Chapter 35 – Out of the Frying Pan...
It was early in Wentworth Prison.
The sun had not yet touched the top of the battlements let alone the courtyard.
The prisoners all stood together against a wall, watching the scaffold ahead of them. A officer called out names as a private scribed how they had died on a paper that held the death warrant, their names, and what crime they were condemned for.
A man was seeing to the nooses as two more moved below the scaffold, making sure the men had died. Most had their necks broken, their deaths instant, but a few had to be pulled on to either break their necks with the added weight or suffocate them, which took longer and was harder to watch them men in their death throws.
Several men at arms stood about. Two fetching the condemned man whose name was called since they were to hang one at a time.
"Kyle MacDonald." The officer called.
Two privates in uniform went to a man who did not resist as they walked him to the scaffold. Once there he walked up the stairs, chains clinking against the boards as he ascended. Once there, the man put a noose over his neck and pulled it tight. He then held the man's shoulders, looking back at the officer.
The officer nodded and the man pushed the condemned Kyle from the platform. There was a dull crunching sound as his neck snapped as the rope went taut. He then hung there, lifeless.
"William MacLuhan." The officer called as the scribe finished writing out the sentence carried out for the unfortunate Mr. MacDonald.
Among the condemned standing against the wall, barefoot, bound hand and foot in manacle chains were Taran MacQuarrie and Jamie Fraser. Jamie was in his kilt and a dirty shirt. He stood, hands before him, watching. He stood hand and shoulders above any other there with his red derr pelt hair setting him apart as well. MacQuarrie beside him was in breeches, a shirt, and vest, his normally queued hair loose about his shoulders in icy blond waves.
"Ye hae tae keek oan th' bricht side, fraser." MacQuarrie said. "Hee haw lik' bein' hung tae mak' yer tossel staun up straecht as an oak."
They watched as the bodies were lowered the the ground to be loaded onto a cart.
"Seems tis a bawherr late tae be brandishing iron, does it nae?" Jamie asked.
"Ah, it steals th' lip aff o' dying knowing that whin mah neck snaps ah will be discharging mah ginger lik' a cannon blast." MacQuarrie said before him.
Jamie's dirty face formed into a frown as he too watched. "Ah heard tell, a' that happens is ye shit yersel'."
MacQuarrie shook his head. "Weel sae muckle fur me trying tae cheer up a condemned jimmy. Ye'v gang an awfy mirk sicht o' th' world fraser."
"Lachlan Fife." The officer called out.
The privates came over to fetch the almost terrified Fife who let them lead him away as the ropes were pulled back up to their positions on the scaffold and the man there checked them.
"When thay come tae git ye, ah will wrap mah chain aroond thair necks. Ye grab his musket." Jamie suggested.
MacQuarrie shook his head at the idiocy of the plan. "They'll shoot us doon lik' dugs."
"Nae dugs. Men."
"Is it th' rope yer feart o'?"
"No." Jamie said softly as MacQuarrie looked back at him over his shoulder. "Whit grieves me is tae think mah wife wull ne'er forgive me fur foolishly getting masell hung."
"Aye. Hee haw lik' a guidwife tae mak' jimmy cop disquieted at his ain death. Fur me, ah aye knew ah wis fated tae dangle at th' end o' a rope, sae ah made sure tae lea none behind tae mourn me." MacQuarrie said watching as the shaking Fife had the rope put about his neck. He was a small man. He panted as the man with him tightened the rope and then looked back.
The officer nodded again and Fife was pushed from the platform and again the crunching sound was heard as his neck snapped.
"Truth be tellt, ah'ament keekin tae th' future tae it muckle masell." Taran continued.
The officer looked down at the paper before him. "Taran MacQuarrie."
Jamie shifted a little.
"Ah'ament gonnae let thae bastards see it." MacQuarrie said defiantly as the privates came toward him and then took hold of his arms. "A've git yin regret, fraser."
"Whit wid that be, Mr. MacQuarrie?" Jamie asked.
