He raised her hand to his lips. “I vow to kiss the hell out of ye when all this is over.”
She smiled. “I shall hold ye to it.” And then she turned and raced into the castle, leaving him feeling a little stunned at the promise he’d just made to the woman who should have been his enemy.
Fourteen
Mistress J,
Oh, can you believe it! The day is upon us! I hope to see you at the Glen, where Finnan will be awaiting a dance with you. He is ever so bonnie. Do you remember that august moment, not so long ago—we might have only been nineteen at the time—where we stared up at the stars and declared ourselves aligned with the angels? I still think about that.
I cannot wait to see you, my angel friend.
Devoted,
A. M.
When Fiona arrived at Cnàmhan Broch that morning, supposedly to take tea with Jenny, she had Annie with her.
“Do ye know what this means?” Jennie held up the note. “He is here. Arrived on our shores, and we should meet him soon! The nineteenth of August at Glenfinnan.”
“I like that she’s calling ye an angel. Anyone who’s been at the point of your pistol will no’ agree,” Annie teased.
“Prince Charlie’s angels, that’s what we all are, working toward our cause and helping our prince.” Jenny twirled in a little circle that ended with her thrusting a pretend sword into the enemy.
Fiona snorted. “More like Prince Charlie’s hellions.”
Annie and Jenny both laughed at that and then flopped down in their chairs at the table, sipping delicately at their tea.
“I have so much to do,” Jenny said. “We’ll have to leave here in a sennight if we’re to arrive in time to watch the prince declare his claim to the throne. And my mother and I’ve been spending several hours a week training the crofter women how to protect themselves when we’re gone.”
“How is your mother?” Annie eyed the closed door behind them.
“She knows all, and she supports me. In fact, I think it has helped her in dealing with my brother’s betrayal.”
“Will she wish to attend?”
“The battle?” Jenny shook her head. “Nay, she’ll remain behind to keep the castle in order in case my brother or any dragoons come by.” She told her friends then about the close call she’d had after the tavern visit.
“Ye could have been killed,” Annie said, her face going pale.
“Ye take too many risks,” Fiona added with a shake of her head.
“This coming from the two of ye? We have all taken many risks that could get each one of us killed.”
“Aye, but ye’re the only one who’s come so close so far.”
Jenny frowned. “I dinna know what else I can do. I canna stop.” She glanced at the letter again, the carefully crafted message that sounded so much like society lasses gushing about an upcoming ball. “I canna let anyone down.”
“Aye, we’ve all come so far. And we made an oath, one we intend to honor,” Annie added.
“Will the two of ye come with me to Glenfinnan?” Jenny asked.
“I will be there,” Fiona said. “I have had a missive from A. M. myself.”
“As have I,” Annie confessed.
“The same one?”
“Aye,” they both said in unison.
“We shall meet upon the road then and travel together. There will be safety in numbers, especially if the English have caught wind of this.”
“Will ye be bringing the supplies?” Annie asked.
Jenny nodded. “I think I should.”
“Aye.”
The door to Jenny’s solar burst open, and Isla rushed in, stopping short when she noticed they were not alone. The poor lass looked ready to retch or run at having burst into the room without knocking.
“Oh, I’m so verra sorry.” Her cheeks burst into flames of red, and she started to back out of the door. “I was looking for my knitting.”
“Who is this?” Annie said, with a kind smile in an attempt to calm the lass.
“Come in, Isla, meet my friends, Annie and Fiona.”
Isla dipped a curtsy to them both, and each of them fussed for her to stand and not bow to them.
“Would ye care to join us for tea?” Jenny asked, eyeing each of her friends, who gave wordless affirmations. It was best they not appear too conspiratorial. Knowing who her brother was, Isla couldn’t be too much in the dark, but all the same, it wouldn’t be worth scaring the poor lass if she was oblivious to everything going on around her. “Ye seem to have something on your mind.”