The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (24 page)

"Well, lass, it seems as though yer making more progress than we. Ye should go to it and see what ye learn."

"I don't want to go."

"And I dinna want to have my son drinking with English soldiers to hear the gossip, but it needs to be done," he growled. "Go and discover what ye can, Mary, and meet with me after and we'll see if it changes anything. Will ye do that?"

"Yes," I said and he nodded. We sat in silence as the coach leaned around a corner. "What are you going to do?" I asked him.

"I canna tell ye." At my exclamation, Angus continued in a patient tone. "I asked ye here, Mary, to tell ye that we are alive, that we have no' abandoned Alex, nor ye and the boys. It is no going well, but we are still trying. And to tell ye that ye need have no fear of recognizing me if we meet. I ken ye said that ye would pretend no' to know me, but it willna be necessary."

I nodded. "Why?"

"Enough of the English ken who I am to render me useless in secrecy, but I have Matthew and Gilbey to do what requires it. Even if Gilbey becomes Alex's valet, I still have Matthew."

"Angus, what are you doing that requires secrecy?"

"Nothing alarming. Ye need no look daggers at me, lass.
We canna spring Alex out of the Tower by force without an army, and even with the men from Kilgannon I still dinna have an army.
Even if the Macleans arrive I still willna have one. So dinna fear that we are to lay siege to yer Tower."

"It's not my Tower."

"It's more yers than mine."

"No. Not anymore." His eyes met mine and he almost smiled. "Angus," I said, "why don't you three come and stay with Louisa and Randolph? They told me to tell you that you are all welcome. Come and join us and at least we'll all be together. The boys would love to see you. And I would love to have you with me."

Angus leaned forward into the light, his expression softened. "I canna do that, Mary. If we are successful, then the trail would lead right back to ye and to yer aunt and uncle. The English already ken I'm yer husband's cousin, but it's no' the same as if I'm living with yer family. It's no' wise, lass. I canna have any of ye come to any grief because of what I do."

"Angus, please, remember that Alex does not want this." He looked at the floor for a moment, nodded, and asked me to ask Harry to arrange a visit with
Max
. I agreed and he thanked me, then lifted the curtain and glanced out the window.

"Matthew would like to see ye. If yer willing?" "Oh, yes, of course." He leaned out to say something to the driver. We rode in silence for a few

moments and then came to an abrupt stop. The door flew open and Matthew propelled himself inside, breathless and grinning, smelling of ale, and the coach hurtled forward. He was dressed in the clothing of an English peasant, no more convincing than his father in his outlandish dress, but passable. His energy filled the coach. "Mary, I knew Gilbey would find ye! How are ye?" "Matthew." We embraced awkwardly in the cramped quarters.

Angus watched his son. "Did ye discover anything?" Matthew shook his head. "No' much. The trial is to begin in a month or two. No' much help, is that?" He frowned. "But, Da, something more important has happened. The Duke of Grafton has sent for ye. His footman came to our rooms an hour ago, acting as if he kent who I was. He said the Duke wishes ye to visit with him. I told the man that I would deliver the message. I could see no use in dissembling." Matthew looked at me. "Do ye ken anything of this, Mary? Why would yer uncle wish to talk with us?"

"I don't know. Harry said that he wanted to talk to your father, but I thought I was to deliver the message. He is very discouraged with you all disappearing."

"Is he now?" Angus's tone was mild, but I knew him better. "Well, we canna travel in the same circles as a duke, can we?"

"What do ye suppose he wants with ye, Da?" Matthew asked.

Angus shrugged. "Probably to tell me what to do. I've not spoken to him since we left the Mary Rose " Angus met my eyes. "Mary, lass, let's go and see yer uncle."

"Now?"

Angus nodded. "Aye. Let's go." I nodded.

