I fully intended to tell Jamie about Claire if she didn't, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't give her a chance. I didn't put much faith in her intentions and knew that eventually I would have to tell Jamie, but there was a part of me that wanted to wait and see if she did. I knew she was heady over her new marriage, but at some point she would have to tell him the truth. And maybe, just maybe, she would tell him what would happen on Culloden Moor.

And why hadn't I told Georgie? Honestly I didn't know. I'd been swept up into the household, his family, and his bed so quickly that my head still spun. If Claire thought she was in love with Jamie—if she was—it was nothing compared to what Georgie and I had felt for each other. I'll swear that the first time he looked at me I was lost, I'd been caught up in a whirlwind that spun me along so fast that I seemed to lose control. We were so caught up, so obsessed with each other that where and when I came from no longer mattered.

By the third day of our acquaintance, he'd practically dragged me into bed and raped me. But it had been no rape and we both knew. And when we found out I was going to have a baby, all we could think of was the life we had in front of us.

I'd met him in the fall, and by December I was pregnant. Then I had the dream and knew that I was going to lose him.

Not like Claire and Jamie at all—and most importantly, I wasn't married like she had been. I especially wasn't a married Catholic. Somehow or another, Jamie must learn the truth, what they did with it afterwards wasn't my affair.

I started to wander up the stairs to my room. Rose, the daughter of one of the members of the household was watching Callum. Though only fifteen, she was very responsible and I felt more comfortable leaving him with her than any of the other girls. She had a way with babies, and would make a good mum. She'd been with her sweetheart for a year, and I was sure that within a year or so, she'd be married and starting a family of her own.

I could see the doorway of my room, but something seemed wrong. I always instructed the girls to close and latch the door, just for safety's sake, but the door was slightly open and gave way with a gentle push.

The room was dark, except for a candle by Callum's cradle. It was silent as a tomb in the Valley of the Kings and Rose was nowhere in sight. I drew my knife from my bodice and went over to check on my son, only to find his cradle empty.

"Rose!" I called, panic rising in my voice, and someone put a hand over my mouth.

"Shh, your son is safe, I sent her to the kitchens. I'm going to remove my hand now, don't scream."

I turned around to see the face of Geillis Duncan. "Geillie," I said, keeping my voice deliberately down, "What are you doing here? Where have you been? I've been so worried " We hugged, so glad to see each other, despite the fact that she had literally disappeared, leaving me no word or clue.

"Keep your voice low," she said, "It wouldn't do for anyone to know I was here. When I left I took all the coin and valuables from the house, but only two gowns so no one would recognize me by my clothes. I took the wagon, then traded it for an older, smaller one, and I've been traveling around, working as a healer, or a midwife when the need arose. I've stayed far enough away, yet close enough so that I could get news of you when I needed it. I was happy to hear that your delivered your son without complications—I wanted to come and see you but didn't dare."

I was pleased to see her looking so good, though no longer like the wife of a prosperous husband. Her dress was plain, though well-made and of good material. She wore her golden hair, hair so like mine, in a chignon covered with a plain cap. She was as knowledgeable as any doctor in the countryside, and perhaps was possessed of more sense. And she had chosen a good disguise, one that would probably serve her well and keep her safe.

She hesitated, "I didn't want to tell you this until I was sure, but I think Colin Campbell is trying to find you, and Captain Jack Randall is helping him. I was called on a couple of times to treat soldiers because their medic was ill. There was one who was in a great deal of pain, so I gave him opium, and he began to talk about a Russian girl with long golden hair that they were trying to find. 'She looks like you,' he said, 'She's supposed to be a beauty, and Lord Campbell wants to find her and bring her back home to keep her safe.' Sound familiar?"

I was about to answer when Rose appeared at the door, holding Callum carefully in her arms. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but Miss Gross asked for a glass of water, but I couldn't carry it and Callum." She looked truly apologetic.

I took my baby from her, "That's all right, I'm sure Miss Gross understands. She's a very old friend of mine, come to visit and meet my new son. You may go now Rose, and thank you." Rose curtsied and made a hurried exit.

"Miss Gross?" I looked at her in disbelief.

Geillie laughed, the first time since she had come to me. "Haven't you heard that song, "Allison Gross, she must be, the ugliest witch in the North Country?"

"No, I haven't, and that might have been a good choice, because ugly is definitely what you are not. But Geillis, what do you suggest I do? How long ago did you run into the English army? Were they friendly to you? Were Randall and Colin Campbell with them?"