"Weel, that ah will be climbing they stairs afore ye." Taran said. He knew Jamie had often sat in the cell they had shared reading from his bible, one of the few personal possessions he was allowed to keep with him. "Ither wey aroond ye could've pat in a guid word fur me wi' saint peter."
Jamie scoffed a little behind him.
Taran climbed the steps and looked out over the courtyard. He would leave the world defiant. While most had been silent, he would speak his mind. "Tae think mah lest sicht o' th' world wull be a bunch o' ill-faured, pasty-faced englishmen." He took a breath as the rope went over his neck. "Mah ainlie regret is that ah wasted mah lee as a common thief, ower than a patriot servin` mah land fightin' against ye lot. Tae th' de'il wi' englain 'n' god bless king..."
The officer nodded to the man behind Taran and Taran was shoved off the platform, but his neck did not snap. Instead he shook and fought as his air supply was cut off and his body fought it.
Jamie swallowed and crossed himself watching.
MacQuarrie was still not dead as the officer looked over. "James Fraser."
Jamie took a breath, watching Taran and then looking at the men coming for him. He took a deep breath and then lifted his arms, wrapping his chain about one of the men. Another came and hit him in the back with his musket causing Jamie to cry out in pain. Another hit him in the stomach and he cried out in pain.
The officers looked on as MacQuarrie still struggled and Jamie was subdued. A man grabbed MacQarrie's legs and pulled him down as he struggled.
Jamie struggled against the men who held him and forced him to walk toward the scaffold.
Finally Taran was limp and lifeless as Jamie walked up the stairs to meet his fate. Jamie struggled a little and then stood as the noose went about his neck. He looked down, panting, looking at Taran's form. The whole area smelled of blood, piss, shit, and death. He nearly gagged as he stood there.
He then looked upwards saying a soft prayer for Taran and his own soul. He also asked for God to watch over his wife and bairns.
The noose tightened and he took a breath as he stood, waiting. The man with him held his shoulder, looking back at the officer as Jamie looked down again and sighed.
Suddenly there were the sound of hoof beats on the stones.
"Stop!" Came a clear voice of authority. "Stop the executions!"
Everyone froze.
A horseman came into the courtyard on a tall black stallion. Everyone jumped to attention at the superior officer coming there. Randall wheeled his horse about.
Jamie looked. It was none other than Captain Jack Randall. He stood stunned as the man behind him gripped his shoulder.
Jack looked up at him, amazed he had made it in time, by moments.
Jack leaned down to speak with Lieutenant who had been watching. "I'm on the King's business." He said. "Take that man down and put him in a cell."
Another rider came into the courtyard. It was a woman, her dress kilted nearly passed her knees as she pulled her horse to a halt. She looked up at the scaffold, her face holding disgust at the smell as her hand went to her face, but then her eyes showed relief as she saw Jamie was there, noose about his neck, but he was alive.
They had saved him! For now...
Jamie was panting as he looked and saw her there.
With Randall.
Christ! What had she done?
The Lieutenant looked back. "Remove the rope! Escort the prisoner to one of the dungeon cells."
The man behind Jamie removed the rope about his neck. Jamie stared at Randall.
Jamie then was pulled to the stairs were two privates waited for him.
"Rory MacNeil." The officer continued on the list.
Jamie was then on the ground walking before Randall and Lizzy.
Lizzy dismounted suddenly needing to assure herself Jamie was all right.
"Kat!" Randall barked in warning as she moved around the horses, trying to reach Jamie. Randall dismounted and moved, blocking her from making it to the prisoner. He wrapped his arms about her and held her to him as she struggled, only for a moment, and then started to sob in relief.
Randall looked over his shoulder as Jamie passed him and nodded a little as Jamie looked at him with something between defiance and horror.
"Hush, Kat." Randall soothed even as Jamie watched them as he was held and forced to walk by them. "He's safe now, Kat. We made it." He said softly, crooning to her as though he were a child. He caressed her hair softly, trying to calm her.
