Chapter 7

We were awoken by the sounds of Mrs Fitz as she bustled into our room and threw open the curtains, the sunlight streaming into our eyes.

"Ye must get up now! Come along." She cried. "Up with ye! It's near five o'clock you've been sleepin' all day."

She was a whirlwind as she brought in clothes for each of us and broth to feed and warm us. We were allowed a quick wash, and she demanded we get undressed so she could throw out our ruined clothes. She was appalled by our lack of corsets. The dressing process was quite complex, there were so many layers. I was however, much warmer now. She had pulled the corset so tight though I felt as if my breasts must be under my chin. She soon deemed us fit to meet "Himself". I took her to mean the Laird of the MacKenzie clan. There was a knock on the door and Murtagh appeared, to lead us to himself.

"Good evening Murtagh." I spoke. He didn't offer any greetings back before ushering us along corridors and up stairwells into the laird's study. We were left alone for a time. Claire stared to look on the desk at books and letters. I began to browse the laird's bookshelf. How many of the works were first editions I thought?

"Seventeen forty-three" Claire spoke suddenly.

"Excuse me" I choked.

"There's a letter here the laird is composing, it's dated seventeen forty-three."

There was a noise as the door opened and I turned back to the bookshelf to regain my composure. Seventeen forty-three, how was that even possible? I believe Scotland is still part of Great Britain but a major rebellion was due to start in the coming years, I tried to recall my schooling. No wonder the tensions between the English and Scots was so high.

"I see you've met some of my friends." Laird MacKenzie said from the doorway.

"Forgive me for helping myself." Claire said. The laird walked forward and we could both clearly see his bowed legs. He must be in incredible pain daily just to walk.

"You have a marvellous collection here Laird MacKenzie." I spoke trying to deflect from the fact Claire had basically been caught snooping at his desk.

"Some old comrades, some new acquaintances, yet to make their secrets known. But all friends none the less" He said. "I welcome ye, Mistress and Miss Beauchamp. I am Colum Ban Campbell MacKenzie, laird of this castle."

I curtsied deferring to his superior rank over mine. "Pleased to make your acquaintance Laird MacKenzie." Claire simply bowed her head at his introduction, I rolled my eyes, it was her idea that we make friendly and get these people to help us home. She needed to be slightly less hostile and try to move with the times.

"Please" He gestured for us to take a seat.

"So.." He began. "It is my understanding that my brother and his men found you in some apparent distress."

"Apparent?" Claire said. "We were attacked and nearly raped by an officer of King George the second."

"And other then this near rape, you suffered no further molestation?" he quivered.

"No we were delivered here quite safely." I interjected before Claire could insult anybody. "Please extend our gratitude to your brother and his men." I said kindly, and he nodded at this request.

"We will of course need to arrange transport back to Inverness as soon as possible." Claire said.

"I'm sure something can be arranged." He said, Claire seemed to relax a bit more at his apparent willingness to help us. "But I do myself, wish to know how exactly, ladies such as yourself came to be wanderin' about in the woods, dressed in nothing but their shifts."

"I am a widowed lady from Oxfordshire." Claire began. "I was travelling with my sister and a manservant to distant relatives in France, and we were set upon by highwaymen. While we managed to escape the bandits, our servant was killed protecting us. We were forced to abandon our property and horses to run. We had been lost for quite some time and came to the stream, we stopped for a drink and we were bathing, then we were set upon by Captain Randall, I believe you know of him."

"Is true that Captain Randall has a certain reputation. But he is an officer, a gentleman. You're saying a man baring the King's commission decided to rape some stray lady travellers he came upon in the woods, for no good reason."

"Excuse me Laird MacKenzie. I'm sorry if I misunderstood you, but is there ever an occasion for rape?" I stated offended by his implications.

"I beg your forgiveness Miss; it was and unfortunate choice of words on my behalf."

"Not at all." I said.

"I believe we were discussing transport back to Inverness." Claire stated trying to cool the tension and bring the conversation back to its goal.

"Aye." Colum said seeming to consider the matter. "A tinker by the name of Sean Petrie, he will be here Saturday next. He stops at Leoch on his way to Inverness once a month, and he often has room for one or two passengers."