Harry welcomed us warmly, then offered Angus brandy and retreated with him to his study, leaving Matthew and Gilbey and me waiting in the
parlour
. When they returned, Harry would tell us nothing except that he would arrange for Gilbey to replace Branson as Alex's valet, and then began badgering me to retire to
Mount garden
. Angus watched Harry's performance without expression. On the defensive again, I went home.

When I told my aunt and uncle of my visit with Angus and Harry, Randolph left at once to see Harry. 'When he returned he closeted himself with Bronson,

then joined Louisa and me, but reported only that
Harry
seemed to have several plots in mind, all legal maneuverings, which Randolph thought absurd.

"He tells me that he is
trying
to use tactics used by the Scots after the rebellion of 88," Randolph said with a shake of his head. "He won't elaborate. He's very stubborn, have you noticed? But he's arranged to have Gilbey as the valet, and he'll try to get you to see Alex again." Louisa sighed and Randolph nodded at her. "
Harry
worries me. I wish he'd just tell me what he's hatching."

"Probably nothing of note," I said. "Harry does not always seem to have a clear grasp of reality." Randolph laughed.

Gilbey went to Alex the next day and reported to me later, saying that Harry had been there, talking with Alex about lawyers. Alex, he said, sent his love. The next day Gilbey told us that he'd not been allowed to see Alex, and a moment later the maid announced that Angus waited for me in the library. Louisa, Randolph, and Gilbey hurried behind me to join him. Angus was pacing when we entered, his color high, his movements agitated, and my heart fell. I did not bother with a greeting.

"What has happened?"

Angus met my eyes, then looked behind me at the others. "I saw Alex. Murdoch's been tried."

I gasped. "But how? I thought the trials were to be public."

"Aye," he said, looking down at his hands, then up at us. "They took Murdoch to Westminster this morning. They tried him before three judges, and his lordship Edgar DeBroun found him guilty on the spot." He shifted his weight.

"Edgar DeBroun?" Randolph asked. "The peer? He's trying the prisoners?" I glanced at him. Something in Randolph's voice made me know he knew much more of DeBroun than I did.

Angus nodded. "Aye. Alex's been questioned before by DeBroun, the bloody bastard. Forgive me, ladies, but I truly hate the man."

"You've met him before," Randolph said.

Angus met his eyes and nodded. "Aye. I've met him before. And taken his measure. And he's met Alex before." He looked at me. "DeBroun had an offer for Alex."

I could feel my heart's lunge. "What is the offer?"

"Comfort. Visits from ye and the boys. A possibility of freedom or at least life in prison. In exchange they want Alex to recant publicly, to get on his knees before the king at Westminster and beg for forgiveness." Gilbey made a disgusted sound and Louisa shook her head. "And to tell them where the ones who have gone to the heather are hiding. Murdoch was given the same offer and he told them ... well, let's simply say he was rude. That was yestere'en, and today he was tried. Alex said they asked him the same this morning."

"What did Alex answer?" I whispered, afraid to hear his reply.

"Alex was rude as well."

"Oh, Angus."

"Aye." He looked at all of us, then turned away. "It looks like this is the end of it."

"What will happen now to Murdoch?" Gilbey asked.

"I dinna ken. Alex doesna ken." Angus sighed again. "Ye can expect to hear that Alex was tried tonight or in the morning."

I felt a wave of desperation. "I'm not Winifred Maxwell, Angus. I cannot spirit Alex out of the Tower. What can we do?"

"We pray,
Mary
. Pray, lass, as ye never have before, and then get yerself to the Duchess's party. It might be yer last chance to get the ear of someone who could make a difference. Make sure they ken who ye are and what ye want." I nodded, numb, and sank into the chair while the others talked.

But Alex was not tried the next day, nor the next. And we were not told why, nor what would happen. And the third day was the Duchess's party.