Jamie frowned, brow furrowing as he watched the pair of them as he walked. Randall doing something that was gentile and caring was worrying enough, but to have him so with his own wife made Jamie's stomach turn.
She clearly had stuck a bargain with Randall and she had little he wanted other than her person. Jamie swallowed. His life was not worth the honor of his wife. He would have gladly faced the gallows again to see her free of the monster.
Worse the monster who was playing nice and seemed concern for her welfare.
Lizzy looked around Randall, clinging to him as though he was the only thing holding her upright. She looked at Jamie as he came passed them, but then her eyes dropped, unable to hold his gaze. She then took a shaky breath and her knees buckled. The look of contempt, pity, anger, and confusion in Jamie's eyes nearly undid her.
Randall caught her, shifting her in his arms to take her weight. He held her in his arms as she blinked trying to remain conscious. Randall looked at her as he looked at Jamie's retreating form with the three men holding him, escorting him to the cell. He looked about.
Lizzy looked around his arm as he held her as the man, MacNeil was pushed off the scaffold, his neck crunching as it snapped. Lizzy gasped, horrified at the sight and sound before her head lolled back.
"Christ!" Randall hissed as her head lolled over his arm, backward in such an alarming way, Randall moved his hand to her breast. She yet lived, just fainted.
Women...
He shifted her head to his breast as he looked back at the scaffold and the officers there. "God pity's sake. Could you have not waited until she as away from here?"
The Lieutenant frowned. "You brought her here...sir." He said. "This is hardly a place for a woman, let alone one of quality."
Randall grunted. "Indeed." He bent, pulling up her petticoats until he could slid his hand under her knees to lift her up against him. God in heaven, she was so small. He hadn't realized she weighted little more than a child. It was a wonder that her husband didn't break her every time he made love to her.
"See to the horses." He ordered. "They have had a long journey."
"Yes, sir." A private said who held the reins.
Randall walked, carrying the young woman into the fortress and up toward the officer quarters. He was shown a room that befitted his station as an officer of rank. The man then offered to bring cool water and food for Randall's wife whom Randall held.
Randall did not bother to correct the man as he walked forward and laid her on the bed. She made a soft sound and he touched her brow softly.
He would let her sleep for now.
He stepped out, finding a private who had been summoned to be the captain's orderly. Often officers of rank did not come to the prison since those condemned were often low-life criminals. Few, such as Fraser were actually of higher birth.
He spoke to him and nodded as the other man who had seen the pair to their room walked toward him with a tray.
Randall thanked him and walked into the room. He set the tray on the table. He put a a linen cloth into the basin and then poured cool water on it. He wrung it out and moved to sit beside the form on the bed. He gently pressed the cloth to her brow, cheeks, dabbing to cool her flesh. He also pressed it to her throat and then to the tops of her breasts.
Her breathing eased a little and her eyes fluttered as he moved to her brow once more.
Her eyes opened and she looked up at him and took a deep breath, making her breast swell under his arm as he leaned forward from where he sat. He looked down at her and then back at her face.
"You really are a lovely creature Kat." He said before he lowered his mouth to hers.
She sighed, her hand going to his head as he smiled against her lips. He lifted his head back, looking at her only inches from her face.
"Are you always a wanton, Kat?" He asked playfully.
She did not answer, but looked at him, panting a little.
He smiled and tapped her nose with his finger.
"If you are a good girl, I will let you see your husband." He said to her. "But first, you and your child need nourishment." He said nodding to the tray.
She nodded, sitting up. She took a breath and moved to rise and go to the chair. He caught her as she wobbled a little, hands on her ribcage, just below her breasts.
"Easy, sweeting. We do not want you to faint again, do we?"
She shook her head and then moved to the chair and sat down. After a few moments, he joined her.
ZzZ
In the dimly lit cell that he had been put into, Jamie sat trying to pull the chain from the wall. He no longer had manacles about his arms and ankles, but one leg was chained to the wall by one ankle.