"Saturday next? Forgive me, I have lost track in all the confusion."

"Five days from now." He elaborated. "Meanwhile…" He said standing. "I offer you and your sister the hospitality of our humble home." Claire and I both stood from out seats.

"Thank you." Claire said gratefully. He bowed and made it clear she was dismissed.

"Would you mind staying a moment Miss Beauchamp?" I hesitated but then sat back in my chair. Claire paused at the door, but I nodded to her that it was ok and she left.

"I couldn't help but notice your interest in my collection." He spoke gesturing to the bookshelf. "Are ye' familiar then with some of the works?"

"Some of them." I agreed. "Not all of these are in wide circulation though in England. Especially the works of your Scottish poets."

"Ah ye ken some of them?" He asked.

"Some of the works have made it to England." I stated. "The current political climate notwithstanding."

"Ye enjoy poetry then."

"Yes, it's an interest of mine." I admitted.

"Nobody around here seems to have time for such things as these. I would welcome your company of an evening if you have a mind for reading."

"It would be my honour, Laird MacKenzie."

"You will of course join us for supper in the hall this evening. You and your sister are my guests." The way he extended the offer didn't make it sound like much choice so I accepted his offer graciously.

"And you will join me here after and we shall talk of poetry." I understood his offer to mean that there would be further questions this evening.

"Yes. Alright." I agreed after all he had already promised us passage to Inverness. There could be no harm in sitting and reading poetry with and old man, he was hardly capable of assaulting me. I would just need to choose my words carefully.

"I will see you this evening then Miss Beauchamp." And with that I was dismissed. I stood and curtsied to him and left the study.

Claire and I presented ourselves at dinner as was requested. All activity in the hall seemed to halt as we approached the head table, all eyes upon the 'Sassenachs'. We curtsied to Colum when we reached the head table, Dougal leapt to his feet and gestured for us to take the two empty chairs at their table. Claire sat immediately to Columns left and I sat between her and Dougal. As we sat down people in the hall began their meals and conversations again. Colum presented each of us with a full glass of wine.

"May I present my wife Letitia. Letitia this is Mrs Claire Beauchamp and Miss Evelyn Beauchamp they are English ladies from Oxfordshire." Colum made the introductions.

"It's a pleasure to me ye." She said.

"The pleasures mine." Claire said and I nodded in acknowledgement.

"I trust Mrs FitzGibbons has found you comfortable quarters." He enquired.

"Yes most comfortable indeed." I said.

"She's a wonder." Claire remarked.

I noticed she had finished her first glass of wine and that Colum had just filled her glass again.

"Why Beauchamp?" He asked. So, this was the play I thought. Make nice with us and then begin the interrogation anew, Dougal MacKenzie may be the brawn of clan but Colum was certainly the brains.

"I'm sorry." Claire said.

"I was wondering why you pronounce it Beauchamp. If your family are from France wouldn't it be more properly pronounced Beauchamp" he said rolling the surname the second time to pronounce it the French manner.

"Yes. It was originally Beauchamp." I said pronouncing it in the French way. "But the ties to France are old. Somewhere along the line an ancestor adopted the English pronunciation."

"The twa of ye' are blood sisters, you look too alike be in laws, why is it ye both go by Beauchamp if it be yer married name?" Dougal asked.

"Our parents died when I was very young." I explained. "Claire was already married at the time and her and her husband took me in, adopted me and made me a part of their family, I took their surname Beauchamp." Our parents dying and Claire taking me in was near enough to the truth I thought, I just skipped the years we spent with uncle lamb not wanting to go into too much detail.

"Yer previous surname then?" Colum asked.

"Smith." I replied hoping it was still one of the most common surnames even in this time.

Claire had finished another glass of wine at this point.

"And what part of France do your relatives come from?" He directed at Claire.

"They are from the north." She answered. "Near Compiegne." I realised that during this time our Beauchamp family ancestors probably were still living in Compiegne so again not a lie but a play on the truth. I looked around the room and saw that all of Dougal's men were present at dinner in the hall, all except one.

