
“He is now married to our daughter’s sister by marriage. He has one boy and his wife is expecting another bairn.”
“How wonderful. You’ve been blessed, Douglas.”
“Now more so with ye, my love.” He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them. “I vow that for the remainder of my life, I shall give ye the life ye deserve.”
Douglas touched her forehead with his and Anne sighed. She nuzzled his nose with hers. Their lips met in a tender kiss, when they heard someone running through the brush behind them. When Douglas saw it was the scout he’d sent, he kissed Anne and stood.
“Found him. He’s nay far from here.”
Douglas glanced at Finlay.
“Guard her, friend. With yer life. I canna fight him if I fear for her safety, and I canna live if I lose her again.”
Finlay shook his head. “I canna allow ye to fight this dishonorable man alone. Ye need someone there. I’m the best and most skilled warrior, after ye.”
“Which is why I need ye to guard that which I hold most dear. She is my greatest treasure, Finlay.” Douglas paused. “To lose her would mean the end of me. I couldna and wouldna go on without her.”
“Douglas-”
Her husky voice interrupted him.
Douglas looked at Anne where she sat watching. Her hands were trembling and he saw fear in her eyes. Squatting down before her, he reached out his hand and caressed her cheek. Gently bringing her close, he kissed the top of her head.
“Ye are the only thing that matters, Anne,” he whispered into her hair. “Please, lass. Doona argue. Doona fear. I need ye safe with my most trusted man so that I may at long last kill this bastard.”
He kissed the top of her head again as she nodded.
“I love you.”
He kissed her lips, grabbing her hand.
“I love ye, Anne. And I will return to ye as soon as I send that bastard to purgatory.”