Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter 23 Isobel stepped into her new bed chamber at the college and smiled at the three huge bouquets of red and pink roses that were crowded onto the small work table on the left side of the room. Alex with the help of Valencia had paid for the rest of her tuition and for her room and board, though her income from the book was now enough to pay for it. The trunk of gowns from Valencia was against the far wall under the narrow window, where there was a bouquet of bright pink gladiolas and a small wooden box with a folded piece of paper before it. Isobel crossed the room to take the piece of paper and unfold it, seeing it was a note, that said “My beloved I shall count the days till we are together again, meet me out front at four, A.” Isobel pressed a kiss to the paper and then opened the small wood chest to discover five silver hair combs designed to look like flowers and a silver medallion in a flower design with an amethyst center. Isobel touched the combs lovingly and then closed the box remembering that Alex had promised to buy her some, the thought of Alex sent her heart fluttering and made her smile. The past three days had been the most wonderful of her life, each day she and Alex would walk the ground of Valencia’s estate or work side by side in his work chamber planning her garden. At night they would share a delicious meal with her friends and Valencia before returning to their chamber where Alex would make love to her. That morning Alex had made love to her again as they would not be able to be together for three more weeks, three weeks had never seemed such a long time before, but she’d never had someone waiting for her before, never had someone love her before. There was a knock on her door and she turned to see Sister Margaret in the open door. “Isobel you are back, and I heard from Master Ogden that you are betrothed, I’m so happy for you.” Sister Margaret said with a smile as she stepped into the room. “I understand it was the lord you danced with.” “Thank you I’m happy too and yes it is him.” Isobel stepped forward holding out her hand so that Sister Margaret could see her rings. She felt a moment’s regret at lying to Margaret, but it was for the best. “We had met several days before when I first arrived at the countess’ estate, we share a mutual love of plants and gardening so we have much in common.” “That is wonderful; from what I saw of him he appeared very handsome,” Margaret replied. “He is, how did you fair with Lady Laura the countess told me that you were taking her home?” Isobel asked. “Yes, she was a bit of a trial but she is home. I explained to her father and stepmother what she had done and gave him the letters the countess had sent. He did not want to believe at first that his daughter had behaved in such a fashion but in the end, he relented. He asked me to recommend a good tutor to send to try and manage the girl, I am thinking of Sister Euphemia she is only thirty so she will have the energy to manage the girl but she has been teaching the freshmen students for years and has ample experience.” Margaret said. “She is an excellent choice. Do you need me sister, if not I was going to work in the herb garden,” Isobel asked as she spotted her old leather trunk at the foot of the bed that held her work gowns and aprons. “Yes I need to stock the supplies for the infirmary and was wondering if you could help me, we shall have to make a list of what is low and then prepare them. I’m afraid while we were gone Sister Florence used up many supplies but had no time or help to replace them.” “Of course, I would be happy to help just let me get my apron.” Isobel opened her trunk pushing aside her old gowns pulled out her favorite apron; she gave it a good shake before slipping on over her gown. “I knew I could count on you, you have always been one of my favorite and most gifted students. I shall miss you after you have left us.” Margaret sighed. “I have never been good about sharing my feelings but I would like you to know that I am rather fond of you and I wish you all the happiness in your future. If I had ever been blessed with a daughter I’d like to think she would have been like you.” Isobel blinked back dears and managed a smile. “Thank you, I’ve always thought of you as a second mother to me if not for you I don’t think I would have achieved what I have.” “Oh dear you’ll have me crying too, well come along we have work to do and much to talk about.” Margaret blotted her eyes with the corner of her apron then stepped back out of the room. Isobel nodded and stepping from the room locked the door after her dropping the thick key in her apron pocket. “Tell me what you thought of the Countess’ estate, I thought it was even lovelier that the city gardens.” “Oh yes it was magnificent and the countess was amazingly gracious considering all the fuss Lady Laura caused.” Fuss was not what Isobel would have called the false claim that nearly caused Alex to marry Lady Laura and the subsequent problems it had caused everyone, not that he minded being wed to Alex, it’s just that she’d of liked to have it in the open. “Yes she was, now how do you wish to start?” Isobel asked changing the subject as she followed Margaret down the stairs towards her work chamber. “We shall have to take a complete inventory of all the shelves and then go to the garden to begin collecting what we