Free Love's Ransom by Gwen Kirkwood Page B

seemed to do, but she knew he would be little use at defending Moyenstane Tower, or the village and barns if a ruthless band of raiders came. Indeed he might be many miles away. On moonlight nights he opened the shutters to let in the silvery light. Twice she had wakened to see him pressing the oak panel on the far side of their bedchamber and then he had disappeared. She assumed it must be some sort of secret stairway. Once, after a great deal of fumbling and searching she managed to open the panel herself. She was faced with a blank stone wall. It was only after she felt carefully along that she discovered there was a narrow opening at the end. Even a slim man like Henry would have to edge sideways a step at a time, she thought. Isabella hoped she would never need to escape that way herself.
    She longed for news of her family and to know whether Jamie had dealt with the Truddles. She always had a vague fear they might seek revenge on the Douglas Clan for setting her brother free. They believed that all property was common by the laws of nature and Neb Truddle had sneered at the laws King James had introduced regarding those who lived on the fringes of his two kingdoms. The wardens in all six Marches, on both sides of the border, were being paid a hundred pounds a year to enforce peace and harmony but Isabella doubted if Neb Truddle and his father knew the meaning of harmony. She wished Zander would return. What was keeping him away so long. Had he been injured, or even killed? Journeying was a dangerous occupation.
    She mentioned her fears about the Truddles to Walter one morning when they were alone.
    ‘Sir William trained all his men well, and now he trusts Zander to do the same. I usually help him too,’ he said reassuringly. ‘I’d stake my life on their loyalty. Talk is cheap for men like Truddle but remember “they may take who have the power, and they may keep who can.” I believe the Truddles must be a cowardly lot from what Sam told us. The foul trick they played on your brother proves it. They didn’t have the courage to kill him outright. They wanted him hung by others.’ His face lightened in a grin. ‘Remember I have a very precious hostage living here. You can be sure I shall defend Moyenstane Tower and everyone in it with my last breath.’
    The weeks wore on. William Douglas and his small retinue returned laden with brandy and salt and some rolls of silk, velvet and linen securely tied up and wrapped in oiled cloth to protect the contents from the weather, but most welcome of all to Isabella was the news that they had made a detour and called at Braidlands to enquire after Jamie and Sam and bring her news of her family. They had stayed a night and been well fortified for the remaining three days of their journey back to Moyenstane.
    ‘Your mother and sister have written letters to you, Isabella. We could have been home two days ago if we had allowed Sam to guide us across the marshes to the foot of the mountains but I dare not risk it with two laden mules and my men.’
    ‘I am glad you are safely home now,’ Isabella said, her grey eyes shining. The letters from her family meant far more to her than the beautiful materials or the new spinning wheel. Marjorie was not yet so free with her writing and Isabella could tell she had wanted to keep the letter neat. She could imagine her concentrating hard with the tip of her little tongue between her lips, but she had given her lots of news. Both she and Margaret now had a pony of their own and Sam was teaching them to ride safely. Mary had tried to draw her a picture of the horses and her own pet pig. There were several small blots obscuring her valiant effort. Best of all was the cheerful letter from her mother, telling her she had always known the Douglas family would be honourable and she was grateful for the sacrifice Isabella had made to secure Jamie’s freedom and send him back to his family. He had taken Sam and three other trusted men over to