Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
Jamie stepped
through the back door of the tavern with the woman clinging to his
arm.
As Lindsey slipped outside, Jamie and the
woman were just disappearing beyond a bend in the street. It was an
easy matter to follow them. Lindsey soon realized that they were
deliberately keeping to back streets, where they would not be seen
by passing strangers.
They set a brisk pace, and Lindsey had no
idea where she was headed. Under cover of darkness, all the
buildings looked the same. As she followed, questions filled her
mind. Who was this woman who was determined to leave tonight? And
what was she to Jamie? Was she running from him? Is that why he was
so determined to stop her? Did he love her?
As they turned into yet another darkened
street, Lindsey paused. What she was doing was wrong. This had
started out as a lark, but she was taking it a step too far. She
had no right to intrude on Jamie MacDonald’s private life. Perhaps
he kept a mistress. Aye, it must be a mistress, for he had sounded
like a man possessed. For a moment she felt a terrible pain around
her heart. Did she really want to discover such things about him?
The answer came to her instantly. No matter what the cost, she
needed to know everything she could about Jamie MacDonald.
Still, she was intruding upon something very
private. She had no claim on Jamie. And no right to follow him on
such a personal mission.
After warring with her conscience, she
glanced up. Jamie and the woman were far ahead, nearly running in
their haste. As she studied the darkened buildings that towered
over her, she realized that she could never find her way back to
the inn. She had no choice. She must follow Jamie or be lost in
this maze, perhaps until morning.
Breaking into a run she came to the end of
the street. She looked left and right. There was no sign of Jamie
or the woman. Taking a chance, she turned left and rounded a
corner. There, slipping through a tall hedge, she spied the two
familiar figures. In the next moment, they disappeared.
Lindsey started to run. Ahead of her an
unbroken wall of tall hedge ringed a darkened building. She
searched for the opening into which Jamie and the woman had
disappeared. But all she could find were prickly brambles that tore
at her flesh and snagged at her clothes.
In the darkness she heard the sound of an
approaching horse and rider corning up behind her. From the
opposite direction another horse and rider approached. Judging by
the hoofbeats, both were traveling at high speed. She would be
trapped between them unless she found the entrance.
Frantically she reached through the brambles,
searching for escape. Suddenly, looming before her, was the
carefully concealed opening she sought. As the horses grew close,
she ducked into the narrow hole in the hedge and stepped through
onto a perfectly manicured lawn. A walkway led to stone arches,
beyond which was a heavy door.
Her palms were sweating. With great
apprehension Lindsey pulled open the door. It led to a long hallway
lit by sconces that sent eerie, flickering shadows across the
walls. She was grateful to find the hall empty. No sounds broke the
stillness. No one challenged her presence.
Following the hallway, Lindsey paused in
front of an open door that led to a cavernous room. Stepping
inside, she saw that Jamie and the woman were standing on the far
side of the room. They were speaking in low tones to someone seated
in a massive chair drawn up before the glowing coals of a fire.
Creeping closer, Lindsey strained to hear
their words.
“I dare not stay here.” The woman’s voice was
soft, with a slight French accent.
“I have brought others who are loyal.”
“Brice Campbell?”
“Nay. Brice is...” Jamie paused, unable to
speak the words. Carefully he said, “He is still fighting to
recover from the wounds inflicted in the attack.”
There was a gasp followed by a silence.
Jamie cleared his throat. His tones were low,
persuasive. “When the people hear what has happened, our numbers
will swell.”
“You do not understand, my dear friend. At
this moment I cannot even trust those closest to me. My only safety
now is in escape.”
“And what of Darnley?”
There was a slight hesitation. “For the
moment he is more afraid of my wrath than of hell itself. He will
do whatever I command.”
“Where will you go?”
“George and Will have offered me haven in
Lochleven.”
“Lochleven. God in heaven. You would travel
that treacherous route in your condition?”
“Aye. We leave now if my steed is ready.”
