Wild Hearts (13 page)

Her eyes widened. He had said the statement bluntly, barely. Did he mean he had killed her? She wet her lips, gone suddenly dry, and ventured, "Did she die of natural causes, milord?"

"No, it was murder," he said flatly.

She recoiled from him as her mind asked the inevitable question.

He changed the subject swiftly, abruptly, by reaching into his doublet and producing a gold coin. "For fairings tomorrow."

"I don't want your money," she flared.

He took her arm savagely and made her take the coin. "That's another bruise you can look at when you undress."

She lay for a long time with sleep a million miles away. Her mind twisted and turned and went around in circles, all centering upon him. Did he love her? Did he actually love her enough to have killed the hated Mrs. Graham for her? Did he love her so much he wanted to hold her and kiss her whenever he came close? Or was he an evil rogue who had done murder because Mrs. Graham might tell Maxwell Abrahams about him? Was he an evil lecher who couldn't keep his hands off any woman? Had he really crippled his wife? He had a wife. She suspected him of murder. Yet, as she catalogued his sins, her mouth ached for more of his kisses, and her nipples stood up in hard little buds until she wanted to scream. She touched her lips where his had been such a short time ago, and thrilled as she remembered the taste of him. She was appalled at herself. There was something within her that responded to him— nay— almost cried out to him. It was as if she had no control over her own body. Her mind told her he was dangerous, he was using her as a pawn in his amusing, deadly games. She could make no sense of anything. It was like a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces were completely square-- each time she put them together, they formed a different picture!

She must have eventually slept, because she awoke with a start very early in the morn when she heard Paris arguing with Alexander in the chamber below. Young Alex cried passionately, "I hate hunting! I think it the filthiest, cruelest sport in the world. I can't bear to see animals die! But you will force me to go with you and Troy when you know I want to go to the fair with the girls."

Tabby dressed quickly. She would go down and add her voice to Alexander's. A boy should not be made to hunt and kill against his nature. He should not be forced to go on raids at night to their enemies' lands when he did not have the stomach for such things.

She was itching to give Rogue Cockburn a dressing-down, anyway. The clear light of dawn had brought her to the conclusion that he was a tyrant who would ruthlessly bend anyone to gain his own ends. She had had enough. She would give him a piece of her mind without fear of the consequences, for this was the last day of her captivity. She was about to go down when she heard Paris say, "Have I ever objected to your music or your poetry? Your writing or composing? No! But I won't send you off to some bloody monastery some where to live out your days in uselessness! There comes a time when you have to take a man's part, Alexander. You don't like going out on raids, but when the enemy comes here, you have to know how to protect your castle and women; or they will be burned and raped! You don't like to hunt, but 'tis a necessary evil when wolves or wild cats devastate your flocks and herds. When you have learned to handle your responsibilities as a man, then there will be time for the gentler pleasures of this world."

Tabby did not go down. She knew she could not refute the truth of his words.

"Troy and I will track the wild cat. You will go to the fair today. But I am giving you a man's responsibility. I charge you to look after the women and especially Tabby. If you let her slip away, you will have me to answer to."

After five minutes passed, in which she heard no voices, she ventured to the chamber below. She spotted a bottle of brandy and wrapped her shawl around it. She made her way up to the White Tower where Anne dwelt. Although Mrs. Sinclair's face was grim, she entered. Anne's eyes were hollow. Her fine features were drawn with stress.

"I won't be able to sit for my portrait today, because we are all going to the fair, but I brought you the brandy." She did not add that indeed she would never sit, for the portrait, because she would not return to the castle. Today was the day she was going to escape.

Anne looked gratefully at the bottle. "God, I can't stand it when everyone leaves the castle. The last time it happened, there was a man who came and tried to kill me. Old Angus saw him and came to help me, and that's when he fell to his death, chasing my assailant," she said hysterically.

"Didn't you tell your husband?" asked Tabby, horrified.

"My husband?" asked Anne incredulously. "Who do you think sent the man to me?"

"Hush now, hush, or ye will be in such a terrible state, ye will be ill again. Here, have some of your lovely chocolates, and I'll pour you some brandy as well." Mrs. Sinclair beckoned Tabby to the door. "Best leave now. I know how to handle her. I'll stay with her all day. There will be no 'man' to fear, I assure you."

