Part 23 (2/2)
”Will you please leave the room until I'm done?”
”Oh no! I won't let you out of my sight.”
She couldn't argue with him. So, she cowered over the pot, spreading her skirts as best as she could away from it, closed her eyes so that she didn't have to see his leer, and urinated. It made her again aware of her extreme vulnerability. It had felt completely natural to do it in front of Andrew. But not being watched by this oaf! She was grateful that she hadn't worn one of Andrew's underdrawers. When she got up and looked at Robert, he was still grinning gleefully.
”Satisfied, you swine?” It was out before she could stop herself.
His face turned red. He advanced threateningly. ”Who's the swine here? You or me? You fornicating wh.o.r.e cheating on me while I slave away building our cottage!”
She instantly regretted her outburst. Vulnerable as she was, it was silly to provoke him. He grabbed her roughly and shoved her backward. She stumbled over the edge of a mattress and fell on her back. Robert came slowly down on top of her, but she deftly turned, avoiding him, and was back on her feet, retreating into a corner. He staggered up too and followed her.
”If you come any closer, I'll yell.”
”No, you won't. You know what your father promised if you do, and he'll believe me when I tell him that you took advantage of me when I tried to be nice to you.”
He is probably right.
Robert came closer, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath. His glazed eyes expressed a dogged, almost wild determination. Leaning over her, he suddenly grabbed her hair with one hand and pinned her to the wall, while the other lifted the front of her skirts. For a moment, she was stunned. He was going to rape her! Then she remembered Rose. She pulled her knee up sharply, aiming for his crotch. The tall man was completely unprepared. It crunched hard into his b.a.l.l.s. He gasped; his eyes almost popped out of their sockets; both hands reached for his genitals, and he fell to his knees, hollering like a wounded animal. For a few seconds, she was terrified. Then she jumped into action. Maybe she could escape. She rushed to the door and opened it. The sound of several people running up the stairs greeted her. Too late! She closed the door again and sat on the chair, waiting for them to enter.
Dougal stormed into the room first. He looked at Robert, whose hollering had subsided into a pitiful groan, then at Helen.
”What happened?”
”He untied me so that I could relieve myself and then he tried rape me. So I kneed him.” She was surprised how calmly she could say that.
At first, a silly grin crossed Dougal's face, then it turned an angry red. Towering threateningly over Robert, he snarled with controlled restraint: ”You stupid fool! You know d.a.m.n well that we cannot afford trouble now! Could you not wait for another few days?” He turned to Robin and Fergus. ”Take him downstairs and fill him with whisky.”
The two did not react, both staring at Helen with a mixture of disbelief and admiration.
”Did you hear me?” roared Dougal.
They lifted Robert up and almost carried him out of the room. Dougal began retying her legs to the chair.
”Please, father, not so tight. My limbs went all numb.”
He ignored her plea.
”Why did you have to make a fuss? You said yourself, you had it off with master Andrew before you were wed. Couldn't you let him have his way?”
She was outraged at his suggestion. For a moment she was lost for words. ”You don't understand, do you? I love Andrew. Nor would he ever force me.”
”You gave in to him!”
Doesn't he see the difference? ”No, I didn't. I wanted it myself.”
He slapped her. ”You s.l.u.t.”
”I see, it's all right to give in when a man wants it, but it's not all right to do it out of love.”
”Be quiet! Robert will get his way in a few days, whether you like it or not.”
”I will never marry Robert. I hate him. You cannot make me.”
”We will see, la.s.s. We will see.”
He undid the cloth around her wrists and tied her arms again to the chair. Then he pushed the chair against a wall and said: ”No sound, remember! And now go to sleep, if you can. It will be a long night.”
17.
Andrew landed hard on the pavement. I should have helped her, not save my own skin, he berated himself! ... But didn't she shake her head when he wanted to jump? Or did he just imagine it? And what will they do to her? He felt suddenly sick with anxiety.
”Hurry, sir,” urged Owen.
One last uncertain look to the top of the wall, and Andrew sprinted after the boy, who had already gained thirty or forty feet on him, running as fast as his short feet would carry him. At the High Street end of the close, the boy looked back. n.o.body pursued them, so he halted, catching his breath.
”Wait here, sir. I quickly check whether it's safe.”
He went into High Street and disappeared to the right. Andrew adjusted his peruke and set his hat again to shade much of his face. He straightened his waistcoat. His heart was still pounding, but not so much from the run, but from fear for Helen. He should have followed Dougal to discover where they took her. He turned back, but had hardly gone two steps, when Owen reappeared and called: ”This way, sir,” beckoning him.
”I have to go after them. I have to know where they're taking Helen,” he answered over his shoulder.
”I'll do that later on. First I must bring you to a safe place. Come, sir, we can't tarry any longer.” It was said with such authority that Andrew complied. Maybe the boy was right.
They crossed High Street and immediately ducked into the closest alley.
”Boy, where are you taking me?”
”I'll tell you later, sir. Just follow me,” he whispered, dipping his head a bit to the side, pointing at the people chatting in front of several doorways. Then, he added with a smile: ”Your lady trusted me.”
”So will I then.”
Soon they turned right, parallel to High Street. At Gallowgate Street, Owen again checked if the road was clear before crossing it to duck into another alley. He repeated this procedure another two times, crossing Saltmarket and King Streets. Once past Stockwell Street, he took Andrew's hand, saying: ”Like this people will take us as father and son, sir.”
He looked up with a mischievous smile, and Andrew could not help but respond warmly.
”I'm taking you to The White Heron, sir. That's where your lady hid with your horses these last few days. She's an inn near the wharf. You're quite safe there, especially if you don't show your face in the tavern. Rose has everything arranged.”
”Who is Rose?”
”Rose runs The White Heron. I guess she belongs to her.”
”But I really should go after Helen.”
”You'll need help for that, sir. They are four Highlanders.”
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