Chapter Twenty-Six

Early morning saw them on the road to Annancross after many tearful farewells to the servants from Maeve, who, despite her faults, had a soft heart. Glenna looked as cheerful as a wet cat, clearly jealous of Maeve’s wedding, and Joan was smug and imperious to everyone. She could not get her errant daughter off her hands fast enough.

A heavy mist had fallen overnight, muffling the jingle of the horses’ bridles and the creak of the cart. A weak sun cast a milky light over the fields, and the mood was sombre, though a rush of joy had taken Rowenna since her antics of the night before. She only wished she could have dissuaded Jasper from sending Maeve away, but she hadn’t dared ask for anything after lying with him. She had learned her lesson. She wasn’t about to shatter the tentative trust that had grown between them on Maeve’s account.

The lass looked miserable, snuggling into her furs because the day was brutally cold and gloomy. Rowenna had been forced to ride with Joan and her daughters but got no conversation from them. Jasper took the lead with Randel, and a party of men took up the rear. They had to take care in troubled times.

After a few hours of travelling on hard roads, they reached the limit of Glendenning land and passed over into Carstairs territory. They entered some woodland, which was deathly quiet, where the mist hung in the trees. The sky darkened overhead, and rain began to fall as they drew deeper into the woods on a narrow path, barely wide enough for the cart to pass.

Suddenly, there was a shout of alarm, the crack of twigs and the jingle of a bridle up ahead. Rowenna strained to see as a cloaked figure emerged from the trees on a huge horse and thundered towards Jasper and Randel. The scrape of swords being drawn echoed about the woods.

‘Who goes there,’ shouted Jasper.

The cloaked figure drew his horse to a skidding halt, blocking their path. Then he slowly pulled back his hood, and Rowenna heard Jasper curse.

The rider was strapping, with a black beard and a shock of wild, dark hair giving him a rough beauty. He showed scant respect for Jasper as he spat on the ground.

‘Well met, Glendenning.’ His voice was a gritty snarl.

‘Is it?’ said Jasper. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Getting in your way, as usual. But I would speak to you without prying ears,’ he added, glancing at the women, his gaze lingering on Rowenna far too long.

‘I’ve no time for this. Get out of my way.’

‘Make time, or it will go badly for you,’ hissed the man. Then he drew his horse level with Jasper and said something in a low voice that Rowenna could not hear.

Judging by the fury on Jasper’s face, they were clearly not friends, and what did he mean, ‘go badly for you?’ To Rowenna’s surprise, Jasper glanced back with a thunderous look and shouted at Randel to stay put and tether the horses. Then he kicked his horse forward, and the two men rode out of sight, up an embankment and down the other side.

‘What is he doing, going off with that ruffian?’ cried Joan to no one in particular. ‘Who is that man? Why is Jasper leaving us in the middle of nowhere?’

‘Tis not for long, Lady. Best we just stay here, quiet like, and wait for Jasper,’ said Randel.

‘I’m cold, and we cannot tarry here when there’s miles more to go,’ whined Glenna.

‘I’m in no hurry to move forward,’ said Maeve, which earned her a rebuke from her mother.

‘We have discussed this, and you are to be wedded and bedded by tomorrow, and there is nothing more to say, so hold your tongue and do as you are told.’

Tears sprang to Maeve’s eyes, and Rowenna pitied her, but she had other worries.

‘Who is that man, and what is his business, Randel?’ she asked.

‘Can’t say,’ muttered Randel.

‘Can’t or won’t?’ cried Joan.

Randel merely shrugged his shoulders and turned away, and then he received the full force of Joan’s outrage. Whilst Joan hurled a torrent of abuse at Randel, Rowenna took her chance, slipping off her horse and hurrying up the side of the embankment, taking her crossbow with her, thankful that she had kept to the habit of always carrying it. Hunger constantly stalked her at Fallstairs, so she hated missing out on game, and the Marches were lawless. You did not last long if you were a woman unprepared for the worst. Taking cover behind a tree, she strained her ears to hear Jasper’s conversation.

‘Why would I trust a single word that comes out of your mouth, Strachan?’ he said.

Rowenna gasped. Strachan. Was he not a great enemy of the Glendennings? Talk around the castle had it so. Why would he be here? She braced her crossbow with her foot and pulled back the string to load an arrow as quietly as possible. The wind wafted their exchange her way.

‘You must heed this warning, Glendenning.’

‘You have no reason to show loyalty to me, so why should I trust your warning,’ said Jasper.

‘Because I came here at great risk.’

‘Where are your men?’

‘I have none with me. I had to ride quickly and quietly and not attract attention. Take my being alone as a gesture of good faith. If you continue down this road, you will die, and so might your women, either within the castle walls or on this road to Annancross.’

‘Alec Carstairs is to marry my sister tomorrow in an alliance which will swell his power and wealth along with mine, and I will not let your lies turn me from that purpose.’

‘Ah, how greedy you are for that power and wealth - so greedy that you cannot see the treachery. Carstairs extends one hand in friendship while the other hides the blade behind his back.’

‘What reason would he have to murder me and my family?’

‘He is being pressed by the Warden to kill you. That bastard has his boot to Carstair’s throat. He wants me, you and Bannerman gone so that he can rule the Marches with an iron fist.’

‘How would you know of this so-called plot?’

‘Bannerman has his spies all over, as do you, Glendenning. The Warden must know of our coming together to fight him. He wishes to pick us off, one by one, and take control. This man is not like Sir Walder, who was content with his bribes and his whores. Sir Henry is stealing cattle and selling them south, or so Caolan says. We are in his way.’