My first social evening in London in years and I felt as though I were seventeen again. It had been so long since I'd worn fashionable clothes or paid any attention to how women were dressing their hair that I felt quite incapable of coping with the details of preparing. Not that it mattered. How could I laugh and chat with strangers while Alex was in jeopardy? I'd said I would do this, but now I wasn't sure I could. I smoothed the material over my middle, noting the bulge of the baby at last. I will do this for you, sweet child, I said silently, and for your father. But I don't know where to begin.

With a cursory knock, Louisa breezed into the room and marched toward me. "Mary, you will not be a coward!" she cried, coming to a stop before me. I looked down at her wordlessly, knowing that I must master my emotions before I spoke. Her expression softened and she patted my cheek.

"What difference will it make?" I asked. "I have seen everyone in London who will receive me."

She arched her brows. "Mary, my dear, you are one of London's own. If society rallies behind you, Alex will benefit. If you hide at home, they will assume you are convinced of your husband's guilt. You must go into the lions' den and charm the lions."

"They will not accept me. They will only watch me and talk."

"They have been talking about you for months. Years, actually. They've been talking since you met Alex. Let's get you ready and they will say that you looked radiant and healthy and overly proud." She threw open the doors of my closets. "What shall you wear? I think the rose with the low neckline. Do not give me that look, miss. It has been a long time since you were in London and now you are a married woman. You're very beautiful, Mary. Use what weapons you have."

In the end I wore what she selected, and her maid had my hair looking perfect. I had no more excuses. My body might be ready, but long before my mind was, we were off. I huddled in the carriage, trying to steel myself. Randolph patted my hand.

The Duchess's house glowed with lights and danced with music. The halls were full of crowds and I ignored the curious looks thrown at us as we slowly made our way to the ballroom. Several people that I knew, some I would have thought I knew well, turned away before meeting my eyes, and no one spoke to me, although they greeted Louisa and Randolph. So be it, I told myself. My chin was at the same absurd angle Ian and Jamie used. I must look ridiculous, I thought. A hush fell over the ballroom when I was announced as the Countess of Kilgannon, and the sea of faces turned to watch us enter. I fought the urge to run away. Damn them all.
I am
the granddaughter and the niece of a duke, and the wife of an earl. I am the Countess of Kilgannon. I lifted my chin even higher and tried to look haughty. I must look as though my dress pains me severely, I thought, and smiled to myself as I descended into the crowd.

The Duchess, bless her, rushed over to welcome us at once. After the initial greetings she squeezed my hand and led me away from my aunt and uncle to group after group of London's elite. I was greeted with politeness but
little
more, and I was well aware that every detail of my costume and bearing was being noted for later dissection. At last the Duchess brought me to a group of
gentlemen
in the center of the room, whispering to me on the way.

"I am so proud of you for coming, dear. The Duke was worried that you would not be able to able to face the crowds, but I told him you were made of sterner stuff."

"The Duke is correct."

She patted my hand. "I understand, but you can face a bunch of gossiping fools with good grace for your husband's sake." She never heard my inane answer, for we had reached the men and she introduced me gaily to several of them, then was called away by a friend. I faced the men alone with a fixed smile. Some of them I had known for years and they greeted me cautiously, but they did greet me and I took some comfort in that. One man I did not recognize watched me with avid interest but said nothing. We talked banally of the weather, then the man to my right gestured to the silent man. "Madam, may I introduce Lord Edgar DeBroun. He will be one of the judges at your husband's trial."

What
little
composure I had disappeared and I stared, totally at a loss, into the dark eyes of Edgar DeBroun, Earl and Peer of the Realm, with family lines that reached back to William the Conqueror. DeBroun bowed over my hand and let his eyes roam across my face and body. Edgar DeBroun, I thought. The man who pronounced Murdoch guilty. One of the men who will Judge whether Alex lives or dies. He was, surprisingly, just a few years older than Alex, tall and dark, a handsome, self-assured man, quite accustomed to having his needs met. His eyes were warm and his expression pleased. I must have gone very pale and possibly swayed, for he reached out for my elbow and held it for the briefest of moments before releasing me.