Chapter Two #2
Once out of sight of the members of the hall, the queen hoisted her skirts to Marion’s shock and sprinted across the side of the palace and on toward a large, covered structure closer toward the loch, giggling as she went.
Marion had to break into a fast pace to keep her in sight at all, never mind catching up with her.
By the time she reached the structure, she was winded.
The sounds and sights that caught her eyes then pushed all thoughts of a masque and a black rider from her thoughts. Caught in the stare of a thickly maned lion who roared so loud her chest felt the vibration, Marion was transfixed by his beauty and majesty.
“Come and meet my pets,” the queen demanded with a beaming smile.
The woman appeared more like the girl she was in these moments, and Marion’s resolve to remain unmarried to an old man solidified.
She didn’t care what the family connection or gain, she would not be caught in a situation like her new friend, even if the king was a kind man who enjoyed pampering his wife.
*
Alexander watched two young women from his position near the stables that allowed the horses respite from the heat and exercise.
He did not have to guess or suppose for a moment who they were.
While he did not know the name of the red-haired lass, he did recognize the queen.
Maybe the crowd inside was dispersing and so it would be a good time for him to quietly find a goblet of ale and something to keep him going for the rest of the day.
The air was considerably cooler inside the palace versus outside. Though the air off the loch offered a slight comfort, ’twas much more comfortable inside.
Alexander found a quiet corner to sit and enjoy some of the sumptuous feast in peace, but not for long.
“There you are,” Alain said. “Everyone has been asking for you.”
“And that is precisely why I have been attempting to enjoy my repast in peace. With no help from you for drawing attention to me.”
He didn’t really mean to criticize his friend, but he’d hoped for a few more moments of quiet.
“Ahhh, you mean you are not excited to meet Lady Fraser and her daughter, Lady Cora?”
“You know I am not.”
“And what about Lady Gordon and her daughter Lady Marjorie?”
“Not interested in meeting them either.”
“Well, they are interested in meeting you, so you had better finish your food, clean the meat out of your teeth, and do your duty to your king and mingle with his guests. It appears his wife and a new friend have removed themselves from the hall, so he is being accosted by every hungry mother in the palace right now looking for you.”
Great. That’s exactly what he wanted to avoid and knowing his king as well as he did, the man’s patience for Alexander’s absence would not last long.
King James thrived on his guests intermingling, and if you were invited to a gathering of his, you were expected to be present to be entertained, but also entertain in return.
Sighing, he wiped his mouth and scraped his tongue across his teeth then bared them for Alain in a mock grimace.
“Aye, they look clean,” he said with a grin. “Now go and flatter the fillies.”
It was a cruel way to think of these young ladies.
He was sure they had plenty of fine attributes among them; however, he despised the manner in which they were paraded in front of eligible men.
Too many times he’d seen a mother tug on a lass’s neckline or worse, push her so that she would bump into him.
Nay, this was not what he would consider an enjoyable gathering.
“There you are, Argyll,” the king said. “We have been looking all over for you. Where had you gotten yourself off to?”
“I do apologize, Your Majesty. I was securing my horse. He was restless and needed some extra attention.”
“Ahh, there, you see, Lady Fraser? He has not left the palace, rather taking the time to care for his horse. A fine attribute that, don’t you think?”
Lady Fraser came forward with an outstretched hand toward Alexander, and her daughter in tow with the other. “Aye, Your Majesty, a fine attribute indeed,” she said with eyes locked on Alexander.
Politeness demanded he kiss her hand and allow her to introduce her daughter. He had to pull patience from his toes for this part of the day.
“My Lord, may I introduce my daughter, Lady Cora?” The woman shoved her daughter forward who looked equally as mortified as Alexander and, in that moment, he felt a slight bit of pity for the lass. Her eyes met his for a moment then cast down again.
“Are you enjoying the tournament?” Alexander asked her, hoping to put her at least a little at ease.
“Aye,” she whispered.
“Do not forget you address an earl,” her mother snapped at her.
“’Tis all right,” Alexander said.
“Truly, ’tis not, my lord,” Lady Fraser said. “The lass will apologize, now,” she said and pinched her daughter.
The lass jumped and squeaked and said, “I am sorry, my lord, for my rudeness. I am enjoying the tournament very much. You rode very well earlier.” With this she stood tall, and when he looked at her countenance, saw none of the earlier shyness, but rather a slight smirk on her face.
And this was the game, played over and over.
A minor infraction at the beginning of an introduction draws in his attention and concern, then they jump into the compliments, all in an attempt to ensnare him.
God in heaven, how much longer would he have to endure this farce?
Maybe it was time to just marry someone and remove himself from the market.
He envied the married men off to the side enjoying an ale and banter while he and any other untethered man in the hall had to endure this sort of madness.
He prayed that someone would come and save him from this insanity before he truly lost his mind and fell for one of them.