Part 22 (2/2)
He nodded, holding the bottle protectively against his chest.
”Don't worry, I won't take the bottle. You need it.”
He grinned, took another swig, and slumped onto the mattress.
”But won't he talk when he's drunk?” Andrew whispered.
”Not according to Rose. Apparently, n.o.body will get a word out of him, even if they put glowing iron to his soles.”
”And what if we're caught?”
”You'll hardly be in more trouble that you already are! Come, let's go now.”
”But you?”
”I'll be in trouble too, then. I might as well be if you are.”
She quickly gathered the beard hair and hid them inside the mattress. Touching Joe's shoulder, so murmured: ”Thank you, Joe.”
”It's my pleasure, lady,” he chuckled.
She checked the cell briefly, adjusted Andrew's hat a bit, and whispered: ”Keep your face down!” Then she knocked at the door, calling: ”Guard! ... Sir, we're ready to leave!”
After a few seconds, they heard footsteps, the door opened, and they stepped into the dark corridor. The jailer briefly looked into the cell, locked it, and then led them back to the spiral staircase. Now comes the real test, went through her mind, as they entered the guard room.
The turnkey scrutinized them for several seconds, grinning. Helen had that sinking feeling of defeat.
”Already leaving? ... You know, lady, you could've stayed longer. But that's your business.”
He turned and unlocked the iron door. For a second, she hesitated. She could hardly believe it. He hadn't noticed the switch. Andrew nudged her gently, and she walked out the door. We're out! It was so easy! were her jubilant thoughts. She hooked her arm into Andrew's and they walked briskly along the tolbooth to the alley where she had left Owen.
They had not gone more than thirty feet when Owen caught up with them from behind.
”Lady, there are four suspicious-looking Highlanders hiding in the alley. Let's leave by another way. Hurry please!”
He dashed ahead across the square to a close that led into High Street, rather than the Trongate, the way they had come. Taking Helen's hand, Andrew hurried after him. He didn't dare to run. This might draw them to the attention of the guards, should any be watching the square. They had almost reached the narrow entrance where Owen was waving frantically, when four men charged into the square and came running after them.
”Quick,” urged Owen, ”follow me!”
He rushed ahead, down the dark close between two rows of four-storey tenement houses, barely six feet apart. Partway down it was blocked by a brick wall. With surprising agility, Owen climbed it, finding hidden footholds where none could be seen. Andrew lifted Helen halfway up onto a small ledge in the corner.
”Come up here, sir. You can pull your lady up from here.”
With difficulties Andrew scrambled up the wall. The sounds of running feet came rapidly closer. Just as he straddled the top and began to slide over to Helen, the first of their pursuer got to the wall and grabbed her feet. She lost her footing and fell away, desperately trying to hold on to the top of the wall. Her hand slipped from his grasp just as he reached for it. Four arms caught her at the base of the wall. Oh, no, it's father, was her frightened thought. But the moment her feet were on firm ground, she began to yell and kick and punch her attackers. Dougal's big hand quickly smothered her screams. She looked up the wall and saw Andrew ready to jump down to her. No, don't! run! she wanted to shout, but could only shake her head violently.
16.
”I told you we would catch her if we watched the tolbooth,” bragged Robert, as he and Dougal dragged the struggling Helen along the narrow alley, the other two walking behind. ”I knew it. I knew it.”
”Yes, you were right,” answered Dougal, with an edge of exasperation. ”Come, la.s.s, stop fighting. It's no use. Or do I have to slap you?”
He is right, agreed Helen silently. There was no point getting a black eye, now that Andrew got away safely.
”That is better. Your mother will be glad to see you,” said Dougal, a pleased tone in his voice.
So he had no intention of killing me. Strangely, she didn't feel relieved.
Robert sneered immediately: ”After she got a good hiding! You said that would set her right. You said so yourself.”
Helen met his insipid grin with a hateful glare.
”Oh, oh, she has lost none of her fiery temper. But I'll tame her once we're married.”
”I'll never marry you. I have a husband already. I married Andrew last Sat.u.r.day,” she replied coldly.
”That will hardly matter, la.s.s,” retorted Dougal. ”We will find a minister who will marry you again. Anyway, didn't master Andrew get arrested on the same day? So we can claim that the marriage was never consummated and can be annulled.”
”But it was consummated. I'm with child.”
Her father frowned for just a moment and then grinned: ”Good try, la.s.s, but I was not born yesterday. I know that you have your woman's pains just shortly after your mother and she had them three weeks ago. So if you know that you are with child, and I don't believe you, it cannot be master Andrew's.”
Helen blushed. She hated being caught in a blatant lie like this. Robert snickered. A strong revulsion rose in her. How could she ever have agreed to marry this bully? But he had not been such a bully, then.
They walked along silently for a short stretch. Suddenly, Robert broke out laughing, gasping between bouts: ”Isn't it hilarious that your lover boy gets copped for stealing a horse lifted by your cousins? We rolled over laughing when we found out, didn't we, Fergus? You recognize your cousin Fergus?”
”That was real mean of your father to sell Andrew a stolen horse, Fergus.”
The lad answered with a loud laugh, and Robert had another case of the snickers. ”Anyway, your lover boy will soon be on his way to the colonies. I hear they die like flies there! Saves us killing him,” he sneered.
They hadn't recognized Andrew! She ground her teeth together so as not to rise to his bait and looked straight ahead. All at once, her spirits seemed lighter. She was certain that Andrew would rescue her. She only hoped he would keep a low profile and wait until they were on their way back to Killin, rather than try something in the city and risk getting caught again.
”h.e.l.lo, Helen,” she heard her brother from behind. ”It's good to see you again.”
”h.e.l.lo, Robin. I'm disappointed that you act against your own sister like this.”
Robin answered with an embarra.s.sed chuckle. ”I could hardly let my own blood run away with a Campbell of Argyle, could I, sister?”
No, probably not. ”I see, blood runs thicker than water, as your father says when he runs out of arguments.”
”Right you are, sister!” exclaimed Robin, with a short laugh, while her father faced her angrily.
”You will learn the truth of that sooner or later too, la.s.s,” he grumbled.
Helen ignored him and asked Robin: ”How's Betty?”
<script>