The door opened and two men came into the room. One saw him through the bars.
"You must suffer from dodgy eyesight, mate. That wall is solid stone. In twenty years you might get that bolt loose, except you ain't got twenty years."
Jamie looked behind him as they put some food on the small table behind him.
"Compliments of Captain Jonathan Randall, Esquire." The jailer continued. "Must be good to have a friend with means."
Jamie scoffed.
"If you're smart, you'll eat a hearty meal, have a wash, and your luck can change any minute, boyo."
The two jailers left Jamie then.
He took a breath and walked to the table looking over the food. It was more than he had had in close to a week. The bread was fresh and there was wine, broth, and a pitcher of water sitting in a metal basin.
He took a breath and lifted the bread. It was still warm from the ovens and his stomach gurgled. He ate most of it before returning to the bench he had been on. He put his foot to the wall and pulled on the chain.
ZzZ
It was later that evening when Randall escorted Lizzy down the catacomb like passages of the dungeon cells. He was enjoying the fact he didn't even have to maltreat her to get what he wanted. Just the idea of her being with him would cause Jamie to be off kilter.
Randall would not bed her unless he truly needed to, such as to make a point to her whom was in charge of the situation. She was being a meek young woman, trailing a few steps behind him, head down, though she was memorizing the way so she could return later.
Randall held a torch as he walked.
He came to the door. He used the key he had been given and opened it. He nodded to her. "Remember only an hour, my pet." He said softly looking at her flesh in the torchlight. It seemed almost a copper color. Oh to possess this creature would be wondrous, but he needed it to be on his terms not hers.
She walked inside and he followed as she walked down the stairs, her dress whispering on the stones.
Jamie had been on the cot. He looked up, blinking against the light when he saw Lizzy there, Randall behind her. He sat up slowly.
Randall smiled as he watched Jamie rise, slowly, painfully from the cot. He looked at Lizzy, taking her arm, she pulled him back to him as he lifted the torch away from her a little. He pressed a kiss to her mouth. A deep kiss and he turned his head and smiled a little seeing Jamie was watching with a mix of anger, disgust, and horror.
Lizzy allowed it, but did not return it, though her mouth was soft and yielding.
Randall pulled back, cupping her cheek as he looked back at Jamie and smiled. He then looked at Lizzy and put the touch in a holder on the wall. "One hour, Kat. Use it wisely."
She nodded as he walked away to the door and then out.
Lizzy watched him go and then turned slowly to Jamie who stood watching her. She walked forward toward him and took a breath. "Jamie." She managed.
He regarded her, his hands folding over his chest. "How come urr ye 'ere?" He asked.
She stepped to him. "I had to see you." She whispered coming forward toward him. She touched his arms and he drew away from her. She looked at him as if he had slapped her. Part of her wished he had. "Jamie. Please..."
"Ye gave yersel'. Tae him. Willingly." He said pointing. "How come?"
She looked at him, her eyes full of pain. "After nearly seven years of marriage. You would still ask that?" She walked, wobbling as she did, feet unsteady to the stones as she went to the cot and sat down.
He looked at her.
She shook her head. "I had to." she whispered. "I cannot bear the thought of you dying, especially dying by a hangman's noose." She looked at her lap. "I wanted us to grow old together. Love our children and grandchildren."
"Sae ye bargained fur mah lee wi' randall. Th' yin jimmy ah wid die ower than see ye wi`in leagues o'."
She looked up at him, her face wet with tears. "Jamie. I love you so much. Can you not understand that?"
He took a breath and shook his head. "Bit randall. Cuid ye hae nae at least tried tae seduce anither? a'body, bit him?"
She took a breath. "I knew he would listen." She said. "The idea sickens me, but..." She rose to her feet and turned moving to a corner of the cell. She took a breath and then her stomach heaved. She vomited what little was in her stomach still and he watched.
She moved back weakly, sinking onto the cot slowly, painfully as she held her mouth. "Sorry." she whispered.