"I don't see Mr MacTavish here tonight. I hope he is feeling alright?" I asked Dougal.

"MacTavish?" Letitia inquired.

"She means young Jamie." Dougal clarified.

"Jamie? Whatever is the matter with the lad?" She asked concerned. Clearly Jamie was important to these people somehow.

"Naught but a scratch my dear." Colum soothed her.

"If you can call a gunshot wound a scratch." I said.

"The Misses Beauchamp's have already tended to him. I wouldna thought he would miss supper though. Where is he Dougal?" Colum inquired of his brother.

"I sent him to the stables to help auld Alick with the horses." Dougal responded.

"The stables?" Colum queried.

"Best place for him under the circumstances. I don't want him within the walls. But it's yours to choose. If ye don't agree wi' my orders." He said

"I reckon he'll do well enough there." Colum stated. He requested a servant to bring a bottle of what he called Rhenish. It was a strong wine, rose in colour and he continued to ply Claire with alcohol and question her. I listened to the questions and Claire's answers expecting further questions to be coming later that night. Claire had just made a huge faux pas when she introduced herself to a little boy she believed was Dougal's but was in fact Colum's son. It was clearly a sore topic and Claire was most embarrassed and I think had finally realised just how much she had to drink and how loose her tongue was becoming. She excused herself from the table begging fatigue and the need for an early night.

"Are you coming Evelyn?" She asked.

"No." I said remaining at the table. "Laird MacKenzie has kindly offered to share some poetry with me this evening. I shall find you in our room later."

Dinner progressed for a little while longer Dougal and Colum trying to ply me with wine, which I refused. Colum escorted me up to his study and chose a book from the shelf.

"Rabbie Burns." He pronounced presenting me with the book. "One of this country's treasures. Wound ye mind terribly reading to me for a while." He looked pained and I assumed any sort of distraction would help to ease some for him.

"I have no Gaelic." I said to him. "You'll have to forgive me some of the pronunciation."

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June:

O my Luve's like the melodie,

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!

And fare-thee-weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

"That's one of my favourites" I explained. I continued to read from the book of poems for a while, and he did not question me which I found odd. He didn't speak at all he just listened.

"Thank you my dear." He said after a while. "You have a verra pleasing voice, something musical about it. Do ye sing at all?"

"Sometimes." I said. "But only to amuse myself."

"Ahh." He said in understanding. "Perhaps, sometime, you would sing something for me."

"Sometime." I agreed vaguely. I thought it an odd statement for him to make if he intended to let us leave on Saturday as planned.

"Ye may go now Miss Beauchamp, but please do come again tomorrow night."

I woke fairly early the next morning, I could hear the bustling sounds of the castle coming alive as people began to go about their business. Claire was still asleep but I managed to dress myself quietly without needing help. I left the corset rather looser then I thought it was supposed to be worn but I wanted to be able to breathe and explore. I made my way down to the kitchen where I was promptly offered some porridge by Mrs Fitz, while it didn't look very appetising, I didn't want to be rude and once a small amount of honey was added, it was actually rather nice.

"Is there any way I can be of some use today?" I asked her. I could cook but I was not used to the quantities Mrs Fitz seemed to make, she was supplying food for all those in the castle after all. I could be of use somewhere other than the kitchens surely. Mrs Fitz accompanied me to the castle gardens where she showed me some of her herbs and how and when to collect them and their uses. She was stocking up for the gathering she explained and once she was confident enough in my ability to collect and not damage them left me to do my work. I settled into the familiarity of hard honest work in the garden. I was used to it from my time spent at the farm during the early war. My life there seemed an age ago but my body fell back into the familiar routine and I lost myself in the simple work. I noticed that Angus was hanging around and I wondered if he had been sent to watch me. He was just sitting around not doing much of anything and didn't seem like a person who enjoyed the wonders of the great outdoors. When I had filled up the baskets I walked over and handed one to him.

"What's this then?" He said.

"Well if you're going to spy on me…" I said. "You can at least be of some use and help me carry these baskets of herbs back to the kitchens for Mrs Fitz."

