Macbeth's Niece Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Englishman
said.
    “Perhaps I can reason with her,” Cawdor
tried. “She is my niece, after all—”
    “Have you ever known a female who could be
trusted to do what you want her to?”
    Cawdor had to admit he hadn’t. “But
she’s—”
    “I heard you, man. What do you want me to
do?”
    “Could you take her with you?”
    There was no amusement in the Englishman’s
voice at this suggestion. “Take her with me? You want me to sail to
England with a half-grown girl and arrange a war for you? What’s
she to do while I collect Norwegian soldiers?”
    “You could—” Cawdor had no idea and grasped
at straws. “—take her somewhere.”
    “Do you know what you’re saying? It would be
kinder to snap her neck here and now than to abandon her in York or
London. She’s hardly civilized, doesn’t even fit into Scottish
society, primitive as it is.” Tessa burned with indignation. Who
was he to judge her? A spy!
    “Please, Brixton! Think of someplace for
her, just for a month or two, and then when the war’s over, I’ll
take her off your hands, I promise. I’ll marry her off to some
young man who won’t care she’s…damaged.” Tessa’s heart froze at the
insinuation. This man could have her if he prevented her telling
about Cawdor and the uprising. So much for family feeling. Her
death might bother him, but not the ruin of her body, her
reputation, and her life.
    “I don’t know what else we can do,” said
Brixton finally. “I don’t like it, though, not at all.”
    “I know, lad, I know.” Cawdor was
sympathetic now he’d got his way. “If there were any other way…but
you’re the one who’s to leave this morning. I must stay and play my
part with the Scots.”
    “Give me your kerchief, then,” Brixton
muttered. “At least I will see she doesn’t get away.” Setting Tessa
on the ground, Brixton kept one arm around her neck while her uncle
tied her hands behind her back. Testing Biote’s work with a sharp
tug on the cloth, he spoke directly to Tessa for the first
time.
    “Now, girl, here it is. I do not want to
take you with me, but I would rather not have to kill you. If you
go quietly, I will not harm you, and I will try to treat you fairly
when we arrive in England. If you give me trouble, I will drown you
in the river. Do you understand?”
    Unable to do anything else at the moment,
Tessa nodded. Trying to convey with a look how vile she found them
both, she saw her uncle cringe, which gave her some satisfaction
despite her plight. Brixton arranged the cloak over her shoulders
so her bound hands were hidden and pulled the hood low to cover her
hair and face.
    “How will you get her on board ship?” Cawdor
asked. “They won’t be planning for any women.”
    “I’ll say I’m taking the girl to England as
a favor to the thane,” Brixton answered. “The captain will be
surprised, no doubt, but he’s well paid to keep his thoughts to
himself.”
    “Ah.” Cawdor suddenly looked unhappy,
chewing his lip and frowning. “I wouldna have the girl suffer,” he
began. “She is blood, you know.”
    Brixton sniffed. “You Scots have been
spilling each other’s blood for centuries, family or no. How did
Duncan become King Duncan? How did our host last night gain his
castle and his wife? Killing relatives, that’s how.”
    Cawdor became angry, too, but on him it was
less than impressive. His paunch quivered as he tried to draw
himself up to full height, and his jowly cheeks shook. “And are the
English any better? I think not.”
    Suddenly Brixton smiled sheepishly. “You’re
right. We English also kill each other, relatives and all, for
personal gain. It’s the way of men, I fear.” His face took on a
pensive look, but he shook it off and changed the subject. “Do not
worry, sir. I will not abandon your niece, and I have no desire to
hurt her. I will take her to my brother’s wife, who may take on a
half-grown brat, having no children of her own.”
    Tessa considered