The Devil’s Due by Boucher, Rita (free reads txt) 📗

“Your mother said that your father was killed on the battlefield, Anne,” Duncan bent to look at her directly. “Your father was a soldier.”

“That’s what He wanted everyone to believe, He said. But He’s smart and sneaky. I know He got my papa killed. And He’ll kill Mamma too! And Daisy and maybe He’ll kill you if He finds out you know too! I cannot tell a soul, is what He said. Even though Becky was crying because He was hurting her. I tried to help her and He hit me.” Her voice rose to a frantic shriek of terror and grief.

“I will not let him,” Duncan said, trying to reason with her and calm the frantic storm that he had unwittingly unleashed. “I swear Anne, I will not let him harm any of us.”

“You can’t stop Him,” she whimpered. “He’s strong, stronger than Papa and if Papa couldn’t stop him, you can’t. He’s real smart about doing bad things so as nobody knows. He sneaks in the dark and hurts people. It was a secret . . . secret . . . if He finds out that I’ve talked about Becky, He’ll hurt her . . . He says that He’s her special friend, but I know it isn’t true, because when she came back to the nursery she cried every time. . . Nobody else knows but me.” Anne’s pitch rose to a keening wail.

Duncan was utterly at a loss. There was desperation in the child’s unfocused expression that frightened him. Those evil threats were entirely real to her, immediate, putting her beyond the reach of reason. He himself had stood at that brink, seen the abyss that yawned wide and ominous in those terrified green eyes and so, he understood.

This valiant child had kept herself silent out of love, out of fear. If she were to believe that she had placed her mother in jeopardy, there was no telling what Anne might do to protect Kate. Perhaps, Duncan shuddered inwardly. She might even choose that final silence that nothing could penetrate.

“He will not find out, Anne,” Duncan got on his knees. He reached out wanting to comfort her, but dropped his hand as she backed away. “I will not tell, I promise you. I will not tell. I will not tell.” He repeated those four words softly, over and over, until Anne’s breathing slowed and recognition dawned.

“You won’t tell?” she dubiously echoed, choking back a sob.

“No, cross my heart,” Duncan went through the motion solemnly. “It does not go beyond this valley, unless you tell me that I may reveal your secret. Do you want to shake hands on the bargain?”

To his surprise, she nodded and laid her hand in his. He clasped it and shook lightly to seal their agreement before releasing her. He had thought that the child would step away, but instead she moved closer, laying her head trustingly on his shoulder. It was as if a butterfly had suddenly chosen to light upon him. Tentatively, he raised his fingers and stroked her hair comfortingly. As she nestled her head in the hollow of his neck, he ached for her even as he burned with anger at the man who had burdened her with terror and secrets.

“And Mamma?” Anne asked in a hoarse whisper. “You mustn’t tell, Mamma. If she knows, He’ll see. Mamma’s no good at all about secrets. If you tell her, He’ll know that I told and then. . .”

Duncan felt her shiver. She was so terribly fragile, the thread that kept her from plunging into hysteria was gossamer thin. Nonetheless, the thought of denying this news to Kate was almost beyond bearing. To let her continue to believe that Anne was doomed to silence was unconscionable. Yet, he knew that Anne was right. Even if he told Anne’s secret in confidence, Kate could not help but betray herself to the child. The woman was far too transparent to conceal her joy.

There was no way of predicting how Anne would react if he refused to acquiesce to her terms. If he accepted this vow, Kate would have to remain in the dark. “No, Anne,” he agreed. “I will not tell your mother, though I think it wrong to keep it from her.”

The girl lifted her head, her eyes reaching deep into his, that steady gaze disquieting in its wisdom. Apparently, Anne was satisfied by what she saw.

“No, you won’t tell,” she said, solemnly. “He’d hurt you too, you know. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I don’t hurt easily, Anne,” Duncan told her, touched by her concern, deciding not to press her any further. Perhaps with time, she might grow to trust him. “Do you know that there is a small cave behind the waterfall?”

“Really? Where?” She was as anxious as he to change the topic of conversation and her excitement quickly overwhelmed her anxiety. “There are fish in the pond, Lord MacLean, but I can’t catch any. Is it a treasure cave, Lord MacLean?”

“You had best call me Duncan,” he said.

“Is it a treasure cave, Duncan? Do animals live there?”

“So many questions,” Duncan said.

“Is it too much of a bother?” Anne asked wistfully. “I haven’t had anyone else to ask for so long you see.”

“Nae, you haven’t, lass,” Duncan said, trying to keep his sorrow for her from coloring his voice. “And ‘tis no bother. You can talk to me, Anne, about anything you please. Remember, you can always talk to me.”

Chapter 10

“She was up in the tower,” Daisy moaned softly. “Could have been killed. I thought I locked that door, milady. I swear I did, but then I heard the noise in the courtyard, and all these folks comin’ round so unexpected-like, I must have forgot.”

“There’s no harm done, Daisy,” Kate soothed, patting the older woman on the shoulder.

“None at all,” Fred added his reassurance to Kate’s. “Merry as a grig, she were, laughin’ at