He waved it off. "A'm sorry tae. A'm loupin 'n' it hurts mah gey bein' tae think o' ye wi' him, let alone tae save me."
"I know." she said weakly.
He took another breath. "Randall wull hurt ye 'n' th' thought o' that mak's me crabbit 'n' dowie." He said coming to her. He knelt before her. "Dae ye keep weel?" He asked her.
This was hardly the place for a breeding woman. The cold and dank would hurt her leg and could make her ill, perhaps. She could not stay here long lest something happen. Jamie was not about to allow her to become ill or his child to come early because of her staying within the dungeon for too long. Already her small hands were pale.
She looked at him as his hands reached for her own. "Love forces a person to choose, Jamie. I made a deal with the devil and I am not sorry for it."
He nodded. "Haes he harmed ye?" He asked rubbing her hands to warm them. He hated to think of her in a cell again. She had once suffered days within a cell, with him and he would never allow that to happen again. He would hang first rather than allow her to suffer there. Love did force a person to choose and he choose her freedom.
She shook her head. "No. He had been...kind." She said.
He pulled her to him as she began to sob. He held her, letting his finger memorize the planes of her body as he touched her.
They spoke quietly as they held each other. They spoke of nothing and everything, just needing the contact and the words between them.
All too soon, Randall appeared. "Come Kat. Let's abed." He said, coming halfway down the stairs to look at her.
Lizzy looked up and then back at Jamie. He nodded to her and they both rose, walking hand-in-hand to across the cell. Jamie then jerked, unable to follow further as his chain went taught.
Lizzy turned back to him and kissed him. "I will free you." She promised.
"Dinna fash, sweetheart." He said softly. He looked up at Randall and stepped back as she walked up the stairs, allowing Randall to take her hand in his.
Randall led the way to the door.
Lizzy paused and looked back at her husband. "I love you, James Fraser. Remember that."
"Ah ken. A loue ye mair than ye wull ever ken." He said back.
"Touching." Randall said. He then pulled her from the cell and locked the door as Jamie watched, feeling a wrenching feeling in his gut.
Randall took her upstairs to their room. She moved about getting ready for bed. He watched finding it oddly calming as she walked about lying her clothes in order. Women had a lot of clothing, he realized, seeing all the pieces it took to get to her chemise. She then pulled off her knives as well.
That surprised him. She had not seemed armed, but she was.
More to the point she was disarming herself instead of using them on him. A remarkable amount of trust on her part.
He pulled his long hair free of it's queue and then pulled off his uniform in a similar fashion to her. She stood, turning to him.
He walked to her and touched her lips. "You lips are so soft Kat. Not like most of the Highlands where they chap."
She smiled. "Olive oil and sugar." She said.
He nodded. "I will have to remember that." He took her hand and then he sat down on the bed, looking up at her. With the hearth behind her, there was nothing to her body that was left to his imagination. She was beautiful and he wanted her, but he would not bed her, he would refuse that of himself, but he also needed her to fulfill her part of the bargain.
"So my darling Kat." He said looking at her. He kissed her fingers and then locked eyes with her as he pressed the hand to his groin, letting her feel his half hard manhood.
She watched his face, eyes locked with his. "Yes, Jack?"
He reached his other hand up to her hair, pulling her down with a sharp tug. "Service me well." He murmured. "And your husband will thank you for your efforts."
She swallowed looking at him and he thought for a moment she would fight him. He almost wished it, but then she dropped to her knees and caressed him with her hand, looking up at him. He watched her, his breaths becoming a little uneven.
She smiled at him. "As you say Jack." She whispered before lowering her head to him, his hand coiling in her braided hair.
ZzZ
It was early morning.
Jack Randall dressed and looked at the sleeping woman in his bed. She was naked, on her stomach, facing away from him as she slept. Though they had not been lovers, he had demanded her pleasure him with her hand and mouth before he made her strip for him. After that, he had been too exhausted from the ride to demand much else and so she had crawled into bed with him and he had wrapped his body around her, finding it oddly relaxing to sleep with a woman.
