The messenger was dispatched to Beaufort immediately. He was to change horses wherever he could to continue without delay. The message demanded that Whitlocke come to answer for his crimes against the Lady Alice Swanningham and against her family. Alice knew how bad this could grow to be. Her only hope was that her father wouldn't kill Jasper.
She prayed and cried and prayed some more. Alice went to church and confessed to the priest, Father Thomas. For hours, she begged God would work it out for her and Jasper to be together.
…/…/…/…
Meanwhile in England…
Jasper Whitlocke was breaking his fast in his castle. "Jasper, you must eat, son. You cannot live moping about and starving yourself," his mother's voice interrupted his personal musings.
"Yes, mother, I am aware. I simply cannot find it in me. Something is going to go very wrong today. I can feel it. I just cannot fathom what it might be. Not to mention the fact that I miss my Alice. You would have liked her mother," he stated.
"Dear, I am certain I'd have liked her, if she truly loved you. But, you cannot continue to barely exist, and you are doing a rather poor job of that," She held up a hand. "Don't interrupt me yet. Her father had valid points for denying you. We are at war with Scotland so often, and there is no love between our countries."
"Yes, I know. I can't get her out of my mind. It's like she has taken permanent residence in my heart and thoughts. For such a tiny woman, she has had a huge effect on me," he pushed away from the table, his plate barely touched. "I have business to attend to. I will see you later."
His mother, Angela, heaved a sigh as she watched him depart. Whatever was she to do with him? He was going to waste away if he kept at this. His jupon was hanging on his still well-muscled form. He was looking very gaunt. She decided a distraction was in order. She would host a party in two weeks' time. Perhaps, Jasper would find a pretty English lady to marry. It's not as if there was a shortage of ladies among the ton.
…/…/…/…
Two Days Later
"There is a messenger at the door, my lord. Shall I show him?" the butler, Michael, asked.
"Yes Michael, please do."
Michael was gone but a moment before a Scottish warrior, who looked ready to pass out from exhaustion- as though he'd not stopped once on his hard ride here- took up the doorway. He was a rather large man. Standing about three inches taller than Jasper himself, with a shock of dark hair sticking in every direction, though it looked more brown than black at this point from all the dust inhabiting it.
"What can I do for you, my good man?" Whitlocke asked.
"I come with bearing message from my laird, Charles Swanningham. I'm to give ye this scroll, and accompany ye back to Scotland," he said as he handed over the missive.
Jasper's face registered his surprise as he read the directives. "Do you know what crimes I am to answer for?"
"Nay. Just that I'm to tie ye to ye're horse and drag ye along if ye dinnae come willingly."
"Well, if we are to be travelling companions, I think we should know each other's names. I am Jasper Whitlocke. And you are?"
"Who I be is not what ye should concern yerself with, sir. Ye need to get packing. We need to leave immediately," said the man, looking over his shoulder like he was expecting a dirk in his back at any moment.
"Alright," he rang for his butler. Michael's steps were quick and light as he made his way to the door. His raised eyebrow indicated he was waiting for his instructions. "Take our visitor to the parlor and see that he has food and drink. But I think he may want to wash first, so I'll leave you to it."
Jasper left his office quickly taking the stairs to his bed chamber two at a time. Once in his room he rang for his valet who would pack for him, "Thank you, Ben. I trust your judgment in what you pack for me, I must alert my mother to what is happening, and I need to find my will and make a list for Michael. I would like you to journey with me as well as a contingent of men, but you have a family, so I understand if you cannot, or do not want to. I'm leaving the choice to you."
"Thank you, sir. I'll speak to me wife and let ya know," came the answer as Ben dug around through the trunk for Jasper's travelling bag.
"Mrs. Cheney," the duke addressed his housekeeper on his way back to the office to attend to business, "I need my lady mother sent to me at once."
"Yes my lord. I'll find her at once."
Once in his office, he pulled out his will from the desk drawer and reviewed it. As he had no brothers, his young nephew would be his heir unless he had children of his own. If the missive was anything to go by, it looked as though he may not make it out of this mess alive. He made his brother-in-law, Tyler, executor of his estate in his absence, and made sure his mother would be amply provided for in the case of his death. He wrote out a list of business he would need Michael to attend to while he was away. All of that took only about twenty minutes. He was in fact just finishing when his mother knocked upon the heavy oak door.
"Please come in, mother."
"Jasper, whatever is going on? Mrs. Cheney said you wished to speak with me, and there is a huge man in a skirt in our parlor. You have bags packed and waiting on the step, and," she snatched the papers up shuffling through them- her face paling at the sight of his will, "you have updated your will?"
"Yes mother. I've been summoned to Scotland by Alice's father. I don't know exactly why, but I have an idea, and it may not end prettily. Especially since England and Scotland are at war again. I promise I'll do the best I can to stay safe, but I cannot promise more than that."
"Well, I will have to reschedule the party then until you are back. I'm glad I hadn't sent out the invitations yet."
"Mother you know how I despise parties. Why…? Oh, you want to distract me. I can't be distracted right now though mama. I must go to Scotland. I need to have the horses readied and be on our way. I should not delay any longer than I must," his diatribe ended as he pulled her into a hug.
"Michael!" he called for his butler.
"Sir?" came the reply from down the hall.
"Have the horses readied; we must be off at once."
"Yes, my lord."
The big Scot and English lord were on the way to Scotland within an hour of the Scot arriving. The duke had demanded to be allowed three men to come so that should this end badly, someone could take the news to his lady mother.
…/…/…/…
A/N: Ok, stay with me. More enlightenment in the next chapter! I promise… I planned on making this one the chapter for that, but the characters had minds of their own and it took a bit of different turn than I thought.
Leave me a review and let me know what you think!
