Beyond a Doubt

chapter Fifty-Three




The plan was not foolproof. Everything was going wrong.

“Bryce, this won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because you don’t know the city. Because you aren’t known or trusted. Because they know who I am, not you.”

“All I need to do is give them the fan.”

“No, that is not all. Besides, you will never get that close to the Admiral.”

“But Monsieur Broussard knows me.”

Lucy gnawed her lip. All morning she’d given excuse after excuse as to why she should be the one to deliver the message. Every argument she’d given, Bryce had refuted. They’d been at it for hours.

“Bryce, our time is running out.”

“Aye, ye are correct. This must mean we are going together.”

“Bryce, I—“

“Ye don’t want my help, I know. Ye want me to return to my sheep and leave ye to sacrifice yerself for mankind. But fact is, I am here and I care too much for ye to let ye go alone. So grab yer fan and let’s be on our way.”

Finally, Lucy had no argument left. Together they hailed a hackney. They appeared as any other French couple out on a ride. Lucy smiled lovingly and Bryce patted her arm affectionately. They stared into one another’s eyes, lost in each other’s company.

When the carriage came to a sudden halt, both acted irritated at the interruption to their moment of love.

“I’m sorry but I can’t go any further. The road ahead is congested.”

Bryce paid the man and they left the hackney, moving on to fulfill their destiny. Once upon the cobbled streets, they followed the crowd toward a grassy area with a large platform in the middle.

Tension gripped Lucy, and Bryce pulled her closer to his side. He whispered to her, “I’m here with ye. We will do this together.”

His words caused her to relax, but with each step she reverted back. Fear and worry had her leaning more and more upon him. Lucy started to panic as they closed in on the platform.

“We’ll never reach him in time. Look at all these people!”

“Follow me.”

They moved around the edge of the crowd. A group of people climbed onto the platform.

Jean Broussard walked close by the Admiral’s side. He shook hands, kissed babies, and hugged young women. With Admiral Coligny’s first step onto the platform, the crowd roared. He stopped and raised his hands to garner silence.

Bryce and Lucy pushed harder. Elbows hit their ribs. Heels kicked their shins. People complained as they wedged themselves through the crowd.

Finally they reached the edge. Pressed hard on all sides, they looked around for an opening. Neither Jean nor the Admiral were close enough to talk to them. The Admiral made his way to a wooden stand in the middle of the platform. Everyone except the Admiral smiled.

As Bryce studied the crowd, a man caught his eye. Some familiarity caused Bryce to study him further.

Then he saw it. The man lifted his arm and a knife glinted in the sunlight. One flick of Charles Dubois’ wrist and the Admiral would be no more.

Without thought Bryce leapt with one bound onto the stage. The Admiral was underneath him on the ground as the knife sailed over their heads and embedded itself in a tree.

Before the Admiral was righted, soldiers seized Charles Dubois. Gustav led the detachment of soldiers taking him into custody. Charles ranted and raved that they’d found the wrong man.

Jean Broussard rushed to Bryce and his friend. He gave thanks as they were escorted away. Lucy was stuck amidst a wild crowd. Pressed against the stage, she looked as if her eyes would pop from her head.

Bryce escaped from Jean and rushed back to her. He lifted his hands high, and pulled her up alongside him. Soon Jean ushered them both away.

The hurry and mad dash didn’t end until a hackney delivered them all to the Broussard home.

Once everyone settled inside, Lucy’s hands fluttered over Bryce's body, looking for injuries. He smiled at her loving fretting.

He drew Lucy close to his side. She hadn’t taken a step away from him since the incident.

When everyone calmed, the questions began.

“How did you know about the danger?”

“Where did you come from?”

“How did you know I was speaking?”

“Was that the same man who was at the party?”

Bryce expected Lucy to step in with all the answers, but the lass remained silent. When the volley ended, Bryce unlatched the pouch from Lucy’s wrist and handed over the Chinese fan.

Jean took the fan and placed a candle behind it. The words lit up the wall, causing gasps around the room.

“Lucy here is L.L. In Scotland she kind of... confiscated the fan. Then she headed to London to give the note to Joshua, only he perished before she was able. It took a long time to decipher the code and know where to come, but once we figured it all out we tried to meet ye to give ye the message, but at the celebration Dubois showed before we had a chance. The announcement seemed our only option.”

“That was a brave thing you did, jumping in front of that knife.”

The Admiral’s wife added, “You could have been killed.”

They reviewed and discussed everything. Bryce and Lucy were surprised by how much Jean knew.

Satisfied with their answers, Bryce and Lucy were delivered back to the Lombard home. For days cards, messages, and flowers arrived, thanking Lucy. The lass could never go back to being a spy. Her secret identity no longer existed.

Before long, they returned to London. The Lombard home was cleaned and back to normal. As the days went on, Lucy brought back the household staff. The atmosphere calmed and the house became more organized.