He dressed quietly and then walked out of the room. He walked down the hall. He needed to find someone to guard his prize until he returned. This prison was hardly the place for her and if she wondered about too much she could end up harmed or dead.
He rounded a corner and found Lieutenant Foster had arrived. He had come with a supply train to the prison and he saluted the Captain.
"Come to reclaim your horse?" Randall asked.
"Yes, sir."
Randall nodded. "I have another task for you, if you are willing."
"Yes, sir."
"Upstairs, third door on the left, Lady Fraser is still abed." He smiled a little. "It is still early and I did not wish to wake her. If you would be so kind as to see to her needs and above all, make sure she remains in that room."
Lieutenant Foster nodded. "Yes, sir." He said walking up the stairs to find the room.
ZzZ
Randall had walked about and found Marley, a large brutish man who was slow, but he would be of use to speak to the highlander below.
Together they walked into Jamie Fraser's cell. Jamie, for his part, was struggling still by pulling on the chain.
Randall watched in amusement. "'Who so pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is right-wise King born of all Britain'." He quoted as Jamie leaned against the bars of his cell panting. He snapped and the lumbering giant of a man moved, holding a torch see to more light in the cell.
Jamie did not turn around. "Ah wondered whin you'd shaw yersel'." He looked back then, seeing Marley as he lowered a small brazier box from the ceiling. "Expected ye tae come alone." He said.
Randall looked at his companion. "Marley?" He asked watching as Marley ignited the brazier box. "Not much in the way of intellect but impressively brutal when given the opportunity." Randall said watching as Jamie struggled to his feet. "I apologize for the prison commissary." Randall said smiling a little. "But I see you managed well enough." He looked back. "Good for you."
Jamie watched him, saying nothing.
"So...You couldn't keep out of prison long enough to hear if your pardon had been granted or not." Randall said. Marley walked passed him with the torch. "Your petition of complain against me? Surely, you haven't forgotten." He said pulling out a paper from the bag at his shoulder. He held it up as Marley walked behind him and stood watching.
Jamie stepped forward looking as Randall turned the paper more to the light.
"You recognize this?" He looked down and then back at Jamie. "Of course you do." He smiled, stepping forward. "I'm afraid the Duke of Sandringham likes to talk Especially when he drinks. Certain mutual acquaintances passed his words along to me and...Well, we spoke."
Jamie watched him, still saying nothing, his expression was passive.
"It certainly is the most extraordinary document. Er...Well it completely blackened my character. If presented to the Court of Sessions, I would wager that they would find in your favor, and, well..." He chuckled lightly. "I'd had to think what would happen to me. Might be me up on that gibbet instead of you."
Jamie watched him.
Randall inhaled and then lifted the document up and to the fire and it ignited instantly.
Randall lifted it back, watching Jamie's reactions to it.
Jamie took a deep breath watching, taking a deep shaky breath, but his eyes were defiant.
ZzZ
Lizzy had woken and dressed and moved to the door.
She opened it and startled the officer who was standing there, hand raised to knock. The officer was Jeremy Foster and he looked at Lizzy and then where his hand was, level with her breast and a hare's breath from it.
He jerked it back and saluted to her. "Madam." He said.
"Jeremy." she said softly. "What brings you here?"
"I am to guard you." He nodded. "There are far worse duties." He said.
Lizzy took a breath and nodded.
He held a box under his arm. "Can I come in?"
"Of course." she said.
He stepped in and shut the door behind him, removing his hat.
"I was just one my way out." She said.
"This is not a place you should wander, Elizabeth." He said softly. "I am to watch you and keep you safe, here."
She took a breath and put her hands on her hips. "So you are my jailer then."
He took a breath, setting the box down. "I suppose I am."
She smiled a little and sighed. "Well I have seen far worse jailers."
He chuckled. "As have I." He agreed.