his half brother he had taken his captain into his confidence. They had ridden out, found Robena, and transported her to a convent, where she was incarcerated while the laird made other arrangements for his adulterous wife.
The evil bitch had murdered some poor beggar woman she had found on the moor, and was exchanging clothes with her when they had caught up with her. They had half hidden the body to decompose and be found at a later date when the laird would identify it as Robena's and the matter would end. Then the laird had installed Robena in the cottage below with the two servants he had found in Edinburgh. His master had not wanted any other of his people to know Robena still lived. He had cleverly avoided any feud with the Ramsays in this way, and only Beinn knew his secret.
It was a confidence the big captain wished he did not carry. But then he considered that was the real punishment for his sins. The darkness set in, and he stood up, no longer fearful of being seen. The lights from the cottage twinkled invitingly. He wondered who the man in the door had been. Was it Sir Udolf? He would watch for another day or two and then return to Dunglais to report to his master. He worried that if it was the Englishman he would have told Robena things it was better she not know. And if Be inn knew Robena Ramsay he knew she would be seeking revenge. The lights in the cottage began to go out but for the main room.
Sir Udolf Watteson came to stand in the door once more. His belly hurt, and he was feeling very sleepy.
'What is it, my lord?' Robena asked, coming to stand near him.
'Suddenly I am not well,' he told her. 'Was the capon fresh, madame?'
'The food was all quite fresh, my lord, and as you can see I am suffering no ill effects. Drink a bit more of your wine,' she encouraged him. 'Perhaps it will help.'
He gulped down the bit remaining in his cup and, holding it out to her, said, 'More!'
'Alas, my lord, you have had more than enough,' Robena told him. 'You drank the second pitcher all by yourself. Soon you will sleep, but it is a sleep from which you will not awaken, I fear. If you believe in God, Sir Udolf, make your peace with him now before it is too late.' And she smiled at him sweetly.
'What have you done?' he gasped.
'Killed you,' Robena replied sanguinely.
'Why? What have I done to you?'
'You poor old fool,' Robena said, rubbing his balding pate in an oddly comforting gesture. 'You have done nothing to me. But I cannot have you going to Dunglais. By telling me of my husband, his whore, and their bastards, you have done me a great service. Now I shall have the revenge on Malcolm Scott I have been seeking all these years since he incarcerated me out here on this lonely moor. I will not let you take that from me. Say your prayers, my lord, for you will be shortly dead.'
The darkness was reaching up to claim him. Sir Udolf could actually feel his heart slowing. He was overcome by a sudden weakness and fell to his knees, struggling for breath, and finding it a final time, he grated out, 'God curse you, lady!' Then he collapsed and died on her doorsill.
'Rafe! Come and bury the fellow before he begins to release his bowels and stink,' Robena Ramsay said. She yawned, and turned back into the cottage.
On his hillside Beinn had watched the pair as they stood in the door. He had been very surprised when the man had collapsed. Robena had shown no signs of distress, nor had she cried out. Instead she had turned away and disappeared back into her home. A moment later the light in her second-story chamber had flickered brightly. A shadow of another man, Rafe, came into the cottage entry. He picked up the body and threw it over his shoulder. Beinn could see the shadow of something in his other hand. A shovel?
The moon was beginning to rise over the hills, but it was not yet bright enough to light the region. Keeping to the shadows, Beinn slipped down the hill so he might more closely observe Rafe. The lack-wit shambled up a small rise near the dwelling and, laying the body down, he stripped it of boots and clothing. Then, with a foot he pushed it, and it disappeared. There was obviously a predug gave there Beinn realized as Rafe began filling it in with his shovel. Finished with his task, Rafe walked upon the grave several times in order to tamp down the earth. Then, shovel over his shoulder, he returned down the rise and went into the little barn where Beinn knew he slept with the beasts.
The Dunglais captain sat down in the heather and waited. All the lights in the cottage were now extinguished. He waited. The moon rose slowly, slowly, and then it was filling the sky. About him Beinn could see everything with clarity. He arose now and found his way to the new grave. Then he began digging with his big hands.
