Book 1 — Chapter XI

Wherein Sir Hugh Richmond finds me, not unwilling, thrust upon him

Six days after, my return progress being slower than my dash southward, I rode through the gates of Edinburgh.

The Earl of Feversham had been as good as his word. He had convoyed me by retired roads until all possibility of interference had been avoided. At the first convenient opportunity I had lain down and slept a day and a night straight through. Had I not enjoyed this chance for rest, I should have died of sheer fatigue and nervous strain. As it was, I was still a wreck of a woman when I was halted by the soldiers of the guard at the familiar city gate.

"Is your name Carthew?" cried the officer, who had been summoned by the sentry as I approached.

"Well, sir, I have sometimes been so called," I answered.

"Humph!"

He read from a lengthy written description in his hand:

"'Young, slight, fair of face, a woman in man's attire, a riding suit of blue and silver, sometimes known as Carthew.'"

The description certainly fitted me.

"Madam, or sir, whatever you be, you are under arrest," he said. "We have been searching for you for ten days. I have orders to convey you instantly you are apprehended to the castle and turn you over to the Commandant or the Lord Chief Justice."

"I would fain make some change in my apparel, sir. You have guessed right; I am a woman. I should like to resume the garments of my sex, but after that, I shall be at your service. Indeed, you could do me no greater kindness than to take me speedily where you mention."

"I should like to oblige you, madam," said the officer, "but my orders admit of no discretion. As you are, you must be delivered to the Commandant at once."

"Very well, then. I will give you my word," said I, "if you will allow me to ride quietly by your side, to make no effort to escape your custody."

"Your word!" said the officer. "The word of one Carthew, a traitor?"

"The word of Lady Katharine Clanranald, daughter of the Earl of Clanranald, carrying messages from His Majesty, the King, to Governor Ramesay and Lord Chief Justice Forfair," I answered quite calmly.

The officer stared.

"So that's the solution of the mystery," he exclaimed. "Very well, madam, I accept your word. If you will wait here a moment until my horse is saddled, we will proceed."

His trust in my honour touched me. In a short time, his horse was brought around. He spoke to a squad of cavalry, and I riding by his side, we cantered through the streets and up toward the castle.

General Ramesay and Sir Alexander Forfair were closeted together. So soon as the officer declared who was the prisoner he brought, I was instantly admitted. It was the same chamber, I afterwards learned, in which Sir Hugh had submitted to the questioning. The two gentlemen were alone. The officer was dismissed. I was courteously invited to a seat and the questioning began.

"You are, I take it," said Sir Alexander, "Lady Katharine Clanranald?"

"I am, sir."

"You stopped the King's messenger on the King's Highway a fortnight ago?"

"I did, sir."

"You robbed him of the royal warrant for the execution of your father. This warrant was destroyed."

"I cannot deny it."

"Afterward by cajolery, or bribery, or whatever female arts or influence you possess, you suborned an honest soldier, you won him away from his duty, you made him a traitor to his King, and faithless to his cause."

"Sir," said I, "if to be touched by the misfortunes of a daughter who risked life and reputation to save her father, especially when the warrant had been destroyed before he reached me; and if to extend compassion to a woman wounded, helpless, and at his mercy be to fail in his duty, to betray his trust, to be a traitor to his King, then I suppose that I cannot deny the charge against Sir Hugh."

"Do you deny, madam," asked the Chief Justice sternly, "that it was all arranged between you; that the scheme was concocted in the inn, that you and he connived together by superficial wounds, perhaps self-inflicted, to give your own interpretation to the facts?"

Oh, how fierce was his look at poor me!

"On my solemn word, sir, as my father's daughter, I do deny that. I did deliberately rob Sir Hugh Richmond, but without his knowledge beforehand. We had met in friendly converse the night before and had conceived a mutual regard for each other."

General Ramesay smiled, and even a flicker of humour appeared on the face of Sir Alexander. I resented it hotly.

"As one man and another," I cried, "for Sir Hugh knew not that I was a woman until later. I will admit that he was unsuspicious of me, and that gave me the only advantage by which I could have hoped to overcome so tried a soldier. As for the rest, sirs, it happened as I have said. It was pure kindness of heart toward me. And what would have been gained by handing poor me over to punishment since the warrant had been destroyed, sirs?"

"That was not a matter about which a soldier need have inquired," said General Ramesay. "He had a certain duty to do. He failed to do it. He has been arrested, tried, condemned."

"But not executed!" I cried, laying my hand upon my heart and turning very white.

"Not yet, madam," said the General, looking very stern.

"How could he be tried without me as the principal witness?"

"He hath admitted everything, except to disclose your name, rank, and whereabouts."

"Indeed, madam, you yourself are a prisoner and must submit to the same trial," interrupted the Justice.

