Chapter Two
Agnes couldn’t help but grin as she poked her head out of the carriage window to feast her eyes on Stirling Castle in the distance.
To say her journey with her uncle had been strange was an understatement.
Instead of telling her all about the gentry, he spent more time giving her a history lesson about the previous king and how the current one had betrayed him over some such thing.
Most of the time she tuned him out when he’d go on and on about loyalty.
Och, she was more interested in the ladies’ fashions and who was expected to court whom.
Now with the castle in sight, a small knot formed in her stomach as she did not feel prepared at all for what was before her.
She was well aware of the basics, but not knowing how many other ladies would attend the queen or from whence they hailed was disconcerting.
“Remember what I told you,” her uncle said riding up alongside the carriage.
He’d told her many things, most of which she considered useless. “Aye, Uncle, I remember.” No, she didn’t.
“Agnes, ’tis imperative you remember everything I said. Do you vow it?”
She couldn’t tell if he really expected her to recall all the things he’d said over the last several days while she was trying to enjoy her journey and grow some excitement for the adventure before her.
“Say it with me one time.”
Say what?
“Loyalty is everything,” he said.
She recalled then. Something he’d said last eve at the inn where they stayed near Inverness.
Your actions will always reveal where your loyalties lie.
Loyalty is everything. It was some kind of motto for these men he kept mentioning.
The knot in her stomach grew and not because of any concern she had for meeting new people or what fashion they might prefer.
“Say it.” His words drew her back to the present. His eyes narrowed and his mouth drew into a thin line. He glared at her hard in a way no one in her life ever had. Hair prickled at her nape.
She blinked at him a couple times then whispered, “Loyalty is everything.”
The words were dirty in her mouth, yet she did not have a reason for why they felt wrong. There was something about the way his mouth curled when she said them that made her want to turn the carriage around and return to Grinigoe Castle.
But she would not let her uncle take away her first memories of Stirling Castle and her introduction to the king and queen.
As the carriage drew to a halt, a footman quickly opened her door and offered his hand to assist.
The moment her foot touched ground, another man stepped up to offer her his arm. “Lady Agnes,” he said. “My name is Fin and I am the chamberlain here at Stirling Castle.” His smile was warm and kind. “I trust your journey was uneventful.”
“I will escort Lady Agnes to her chamber,” her uncle interjected and held out his arm in an expectant way.
“That is very kind, sir, but the king himself insisted I see to Lady Agnes’s every comfort as she prepares to meet Her Majesty.”
“’Tis all well, Uncle,” Anges said with as much of a comforting tone as she could muster. “I am certain the king knows what is best for his guests.”
“Your usher will be here momentarily and will see to your every comfort as well, sir,” Fin said.
“My chamber is adjacent to my niece, I expect?”
“Lady Agnes’s chamber is near the queen’s apartment along with the other ladies in waiting. I have prepared you comfortable accommodations in the men’s wing,” he said and then raised his hand to urge someone their way.
“Archie, see to it that Laird Sinclair is situated in the chamber we have set aside for him.”
Archie appeared wide eyed and shook his head ever so slightly it was easy to miss if one were not paying attention.
“’Tis the one near Montrose,” Fin offered and then to her uncle, he said, “Archie will see to your every need and will advise you of activities and mealtimes. There is already a copper tub in your chamber, and you may request to have it filled at any time.”
Fin then bowed to her uncle with a little bit of a flourish clearly indicating dismissal.
Did Fin know her uncle and dislike him? There appeared a hint of something that made her more valuable than him.
Or was that just the way of things based on her status versus his?
Sure he was still considered gentry, but with no formal title, though plenty of his own land, he was seen as lesser somehow.
She didn’t quite comprehend the inner workings of it all, but she knew enough that some people were treated differently depending on their name.
John owned untitled lands, making him a laird and allowing him to engage freely with gentry and nobility alike. But she didn’t miss the underlying implication in this greeting.
Once her uncle left with Archie, Fin turned to her. “Now, Lady Agnes, let me have a good look at you.” He sized her up and down and nodded. “My lady, you’re a fair one for a catch, to be sure. I think plenty heads will turn at your entrance at tomorrow’s ball.”
“Thank you, Fin. I admit, I am a wee bit out of my element here. We don’t hold festivities quite this elaborate.”
She looked around them. The inner courtyard was filled with what could be described as a market, but ’twas like none she’d ever encountered.
The entire perimeter was filled with carts topped with fabrics and jewelry and pies and so many pastries her stomach growled loudly, though no one would hear with all the activity.
Musicians played lively tunes and ladies wearing hundreds of beads danced around them.
All her senses were on alert to the colors and textures and aromas enveloping her.
“There will be plenty of time to explore the market, later,” Fin said beside her. “For now, let me show you to your chamber so you can rest up and pick out your gown to meet the queen at the evening meal.”
“Will my chest be brought up this quickly?”
“Not quite,” he said and grinned.
When he didn’t offer any further detail, she didn’t ask.
If there was a surprise waiting for her, she didn’t want to ruin it.
She was certain of two things at that moment: She was grateful for the respite from her uncle, and she liked Fin.
He was kind and funny, and something deep within her told her to trust him.
