Janet paced the floor of her bedchamber, trying to concentrate, determined this time to make a plan that would not instantly fail. Recalling the details that Tip had pointed out to her before, she realized that as much as she wanted to do so, it would not be possible to escape from Broadhaugh during the night. She would be wiser to wait until morning and hope that her husband had not issued strict orders that would prevent her from leaving.
He had no cause to do so, she told herself. Doubtless he would expect her to obey an order he had so sternly given her. She would not be so meek, however. Even with Hugh she had established her own way of accomplishing things, of getting her way in matters that were important to her, and of taking part in any significant event at Brackengill. In truth, she had never succeeded in bending Hugh to her will, nor had she ever really tried to do that.
With the world ruled by men, as it generally was (Elizabeth of England notwithstanding), it was practically impossible for any woman to rule any man. It was certainly not as easy as it was for men to rule women. But there were ways, nonetheless, of avoiding total subjugation, of standing up for things in which one believed, of persuading men to do right. If Hugh had not succeeded in crushing her spirit, no Scotsman would do so.
She was grateful to Sir Quinton for his protection, and she admired the love and respect that his men conferred upon him, but she also saw much of Hugh in his domineering ways. Both men demanded respect but did not seem to respect her. She had not expected Quinton to pay her compliments after the night's disastrous events, but she did think he might at least have considered the possibility that events could have transpired differently. Only the fact that she had met Lem and Gibby had prevented them from ambushing the Bairns. If that had happened, she could easily imagine ways in which her proximity to the scene might have proved helpful.
As her husband, Quinton had every legal right to demand her obedience, and she knew that each time she defied his authority he would seek to reestablish it. Still, she could not let him shut her out of things that affected her, things that would affect their people at Broadhaugh, things that would affect their children when they had children. As his wife, she wanted the right at least to express her opinions before he plunged them all into danger.
She understood his loyalty to his men and theirs to him, but she believed that it was time he began to grow into his new duties as a husband and deputy warden, and prepared for the much greater ones he would shoulder when the two countries became one. Whether he found himself guardian to Buccleuch's heir or merely served as landowner and laird in his own right, he would have great responsibilities when the union at last brought peace to the Borders.
She continued her pacing while these thoughts and others of their ilk paraded through her mind, until at last she pulled off her garments, shoved them into the bottom of the wardrobe, and crawled naked under the counterpane. Although she was certain that her thoughts would keep her awake until she had thought of a plan to escape from Broadhaugh-at least long enough for Quinton to understand the difference she had made there-her scheming lasted only until her head settled into the pillow. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.
When Ardith woke Janet soon after sunrise, she opened her eyes and shut them again with a groan of protest.
"'Tis already light outside, mistress," Ardith said. "The days do be growing longer each sennight, ye ken. Ye can see sun through the mist, and I'm thinking 'twill be clear long before the morning be gone, although they do be saying we'll see rain again soon. Did ye no sleep well the nicht?"
Realizing from the maid's cheerful greeting that the men had kept silent about her part in the previous night's activities, she called silent blessings upon them and upon her husband, as well. Clearly, he had not informed the servants that she was to stay in her bedchamber. Relieved, she tugged the quilt up a little so that Ardith would not realize that she was naked beneath it.
"I was up rather late," she admitted.
Ardith grinned, and her eyes twinkled. "I'll warrant ye stayed up till the master returned, and then some."
"Aye, I was awake then," Janet said, ignoring her fluttering conscience.
"Ye mun be fair trauchled, m'lady," Ardith said. "Mayhap ye'd prefer to lie abed for another hour yet."
"I'll get up," Janet said. "I am famished, Ardith, but I think I will break my fast here, rather than go downstairs. Perhaps whilst I wash, you could fetch me a bowl of porridge and some bread to toast over the fire."
"Aye, mistress, I'll see to it in a trice. I've already set out a clean smock and bodice for ye, and I stirred up the fire afore I woke ye."
"Thank you." Janet waited until the maid had gone before she got out of bed. Since she had taken off every stitch and had gone to bed in her skin, she knew that Ardith might assume certain things, and she did not want to deceive her more than she already had.