They no longer ran away. They no longer had to think about everyone else. Now they could focus on each other.

One day after helping with the horses, Bryce lifted his nose to the air. The smell of the city had grown on him but it wasn’t home. The Highlands called him.

At dinner when grace was said, Lucy had a habit of asking everyone to mention one thing they were thankful for. One evening when it came to Bryce’s turn he knew it was time.

With a room full of people present, he said, “I’m thankful the Lord allowed me to meet and love one such as ye, Lucy Lombard.”

A blush covered Lucy’s face and he almost felt bad for embarrassing her, but he couldn’t be sorry about his love for her. That night when the servants retired for the evening, he asked Lucy if she would like to take a walk.

“In the dark?”

“Nay, in the moonlight.”

She nodded and they set out. Even through her cloak, Bryce could feel her trembling as they walked. They reached a place of privacy. Bryce stopped and spun her around to face him.

He cleared his throat, got down on one knee, and looked at the woman he loved. “Will ye marry me?”





Epilogue




He stood upon a jagged rock. Wind blew gently behind him. White sheep dotting the hillside bleated. He’d been home now for a few months. The sights and smells reminded him of childhood. The clouds reminded him of other times, happier times.

Like the day in the park. The day Lucy had lain at his side and they’d watched the clouds overhead, fantasizing different objects that matched their shape. Now those days were no more.

He remembered the day outside Lucy’s London home. He’d asked for her hand, declared his love, and she’d stood still. After a few moments tears had welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. He remembered telling her, “It’s not all that bad.” But she’d shook her head and run inside.

When he’d found her, she had locked herself in her room. For days she’d refused to see him. Then, red-rimmed and puffy-eyed, she’d walked out of the room and told him no. Bryce had been devastated. He’d saddled his horse and packed his belongings, and set out for home. The trip took no time at all as he’d traveled day and night, trying to escape the pain he felt in his heart.

When he’d reached Cameron lands, Bryce had mentioned nothing of the detour he’d taken. His father immediately had given him land and sheep. A wife was the next on the list but he’d refrained from even the thought; the hurt was still too deep.

Within a few days of his homecoming, Crissy had come to visit. Stomach round with child, she’d glowed with happiness. She had been married for three summers and was expecting her second babe. Nothing had gone according to plan.

Weeks had passed and Bryce assumed the hurt would ease. Then a missive had arrived. Everyone in the keep had feared the worst. Grant was still in Ireland, but on his way home, and he needed assistance. Grant had gone to Ireland to help his younger brother, Samuel. The young man had left his home in Scotland to witness to the Protestants of Ireland.

Bryce and others in the clan had left to assist their future laird. Bryce had only recently returned with Grant and his new family.

The sad news of Samuel Cameron’s passing held the clan in deep mourning.

That day, as Bryce worked the fields and stared at the blue sky, he gathered his courage. A message had arrived at Laird Valan’s home and been delivered to him yester eve. The heavy parchment rested in his sporran.

Sitting down, he pulled out the parchment. Warmed from the closeness of his body, it tickled his nose as he smelled the paper. The scent was familiar. Carefully breaking the seal, he unfolded the pages. The fine script gave him pause. Taking a deep breath, he began to read.

My dearest Bryce,

I hope this letter finds you well and in good health. I know the Highland air is much agreeable to you.

As I pen this missive, I wonder what you’re doing. Are you watching your flock? Are you sitting in front of a toasty fire? Are you alone?

My fervent hope, however selfish it may seem, is that you are indeed alone and miserable. Therefore we will at least be in a similar circumstance.

First off, I must beg your forgiveness. Each time I longed to write you, the words seemed tense. It has taken time for me to explain to myself, much less others.

You must understand that after we arrived back in London, many letters came. Queen Mary publicly wanted to thank me for discovering the plot, but in truth she was concerned for herself. She feared I was spying on her as well. She received me to her chambers and questioned me extensively as to my background and my allegiance. Some soothing was acquired by my French heritage, although not much.

My past activities caused everyone in my association to become suspect. Because of this I couldn’t possibly bind myself to you. If I had, the whole Cameron clan would have been in grave danger.

Although this is the case, I must admit your proposal came as a bit of a shock. I had loved you for some time but was unclear of your feelings for me. However, since my issues with the crown have been resolved and the responsibilities of my position ended, I would like to inquire if the offer still stands?

There the letter abruptly ended. Bryce flung it on the ground and lifted his foot to grind the pages into the mud. Changing his mind, he bent over to pick up the parchment and in his sight were a pair of black, shiny boots. Slowly lifting his head, he saw a long skirt. He stood. Extended to his full height, he dropped his mouth open.

“Does the offer still stand?” asked Lucy.

Before she could change her mind, Bryce scooped her into his arms and charged down the hill to find the minister.

“Aye, it does.”