Once he was past the top layer than Rafe had stamped down it was easy if tedious work. He did not seek to open the whole grave. He just wished to see the face of the man who had been so unceremoniously buried there this night. Eventually he was able to make a place for himself to stand and then kneel. Carefully he pulled the earth away, going deeper and deeper into the dirt until finally his fingers reached the body. Brushing the dirt away with his hands, he was at last able to see the face of the unfortunate man. It was Sir Udolf Watteson. Beinn nodded to himself. Poor devil, he thought, and crossed himself.
Then he climbed from the grave and began filling it in again. This was more tedious work, especially without a shovel. But when the dawn came the grave could not look like it had been tampered with or suspicions would be aroused. His horse awaited him on the hillside, and when he had finished he would begin his return to Dunglais. There was no reason to remain observing the cottage any longer, and the laird should know what had transpired. Sir Udolf's lips had been a bright purple and swollen. It was obvious he had been poisoned. How many others had the bitch Robena Ramsay murdered? Were there other graves here on this little rise? He bent to smooth the last bit of earth into place, and as he did he felt a sharp pain touch the back of his head and a bright white light flashed before his eyes as his legs gave way and he fell to the earth.
When Beinn awoke once more he found himself in a small chamber upon a bed to which he seemed to be manacled hand and foot. And he was shocked to see he was completely naked. His head hurt fiercely, and he was very thirsty. As his eyes focused more clearly he saw Rafe sitting in a corner staring blankly at nothing. 'Oi!' he called out to the man. 'I need water, and undo these damned chain!'
Rafe shambled to his feet and picked up a leather water bag. He pushed the spout into Beinn's mouth so he might drink. 'Mistress says you must stay,' he told the other man. Then he grinned. 'Mistress has been wanting a fine cock for her cunny for many weeks now. She says you have a fine cock,' he chuckled.
Beinn swallowed down the water. It tasted bitter, but it was drinkable. When he had finished he pulled his head away. 'Your mistress is a murderous bitch,' he said.
'Aye,' Rafe agreed, 'she is. But she is the mistress. I will go and tell her you are awake. I'm glad I did not kill you, Beinn. The mistress is much happier to have you alive than dead. She gave me sweets as a reward.' Then he departed the chamber.
'Christ's bones!' Beinn swore softly. Somehow the lack-wit had come upon him just as he was finishing refilling the grave and hit him with something hard. He was no fool. The bitch meant to use him, and then she would kill him as she had obviously been doing to all her lovers. He tested the strength of the chains attached to the manacles about his ankles and wrists. There was no weakness in them. He had to find a way to free himself so he might defend himself. As for pleasuring her, he thought grimly, he had refused her once. What made her believe he would change his mind now?
The door to the chamber opened, and Robena stepped into the room. 'Ah, Beinn, how good of you to visit. You usually do not remain when you bring us our supplies.' Walking to the bed, she knelt down and took his cock in her hand. 'I have always wanted this,' she said. 'It is such a large weapon for a big man.' She drew the foreskin down, and then, bending her head, licked the tip of it. 'Ummm,' she purred. 'It is even tastier than I imagined, Beinn. And I see it is beginning to awaken from its slumbers even as you have. We shall have such fun together, darling.'
'I'll not fuck you, you evil bitch!' he said angrily.
'Nay, but I will fuck you, Beinn. And you will come for me, and you will sob like a lad with his first whore. And you will keep pleasuring me until I grow tired of you, darling,' Robena told him with a smile.
'The laird will come looking for me,' he warned her.
Robena laughed. 'I hope he does,' she said. 'And when he comes he will find us together in this bed. Whatever you choose to tell him, he will believe you betrayed him. My servants and I shall confirm it. I shall tell him you bedded me at Dunglais, and afterwards here each time you came. I shall swear you have been my lover for years.' She laughed cruelly. 'Do you think I have forgotten how you insulted me in that stable? I offered myself to you, and you refused me! Well, you shall not refuse me now, Beinn.'
'I do refuse you!' he snarled at her.