"Who said I were followin' yer?" He asked hostilely.

"Well nobody, but you are being quite obvious about it. You've been sitting here the last hour keeping watch. May I ask is it Colum or Dougal that has asked you to do such a thing? Is Claire being watched too?"

He didn't answer my questions.

"Well come along then." I sighed brushing off my skirts of dirt. He didn't look impressed but carried the basket I asked him to none the less.

"Thank ye my dear." Mrs Fitz exclaimed when I presented her with the baskets. "Just set them down over there." She gestured. "Yer a wonder my dear, that took ye half the time it would take some of these lassies."

"I suppose I'm just used to that kind of work is all." I explained.

"Did yer family farm land then?" She asked kindly. "Only, yer don't look like women used to hard labour."

"No, not my family, but I did spend a year fostered with a family and they ran a farm which I helped with. Has my sister come down yet?" I inquired.

"I have no' seen her no." Mrs Fitz tsked.

"I'm sure she's just tired from our harrowing journey. Do you know where I could find Mr MacTavish?" I asked her. "I thought perhaps someone should have another look at his shoulder."

"MacTavish?" She queried. "Oh you mean Jamie." She said puzzled.

Obviously, MacTavish wasn't his real name, there must be some reason to keep him and his real name hidden, thinking back to the conversation between Dougal and Colum over dinner yesterday. "Yes Jamie. Where might I find the stables?"

"Up in the meadow." She said. "I'll organise ye some fresh bandages and some lunch fer ye to take up to him an' auld Alick."

I walked out of the castle carrying the basket of supplies she had given me. The path out of the castle was muddy but manageable. There were people going to and from the castle all busy with whatever tasks made up their daily lives. I bowed my head in greeting to some of them but was ignored, clearly word had spread about the Sassenachs up at the castle. I didn't really blame them, for not trusting me. That was what times of war and civil unrest brought. I remembered during the early days of world war II people were nervous around their own neighbours.

I amused myself while walking by making up names and lives for them all. I noticed that I now had Rupert following me. At least he was trying to be inconspicuous, not that he was managing. As I approached the paddock I saw Jamie working with a beautiful white mare. He was leading her around in circles, clicking his tongue and using commands in Gaelic. I approached slowly careful not to startle the horse and watched him for a few moments. The horse noticed my presence first and stopped, clearly I made her a little nervous. I put down the basket I was carrying and approached slowly with my hand out palm face down so she could smell me. I stopped just short of her nose and she extended her head out to sniff my hand. She nuzzled my hand with her nose and I took this as a que that it was ok to approach her further and I slowly ran my hand over her back. She was a beauty. I gave her an apple that I pulled from the basket. I noticed Jamie was now watching me with a look I couldn't quite read. Suddenly there was a large clanging noise as Rupert knocked something off the side of the fence and the horse startled. She reared, whinnying and knocked Jamie and I into the fence. The fall gave my head a bit of a jolt, pain blossoming from my injury and I thought Jamie must be in pain from his shoulder as I heard him curse in Gaelic.

"Are ye alright Miss?" He asked coming over looking at me concerned.

My head ached but I felt it settling slightly.

"Miss Beauchamp? Evie?" He said assisting me to stand.

"Yes, yes I'm alright." I answered. "My head just got a bit of a jolt, but it's easing now." I said at his look of concern.

"Bloody Rupert." He said. "What the devil is he doing up here anyway?"

"I believe that may be my fault." I answered. "Him and Angus have been tailing me today. Spying on me, for Dougal or Colum, I don't know which."

"Spyin' is it?" He said. "Ahh, that would likely be more Dougal, than Colum."

The horse was still snorting and dancing around on its tether. He crooned to her in Gaelic and she settled down.

"I brought you some lunch, and I thought I should have a look at your shoulder, my sister would be better but well…she is still abed." I said explaining my presence there.

"Aye." He said and gathered a horse blanket from the railing and laid it down on top of the straw in the barn. I poured him some ale and laid out the cheese and bread Mrs Fitz had provided.

"I didn't see you in the hall last night." I said to him.

