But the misery she inflicted had not beenenough. As Stephen spent more and more time in the service of hisking, she started meeting secretly again with David. He still lovedher. He hadn’t forgotten her. He hadn’t taken a wife. It was thenthat they had planned their scheme.
Eleven years ago, she hadconsidered Theresaherchild. The six-year-old was impressionable enough, and Evelynknew she could mold the girl into anything she wished. If all hadgone as they’d planned, she would have taken the child back withher to the Borders. But that had been the only portion of theirscheme that had failed.
And David was certain that the child hadseen his face.
Assuming that the girl was dead for allthese years had been a great relief. But last night, Evelyn’s worldhad fallen to pieces around her as she stared into the accusingeyes of her husband.
Theresa Catherinewashisdaughter.In looks and in spirit, the dead had been raised.
A tray hit the floor with a loud clatter, and Evelynturned sharply to see the spilled food a step away from the tablewhere David had seated himself for his supper. The clumsy servant,her head bowed over her task, was hurriedly cleaning up the mess.Another servant cursed quietly and continually at the woman andordered the other two maids to run to the kitchens for morefood.
Evelyn’s gaze fixed on the servant. A lockof dark hair had escaped the kerchief. She glimpsed the fair face,the full lips, the flitting glance at David’s missing fingers as herested his hand on the edge of the table. Evelyn took a step towardthe girl, but she paused as David slowly rose from his chair. Hislook told her that he had guessed at her identity, as well.
“I told the cook to send Jenny,” the other servantcontinued to complain under her breath as she crouched by the girl,helping with the tray. “Don’t know what he’s thinking, sending newhelp with the master’s meal. Hurry, ye fumbling puss! Out quick…andtake this mess with ye.”
Evelyn frowned at the two women, scrambling on theirknees by the table. Theresa was wearing Jenny’s dress. The old foolhad taken her up to her bedchamber. She had taken her meals intoher. And now she had helped the girl escape in her clothes. So evenher own servants were betraying her. Evelyn felt her temper rise,and she took another step toward them. Well, it would take only amoment to put a quick end to this treachery. As she opened hermouth to speak, David raised his hand and Evelyn’s gaze shifted tohis face. With the slightest shake of his head, he signaled for herto wait.
Theresa lifted the tray unsteadily and scurriedtoward the door.
“Let her go,” David said quietly. “That isexactly where I want her…running after her Highlander withwitnesses who will swear she stole away of her own accord. Outsideof this castle, she is no longer under my protection…and then ourproblems are solved.”
With her heart drumming in her ears, Tessraced down the steps.
He was coming after her. Him. Her father’skiller. Her mother’s protector. Now everything made sense. Theywould kill her for sure now, for she had seen it all.
But had they recognized her?
At the bottom of the stairs, she looked in confusionat the tray in her hands. She couldn’t run through the yard withthis. But she couldn’t risk though going to the kitchens,either.
“I’ll take that from ye, mistress.” Thewoman’s hushed voice behind her made Tess jump. She hadn’t evenrealized that the other woman had followed her down the steps. “Yerun for the gate now, before they figure something’s amiss.”
Tess gaped at her for a moment, stunned by theservant’s words. They were all against Evelyn. They all knew herfor what she was. She let go of the tray when the other woman tookit.
“Pull the kerchief down over yer eyes. Walkquick, and don’t answer any of them curs at the gate. When ye getclear of the drawbridge, follow the road to the village, but turnright at the split in the road. From there, ye can cut over to thewoods before you reach the first cottage. That’ll take ye to theriverbank.” The woman darted a look up the stairwell. “Run, now. Ihear someone coming.”
“Thank you.” Tess whispered raggedly andpushed through the door the woman pointed to.
The sky was dark and heavy, but there was norain. Tess’s feet sank into the mud outside the door, but shedidn’t care. Only a handful of men were visible in the courtyard,and Tess was relieved to see a small group of workers crossing theyard toward the gate. She hurried to them and fell in a couple ofsteps behind the group. She had to stifle the urge to run. She kepther head down, but felt as if everyone in the world knew who shewas.
The past twenty-four hours had given Tess a chanceto come to terms with her mother’s hatred. She had not caused LadyEvelyn’s feelings toward her, but she was not willing to live withthem, either. The last few moments, though, had revealed thehorrible truth, and another powerful need had surfaced within her.Revenge. She would avenge her father’s murder. But to do that, Tessfirst had to get away.
There were lewd calls from some of thesoldiers keeping watch as Tess passed through the gate. She did asthe servant told her, though, and followed the rest of the peopleout. Once outside the castle’s curtain wall, Tess slowed down alittle, giving the others an opportunity to move ahead of her.
She found the split in the road and a fewmoments later was moving silently across the fields toward thewoods beyond. Once she’d stepped into the trees, though, thedarkness became an ominous presence. Every tree and shrubthreatened her. The sounds of night intimidated her.
But nothing of what lay ahead compared tothe murderous monster behind her.
As she followed a path through the woods,Tess tried to gauge the direction of the river. Once she foundthat, she would simply follow it to the point where she was to meetColin at dawn.
A twig cracked behind her. She turnedaround, but there was no one. Tess stepped out of the path andwaited a moment. Nothing appeared, but prickles of vulnerabilityraced up and down her back. She was totally unfamiliar with hersurroundings. She had no defense against anything…or anyone…thatmight be lying in wait in the darkness ahead.
Feeling around at her feet, she found astick, straightened up, and started along the path again. It wasall she could do to fight down her panic.
A few moments later, the sound of the riverreached her ears. She stopped. Looking around her, though, shecould not decide where the sound was coming from. But Tess knewthat no matter how bad her confusion was, she still had to choose.It wouldn’t be long before Sir David and her mother sent for her.They quite possibly had done so already and found Jenny in herplace.
The sound of heavy footfalls came frombehind her on the path. Someone was in the woods. Tess listened,unable to move from the spot. There were more footsteps. The soundof men whispering quietly. They were so near. The Burnetts wereafter her.
Before she could move, though, a thought pushedforward in her brain. Why would Sir David’s men need to be quiet?Why not light torches? Send armies of people in search of her?