need.” Margaret replied. Isobel barely repressed her sigh at the amount of work Margaret had set before them, it would be next to impossible to slip away now to meet Alex at dusk but she would find a way. Raymond cursed his bad luck and fate, he and his men had followed Lady Isobel and her companions to the estate of countess Valencia thinking it would be an easy opportunity to grab her, but he’d been wrong. They had found several advantageous spots to watch the huge house and gardens from, but the girl had rarely been alone and the grounds had always been crawling with footmen or workers. Making matters worse was that they had been discovered in the middle of the night and forced to flee in the dark. Raymond should never have gotten involved with Dagda, the man was a dangerous lunatic who would likely get them both killed but he had no choice, if he tried to walk away now Dagda would have him killed. If he failed to bring him the girl this time Dagda would again have him killed as he’d tried to kill Raymond’s men. Raymond pressed his back against the wall of the cloth merchant as he watched people in the market, in the distance a bell rang twelve and people hurried away to find their noon meals, now was the best time to act. Across the way, his three remaining men Earnest, Alman, and Enno were waiting for his signal to act. The plan was to set fire to the stable and the rear wall of the college, hopefully driving the women outside, and then in the chaos they would grab lady Isobel. In the ensuing confusion, people would think that she’d perhaps perished in the fire and not come looking for her allowing Raymond time to spirit her to Dagda. The sooner he acted the better; his men had told him that the lady had frequently been in the company of a large well-muscled man. The man was probably a suitor as Lady Isobel had no living family, and it wouldn’t do for her to be betrothed or married before Dagda had time to marry her himself. Raymond watched the last of the shoppers in the open market drift away and he signaled his men, Enno would begin the fires while he and the others watched the only two doors to the school. One door was at the front of the school and the other was a wide gate that led to the stables, both doors were guarded during the day to protect the young women inside. Raymond gave his large felt had a sharp tug and his men nodded then slinked away. Raymond checked to be sure no one was watching and then slipped up to the front of the school where a large middle-aged man in a dark tunic was dozing on his feet as he guarded the door. Raymond glanced over his shoulder again and then slipped a stiletto out of his sleeve and with a quick thrust slipped it between his ribs before the guard even had a chance to greet him. The guard’s eyes widened in surprise and as he opened his mouth to cry out Raymond covered it with his palm, while he wrapped his right arm around the man’s waist and dragged him to a nearby bench in the shade where he set him down. Raymond slipped his stiletto free then quickly whipped it clean on the man’s tunic before slipping it back into his sleeve. He looked about to see the square was deserted, the market vendors were all taking a break or talking with each other during the lunch lull. Raymond stepped up to the main door and using his fist knocked hard on the door then stepped back and into the shadows so that the guard inside wouldn’t be able to see him clearly. After a few minutes, he heard a bolt slip and the metal viewing portal in the door opened and a face peered out. “Who is it and what do you want?” An older man demanded. “I’ve a message and a delivery for Master Ogden,” Raymond replied. “Tell me the message and hand me the package.” The man ordered. “Tis a large box and the message is private about the Lady Laura I can’t be shouting it on the street,” Raymond replied with just enough annoyance to sound like a pained servant. “Very well but be quick tis the lunch hour.” The portal door slammed shut and a moment later the sound of several bolts being shot could be heard and the door swung open. The moment the door opened Raymond lunged forward stabbing the man under the ribs while covering his mouth with his left hand. The man struggled with Raymond for a moment who pushed the blade in further then caught the man as he sagged. Raymond looked about seeing he was in a large open foyer with a wide staircase straight ahead and three corridors branching off in each direction. On his immediate right was a door set back into the wall, hoping it was a closet Raymond kicked the door shut behind him and then let the guard drop to the floor. Scanning the corridor and steps to be sure he was alone Raymond stepped up to the door and pulled it open discovering it was a washroom. It would be the perfect place to hide a body. Raymond jogged back to the body and grabbing the man under the arms dragged him across the floor and into the washroom, then he pulled the door shut; now he only had to wait by now the fire would have been started it was only a matter of time before it was discovered and the women began fleeing from the building. * * * * Isobel whipped her hands clean on her apron and then used her large straw hat to fan her face as the tower bell rang the noon hour. She had spent the last two hours helping sister Margaret inventory the medical supplies and make up a list of what medicines they needed to