Bedazzled

horses, his heart hammering, starting nervously at a clap of thunder, but, remembering himself, calming the horses while praying beneath his breath.

Dropping into the garden, Thomas Southwood looked about him. He could see the palace on the far side of the area, and lights flickering through the carved screens that were enclosed by delicate arches. Reaching out, he wordlessly touched Mr. James's arm, indicating that his second mate should follow him. Silently the two men slipped along the graveled paths. It was as he had expected. There were no guards in the dey's private enclosure. He stopped, and listened. There was enough light now being emitted from behind the latticed screens for he and Mr. James to see each other. Thomas Southwood put a cautionary finger to his lips, and listened.

'Good night, my lady Azura,' he heard India say, and a door closed firmly. 'Meggie, run and fetch me my supper. I am ravenous.'

'Yes, my lady,' was the reply, and again the door opened and closed.

Motioning with his hand for his mate to remain where he was, Thomas Southwood slid a latticed screen softly aside and stepped into the room. 'Good evening, India,' he said softly.

India recognized his voice, and, stifling her cry, whirled about. 'Tom Southwood! Are you mad?' she whispered. 'If you are found here you will be killed, and I will have no power to save you!' Her beautiful face betrayed her anxiety for him.

'I have come to rescue you, India,' he said. 'I promised you I would take you with me when I left El Sinut. I am keeping my promise. We go tonight. I am told your servant is Scotch. We will take her, too.'

'No,' India said firmly. 'I am married now, Tom, and I am content to remain here with my lord. Go now, before you are caught. I wish you good luck. Tell my family that I am happy.'

'I am taking you with me, India,' he said in a determined tone. 'How can I return home to England without you?'

'Tom, try and understand me. I am happy. I love Caynan Reis. I am his wife. We went before the iman months ago. I will not desert my husband, and my family would certainly understand. Admittedly it has been an odd courting, but it is a perfect pairing, I swear to you,' she told him. 'Go now! I dare not ask how you gained entry here.'

'You haven't changed at all,' he said. 'You are still as headstrong and stubborn as you ever were, India. I am not leaving without you. Now, fetch your jewel box if you so desire. We must go as soon as your servant returns. My second mate is waiting outside, and we will escort you to the ship. We must sail immediately while we have the cover of this unexpected storm from the north.'

'My lord will come soon, and he will kill you,' India lied.

'Caynan Reis is in the mountains with Aruj Agha,' he answered. 'Do you think I should have been so foolish as to enter this palace when your husband was here? And we could not have taken back the ship if Aruj Agha was among us. Hurry now!'

They both heard the footsteps at the same time. India grew pale, but Thomas Southwood stepped behind the carved door even as it opened, and Meggie bustled into the chamber. 'I've brought your supper, my lady. Abu thought you would enjoy a nice hot soup tonight.'

'Do not scream, Meggie,' India said, taking the tray from her and setting it down on her cedar table.

The girl looked puzzled momentarily, and then her eyes widened as Thomas Southwood stepped into her line of vision. 'My lady?'

'This is my cousin. He says he has come to rescue me, Meggie. I will not go with him, of course, but if you want to, I will not stop you. I know that you, like me, fret over your mother.'

'There's nothing for me back in Scotland but me mam, and she probably thinks I am dead along with me da. It's better left that way, I'm thinking. Ian will hae wed wi Flora MacLean; and she'd make certain I was considered damaged goods. She always hated me because my Ian preferred me to her. Nay, I'll stay wi you, my lady.'

'You are both coming with me,' Thomas Southwood said, 'and I'll have no further argument from either of you.'

'If you do not leave now, Tom, I shall scream, and the guards will come,' India told him stonily.

'Why can't you listen to reason?' he demanded of her.

'Why can you not believe me when I tell you I love Caynan Reis, and I am content to remain here in El Sinut?' she countered, glaring angrily at him. 'Go, Tom! Go now!'

He turned away, and then, swinging about, suddenly hit her a blow on the chin, catching her as she collapsed to the floor. 'Come on, lassie,' he said to the shocked and wide-eyed Meggie as he moved through the open screen.

'Wait, sir! Let me get us cloaks, or we shall be soaked through with this rain, and the mistress catch her death,' Meggie pleaded.

'Hurry, lassie,' he told her.

Meggie bit her lip as she opened the trunk, drawing out two long, enveloping capes. Should she make a dash for the door, and alert the guards that this man was kidnapping the dey's wife, or should she just take the capes and follow along? This man was her mistress's blood relation. Would her lady thank her if the dey had him beheaded? It was a terrible quandary. Meggie finally decided that she didn't want anyone's death on her conscience. She put one of the capes about her own shoulders, and, bringing the other to where Thomas Southwood stood, she draped it over her unconscious mistress.

'Get a scarf, lassie,' he commanded her, and she hurried to comply. 'Don't be startled. My second mate is with me, and he'll help you.'

She followed him and his companion across the garden to the farthest wall where two thick ropes hung down. There they stopped, and Mr. James, using the silk scarf, tied India's wrists together, and then lifted her up and put her arms about Thomas Southwood's neck.

'She's dead weight, Captain. It will be harder,' he said.

'I know, Mr. James, but you heard her resisting me in her usual stubborn fashion. I had no choice but to clip her on the jaw. We could not stay any longer.' He grasped the rope, and began to pull himself slowly and with great effort up the wall.

'Put your arms about me neck, lassie,' the second mate said. 'I can make it up sooner than he can, and we can help him, eh?'

Meggie obeyed him wordlessly, and, before she knew it, the mate was shinnying up the rope like a monkey despite the burden upon his back. He made her sit atop the wall and then, reaching down, helped his captain the final few feet. The ropes were then drawn up and thrown over the street side. The descent was far easier, and Meggie found herself on the ground before she knew it. To her surprise, another man was waiting, holding three horses.

'Is m'lady all right?' he whispered nervously.

'She didn't want to come, the silly wench,' Thomas Southwood said. 'I had to hit her for her own good to bring her along.'

A rumble of thunder sounded above them, and the horses nickered and danced nervously.

'Let's get going,' Thomas Southwood said as Mr. James lifted India from his back. He mounted his animal, and, reaching down, took India up upon his horse, cradling her in his arms, drawing her hood up to keep her from getting soaked.

Next to him the other two men had mounted their horses, and Meggie was riding pillion behind Mr. James. They began their return journey to the harbor, reaching it in what seemed like a rather brief time to the young servant girl. The horses were replaced in the stables by the captain and Mr. James, while Knox carried India aboard, followed closely by Meggie. He settled them in the captain's cabin.