Tabby was disturbed by the things Anne had spoken of. Surely Paris had been informed of the bizarre stories Anne was telling. One thing was certain, she was not going to become involved carrying tales between husband and wife. After today, none of it would matter to her, anyway. She must get away before the tangled web of intrigue snared her inextricably and held her forever. Perhaps Anne's suspicions were not unfounded. Rogue Cockburn was a man capable of anything, she decided. If she got away from him now, the romantic feelings of first love would wither and die in time. Close under his hand, they could only grow until they consumed her.

The chatter at the breakfast table was deafening as the excitement of the coming day threatened to get out of hand. The girls were to go in the carriage; Alexander and three young moss-troopers would ride with the coach to ensure their protection. Damascus had won the argument over who would wear green. She would be wearing a pale organdy gown, over which the green velvet jacket borrowed from her sister looked as if it had been designed for her.

"God, Damascus, you can be maddening," complained Venetia. "I'll swear that little jacket never looked so fetching on me!"

"No, merely retching." Damascus laughed, her pretty chin in the air. Venetia had no need to complain, really. She took second place to none in her sky-blue creation with a sophisticated frill down the left side, from neck to hem. Even Alexandria looked pretty as a picture today as she had put boyish things aside and donned a buttercup yellow, with the edge of frilly pantaloons peeping beneath the hem. Shannon, not to be outdone, was in dramatic black and white. The sheer white gown had billowing sleeves with the tight black corset showing clearly through the gauzy top. Tabby wore a simple peach-colored gown, gathered under the breasts with a brown velvet ribbon. Her ringlets at the back reached down to her waist.

The group caught every eye at the fair. Country girls actually stood with their mouths open as the Cockburns passed by. They drew more spectators than the jugglers and acrobats combined. Within minutes of their arrival, they had attracted Lord Logan, Lord Cessford and Lord Lennox like iron filings to a magnet.

Lord Cessford, the youngest of the trio, didn't even try to conceal the excitement he felt today. His boyish face lit up at the sight of Damascus. As her pale green eyes took in every detail of the handsome, laughing face, she knew he was going to ask her to marry him.

Lord Lennox, tall and fair, wasted no time in renewing his acquaintance with Venetia. They were a well-matched couple and within moments had eyes only for each other.

Lord Logan swept off his hat and held it over his heart in a gallant gesture toward Shannon, his dark eyes mirroring his admiration for the vibrant, dazzling creature. She gave Logan one of her most brilliant smiles, followed by a tantalizing sidelong glance. "Milord, I promised Alexandria you would win her a coconut. I told her your aim was deadly. Be a darling and win her the biggest coconut at the fair. Tabby and I want to get our fortunes read, and I know how much that bores you gentlemen. We will be back in a trice, and then you and I can do whatever you desire," she promised Logan.

Captivated by Shannon, he took on the younger sister willingly, and Alexandria, knowing what Shannon was up to, made no protest.

Tabby, excited at the prospect of having her fortune told, followed Shannon willingly. At the far end of the fairgrounds, the gypsies had their caravans and tents set up. Shannon stopped dead in her tracks as if she had received a bodily blow. Tab followed her intense gaze and saw one of the handsomest males she had ever laid eyes on. He wore a red kerchief knotted about his neck, but he was shirtless, brazenly displaying his smooth, tanned chest, rippling with muscles. He was so dark and lithe, he resembled a wild panther. He had flaring nostrils and a beautiful mouth with sculpted lips that curved wide to show very white teeth His gaze began to smolder as he looked at Shannon. As if there were no other people in the whole world, their eyes held, and their souls leaped together and entwined. It became obvious to Tabby that they were not strangers to each other. Finally, coming out of her trance slightly, Shannon murmured, "Johnny Raven... catch up with you later, Tab," and she moved toward the gypsy and, with eyes only for each other, they disappeared into his caravan.

