Tavia raised a brow. "Indeed. And he certainly caused the pink to return to your cheeks."
Anna lifted her hands to cover her scorching cheeks. "Argh. I must look dreadful this morn. How embarrassing for him to see me in such a mess."
Tavia chuckled.
Anna saw no humor in it. She was in a fix now. She could no longer use the excuse of illness to avoid the great hall. If she did, Neacal would be in here to check on her every quarter hour. Besides, she could not lie to him. With his astute eye, he would see right through her. She didn't want to take him from his important visitors. Well, she did actually… but she couldn't be so selfish. He wasn't hers. He might very well have already found a bride.
"Do you think he will wed any of the young ladies?" Anna asked.
"Nay." Tavia sat down on the wooden stool by the bed.
"You answered that quickly."
She shrugged. "I know him."
"What about the newest arrivals? The Hamiltons. One of them might catch his fancy."
Tavia shook her head. "He paid the lasses no mind. When you didn't show up to sing last night, he asked me where you were. I told him you were not feeling well. The only way I could keep him from coming up here was to tell him you were asleep. Then he made me promise to check on you every two hours and let him know if you became worse. So I did."
"Good heavens," Anna whispered, feeling even more horrible for her deception. "I'm sorry I put you to so much trouble. You got no sleep last night."
"I got plenty. Do not fash yourself. Now you're better, thanks be to God. Everyone will look forward to hearing you sing this night," Tavia said. "And I'm certain you'll be glad to get back to singing. You seem to enjoy it so much."
Anna nodded and forced herself to take another bite of porridge. Her stomach knotting more with each moment that passed, she put down the spoon. She knew not what to do, but she had to make a decision soon. She felt panicked and the walls of the small room closed in upon her. She could never allow the bastard Blackburn to find her. Because of his fury at her for evading him all this time, he might kill her… but he would rape, beat, and torture her first. What life she had left, she had to live on her own.
She had to leave here.
Although she treasured Neacal and his concern for her, she felt trapped of a sudden. She couldn't get out of singing this night. Then, as soon as Chief Hamilton saw her, he would recognize her. When word got back to Blackburn, he would show up here.
***
By suppertime, Anna had secretly collected enough food for a few days' travel. She stuffed two apples, hard yellow cheese, bread, and leftover bannocks into her sack. She had very few belongings—a few clothes, a comb, a flute, and five silver coins saved from her earnings. She would have to leave her violin behind. Eli and the others would take care of it for her. Still, 'twas difficult to pack and ready herself for travel without Harriet, Tavia or anyone else knowing of it.
Tears burned her eyes at the realization she would have to depart without saying goodbye to Neacal. Or Tavia.
She also hated to leave her musician friends, but it would be too difficult for all of them to slip out together. Besides, they liked it here and didn't want to leave. Eli was not able to travel much on foot, anyway. In a few weeks, she would return, look out from the hill and see if Chief Hamilton's galleys were gone. If they were, she would come back inside.
That's what she told herself anyway, to make her departure easier, and she prayed it would be true. She didn't want to leave. She loved it here at Bearach, for the food was good and the company was better, but she couldn't risk discovery. Even if she had to hide out in a cave for a month, she would prefer it to being captured by Blackburn.
She couldn't ask for Neacal's help. He would want to know the whole story and she was unprepared to tell him she might be wed, though illegally. Besides, she wouldn't drag him into her battle. He'd suffered enough from his own.
While Neacal was busy with his guests in the great hall, Anna descended the servants' stairs and lurked about the kitchen doorway. The room was chaos. Mistress Pottenger shouted to the various servants, who rushed around. Anna slipped along the edge of the room. Thankfully, she had already eaten her supper early, in the kitchen, so she would be ready to sing as the clan was finishing their meals in the great hall. Of course, she was not actually going to sing, but she acted as natural as possible while doing her usual routine.
After noticing a large meat carving knife lying on a table, she surveyed everyone around. Seeing no one watching, she slipped the knife off the table and into her pack. She might need it to defend herself. Her wee dirk was again sheathed on her calf, but she might have need of a larger one. As she'd seen when she'd stabbed Farquar, the small knife had only made him angrier. 'Twould be difficult to kill a large man with a tiny dagger. The aim would have to be perfect. With a larger knife, she could do more damage. And she fully intended to protect herself on this journey.
Anna crept out the kitchen door into the vegetable garden, then proceeded around the side of the castle. The bailey was near empty with everyone inside for the meal.
She had been paying attention to the weather all day and thankfully no rain fell. Only a few white clouds, resembling clumps of wool, floated through the sky as the sun descended in the lavender-blue sky.
At the portcullis, she told the guards she was going to Bearach village nearby.
Dressed as a servant, with her oldest black cloak covering herarisaid, along with the cowl over her head, Anna passed through the gates without a question from the guards.
She could not hide in Bearach Village. 'Twas too small and close to the castle. Surely she would have time to reach Acharacle before nightfall. According to Tavia 'twas three or four miles away. She would ask for directions in the village.
If possible, Anna would stay in Acharacle for a few weeks, or 'haps travel by galley to Glenfinnan, and then return to Bearach later. By then, the Hamilton clan should've taken their leave, especially if Neacal refused to marry any of the young ladies, as Tavia had predicted.
But what if he didn't refuse? What if he found one of them attractive and was married by the time Anna returned? Her heart sank. But it couldn't matter to her. Neacal was far beyond her reach.