"Nay, not so, your lordship," I answered triumphantly.

I drew from the pocket of my coat the three papers.

"Here," said I, extending one, "is His Majesty's free pardon for the Earl, my father. This," I continued, laying the other upon the table, "is a document of similar purport for Sir Hugh Richmond."

I held back the third, while Sir Alexander Forfair eagerly picked up the other two. He broke the seals, scanned them hastily, passed them to General Ramesay, and then addressed me.

"Madam, it is as you say. Never did I receive orders with a better grace, never shall I carry out royal mandates with a lighter heart. Hey, Ramesay?"

"As for the Earl," said the General, "he is a political prisoner with whom I am not greatly concerned, but I am rejoiced indeed that my old friend and comrade, Sir Hugh Richmond, is to go free. He hath failed in his duty, 'tis true, but, by Heaven, madam, when I look at you, I find excuse for him."

"But yourself, Lady Katharine," said the Justice gravely, "you at least are not relieved by these documents."

"Sir," said I, "I have here still a third paper of importance."

"What saith it?"

"With its contents I am not acquainted, but His Majesty did declare that it prescribed my punishment. I gave my word to him that I would deliver it to your lordship unopened, and you can testify that I do so."

"Hast not thy share of the curiosity of woman, madam?" queried the Justice.

"Not in this case, my lord," said I boldly. "I left it with my petticoats."

"Wouldst know thy fate, girl?" he continued, breaking the seal and looking at me before he examined the contents.

"So long as my father and ... friend are free, what happens to me is of little consequence," was my answer.

The Lord Chief Justice looked at the paper. His lips twitched. He passed it over to General Ramesay. Less controlled than the other, the soldier burst into a loud laugh.

"A sentence, indeed!" he cried. "How think you it will be liked?"

"Prisoners, I believe," returned the Justice, "are not consulted as to their likes and dislikes when sentence is passed upon them."

This was all very mystifying to me, but at least it was evident that my punishment was not very terrible. Sir Alexander and the General consulted together in whispers for a few moments, and then the soldier spoke to me.

"Madam, your sentence contemplates a life imprisonment, but under conditions which perhaps may make it bearable. I regret extremely to be compelled to communicate such unpleasant tidings to you, but I have no option, and as the sentence is to commence immediately on your arrival here, I shall have to order you into close confinement at once."

"May I not see my father?" said I, bravely striving to keep up heart under this tremendous and surprising prospect. Indeed, I could see nothing in it to cause such laughter on the part of the two old men before me.

"Presently, madam, but not now."

"And if I might see Sir Hugh Richmond for a moment, I should like to tell him," I faltered, "that I have succeeded in securing his freedom, as I am responsible for his detention."

"Presently, presently," said the Justice. "Meanwhile, I will prepare orders for your father's freedom and for Sir Hugh's as well, but you will have to obey General Ramesay's orders. There is no choice."

"Let me see my father, then, as soon as possible, and Sir Hugh Richmond, if he care to visit me and it is permitted," said I, rising and preparing to follow the Governor.

He escorted me gravely along several corridors and down several flights of stairs until we came to the strong rooms of the castle. Summoning a turnkey, we paused before a locked and grated door.

"Your present place of detention will be here, madam," he said as the door was unlocked.

I entered the room. It was bare and simply furnished, empty of other person than myself. Some grated windows admitted light, but were so high placed that I could not see anything but sky out of them. It was indeed a prison. There was an opening in the wall beyond, closed with a door.

"Should you care to do so," said the commandant very softly, "you may open the door and enter the other room. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

"Send me some clothes suitable to my sex and station, if you will. Master Dunner, the advocate, will procure them, I am sure. And that is all, sir."

"They shall be sent for immediately," said the General, bowing himself out.

I heard the door close; I heard the key turn in the lock. I was alone. My great adventure was over; my punishment had begun. Well, I had saved my father's life and Sir Hugh Richmond's life. I was willing to pay the price by the long confinement to which I must perforce look forward. This was the mercy of the King! I tried to keep up a brave heart, and yet after a while I failed. I sank down on a rude chair by a ruder table, and laid my head on my arms, and cried just like any other woman.

A noise called me to myself. Fearful, I raised my head. The door to the right into the other room was open. A man stood in fair view under the arch of it. It was Sir Hugh Richmond.

"My God!" he exclaimed. "Lady Katharine, is it you? What do you here?"

"I am a prisoner," I faltered, "a prisoner for life." He came closer to me. "But you are free, sir."

"What mean you?"

"I rode south to King James. His Majesty hath been graciously pleased to pardon you,"—was there indication of my feelings in the fact that I put Sir Hugh first?—"you and my father," I said. "But me he hath condemned to imprisonment for life."