"Slept through it." He remarked. "I found myself a room and went to sleep directly after I left ye'. Dinna wake up until this morning with my stomach growlin' at me tryin' to eat itself."

"Well I can see that it hasn't settled yet." I said watching him dig into the food with gusto. "You certainly have a hearty appetite. I should think you would eat grass if there was nothing else."

"I have. It doesna taste bad but it's not very fillin'" He said.

"What?" I exclaimed surprised. "You've actually eaten grass?"

"Aye. The winter, year before last. I was livin' rough ye know, in the woods wi' a group of lads raidin' cattle. We'd had poor luck for a week or more and no food amongst us left."

"One might ask why you were raiding cattle instead of tending to your own farm." I stated. He nodded.

"I'm an outlaw, there's a price on my head. Ten pounds, sterling. That's a farmer's whole year in these parts."

"Seems excessive to me, for a single escaped prisoner."

"No, not for escape. For murder." Seeing the look on my face he hastily added. "But I didna actually kill the man I'm wanted for. I have done away wi' other redcoats though so I dare say its warranted."

"Oh." I said. "You're quite a complicated young man aren't you?" I said smirking.

"I told ye what happened at Fort William. It was after the second flogging, I couldna move fer days and then I had fever from the wounds. Once I could stand some…friends made shift to get me outta camp by means I best not get into, a red coat was shot. 'twas not me that shot him, though I dinna ken who did, I was too weak to do more than hang off the horse. Four years ago, now. More like an old dream."

"I take it your real name's not MacTavish? People seem quite confused when I ask after you by that name."

"No. No its not. You know its valuable information, that. I doubt there are informers in the castle, but there might be a few here and there that would be glad o' the money for letting the British know where I am. It's enough to even earn a lass her passage to France."

"Jamie I would never…" I began

"No, I know you wouldn't." he interrupted.

"It means a lot to me that you told me this, especially when you could have lied or told me it was none of my business. You decided to trust me." I said with feeling

"Aye." He said eyes locking with mine. I blushed and looked away hastily.

"Does Colum know? Does Dougal? You know they're having me watched. Rupert might have overheard…" I panicked.

"Calm yerslef lass." He said taking my hand. "You've a kind heart." He said while playing with my fingers, I felt a warmth blush across my cheeks. "They both know, their uncles, on my mother's side."

"And now I know, why did you tell me?" I said looking up into his eyes.

"You asked." He answered simply.

"That's not an answer." I said.

"Aye." He said smirking.

"Fine, keep your secrets." I said smiling at him amused.

"Are you done stuffing your face lad, while the horses run wild?" We were interrupted by auld Alicks appearance. Jamie dropped my hand. "and when will that colt be broken?"

"None the sooner fer starving myself Allick." Jamie said standing ready to get back to work. "Thank you for the food." He said to me.

"Just try not to get injured today, that will be thanks enough." I said.

"I canna promise you anythin' Sassenach." He said cheekily.

When I informed Claire that we were both being followed for the remainder of our time at Leoch, she went to Dougal to confront him, upon returning she said "They think we're spies for the British."

"Well I suppose it wouldn't be the first time someone's tried the whole damsel in distress routine to get people to trust them. Colum's not stupid, he knows we're not telling the whole truth." I stated plainly.

"Why, did he question you last night? What did you tell him?" She asked rapidly.

"He didn't ask me anything. He really just wanted me to read to him." I explained

"But doesn't any of this worry you at all?" She asked me incredulously.

"Honestly? No, I'm not worried, and neither should you be. Look Claire, neither of us are spies and they will have very little to watch of us over the next four days. Colum has already agreed that we leave with the tinker on Saturday."

"Yes, well I suppose your right." She agreed.