"Well, it's been a while, but still not that long ago. And yes, they were there, Randall could barely bring himself to be polite, but Colin Campbell was charm itself. He said I reminded him of someone he knew—and it didn't take much for me to guess who. I don't know if they'll consider Leoch as a place to look—the laird and his subjects are Catholic, and since you have no known sympathies with the Jacobites, they could assume that you wouldn't have taken or been given refuge here. It all depends their strategy."

"Geillis," I was taking a risk now, "I need to get to Inverness, but I can't do it alone, I couldn't do it on horseback with the baby. You have a wagon, we both have money, and between the two of us, I bet we could charm any English soldier who came our way. We could stay at inns at night, and avoid bad weather, even purchase another horse if we need to. I know I can't predict if Colin will find us, but the villagers ought to have news. Colin and his pale blond hair and height is hard to miss, and they've no love for the Campbells." I turned and looked at her, knowing that desperation shone in my eyes, "Will you help me?"

She hugged me tightly, "That's what I'm here to do. I listened to your advice and avoided being caught. It may take a week before we can leave, so I'll have to find somewhere to hide during the day. I know you'd let me stay here, but that may not be the best course of action. Yes, I'll get you out of here if I can—it will be our secret."

"Where can you hide, Geilie, where no one will recognize who you were. Your husband died, and they'd like nothing better than to string you up. You can't be careless, that could put both of us at risk."

"Oh, I have a friend in the next village who didn't like her husband any better than I liked mine. You'd be surprised at the number of sudden deaths of husbands that might occur around here. She was forced to marry hers, I married mine for the status and money. I have a horse hidden in her stables so I can ride back and forth. Just sit tight and don't worry, I'll keep in touch. I know you won't say anything about seeing me, but what about the maid?"

"She'll say nothing. I pay her to watch Callum so I can get away. She might say something about my friend 'Miss Gross', but it won't be much. She doesn't chatter like some girls her age."

We hugged again, and I realized how much I'd missed her. Claire wasn't nearly as satisfactory a companion as Geillis. I wanted to tell her about Claire and her coming through the stones, but I hadn't even told her about me. This got me thinking, how much did I really know about her? There was something about her that did not fit with eighteenth century Scotland, but that could have been my own situation talking. It didn't matter, I decided, Geillis seemed determined to help me, and I had no doubt that she would do her best.

I went upstairs to see Colum, carrying my baby with me. He held out his arms and took Callum from me, dandling him on his knee, speaking to him in the universal language that we all use with babies. I had become fairly adept in it myself.

"Colum, I've heard some disturbing news," might as well get to the point, I thought.

"Oh, and what's that lass? What could be making your mummy upset?" he said to Callum while bouncing him on his knee.

"Colin Campbell is rumored to be on the road, and my guess is he's looking for me."

"Where did you hear this?" what he heard must have upset him, for he squeezed Callum a little too tightly and he began to wail in protest. "Sorry, my poor wee bairn," he said to him and with the skill of fatherhood began to soothe him.

"I've been hearing some gossip," I lied, though it was only half a lie, really, "He's not one for being inconspicuous, he favors intimidation and probably hopes that I hear that he's looking for me, I can't think of any other reason for him to be here."

"Nor can I," Colum handed Baby back to me, "Are you sure of this?"

"As sure as I can be without seeing him with my own eyes. I want to keep him away from here, the Campbells are allies with the English and he could force my hand by threatening you. If does take me, I fear for Callum's safety. He'll want a child of his own to inherit the lairdship, not Georgie's heir, and I'm sure I'm the one he wants to bear it. He'll try to force me to marry him, and the only way out I can see is to get out of here any way I can. You've been good to me, I don't want to be the cause of trouble for you."

"Well, let's see if he really is out there. I can put some men on the road and disguise them as a hunting party. I'll cast a wide net and see if it brings in any fish. In the meantime, let's not have you out alone. I can spare of couple of men for when you're riding or just out and about." He reached out and fingered a lock of my blond hair, "You have lovely hair, lass, but maybe it would be best to cover it when you're not in the safety of the castle."

"Is there anyone here who would act as a spy for Colin or the English?" I hated to ask it, but I had to hear his answer.

He sighed, "Yes, that's always possible, so I have to consider it. It wouldn't be just for you, but as long as the possibility of war exists, there might always be an English sympathizer." He reached over and patted my knee, "Don't you worry now lass, I keep my eyes open, and there are ways to escape an unwanted pursuer that even some in Leoch don't know about. We'll get you to Inverness in safety, you have my word."