"The dog!" cried the soldier. "I renounce his allegiance. The cruel, brutal tyrant! And I have fought for him. Madam, I will not have it so. I will go to him myself and wrest from him your pardon."

"You cannot," I cried; "by the terms of your release, if you are found in Scotland within four days thereafter, you are to be killed as an outlaw without recourse."

"And if I were to be shot the next moment, I would still force my way into his presence if for naught but to tell him what I thought of him. What is life, what is freedom for me without you? I might not tell you before when I had rendered you some slight service, but now when there is much to do for you, I can declare that I love you, and you only, and that without you life, liberty are nothing."

"Is this," said I, "one of those protestations which spring fortnightly from your lips?"

"Madam, it springs eternally from my heart. I am ashamed of my foolish words."

"And your ideal woman?" I persisted.

"Lady Katharine," said the man, "I never thought to see her, to look upon her as I do now. I never thought..."

He came closer to me; he caught me in his arms. Was I too tired or disinclined to struggle, I wonder? At any rate, he was not to be denied in his purpose.

"I never thought," he went on, "thus to hold her in my arms. I never expected thus to kiss her lips."

He suited his action to his words. And I—what was the matter with me?—I resisted not; I lay there trembling, thrilling—his own!

"I am a prisoner," I said at last when he gave me breath and space to talk, although still he held me close, and still my arms clung about his neck. "I can be nothing to you except...."

"I would tear down the castle stone by stone, hurl the King from his throne itself, but I would have you now," said my soldier.

Neither of us had noticed that the door at the back of the room had opened. It was Sir Alexander Forfair's dry and caustic voice which broke upon our passion.

"Still talking treason, Sir Hugh?" he said, shaking his finger. "But we will overlook it this time. We have not heard a word. Hey, General Ramesay?"

"I am as deaf as the walls, your lordship," replied the soldier.

Sir Hugh and I parted in great confusion. At that moment my eye fell upon the tall figure of my father, white-haired, bent and broken from his long confinement. In a moment I was in his arms, the others standing aside respectfully to let us come together. As I hung upon my father, as he kissed me, fondled me, and blessed me, it was Sir Hugh's voice which interrupted us.

"Sir," said he to General Ramesay, "is that the Earl of Clanranald?"

"The same," said the General.

"By your leave, sir," continued the young soldier stepping forward, "I am Sir Hugh Richmond of Surrey, until recently an officer in the King's Guards, now a disgraced soldier, and if I understand your daughter aright, sentenced to exile like yourself. I am not without friends upon the continent, especially in Holland whither I propose to retire, and whither I should be glad, if your plans permit, to have you accompany me. Nor am I absolutely penniless, for I have certain moneys at interest in that country which are at your service. For the rest, I love your daughter; I would fain make her my wife. May I have your consent to our union, my lord?"

At this Sir Alexander and the General looked at each other and smiled again.

"I know naught of you, sir," replied the old Earl courteously. "You seem a gallant gentleman." He hesitated. "I am old, friendless, alone. This is the last of my ancient race. What saith my daughter?"

Thus adjured I spoke up bravely.

"If it pleases you, sir, to give your consent, I shall be very happy," I answered. "Had it not been for Sir Hugh's kindness to me, I had not succeeded in procuring your freedom. You know the story?"

"Master Dunner hath told me. And you wish to marry this gentleman?"

"'Tis the dearest wish of my heart," I said with growing courage and resolution.

"It is also evidently," interposed Sir Alexander Forfair, "the dearest wish of His Majesty the King's heart as well."

He lifted a paper as he spoke, which I immediately recognised.

"My punishment!" I exclaimed in amazement.

"'Tis indeed a heavy one."

"Imprisonment for life," I broke out.

"Even so, madam, but in the custody of Sir Hugh Richmond, who will give bond, a marriage bond, forthwith to safeguard the prisoner."

"With all I have, or hope to have," answered the delighted soldier.

And this time before them all once more he took me in his arms.

Outside in the corridor, a priest, the chaplain of the garrison, waited, and there before them all, clad as I was, I placed my hand in that of my soldier, and we were made man and wife.

The brief ceremony was soon over. There was little time for delay; we had but four days in which to leave Scotland, yet the others considerately withdrew, leaving me alone with my husband for a moment. The door was open and there was none to bar our going when we chose. The footfalls of my father, who was the last to go, had scarce died away in the passage when my husband took me once more in his arms.

"I feel," said I, "as if I had won you at the pistol's point."

"My lad," said he, laughing, "as I told thee before, I am glad to have thee in my company and under my command."

"You shall find me," said I, "a faithful comrade, a dutiful and obedient..." I paused ... "soldier," I managed to say before he clasped me close again.