We spent the next few days helping Mrs Fitz fully supply her stocks for the coming gathering. It was nice to spend such simple time together, nurturing growing things. Claire and I hadn't spent this much time together in an age. Every day at lunch I would walk up to the stables in the east meadow and just spend time with Jamie and the horses. Auld Allick had become accustomed to my presence there, and while he was not friendly with me he wasn't openly hostile either and once he learned that I knew my way around horses he simply seemed to accept my presence almost as if I were a part of the furniture. Jamie's shoulder continued to heal although he would only let me look at it once when Allick wasn't around. I told him that he should let Claire look at it again before he took the bandages off completely, just to check all was well. As Saturday approached I realised I had come to enjoy my time at castle leoch, spending my days with my sister tending the gardens and collecting supplies for the kitchens, lunches with Jamie at the stables and evenings spent discussing poetry with Colum. Before I knew it tomorrow was Saturday and I was facing the fact that I would have to explain to Jamie that I was leaving. The thought of losing his companionship was a painful one, I realised oddly, I had only known him a week. It was a ludicrous thought, but I felt as if I could have been happy here, with a simple life. I shouldn't be thinking like this though, we were leaving tomorrow, we would return through the stones to our own time, our own life, and all this would disappear, all these people long dead and forgotten.

The hall was open to the public that night for the tenants and farmers to bring their troubles and disputes for judgement from the laird. Claire introduced me to a woman she had met called Geilis Duncan. I was instantly wary of her, though she seemed nice enough. I noticed Jamie and Murtagh over the other side of the hall and gave Jamie a small wave and a smile when he looked my way. I noticed Geilis watching the interaction between the two of us and quickly looked away from him. I wished I could talk to him, to tell him I would be leaving in the morning. I had missed him at the stables today as Allick had sent him into the village on an errand. I didn't want to leave Leoch without saying goodbye.

The disputes between the tenants were all aired in Gaelic and Geilis was kind enough to translate for us. The first two were farmers having a dispute over a cow, it seemed silly but I realised that these people relied on Colum's decisions to get by in their day to day lives. Nothing was above or below his notice and I admired him for it. The next two were arguing over land boundaries, and some piece of land that both were trying to claim, ultimately as the land belonged to Colum MacKenzie it was his decision to make who could claim it. I could see that these matters toke a toll of his already pained body, but he sat straight and proud, listening attentively to all concerns. When the land dispute was settled a man stepped forward dragging a young girl with him, she couldn't have been more then sixteen years old. She had long blonde hair, and was very pretty, Geilis explained to us that her father was accusing her of loose behaviour and disobedience, he was requesting that the MacKenzie have her punished. I looked on in horror as Colum agreed, I heard Jamie and Murtagh speaking hastily in Gaelic as the girl was brought forward to face Angus and Rupert. She began to struggle against the men holding her. Murtagh seemed to be warning Jamie of something as he held onto his vest, it looked like Jamie was jovially disagreeing with him. Murtagh gave a resigned sigh and let go of him then Jamie called out in Gaelic halting the proceedings. He spoke in Gaelic addressing both his uncle Colum and at times the gathered crowd. Geilis translated for us that he was offering to take the girls punishment. Colum seemed to ponder the matter for a moment and then spoke again in Gaelic and Geilis translated that he agreed. The girl was released and ran into Mrs Fitz arms sobbing.

"But he's still injured." Claire objected to us.

"He chooses fists." Geilis translated Jamie's words. Apparently, a man may decide their form of punishment fists or the strap, given his history, I could see why he chose the latter. I wondered of his connection to the young woman though, did he know her? He must know her to take a beating for her surely. Was he one of the young men she was displaying 'loose behaviour' with?

Jamie stood tall before Rupert awaiting his punishment, suddenly Rupert struck out and dealt him a hefty blow to the abdomen, Jamie recoiled bending over at the impact. Rupert waited for Jamie to right himself again before dealing him another blow, this one didn't seem to affect him as much as the first. Rupert stalked around him and landed another punch to his back.

"How long does this go on for?" I heard Claire whisper to Geilis.

"Only until blood is drawn ." She answered. "Usually when the nose breaks."

Rupert faced Jamie again and punched him in the face. Jamie spat on the ground and I could see blood. Thank goodness I thought, it would be over now. Rupert turned to face Dougal and I saw Dougal nod at him to continue. He looked sorry but then punched Jamie right in his injured shoulder, I winced, I couldn't bear to watch anymore and I slipped out quietly, I sat in the kitchen hoping that Jamie would be brought down hiere for treatment when Dougal had finished his petty punishment for whatever slight real or imagined. Sure enough after a few minutes Jamie limped in being supported by Murtagh with Claire following behind. I leapt up from my seat.

