The trip back from Paris, left Therese with the first chance to understand what her freedom was. She sat in the carriage happily smiling, looking out at the countryside passing by and began to realize what Leon St. Gilbert's hanging truly meant to her. Her life was now free of danger, no more did she have to worry about being killed, no more did she have to worry about losing her beloved Chateau and estate and no longer did she have to dread spending her life with Douglas Wallace, fourth Earl of Huntly.
She was more than thrilled to actually meet Princess Marie, who presented her with her title and charter. Her afternoon with her was the highlight of the entire event. To know that her seal of approval was still in effect gave her heart more than enough peace to know all would be well.
She held the charter, declaring her title and possession to Chateau de Trecesson in her hands and felt the comfort of the words written on it. The air smelled sweeter now, than the ride into Paris, the sky bluer and the sun shone brighter. The more she thought about her life now, the more it seemed a dream come true. Her smile never seemed so full on her face, as she touched her cheeks and felt the delight in being alive, truly alive.
The carriage turned onto the bridge over the moat and Therese waved to the men guarding the entrance. The men saluted her at attention, performing it in perfect unison, yet smiles were seen on their faces. The whole of Trecesson was jubilant at Therese's success. The carriage pulled to the entrance of the hall and stopped. Giles, the head of staff for as long as Therese could remember, came and helped her alight from the carriage.
"Welcome back, Lady Therese." his smile prominent, as he bowed to her.
"Oh Giles, it is good to be back. I have missed this wonderful place and all of you. I am going to change and go for a ride and see the estate. Please have Estelle made ready and I will be back shortly. Merci, Giles." Therese found it hard to command her people, and treated them more as her family members.
"As you wish Lady Therese, it will be my pleasure."
Giles bowed in his most gracious manner, as Therese hurried inside to change. As she disrobed, she caught her reflection in the full-length dressing mirror. There, just starting to fade was the outline of the bull's head on her calf. She stopped and placed her fingers to her lips and gently touched them to it. Therese could feel her heart fluttering at the thought of being with Garreth MacLeod, being his wife and bearing his children.
She dressed in her bright, green riding dress and matching wide-brimmed hat, wanting to make sure she wasn't exposed too much to the hot sun. She checked herself in the mirror once more and walked briskly back outside. Giles was standing ready with Estelle, her light, brown mare, as she came over to them. She patted her muzzle and cooed to her softly, enjoying the closeness to her. Estelle snorted softly and nuzzled against her, enjoying her Mistress' presence again.
"She's missed you M'Lady. She's longed for you to be riding with her again." Giles informed her, as he helped her mount up.
Therese brushed the well-groomed coat of Estelle's neck with her hand and loved the feeling of the strength in muscle, but truly enjoyed her gentle nature. She climbed the short booster stairs and sat upon her sidesaddle, horse and rider enjoying the feel of each other again.
"I'll be back for a meal around dusk, Giles. Have the staff meet in the hall at that time. I wish to speak to everyone and let them know of the plans I have been thinking of." Therese told him and as he bowed his head to her, she started off out the courtyard.
She turned left and rode along the road, back the way she had come, wanting to see the how the vineyards were doing this year, the vinegars and oils being a large portion of her income. Estelle cantered along the road, taking Therese along familiar routes, knowing the way without being led.
The galley had landed early that morning and the two lieutenants made their way into St Brieuc. They purchased horses at the livery, as well as directions to Campeneac, their mission for the Earl underway. They followed the route towards their destination, unable to stop looking at the splendour of France. For all its beauty though, they were focused on what they had to do.
As Therese rode north towards Mauron, on her way to the next vineyard, the lieutenants were just just making their way past it, riding on the same road towards her. Therese stopped, when she saw Pierre St Germain, the head of the vineyard, coming out of the fields. While she talked to him about how the crops were doing this year, the two lieutenants passed her.
The one soldier closest to her, recognized her and turned to his partner, to let him know they had just passed her. They rode on a bit further and rounded a bend in the road and stopped, as soon as they were out of sight. They kept an eye on her to see where she went to afterwards. Their goal was to get her, with no knowledge she had been taken. With the time then being late afternoon, this would make their escape with her easier, under the cover of night.
Therese bid Pierre a farewell and started off up the road again. The two soldiers waited until Pierre was back in the fields again, before riding back past him. They stayed behind Therese, just out of ear-shot, waiting until they were away from anyone seeing them. As they neared the village of Mauron again, they knew the road and the route to get back to the galley. Up ahead was a grove of oak trees lining the road, providing a perfect place to grab her unseen.
They urged their horses to a gallop and were upon in her in a minute. Therese was unaware of their approach, as she looked ahead and day-dreamed of her new plans for the estate. They came up on either side of her, as the one on her riding side caught her attention, the other took the reins from her hands and broke them into a full gallop again.
With no way to stop them, she clung to Estelle and started to scream out in terror, the memory of her prior attack still vividly fresh in her memory. With the need to be as quiet as they could about their kidnapping, the soldier holding the reins, reined back and stopped them. Without anymore thought than the need for silence, the other drew his dirk and used the heel of it to club Therese hard over the back of her head, her screams ending immediately.
Therese fell forward and the other soldier caught her and pulled her face first over his legs and held her.
"William, are ye mad? The Earl will ha'e yer head fer this. She was'ne tae be harmed." his face a mix of anger and worry.
"And what are we supposed tae do, John, ride back tae the galley wi' her screaming like that?" he said back with indifference to his worries.
John thought about it momentarily and shrugged his shoulders, knowing there wasn't any other choice to be made. They started off again, taking as much care to avoid being spotted by anyone. The setting sun cast long shadows over the landscape, a beam made it through the trees and illuminated the bright green riding hat laying on the road.
Estelle stayed with the other horses, keeping as close to Therese as she could. The soldiers broke her away from them, beating and kicking at her, as she bit back at them. Estelle stopped and stood in the road, looking at her Mistress disappearing over a rise, the slowly turned and trotted back towards the chateau, a route she knew all too well.
As night was approaching, the gates at Trecesson opened and a riderless Estelle trotted back in and stood by the stable, stamping her hoof on the ground. The livery hand rushed across the courtyard and yelled into the chateau's large hall for Giles. Hearing his approach, he relayed what had happened. They both came out to see Estelle in a frantic state, clearly in distress about something. Giles hurried to her and with a gentle knowing hand, calmed her enough to stand still.