‘So you and Bannerman are the best of friends now?’ snarled Jasper.

‘We get along. We have learned to compromise.’

‘But I have not. You want to stop this alliance with vague tales of menaces and murder. But you have come on a fool’s errand, for I will never trust a word any Bannerman says, and I trust you even less.’

Jasper walked away, cursing, and the other man put his hand on his shoulder, but he shook it off angrily.

‘Don’t be a fool and let your infatuation with Brenna Bannerman cloud your judgement,’ said Strachan. ‘There is no time for this.’

Jasper shoved him so hard that the man almost fell over. They both stood, chests heaving like two bulls about to charge. ‘I know it all,’ hissed the man. ‘I know you covet Seaton Bannerman’s wife and cannot abide him, but you can at least trust his brother. He has as much to lose as you.’

‘That is in the past. I covet her no longer. You can be assured of that, and my judgement is clear.’

Rowenna sucked in a breath as a wave of jealousy almost felled her. She tried to creep forward to hear what they were saying. Part of her wanted to know the depth of Jasper’s infatuation, and part of her wanted to run from the woods and never know. Her skirt snagged on a bush, and as she tried to tug it free, she stood on a twig. The snap seemed deafening.

‘Come out, whoever you are,’ snarled Jasper.

There was nothing to do but emerge from the undergrowth. Rowenna pointed her bow at Strachan as she did so.

‘You were to stay with the others,’ snapped Jasper.

‘Who is this bonnie but clumsy lass?’ said Strachan. His gaze was intense and probing, and he didn’t seem perturbed by the arrow trained on his heart.

‘This is Rowenna, my wife, and she has yet to learn obedience.’

‘Ah, so this is the new Lady of Kransmuir. I have heard much of your virtues, Rowenna, and they were not exaggerated.’

‘I cannot think of anyone who would find any virtue in me,’ she said, looking to Jasper for guidance, but he just glared at Strachan.

‘Oh, you would be surprised. I know the most interesting people,’ the man replied.

‘You’ve no need of the bow. Go back to the horses, lass,’ said Jasper.

Rowenna lowered her weapon. ‘Not until you tell me what we are going to do. If we are in danger, then we should turn back.’

‘On this man’s word, I should scupper Maeve’s wedding?’ Jasper charged at Rowenna and dragged her away from Strachan, who watched them with a look of amusement on his face.

‘What do you have to lose if you turn around now, Jasper? Why risk it?’

‘If we do not arrive at Annancross, Carstairs will be offended beyond measure. His marriage to Maeve and the alliance may be in jeopardy.’

‘A little offence is nothing compared to murder. And wounding his pride is better than us all dying.’

‘I cannot believe he would be capable of this treachery.’

‘But the Warden is. I have met him, remember. That man is evil, and so is his mistress.’

‘Mistress, did you say? I’d not heard of one.’ Strachan had come up to them.

‘I’ve met her,’ said Rowenna.

‘Tell me everything,’ said Strachan.

‘She was breathtaking to look at but as horrible as the Warden. There was something evil about her, a cruelty in her eyes.’

Strachan frowned, and a grim look came over his face. ‘She would have to be a hard bitch if she is bedding Sir Henry. I cannot imagine him being kind to women.’

‘He is revolting, and he made me squirm, and strangely, the woman was not jealous. She seemed to enjoy my distress.’

‘Distress? What did he do?’ said Jasper, grabbing her arm. ‘You said he was nasty, not that he molested you.’

‘It was nothing I could not handle, so do not vex yourself.’

‘If he has laid hands on you, he will pay for it.’

‘I think the best way to make him do that is to ruin his plans to kill you,’ said Strachan.

‘No one cares what you think,’ said Jasper. ‘Rowenna, go back to the horses.’

‘I will not. I am staying until you tell me what we are doing.’

Strachan smiled down at her. He seemed to find her amusing. ‘Stubborn, eh? Is that in your blood, Rowenna, or has this one’s pig-headedness rubbed off on you?’ he said, nodding at Jasper.

‘Do not speak to her,’ snarled Jasper.

‘Very well. I have come with my message, so you may ignore it at your peril. Run to your doom, or run for your life. It is up to you.’ He took Rowenna’s hand and kissed it. ‘I do hope you survive, bonnie lass, for I hope we will be friends one day.’

Good God. Was the man flirting? Behind the big, brutish exterior, there was a certain rough charm which might appeal to some, but Rowenna was afraid Jasper might explode into violence at any moment. She was relieved when the man took his leave, and before he could berate her, Rowenna rounded on Jasper.

‘How can you even consider going further when there might be danger? And it’s not as if Maeve is keen on Carstairs. There will be other alliances.’

‘I know, and I have no intention of continuing.’

‘But you said…’

‘I said I didn’t believe Strachan because I won’t give that smug bastard the satisfaction of being in his debt.’

‘Well, it seems you are. Honestly, Jasper, it would be easier for you to tell me the truth now and again.’

‘I’ll not argue with you there. Let us go and tell the others to turn around.’

He took her hand and led her up the bank. Anger was coming off him in waves.

‘We lose nothing by being cautious, Jasper,’ said Rowenna, trying to placate him. ‘And I hope this does offend Carstairs enough to call off the wedding, even if Strachan is wrong and there is no plot.’

‘I disagree. Maeve has to be married.’

‘But you do not need Carstairs.’

‘You do not understand.’

‘I know this is a matter of clan pride, but you can find another alliance, Jasper. ‘Maeve can marry someone else.’

‘She cannot.’

‘Why?’

He grimaced and said, ‘Because Maeve is with child, and there is no time.’