"Oh are you alright Jamie?" I asked I poured him a cup of ale and handed it to him. He nodded his head in thanks and smiled but then winced when it moved his eye which I could see was badly bruised. Murtagh seated him on a bench in the kitchen and left swearing in Gaelic, I thought I heard him add something about being too old for this.

"Why did you do that?" Claire asked. "Take that girl's punishment? Do you know her?"

I listened with bated breath to hear the answer. Who is she to you Jamie?

"I ken how she is." He answered. "I havena really spoke to her though."

"Then why?" I asked.

"It would have shamed the lass, to have been beaten in the hall before everyone who knows her. Taken a long time to get over it. It's easier fer me, I'm sore, but I'm nae really damaged. I'll be over it in a couple of days."

Mrs Fitz bustled in as was usual for her, she was carrying a tray with a cup and some herbs on it.

"Here ye are lad, rinse yer mouth with this, will cleanse the cuts and ease the pain. Willow bark tea." She explained.

"Top o' life." Jamie said at the taste.

"What ye did was kindle meant lad." She said to Jamie gratefully. Then seeing our quizzical looks she added. "Laoghaire is my granddaughter ye ken." Mrs Fitz then lost her composure and marched swiftly from the room.

"Evie informs me she's been checking on your shoulder. You can take that bandage of in a few days." Claire told him. Jamie looked at me confused and we locked eyes.

"Wouldn't it be easier if you did that?" He asked me.

"Yes" said Claire with her back turned to us as she tidied up the supplied she had been cleansing Jamie's eye with. "But we'll be gone. We are leaving with Mr Petrie tomorrow." Some emotion flashed in Jamie's eye's but it was gone before I could discern anything, and he looked away from me.

"Ah" he said with his head down. "I see."

"Well." He said standing up from the bench. "Then perhaps this is goodbye." He said turning to me.

"Yes." Claire said. "It was nice to meet you Mr MacTavish."

Before I could speak there was a noise from the doorway and we turned to see Laoghaire standing there, she retreated a few steps when she saw Claire and I with Jamie, waiting until we would leave.

"I think someone would like to speak with you alone, come along Evie." Claire said and turned to leave.

"Good-bye Jamie." I said looking him in the eye and nearly tearing up at the swell of emotions I felt.

"Safe journey to you. Evelyn." He said, and with that I left him too Laoghaire who stepped into the room as Claire and I left.

We were up very early the next day dressed and ready to leave Leoch. Mrs Fitz force fed us her porridge hovering over us like a mother hen. She escorted us outside and presented us with a basket full of goods for our travels. I looked around the courtyard and could see the tinker's wagon packed and ready to go. No one else came to greet us, I half hoped Jamie would come, but that would make my leaving much harder. I turned and gave Mrs Fitz a hug when Dougal came up to us.

"Coming to say good-bye?" I asked him.

"Colum wishes so speak with ye." He said to Claire.

"Why?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter why." He said. I moved to walk with her.

"No, not you." He said. "Mrs Fitz could ye escort Miss Beauchamp back to the kitchen to await her sister."

Claire was lead down a stair case near the kitchens by Dougal and I sat on a bench in the kitchen waiting. When I saw Dougal and Colum emerge I looked at Colum quizzically but he turned his head away from me. I walked down the stairs and found Claire in a heap on the floor sobbing uncontrollably.

"Shhh. Shhh." I soothed gathering her in my arms "What's wrong?" I asked.

"They..wont..let us leave.." She sobbed. "We are…to be kept here…as prisoners."

"Prisoners?" I asked. "But why?"

"They still don't trust us. How am I ever going to get back to Frank now?"

JAMMFJAMMFJAMMFJAMMFJAMMF

Thank you to all my reviewers Guest, Nynkje, Gale lover, TheSilverWolff and Emma. Also thank you to my favourites and followers. I have tried to answer the questions in PM's. As always hoped you like the chapter and please review.