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‘Go inside, my lady,’ Lainie instructed, afraid it might not be a friendly horseman.
‘What if it is Brice?’ Marion argued.
‘Then you can come out the moment you know it is him. But please, do not take a chance. Go inside.’
Marion rushed indoors and positioned herself by a window set high in the wall, standing on tiptoe to look out.
She saw the horseman come closer and then nearer still. ‘Wallace! Wallace!’ Lainie whooped, running out into the path of the horse, so that it stopped short and almost threw off its rider.
Wallace leaped off and ran to her, sweeping her up into his arms and swinging her about joyfully.
They were still talking as Lainie led Wallace indoors. ‘And then the peasant army flooded into the castle and yes, Brice has been given charge of Bothwell Castle and the Murray lands and his father and mother have gone to live in England with William. Robert has called for the dissolution of his marriage to Lady Marion, and laird Brice has a paper which states that the marriage is annulled.’
Marion, who had been standing there listening to them talking, spoke up. ‘And where is Brice?’
Wallace turned to her, hastily apologizing. ‘He is well, my lady, and has sent me here to take you back to him.’
‘Why didn’t he come himself? He said he would,’ Marion said, seized by a wave of consternation.
Wallace looked sheepish. ‘My lady, he told me to apologize on his behalf, and to explain to you that a laird cannot leave his lands and castle for any length of time – particularly in the wake of recent events. He begs your understanding and says he is waiting for you eagerly and that he cannot wait too long to make you wholly his.’
‘When do we leave?’ Marion asked.
‘Tomorrow – at first light. Lainie will come with us.’
Marion could not shake the feeling of unease that grew more acute as the hour of their departure for Bothwell Castle drew nigh. She tossed through the night and was awake and alert before she heard Wallace and Lainie stirring. Something was amiss.
They left hurriedly, Wallace insisting that Marion not take any of her personal effects. It would slow them down, he said. She suppressed a shiver and looked at Lainie for reassurance, but got none. Lainie had been quiet since Wallace returned, and seemed concerned about something.
They weren’t far from Bothwell Castle when Robert rode out to them, pulling Marion violently down from her horse and bringing her to her knees.
‘You lying, deceptive hussy!’ He shouted.
Marion looked beseechingly up at Wallace, but his mouth was set in a firm hard line.
‘Sorry my lady,’ Lainie sobbed, ‘The laird Robert said he would see me dead if Wallace did not bring you to him.’
‘Brice is now laird of Bothwell and he will see that justice is done,’ Marion said through clenched teeth, but Robert struck her first and then roared with laughter.
‘So you believed the story that Wallace told you? That my father and Mother have gone to England to live with William?’
‘Is it not true?’ Marion ventured.
Robert roared with laughter again. ‘No! Brice thought he could go against my father, but he was no match for him. I paid the peasant army well to deceive Brice the do-gooder. And now he is paying for his mistake.
‘What have you done to him?’ Marion cried.
‘I could tell you he was dead, because he soon will be. He is being dealt with like the criminal that he is – in a dungeon crawling with vermin.’
Marion began to sob uncontrollably. ‘What is to be my lot?’
‘I could throw you in the dungeon with Brice, but that would not suit my purpose – to have you two lovers together in death. Oh no! You see, my father has now stopped me from going to France and I owe that change of mind to you. I intend taking every bit of revenge on you for so destroying my life.’
‘It was you who destroyed my life!’ Marion exclaimed, aggrieved.
‘You had no life. I gave you a good alternative and you did not want it. Well, you will now see the vengeance of Robert Murray and how painful it can be.’
Robert turned his horse about. ‘Get the woman onto her horse Wallace, and bring her into the castle.’
Lainie, who had been singularly quiet all this while suddenly let out a cry and brought a sword crashing down on Robert’s head, unhorsing and wounding him enough for her and Wallace to turn their horses about and flee with Marion.
