Chapter 19

A fter Simon Grant's departure, Jessie spent several fruitless hours trying to rest. Fear for Robert's safety constantly needled her brain, making sleep impossible. The innkeeper's daughter, Mary, seemed to have no such trouble. More than a few times, Jessie cast an envious glance over to the young maid sleeping soundly in a narrow pallet bed beside the four-poster.

Eventually Jessie had given up on sleep altogether and had spent the rest of the night in one of the armchairs before the dying fire. She'd tried to piece together some sort of plan to save Robert, but in the end, she knew there was nothing she could accomplish on her own in the dead of night. Liberating Robert from a locked cell in a castle garrison was definitely an impossible feat.

At the back of her mind, a prickle of a thought had also irritated. Why had Robert left her alone in the room? MacTaggart had told her he'd been arrested in the taproom, so perhaps he'd had trouble sleeping. After all, he had a lot weighing on his mind. But a small, vulnerable, wholly feminine part of Jessie hoped Robert didn't regret their physical encounter. Or worse, was having second thoughts about being handfasted to her at all. Surely he wouldn't abandon her here…

Jessie quickly dismissed the nonsensical notion when she looked around the room and noted several of Robert's possessions: a linen cravat, his plaid and saddlebags, and of course, his dirk. He wouldn't have left any of those things behind if he'd been intending to leave. There must be some other logical explanation for his departure. Perhaps he'd simply wanted a drink to settle his nerves. Whatever it was, worrying about it further wouldn't help the situation.

Eventually Jessie determined that even though traveling alone would be dangerous, there was no other real course of action open to her. Remaining here in Invercauld was not an option.

Yes, despite the risk, she must return to Lochrose to inform Lord Strathburn of Robert's plight. She fervently prayed the earl would be well enough to journey to Edinburgh to plead Robert's case to the Lord Advocate in person.

She also hoped to God that when she did set out, Simon would be heading in the opposite direction—to Edinburgh. If she encountered him alone on the road somewhere… She shuddered and pushed the gut-wrenching thought determinedly away.

As soon as dawn broke, Jessie gathered up her satchel and what remained of Robert's belongings—Mary and her sister helped with the saddlebags—then descended to the inn's vestibule. To her surprise, she found a young Black Watchman waiting for her.

"Miss Munroe," he said with a polite bow, his cheeks slightly pink. "My name is Corporal MacGillie. I hope ye dinna mind, but Captain MacTaggart asked me to escort ye safely to Edinburgh."

"Oh." Tears pricked Jessie's eyes at the knowledge MacTaggart was still looking out for her. She had not expected such support and suddenly felt quite overwhelmed. "Thank you, but I think it would be best if I returned to Lochrose Castle. I need to see Lord Strathburn."

The Watchman's brow crinkled in confusion. "Oh, I thought ye knew. The earl is heading to Edinburgh as well, via the Pass of Drumochter. Captain MacTaggart mentioned he was traveling that way before we set out from Lochrose. With any luck, we might cross paths with his lordship on the road south to Perth. I assume ye'll want to head that way too?"

Jessie blinked in surprise. If Captain MacTaggart had mentioned that last night, it might have spared her quite a bit of worry. But then, perhaps he'd been prevented from saying too much in front of Simon.

She thanked Corporal MacGillie for the information.

"'Tis no trouble, miss," the young man said with a bashful smile. "It seems Lord Lochrose settled yer account last night when ye arrived, and I've had yer horse brought round already. So if ye're ready to leave…"

Jessie nodded, swallowing back another wave of grateful tears. "Aye, of course, Corporal MacGillie. Let us be on our way."

They made good time. The road south of Invercauld was much better maintained than the previous stretch Jessie had traveled along the day before with Robert. She and Corporal MacGillie managed to reach the outskirts of Pitlochry just as dusk was descending.