Tabby blinked her surprise. How fortunate to find herself alone so early in the day! She quickly decided the first thing she had to do was find out how far Edinburgh was from here. They had traveled at least ten miles that morning, so perhaps the city was close enough for walking She questioned a middle-aged country couple and was dismayed to learn that Kelso Fair was almost forty miles from Edinburgh. But she gathered her courage together, trying not to feel defeat before she had begun. Walking quickly toward where the wagons of the people who had come to the fair were tethered, she inquired if any had come from Edinburgh. Stares and quick shakes of the head met her inquiries. Finally, an elderly couple nodded, yes indeed, they had come from Edinburgh. Yes, they would be returning this evening, and yes, they would gladly give the fine young lady a ride. She couldn't believe her luck. Quickly, she turned to see if she was being observed and found Alexander directly behind her, his young, face grim.

"Alex, if you care for me, look the other way today while I get away. Please, for me?" she begged.

"Tab, under ordinary circumstances I would look away, but today Paris charged me with your safe return. My very manhood depends upon it! Do not ask it of me, please."

She knew he was speaking the truth. It would take an extremely brave soul to face Rogue Cockburn and tell him his prize worth twenty thousand in gold had slipped away. She smiled. "Come on, let's find the others, I'm starved."

He sighed with relief, without noticing she had made no promises. She would have to be devious to allay his suspicions, but escape she must.

When they found the others, Lord Logan immediately asked for Shannon. "She had to make some purchases for Paris," explained Tabby, but unfortunately at the same time Alex said, "She stopped to watch a troupe of trained dogs doing tricks."

Logan looked from one to the other, raised his eyebrows slightly and muttered, "I see." He bowed to Tabby. "Perhaps you will let me be your escort until she decides to rejoin us."

"That would be delightful," Tabby told him. Once or twice she caught Lord Lennox staring at her thoughtfully. As she tried to decide between a game pie or a salmon pastie, he finally said, "I'm sure we have met before. I remember your amethyst eyes."

"Yes, we did meet once," she whispered, full of mystery. He was instantly fascinated but couldn't for the life of him recall where he had seen her. She decided against reminding him of the wedding where she had been the bride, he the guest. She knew where the Cockburns's friends' loyalties lay and could hope for little help in that direction.

Damascus hurried them past the cockfights, shuddering delicately. The men agreed that it was no sight for ladies, although had Shannon been there, she would have probably given them an argument. Alex bought Tabby a bag of roasted chestnuts, Damascus insisted she try the Turkish Delight, and Venetia got Lennox to buy them all sticks of Edinburgh Rock. Vendors sold every kind of fruit and nuts. Some, like figs and dates, Tabby had never even seen before.

Stalls were piled high with potpourri and sachets filled with lavender or rose petals to store with clothes to make them smell pretty. Next to these were oranges studded with cloves and other pomanders to carry about in order to mask the unpleasant odors encountered on a visit to the city streets. It seemed to Tab that the men never had their hands out of their pockets. No sooner had one sister expressed a desire for a scented candle for her bedchamber than another just had to have a box of face patches and some eye-black.

Shannon joined them just as they reached a man hawking silk stockings. She drawled to Logan, "It would be too scandalous of me to accept a pair of these from you." At the same time she nudged Alexandria none too gently, who, right on cue, said, "It wouldn't seem quite so naughty if we all picked out a pair."

"Splendid idea," said Lord Cessford, choosing a pretty pink pair for Damascus. Venetia chose flesh-colored stockings, and Alexandria, for some reason known only to herself, picked red. Shannon went straight for the black silk hose. Shannon's taste was impeccable, and she knew what men liked. Daringly, Tabby made the same choice as Shannon. Instinctively, Tabby knew that Paris would like black stockings. She dropped the thought instantly. He would never see her again if she could help it, she told herself severely. Still, if circumstances were different, if there had been no husband in Edinburgh and no wife at Cockburnspath...Her mind was brought back to the present when they stopped to watch some strapping youths tossing the caber, a ten-foot wooden pole that looked too heavy to even lift. Their shirtless backs gleamed with sweat as their muscles bulged and stretched with their exertions. The men didn't enjoy the display at all, because the Cockburn sisters were so enthusiastic in their remarks. Goaded into action, Logan and Cessford dragged everyone off to watch them put on a display of their archery skills. They both won perfectly useless prizes, but the merriment made it worthwhile.