They crossed onto English soil shortly after dawn. Anne tightened her hands on the saddle. By night, she'd be standing in Philipa's presence again.
Sterling
Helen screamed for the first time in years. She ripped the bed curtains as she tried to find her mistress. It made no sense!
The maids flew from the chamber, their shrieks awakening the manor. Retainers rushed in from the yard, hesitating for a moment when they realized the commotion was coming from the mistress's chamber.
"The mistress is missing."
Helen shouted, pulling on her hair. "I dinnae ken. She mussed the bedding to look as if she were there. I should have checked."
"You cannot blame yourself." Bonnie's soft voice froze everyone in their tracks. She stood at the door, her face shining with tears. "Philipa has always hated her more than any other." She shuddered, hugging herself. "But my sister is the kindest soul, always thinking of others first."
Captain Murry gripped her by the upper arms.
"Tell me where the mistress is."
Bonnie recoiled from his touch, her heels sliding on the stone floor as she tried to escape. Panic held her features as she pushed and struggled. The man looked confused by her reaction.
"Don't touch me. Please don't touch me." Bonnie's voice was a thin wail that stirred pity in everyone in the room.
"I'll let ye loose if ye tell me what goes on here."
Bonnie bobbed her head up and down. The captain released his grip on her, careful to do it slow enough so that she didn't fall in a heap. He placed his body between her and the door, making it clear that he would get what he wanted.
"Philipa has ordered her back to Warwickshire else she will set our brothers to sea for the New World."
"That's insanity. There is nothing across the ocean save death for those foolish enough to sail toward it." Helen shook her head and even made the sign of the cross over her body.
"That's why Anne went. She knows that Philipa means to do it if Anne does not return."
The Captain held up a hand for silence. "Did ye say brothers?"
Bonnie nodded. "We are two sisters and three brothers born to the Earl of Warwickshire's leman. Philipa sent Anne in her daughter's place to conceive a child because Mary did not want to marry. Anne was ordered to return when she was with child or Philipa would turn our mother out. When Anne still didn't return, Philipa grew angry and sent Cameron here with new threats to force Anne to obey her. Philipa married me to Cameron because she knew Anne would protect me, as she always had." Silent tears glittered on Bonnie's cheeks.
There was silence. Helen grew pale but she suddenly snarled like a angry bear.
"Captain Murry, fetch the mistress back."
The captain seemed unsure. He looked at Bonnie and back to Helen.
"If she is nae the Earl of Warwickshire's legitimate daughter, she's nae the lord's wife."
"Nae his wife? Are ye daft, man? She's round with his son."
"His bastard." One of the maids spoke the words. Helen rounded on her like a storm.
"She was pure when the lord took her to his bed. She is also the Earl of Warwickshire's daughter. Mark my words. It will be the legitimate daughter who suffers for nae taking her place. The earl's wife stood there and sent her as the bride. They are both daughters of the earl, the proxy will hold up in court because our lord was deceived. The Church will annul the first proxy and then the lord can marry the mother of his child."
Captain Murry nodded slowly. "I see yer thinking, Helen, but there are those who will nae agree."
"There is no time for debating now. Ye need to ride after her." Helen wrung her hands.
The captain shook his head. "No time at all. They're too close to England by now. The mistress planned this well enough. I might have caught her if she'd been discovered missing yesterday." The captain shook his head, his hand tightening on his belt. "We need the earl to settle this matter. They'll nae even open the gates for us at Warwickshire, much less admit to such a deed now that the proof is in their hands."
"That babe will be born inside a fortnight."
Murry paused at the door. "Then I shall ride through the night to alert the lord."
He quit the room, his men following close on his heels. There was no hint of reluctance in any of them. Helen looked at the chamber, tears of sadness in her eyes.
"Och now, how did such a thing happen?"
"Love is a curse." The same maid spoke once more. "My sister has a bastard because of falling under love's spell."
"'Tis not always a bad thing." Helen just wished that she believed her own words, but they sounded hollow. The entire chamber echoed with emptiness. She felt the chill of it creeping across her skin.
Chapter Twelve
Warwick Castle
"You are disgraceful."
Philipa spoke slowly, allowing each of her words to fall and impact before the next one crossed her lips.
"Clearly you care for no one save yourself." The mistress of Warwickshire pulled a letter from her writing desk. She snapped the paper against her palm.
"Your sire did not return for quartering day." Triumph shone in Philipa's eyes.
Anne stood steady. She stared straight at Philipa, refusing to lower her eyes. She would not be giving blind respect to the lady of the manor anymore. Philipa frowned when she remained steadily staring her in the face.
"It is a good thing that I had the forethought to marry your sister to a man who will keep her in check. The very fact that you penned this letter proves that you and all your siblings are tainted with the lack of respect that your mother has shown me by giving my husband sons."
Anne smiled softly. The expression angered the mistress of Warwickshire, turning Philipa's face red.
"My sister is in Scotland."
"What?" Her lips twisted into an ugly scowl. "I commanded that she return."
"If I only cared for myself, I would still be at Sterling, far from your reach."
"Watch your mouth, girl, I am your mistress."
Anne didn't back down "Not any longer, you aren't. You sent me away, gave me to another noble. My loyalty belongs to Sterling's master now."
A flicker of fear crossed Philipa's face. She looked stunned by the emotion, her lips working without sounds for a few moments, her hands closing into fists.
"You shall obey me, bastard."
"Or what?" Anne wasn't as sure as her voice sounded, but she was finished holding her tongue. Being obedient to Philipa had not rewarded her with fairness as the Church preached. Keeping to her place would never mean anything if the woman she offered her loyalty to did not remember her duty to her own servants. That was the lesson she'd learned from Brodick. He was a leader because he considered it a duty, not just tribute given to his name, something he received but did nothing to earn.
"I shall have your mother put out."
Anne didn't waver. "It is no longer winter." Philipa gasped at Anne's audacity. "Yet maybe it is better that you should. When she reaches the next shire, there will be an end to this farce. I do not think my sire will be pleased when he learns of this deception."
Philipa stuck her finger out, trying to impose her will with the stern gesture. "You will do as you are told, bastard."
Anne simply laid a hand on the top of her belly. Philipa looked at it hungrily. For a moment she resembled someone addicted to wine, all weak-willed and unable to stop her own destructive behavior.
"I carry the Earl of Alcaon's child. If you are just, you shall dissolve my sister's marriage and send my brothers to serve at court with their sire to, possibly with God's good will, better their lot."
A lump tried to form in her throat and Anne suppressed it. She did what was most important for her babe. Sacrifice was the proof of a mother's love. "You shall not have my child for nothing. My brothers know nothing of this. Send them today."
"Or what … bastard?" Philipa smirked. "Hmm? You have so much to say, but I am mistress here. The gates only open when I say they shall."
A moment of uncertainty filled her and Philipa must have sensed it. She smiled, the expression unpleasant.
"I have heard that in Scotland being born bastard means very little. But this is England … bastard."
A sharp slap hit Anne's face. Philipa did not stay her strength. Anne's neck whipped to the side with the force of the blow.
"Here, you will keep to your place. That had better be a male child."
Philipa paced back across the chamber. She sat in an ornately carved chair, arranging her skirts as if she were royalty. Mary moved to stand behind her mother. They looked every inch the noble, powerful women they believed themselves to be.
But they didn't compare at all to Brodick.
"You shall occupy my solar until your time comes. I will be gracious and allow your mother to attend you."