She couldn’t say the same about Uncle John.
They passed through the guest portion of the castle set aside for accommodations and on toward a separate wing Fin described as the king and queen’s apartment.
Within was her chamber along with the other five ladies with whom she would be responsible to entertain the queen and keep her company at times when the king was occupied with other duties or interests.
“But truth be told, his interest of late is very much all about her,” Fin said with the side of his hand almost covering his mouth.
“And that’s a good thing, aye? That they are in love. They are supposed to be, are they not?”
“Lady Agnes, you will soon learn that love stories are not always possible among the elite at the king’s court.”
Well, that was disappointing to hear.
“Oh, but not for you, Lady Agnes. I am certain you will find a perfect match.”
His words were kind as was his expression, making it seem sincere, but somehow it appeared there was so much more he could tell her. Should she ask about the gentry? Would that be inappropriate considering she should know all about them?
“Now here we are, my lady,” Fin said and opened the door wide. With a broad sweep of his hand he said, “This will be your chamber for the next several weeks. What do you think?”
What she thought was that her own bedchamber was a fishing stage compared to this one.
Bright colorful tapestries adorned the walls in hues of the sky and of a stormy sea.
Here and there pops of bright yellow and orange caught her eye until finally she spied the largest bed she’d ever seen with four thick pale wooden posts and a shiny blue cap.
She resisted the urge to throw herself upon it.
“I can see you approve. In here,” he said leading her to a side chamber with a copper tub lined with sheets of linen and a long table and bench.
On the table were various vials in all shapes and sizes with many different colors and apparent textures; some were thick and pink, others were watery and purple.
She could imagine the baths she would take here.
“Her Majesty enjoys being pampered and expects the same for her ladies.”
“Fin?”
“Aye, Lady Agnes?”
“What is she like?”
“The queen?”
“Aye, no one would tell me anything about her.”
“She is one year younger than you, and rather clever with a charming sense of humor. I believe you both will get along quite well.”
“I do hope so. And I think I would like to consider you a friend as well.”
“While it is unusual for one of the queen’s ladies to befriend a member of household staff, I confess,” he said with a grin, “I like you already.”
Fin was a tall, thin man with his hair tied neatly at his nape and his clothing impeccably precise.
She could see him being an excellent older brother.
Though she was not attracted to him, she could see anyone being drawn to his kindness and the little hint of mischievousness that hid just under the surface.
At least in this half-mad situation in which she found herself, she had one friend.
*
William listened to the king’s words with near disbelief. He supposed anything was possible, but after all this time?
“You are certain?” William asked again.
“Do you doubt your king’s intelligence?”
“Put that way, no, Your Majesty. But it’s been so long since we’ve heard from any of them.”
“Aye, it has, and now they have a plan to make sure their voices are heard loud and clear.”
“I just don’t understand why now,” William said, shaking his head and leaning back in his chair. They had been talking for a while before the king revealed his concerns. It was likely now he was not sure who to trust.
“Were you given names?”
“Aye, one we are fairly certain is involved and with him one who plans to attend my wife.”
“And who is that?”
“Lady Agnes Sinclair. I’d received a missive from her father some months ago and upon speaking with my wife finally convinced her to keep a set of ladies for company and she agreed.
Once word spread, other noble houses offered their kin to add to the entourage.
As of now with Lady Agnes’s arrival, the queen will have that one attend her and the rest in the coming days. ”
“Can’t you just send her back?” He didn’t quite mean to blurt the words, but did it make sense to keep the lady close and allow her access to the queen?
“My Lord Montrose, nothing in our world is quite that simple, which is why I’ve asked to speak with you.
I have placed her uncle in the chamber adjacent to yours.
He is a cunning man with lands but no title, by my design because of his rumored affiliation with those who still support my father.
I do not know to what extent she is involved, or even he for that matter.
I would like you to get to know them both and see what you can glean.
I have other avenues at play as well, so if you are not up to the task, I will be disappointed, but I will understand.
I know her parents are loyal to the crown, and I do not wish to risk damaging that relationship as they represent my interests in the north. So you see, ’tis delicate.”
Delicate indeed when one is expected to sniff out a potential traitor in the form of an unmarried lady or a lesser laird. The latter could rarely be trusted.
“Your Majesty, I will of course do as you have bid, as always. And I will be discreet. I am not familiar with that family so an introduction would be required.”
“I can offer assurance of that at this evening’s meal. I will ensure you are seated together. I thank you, Montrose, for your continued loyalty to me and my family.”
“You will always have it, Your Majesty, until I draw my last breath.”
With that, the king dismissed William to his chamber to await the evening meal.
He paced behind the closed door and wondered if this John Sinclair was next door at that moment plotting and scheming.
Not thinking he’d hear anything, he placed his ear to the stone wall.
Castles were notorious for cracks through which sounds could carry, but alas there was nothing.
Without any other option, and since the evening meal was hours away, William took himself off to explore the market and to distract himself from the growing worry about the level of threat the king faced.
Were there other spies about plotting with Sinclair and his traitorous niece?
What would he say when he met them? Did he possess the qualities needed to hold his tongue if aught was revealed to him? He hoped so.