Scrambling into the clean smock and the first of her under-petticoats, she had tied the latter's ribbons and was reaching for her underbodice when she remembered that she had shoved the clothing she had taken off the night before into the bottom of the wardrobe. Telling herself it was a wonder that Ardith had not seen it there when she took out her clothes for the day, and certainly would later when she tidied the room, Janet went at once to put them away more carefully.
Folding the garments, she put them on the wardrobe's high shelf, where Ardith would be less likely to notice them. She would give the things back to Tip at the first opportunity.
Remembering her decision to leave, she looked thoughtfully at her dresses. She had nearly decided to forego wearing a formal stiffened bodice, to make do with her underbodice alone; however, there was only one place she could go if she left Broadhaugh, and she did not want to arrive looking like a beggar.
Thus it was that when Ardith returned, carrying a tray, she found her mistress attired in her best silk underbodice and wearing a green satin petticoat over her everyday red flannel one. Janet had managed to tie the underbodice ribbons, but the busk-stiffened "pair of bodies" she would wear over it lay ready on the bed.
"I am going to wear the green velvet," she said calmly.
Ardith's eyes widened. "Do ye expect visitors, mistress?"
"No, but I mean to ride out to enjoy the day, and I want to keep warm."
"The sun will be shining bright afore noon."
"Perhaps," Janet said, relaxing at this further indication that Quinton had left no orders that would keep her in her bedchamber. "'Tis still March nonetheless," she added smoothly. "I shall not smother in velvet. Is that my porridge?"
"Aye, mistress. I'll put it on the wee table yonder, shall I, whilst I help ye wi' your lacing?"
Janet nodded, and minutes later, the bodice firmly laced, she slipped a loose gown on to protect her from drafts while she broke her fast. Drawing a chair to the little table, she sat down and poured fresh cream over the hot porridge.
Ardith hung a small pot of milk to warm on the hob, saying over her shoulder, "I brought ye an apple, too, mistress."
"Excellent. I shall take it with me when I ride out."
"Ye'll be taking one o' the lads along. Mayhap I should tell Cook to put up some food for the pair o' ye, and some bits for them wha' ye visit? It isna baking day, but she will ha' buns or bread that she'll be gey happy to send wi' ye."
Janet hesitated. To say that she would take nothing would surely stir Ardith's curiosity, but she did not want to burden herself, nor did she want to visit tenants along the way.
Casually, she said, "Is Sir Quinton at home?"
"Nay, then, mistress. The master rode out quite early. Said he were going to Cotrigg village to see what needed doing. He willna return afore suppertime."
Janet began eating her porridge to give herself time to think. If Quinton was away, most likely no other barrier stood in her path. She did not believe that he would have given orders to prevent her leaving. He was a fair man, and he would assume that she would obey him. Moreover, he would not want to betray their quarrel to his men. The notion of his fairness stopped her train of thought for a moment, and niggling guilt made it difficult to continue.
She saw Ardith eyeing her curiously and quickly collected her wits, saying, "'Tis good that he is looking after the people of Cotrigg. I should have known that he would be, of course. I am trying to think of anyone else who might need anything that I could take them today."
"Ye went to Tip's mam and the others but two days ago," Ardith said.
"Yes, I did, and the men will be dividing up the stock taken last night, I expect. Perhaps it would be wiser to wait until they have finished with that."
"Aye, sure, they'll ken fine then who might need summat else."
"I'll ride north along the Teviot then," Janet said with a smile. "I'm finished now, so you can help me with my dress."
As Ardith fetched the green velvet skirt from the wardrobe, Janet watched to see if she would notice Tip's clothing. It occurred to her then that Ardith might have smelled it the moment she opened the wardrobe, but she quickly realized that the strong scents of herbs and other sweeteners that customarily filled it ought to prevent that. In any event, the maid did not seem to notice anything amiss. Nor did she question her further about her plans, as any maidservant who had served her at Brackengill since childhood would have done as a matter of course. It was good, Janet decided, occasionally to have servants who did not believe that her every move was as much their business as her own.