They'd started to round a bend in the road in a wooded stretch by the luscious banks of the river Tummel, when Jessie heard the unmistakable crunch of carriage wheels approaching. Slowing Blaeberry's pace, she veered close to the grassy verge just as a fine carriage pulled by four fine bays appeared around the corner.

As the carriage drew alongside, Jessie immediately noticed the Strathburn coat of arms emblazoned on the oaken carriage door. Relief surged, especially when she sighted Lord Strathburn peering out, his eyes wide with surprise. Within a few moments, the carriage had drawn to a halt and the earl's man, MacGowan, had jumped down from his position beside the driver and had thrown open Lord Strathburn's door.

"Miss Munroe, my lord would see you," he called.

Jessie urged Blaeberry over to the carriage and MacGowan helped her to dismount.

"My dear, Miss Munroe, come inside at once and tell me what has happened," urged the earl, his face creased with anxiety. "Where is Robert? Dear Lord, has Simon intercepted you?"

"Yes milord, I'm afraid so." Jessie took a seat in the carriage opposite the gray-faced nobleman and a glowering Lady Strathburn. She noticed the earl had a white-knuckle grip about the silver head of his walking stick and there were dark shadows beneath his worried eyes. Lady Strathburn, on the other hand, appeared deeply affronted by Jessie's "intrusion." The woman remained steadfastly silent, her lips drawn tight in a thin line, her gaze as grim and unwelcoming as any Highland granite peak.

Whilst relieved to have come across Lord Strathburn so soon, Jessie was also saddened to be the bearer of bad news. Ignoring the countess, she turned to the earl to explain all that had transpired. "Captain MacTaggart thinks Robert will be taken to the Tolbooth," she concluded.

"I think he may be right, my dear," said Lord Strathburn on a deep sigh. "I only pray the dragoons do not mistreat him. Do you know what happened to my letter addressed to the Lord Advocate?"

"It was no' with Robert's things at the inn, milord," replied Jessie. "I believe that Robert kept it in his coat. He must have had it with him when he was arrested."

"Perhaps it will help him in some small measure until I can speak with Lord Arniston myself," said Lord Strathburn. "It was foolhardy of me to send you both away on your own, especially after your"—he glanced at Lady Strathburn before returning his attention to Jessie—"inopportune encounter with Simon before you left Lochrose. I heard everything from Simon himself. As soon as he declared that he would pursue you and Robert, I knew I must follow straightaway. I may be frail, but I simply cannot let Simon play judge, jury, and executioner all over again." The earl leaned forward and squeezed Jessie's hand. "You have been very brave to come this far all by yourself."

Jessie smiled. "No' quite on my own. Thanks to you and Captain MacTaggart, I've been well looked after. After Robert was taken, MacTaggart arranged for Corporal MacGillie"—she gestured toward the young Watchman outside—"to escort me the rest of the way to Edinburgh."

Lord Strathburn nodded. "MacTaggart is a good man. I've always been able to rely on him to do the right thing. Thank God I managed to get word to him about what was afoot before he and his men left Lochrose. Even so, I wonder that you did not have more trouble with Simon."

At this comment, Lady Strathburn threw a withering look her husband's way. "Really, William. As if Simon would trouble himself with her ."

Lord Strathburn scowled. "Don't be ridiculous, Caroline. You know how entrenched your son's proclivities are. I suggest you pay more respect to Miss Munroe. Need I remind you that she will soon be your step-daughter-in-law?"

"Yes. So you keep telling me." Lady Strathburn glared at Jessie, her gray eyes glacial with hostility before she turned away to contemplate the scenery outside her carriage window.

Jessie sighed heavily. It was going to be a very long and uncomfortable journey.

The earl, ever perceptive, caught Jessie's eye and winked. "You must be exhausted, my dear child, and we have a long way to travel yet. But we will stop in Pitlochry to have dinner and change horses so we can continue throughout the night. The sooner we reach Edinburgh, the better."

Jessie smiled back at Lord Strathburn, grateful for his unfailing kindness. She couldn't have agreed more.