Chapter 68

JACK SWIFTLY DISPATCHED one of Rogan’s soldiers patrolling the southeast corner of the land. He removed the uniform the guard wore and put it on himself. It was a little loose on him, but not enough to be a hindrance. Briefly, he wondered how these soldiers appeared to England’s other forces. Would the insignia still be identifiable a hundred years later? Did they look at all out of place? They wore the red uniform of the British army, but what did they understand of their leader? Did no one question how this property was being held all this time?

Jack didn’t ponder these questions long. He was here for Nora, not to figure out the ways of the deranged Lord Alastair Rogan. But he would be interested to know just how the man was pulling off the deception.

Jack had stashed the horses and cart at the ruins of an old chapel. He took the time to move the man’s body far away from the both the chapel and the area the man patrolled. He was anxious to get Nora back, but he wanted to ensure maximum time before he was discovered. If luck was on his side, he’d be in and out before anyone knew.

He didn’t for one moment believe this would be that easy. But if Rogan thought he would be the one to give up, the man was sorely mistaken. Jack had been looking for Nora all his life. Whether she knew it or not, she had gotten him through some of his darkest times by just thinking about her, wondering who she was. Now that he had her, he’d be damned if anyone took her away from him. Ever.

He approached the manor on the horse from the dis-patched sentry. Nobody seemed to question his presence. Finding the stables quickly, he secured the horse.

“You’re late,” said an authoritative voice behind him.

Jack tucked the hat low on his brow, turned, and saluted. “I was delayed in the forest investigating a suspicious sound.”

“Your accent, sir,” the solider began.

Jack moved like lightning and knocked the man unconscious. He dragged him to the furthest, darkest stall, bound his hands and feet, and gagged him. Then he walked calmly from the stables, doing his best not to look like he was in a rush or slinking around. He took a cheroot from the pocket of the uniform and lit it. Miserable, these things, but a smoke break gave him the cover he needed to assess the inner courtyard and set up of the manor.

The building itself was constructed in a horseshoe shape with towers and a courtyard in the center. Would Nora be in one of the towers? Possibly. The manor itself was large.
It would likely take Jack hours to search it, especially if he was routinely waylaid with orders by superior officers.

A horn sounded and soldiers moved into line in the courtyard. Jack followed their lead and prayed whatever assignment was to come wouldn’t lead him away. As luck would
have it, he was chosen for guard duty inside the manor, and he followed the others in his group.

*Hold on, Nora. I’m coming. *

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Nora pretended to sip her wine but left her food untouched. She sat to the right of her father, who was seated at the head of the table. They were the only two seated at the grand table with various soldiers standing throughout the room.

“Are you not hungry tonight, my princess?” Rogan asked.

“Yes, I am famished,” Nora admitted. “However, I am afraid of being poisoned.”

“I have already told you I do not seek your death.”

“That does not mean it is not laced with some sort of sleeping draught to drug me and keep me unable to escape.”

“You have picked up bad manners in the Colonies, my sweet,” Rogan replied. “It is no wonder the Colonists must be brought to heel. Look around you. Every man in this room has orders not to let you leave the manor. That is for your protec-tion, princess.”

“I am not your princess,” Nora said through gritted teeth.

“You will always be my princess,” Rogan said softly. “There was a time when you thought I was your whole world. You compared all other men to me. This is for your protection, Eleanor. People like us, with the gift we have, must stay together. If what we are were ever to be discovered, can you not imagine what would happen? Would you like tests performed on us in the name of science? Chained up like dogs and studied? Our dignity taken from us? That, my sweet, is what is called a prisoner.”

“You speak of family, but I have not once heard you mention Fox. What of my brother?” Nora challenged. “Has he managed to elude you?”

“Alastair is not up for discussion,” Rogan replied with finality.

“I see some things never change. And Will and Bridget? Do you pursue them? Are they to be under your protection as well?”

“No,” Rogan fairly laughed. “I will kill them. They’re the ones responsible for this mess. If not for them and their incessant curiosity, you would still be admiring a pretty rock.”

“No, I believe we would all be quite dead by now,” Nora replied cheekily.

“Be that as it may, if my men ever do catch them, they have orders to kill them.”

Nora looked down at her untouched food, saddened over how her father had changed. He was right, of course. There was a time when she had dreamed of marrying a man just like her father. Now, she could only thank God she had not. Jack, wherever he was, was the opposite of the man seated next to her.

“My sweet, please eat something,” Rogan insisted. “The food is not poisoned, and it is getting cold. You will break Elspeth’s heart if you do not eat. She wanted so much to impress you. Here,” he motioned to a nearby soldier. “My man will take the first bite. When he lives, you can be comforted that I speak the truth and eat. You need your strength.”

The solider walked to the high table and stood between Nora and Lord Rogan. Nora kept her eyes down at her plate. The man speared a piece of meat with a fork and took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. He leaned down and said softly, “The food is delicious, my lady, and as you can see, safe to eat.”

Nora’s eyes widened when she heard Jack’s voice. She grabbed her goblet of wine and took a long swallow, hoping to steady her nerves.

“Thank you, sir,” she said. “You are brave and have put my mind at ease. I feel quite safe now.”

Jack stood upright again, turned, and resumed his post along the wall. Nora took a deep breath and began to eat. Jack was here. He was dressed as a guard. She couldn’t know what he had planned, if anything, but her father was correct. She would most definitely need her strength for whatever came next. One thing was certain, she was getting out of here tonight.