replace, after that she had come to the enclosed garden to begin harvesting plants. Her stomach growled and she thought about going to join the others for lunch, but she badly wanted to finish the harvesting so she would be able to meet Alex later. Her stomach growled again, she would eat quickly and then return to her work if she didn’t finish she would simply have to explain to Sister Margaret that she needed to meet her intended at dusk, she was sure Sister Margaret would understand. Isobel placed the last bunch of angelica in her large basket and turned towards the door of the apothecary work room when she heard the school bell begin to tell loudly. Isobel frowned the bell was only rung for emergencies, such as fire, flood, or death. Once the bell had sounded everyone was to leave the school and meet in the market square by the fountain and wait for Master Ogden. With an annoyed sigh, Isobel began heading for the door when she smelled smoke, looking up she saw a thick black plume of smoke rising from the back of the building. The building was obviously on fire, luckily they had no patients in the infirmary and the junior students had not all returned from break meaning only a few senior students and the staff would have to flee. Isobel pondered which way was the quickest way to leave the school, if she went through the door to the apothecary she would have to go through the workroom, the apothecary, and then down the corridor and up a flight of steps and then along another corridor to make it out the main door, but if she went through the side arch there was a short tunnel before she was in the stable yard and she could go out the stable door. Going by way of the stable was faster and it had the advantage that she could check to be sure Bridgette was out and safe. Isobel set the basket on the path then grabbed her pruning shears slipping them into her apron pocket before hurrying towards the stable. She picked up her pace to a jog, lifting her skirts high as the school bell rang again and the smoke began spilling over the wall into the garden. Isobel hurried through the tunnel and popped out into the stable yard to see controlled chaos as the two groomsmen were trying to lead four terrified horses out of the wide door from the stable yard to the street. Isobel looked about and saw Bridgette with the help of Sasha and Lucy trying to lead a mare and her foal out of the stable. The black and white foal was fighting Lucy and Sasha obviously afraid to leave the stable while Bridgette was trying to both calm and coax the mare, who was limping, through the stable yard. “Oh thank heavens Isobel help me with Star she is in pain and terrified but we must get her out onto the street,” Bridgette said. “Of course, what do you want me to do?” Isobel demanded grabbing the mare’s halter as she began backing up and dragging Bridgette with her. “Your hat use it to cover her eyes it should help calm her,” Bridgette said through gritted teeth. Isobel pulled off her hat and standing on her toes wrapped the soft straw hat over Star’s face, after a moment’s fighting Star calmed. “Good Star, good girl come away from the nasty smoke,” Bridgette said as she coaxed the mare forward. The mare began taking halting steps forward and they were within ten feet of the open gate when two dark shapes appeared on either side of Isobel, she had only a moment to realize that men were standing there when one grabbed her right arm that was holding the hat and wrenched it painfully behind her. “What are you doing let me go,” Isobel shouted as the second man stepped forward and moved to lift her from the ground. Bridgette with an unladylike curse released Star’s lead line and stepping around the frightened mare began pummeling the second man in the back with her fists. “Let her go.” The man who had moved to grab Isobel turned to back fist Bridgette in the face knocking her into Star who turned and bolted for the open gate followed by her foal. Sasha and Lucy turned their attention from the foal to helping Isobel who was struggling against the man holding her while Bridgette launched herself at the man who’d struck her. “You bitch.” The man snarled before hitting Bridgette across the face with his open palm, sending her staggering but rather than being cowed Bridgette launched herself at him punching him in the nose. Isobel’s capture distracted and overwhelmed by Lucy and Sasha’s attack released Isobel so suddenly she staggered; he rounded on her friends punching Sasha in the face sending her flying before he pulled a knife on Lucy who was charging him with a broom. Lucy swung the broom hitting him in the side with enough force to snap the broomstick and he ripped the stick from her hand and rounded on her as Isobel jumped on his back and began pummeling. The man with a curse pulled a knife from his belt and with a wide swing caught Lucy in the arm slashing it open before he slammed his left elbow backwards hitting Isobel in the stomach and dislodging her causing her to fall to the flagstones with a bone-jarring thud. “What in the hell is going on?” A man in all black bellowed as stepped up to drag Isobel off the ground, wrenching her arm painfully behind her. “The bitches attacked us, we were simply teaching them manners.” The man holding Isobel snarled. “That bitch is a duchess Enno and not a street whore.” Raymond replied tersely. “Let me go.” Isobel kicked Enno in the shins glad