Chapter Four
She would have much preferred to stroll through the market with the earl, however, she was well aware her uncle would never allow that. And truly her parents wouldn’t either.
“You appear to have befriended the queen rather quickly,” he said in her ear. His words were spoken quickly and in a sharp tone.
“I thought that was why I was here, to become one of her ladies and serve her,” Agnes said quietly and couldn’t help feeling a little defensive.
“You will remember what I told you and why you are here or else.”
Agnes didn’t want to know what else, but she would take every advantage to spend more time with the queen than her uncle.
Once outside she tried to focus more on the items on display than her uncle whose coldness seeped into her heart.
He was not here to help her find a suitable match.
He had his own agenda, and, for the life of her, she was certain it had to do with those mundane stories he’d told her on their travels.
She could kick herself now for not paying closer attention.
“One turn about the market and then you will take your leave and retire for the evening.”
“That is not my decision to make, Uncle. The queen will dismiss me when she is no longer in need of my company.”
Agnes had just met the woman and had spent a lovely meal with her. She liked Queen Margaret very much and could see them becoming good friends. She was not about to toss that out the window because of her uncle’s opinions.
“You will do as you are told and I don’t care what kind of lie you make up, but you will make your excuses when I tell you.” He jabbed a finger into her side which hurt!
Unease crept into Agnes’ belly. What did he want from her?
“I understand, Uncle,” she said in a small voice.
“And if you disagree with me again, I will remove you from here and make it so that your parents never allow you to leave Grinigoe again.”
Agnes gasped. He was bent on keeping her under his thumb and she was sure if her parents knew they would never have allowed him to escort her. But she would not be coerced into doing anything that went against her nature. Whatever it was he was up to, she would not be a part of it.
They moved about the market and when Agnes stopped too long at a booth, her uncle nudged her to move on. By the end of the tour, she’d only bought a couple of items though she had desperately wanted to explore more.
She was also ever aware of the earl’s presence behind them, as though he watched their every move.
Did he suspect something? He would have to know she would never allow herself to be caught up in anything wicked.
She didn’t want anyone to think ill of her.
But would they by association, if they thought her uncle could not be trusted?
The sun had set and tall torches lit the courtyard so bright it was as though the sun was still high in the sky. When the king and queen approached, the earl stepped toward her and offered his arm.
“My lady, would you kindly watch the fireworks display with me? I am certain your uncle will allow this simple delight and my assurance that you will be perfectly safe with me and Their Majesties.”
Before her uncle could interrupt, she took his arm and said, “I would be honored, my lord. Thank you for your invitation.”
“Sir, you are welcome to sit with the other gentry to the side of the courtyard within sight of us.”
Thankfully her uncle did not protest and turned to stand with the rest of the crowd but not before he shot her a hard look that held all the promise of consequences.
Bile rose in her throat. This was not a situation with which she was accustomed.
She truly didn’t know what she should do.
Could she trust the earl? She didn’t know him or anything about him.
Nor did she know the queen well enough to unburden herself.
She would have to keep her wits about her around her uncle and around the earl for vastly different reasons.
When they were away from her uncle the earl said, “Are you unwell, Lady Agnes? It appears that something is troubling you.”
Was he a mind reader? She’d been convinced earlier he’d stared into her soul, but had that given him access to her thoughts somehow?
“I am well, my lord, and thank you for offering to sit with me. My uncle does not offer stimulating conversation, and I fear does not easily converse with young women who are enamored with their first visit to court.”
It wasn’t a complete lie, but it was also far from the truth of the matter.
He smiled at her and her breath caught again. By God, he was a beautiful man with those unusual eyes and deep dimples on his tanned face. His teeth were perfectly straight, and he wore a light but neatly trimmed beard. His face was surely crafted by the angels.
They took their seats near the king and queen just before the first of the fireworks exploded in the sky above them. She jumped and a little squeal escaped from her before she could stop herself.
She knew what fireworks were but had never experienced them and she was in awe that something so beautiful had been dreamed up.
After a few explosions she noticed him staring at her again.
“Is aught amiss, my lord?” she asked with a sneaking suspicion he wanted to ask her something and she was keenly aware again of the silk chemise caressing her body.
“I am enjoying your company, Lady Agnes.”
Convinced that was not at all what he wanted to say, she would accept it and turned her attention back to the festivities before her.
For the next couple of hours, she tried to enjoy herself and the small conversation passing between them, but kept seeing her uncle in the crowd glaring at her. She had no intention of being alone in his company at any point this evening so tried to devise a way to get to her chamber without him.
She didn’t have to wait long.
From the side of the crowd, Fin walked directly toward her and offered his arm. “My lady, the queen bids you good evening and insists I escort you to your chamber. She has retired already and will see you at the morning meal in her apartment.”
Agnes turned to the earl. “I thank you, my lord, for a lovely evening and for your company.”
If he could read her mind, he would know that he’d in a way saved her from a terrible evening with her uncle or by herself in her chamber.
“You are most welcome, Lady Agnes. I will ensure your uncle finds his way to his chamber as well so you need not worry about him.”
He was a mind reader!
Agnes took Fin’s arm and curtseyed to the earl who offered a deep bow. With one last look at him, she turned and nearly bumped into Fin who was standing directly in front of her.
“I will escort my niece to her chamber.”
Agnes jumped at his voice and held Fin’s arm tighter when she felt a whoosh of air as the earl stepped around her and to Fin’s side completely barring her from seeing her uncle.
“On her majesty the queen’s orders, Fin will escort the lady to her chamber.”
In a low voice that was just above a whisper, her uncle said, “She is not my queen.”
The words were such a shock to her she was almost sure she had not heard them. A couple of finger snaps later and they were surrounded by the king’s guard.
Agnes couldn’t glean what was happening.
One minute she was enjoying the company of the most enigmatic man she’d ever met and the next she was surrounded by guards and what?
Would they throw her into the oubliette alongside her uncle?
Those were his words and not how she felt at all.
How did what was supposed to be her big adventure turn into such a mess?
“Fin, escort the lady to her chamber and post a guard outside.” To one of the guards he said, “Detain this man until the king is ready to interrogate him. And have his chamber searched.”
Without a glance in her direction or another word to her, he left the courtyard without a look back. When Fin finally turned to her, and she could see around him, her uncle was nowhere in sight.
“Are you well, Lady Agnes?”
“I—I do not know,” she said. And she didn’t know what to make of any of it.
“Come, my lady, I must see you securely to your chamber.”
The jovial Fin from earlier was quiet and somber now and spoke no words to her as he opened the door for her to pass and then came the distinct click of the lock from the outside. She might not be detained like her uncle, but she was left in no doubt, she was not free to leave.
*
With John Sinclair securely in a prison cell and heavily guarded, William and two guards searched his chamber.
In his saddle bag they discovered missives to other Highland chiefs who believed as John had, that the current king did not deserve to sit upon the throne and that the rightful king was his father.
William’s heart sank when he read the words, ‘We will right this wrong. Loyalty is everything!’
The king had been right, and his intelligence had been sound. Now many questions emerged. Who were these others included in this plot? Was the king at risk alone or did they intend to share his fate with the queen? How much of this involved Lady Agnes?
He handed the missives to the guard. “Give these to the king and search the guest lists for any names included here. I don’t care if they are third cousins twice removed, if any names on here are within these castle walls, the king will want them detained.”
He was comfortable enough with the king’s wishes to give these orders without question so from that chamber he went into his own. Nothing would happen this eve, so the best thing he could do now was to rest if he could and prepare for a long day tomorrow.
William stripped down to his trews and lay on top of the bed with his hands behind his head staring up at the canopy.