she was wearing her ankle boots when he hissed in pain. “Enough Lady Isobel it is past time you came to Lord Dagda he is tired of waiting for you.” Raymond stepped forward to take Isobel from Enno giving her a hard shake as he did. “Alman, Earnest bring the dark-haired girl she could prove useful as a hostage.” Raymond directed as the two other men overpowered Bridgette and dragged her after them. “I’ll scream you bastard and bring the guard.” Bridgette hissed as Earnest grabbed her left arm hard. “Do it bitch we took care of the door guards they can’t help you now, come or I’ll cut that pretty face of yours.” Earnest sneered waving a knife before Bridgette. “Do as they say Bridgette look at Sasha and Lucy I don’t want you hurt too,” Isobel said as tears filled her eyes. Sasha was lying unmoving on the flagstones and Lucy was on her knees cradling her left arm to her which was now freely bleeding. “I’m sorry Lucy; I’m so sorry tell Alex what happened.” Isobel sobbed as Raymond began dragging her towards the open gate. “Shouldn’t we kill the other bitch she’ll go for help.” Alman nodded at Lucy who reached for the broken broomstick while giving him a defiant look. “No, we don’t kill noble women now move.” Raymond barked as he dragged Isobel away. “I’ll tell him, I’ll tell him I promise.” Lucy shouted as Isobel was pulled through the open gate and onto the street where a large black coach with darkened windows was waiting. “Get in or your friend shall pay.” Raymond hissed as he jerked the carriage door open and pushed Isobel inside. Isobel landed hard on her stomach as Bridgette was thrown in after her landing on top of her, as Bridgette rolled sideways trying to right herself the carriage lurched forward throwing them both hard to the floor again. Bridgette braced herself against the forward-facing seats and took Isobel’s hand in hers as she helped her to a sitting position. “It will be all right Alex and Bowden will come for us and then they shall make them pay you shall see.” Bridgette said. “I’m sorry I never meant for you or the others to be pulled into my problems, if only I’d fought harder, if only.” Isobel went to dry her eyes with her apron and her shears fell onto the floor of the carriage. “Oh my god, I could have stabbed him.” “Don’t be sorry it wasn’t your fault, and what are friends for if not to help each other in hard times or when they are kidnapped or bullied. And as for stabbing one of them then what, there were four of them and they would have only hurt you, put these back in your pocket or better yet down your bodice. I’m guessing they are taking you home to your old estate which means we have several hours to plan.” Bridgette said as the carriage took a hard left. “I’d say we could jump out but the carriage is moving too fast and I heard a lock being slid into place on the outside of the door.” “I don’t know how you can be so brave,” Isobel replied grateful for Bridgette’s strength. “My father raised me to be strong and to fight, and I know that when Alex and Bowden come for us they will rip those men apart. I’ve seen how protective Alex is of you and I know Bowden loves me for he has said, dry your tears and we shall make plans.” Bridgette braced herself as the carriage took another hard turn and muffled shouts could be heard from the street. “Yes, you are right. But first, let me see to your face your nose is bleeding.” Isobel said scrambling onto the carriage seat before helping Bridgette up. “Oh my so it is, do you think Star and her foal will be all right, and what of Sasha and Lucy,” Bridgette said as she put on a brave face for Isobel. Isobel had been her first friend when she’d come to the school, she hadn’t cared that Bridgette was too tall for a girl, or horse mad and she’d defended her from Lady Laura and her cohorts when she’d been bullied. Isobel had also encouraged Bridgette in her passion for horses and helping animals, often working well into the night with her to create animal medicines. Isobel had stood by Bridgette and encouraged her when no one else had, believing in her and her dreams, and comforted her when she’d felt lost and alone. Though she’d never told Isobel she loved her as a sister and would do anything for her, if that included being kidnapped then so be it. “Lucy was hurt but able to walk, she has probably already summoned help for Sasha who I think was only stunned, and I’m sure someone caught Star and her foal,” Isobel replied using the bottom of her apron to blot at Bridgette’s nose and clean the blood from her face making her wince. “I do not think your nose is broken but it is swelling, I wish I had a cold cloth for it.” “It wasn’t your fault, I look forward to telling Bowden which one hit me and watching him beat him,” Bridgette replied. “Now we must stay calm and think what we can do to buy time till we are recued.” Isobel nodded Bridgette was right Alex would come for her and he would not be alone for he was a prince and she his princess, she allowed herself a moment to think about what Alex would do to lord Dagda. She too looked forward to watching Dagda pay for what he’d done to her and her family, lord Dagda had made a mistake she was no longer a frightened young girl at his mercy but a grown woman with friends and a husband that loved her, and she had skills now that she didn’t have before, no she would not be afraid for one way or another Lord Dagda would pay for his crimes.