“Then I go with you. And this I vow,” Jamie
said fervently, falling on his knees and lifting a small hand to
his lips. “I will not leave your side until all those who dare to
threaten you are lying in their own blood and you are once more
safely ensconced upon the throne at Holyroodhouse.”
At his words Lindsey’s legs seemed unable to
support her. She sank to her knees as the realization dawned. This
was not the home of his mistress or a friend. This was indeed the
queen’s fortress. And the figure seated before the fire was Mary,
Queen of Scots.
* * *
Lindsey struggled to shake off the
light-headedness that seemed to grip her. She had never before
fainted. Nor would she permit such a weakness now. But there was no
denying that she was confused.
She remained kneeling on the cold floor and
watched as three women crossed the room and bowed before the queen.
All three were weeping and wringing their hands.
“I implore you, Majesty. Do not attempt to
ride in your condition.”
“Stay here with us, where you will be well
tended.”
“My dear Maries.” The queen kissed each
woman, then caught their hands.
Lindsey knew then that these were three of
the queen’s maidservants, all of whom were named Mary. And the
woman at the tavern must have been the fourth, also named Mary.
Lindsey studied them, recalling the stories
she had learned at her mother’s knee. Mary Fleming, Mary Seton,
Mary Beaton and Mary Livingston had been the queen’s best friends
since childhood. The five were inseparable.
“You must let us accompany you, Majesty.”
“Nay.”
At their chorus of cries the queen added,
“This I must do alone.”
“How will you survive without us?”
There was a long, drawn-out sigh before the
queen responded, “I know not. But survive I must.”
“But why Lochleven? Surely if the people
knew, they would rise up and slay those who would threaten you with
harm.”
“Aye. The people love me. But their minds
have been clouded by Knox. And he has been fed lies by my enemies.
For now, I must depend upon my own wiles.” The queen’s tone
mirrored her sadness. “But know that one day soon they will hear
the truth, and they will take up arms against those who spread lies
against me.”
“I pray that day is soon,” one of the women
responded. “Aye.” The queen kissed her friends, and they fell into
her arms with sobs and fresh tears.
“I will see that your steed is ready,” Jamie
said, leaving them alone for a final goodbye. “Then I will return
to escort you to the courtyard, Majesty.”
Lindsey watched as he strode from the room.
She wanted desperately to go after him and explain what she had
done. But there were too many in the room now. She was terrified of
being discovered by the queen’s staff. And so she continued to
kneel in the shadows and watch and listen.
The women around the queen were openly
weeping. “You will have neither maid nor trunk, Majesty.”
“I will have my life, and my Faith. And my
wits about me.”
“Would that I had your courage.”
“Hush,” the queen whispered. “We must all be
brave.” She turned when a tall, handsome man entered the room. To
her maids she said, “Leave me now. I wish to be alone with my
husband.”
The women embraced, then hurried from the
room, leaving the queen to face the man.
“What madness are you planning now,
madame?”
“Yours was the madness. My thoughts are quite
clear. I ride to a place of safety. You may stay or go with me. The
decision is yours.”
“You know I cannot stay without you.”
“Why? Would your loyal men decide that you
are no longer of any use to them, and do to you what they did to
poor Riccio?”
“You cannot believe that I had anything to do
with that.”
“I know only this. I leave now. If I leave
alone, I will return to rule alone.”
With a hiss of anger the man turned on his
heel and stormed from the room, leaving the queen standing before
the fire with head bowed.
Lindsey knew this was her only chance to
escape with her dignity intact. Scrambling to her feet she rushed
to the door, then halted in mid-stride at the sound of the queen’s
voice.
“Ah. So my steed awaits me. Come here,
lad.”
On trembling legs Lindsey turned and
approached the queen. She was a small woman, no taller than
Lindsey. Up close, the tears that still dampened her lashes were
clearly visible.
“I will need that cloak,” Mary said
imperiously, pointing to an elegant, ermine-lined cloak draped over
a chaise.
Lindsey lifted the cloak over the queen’s
shoulders. Though the monarch was heavy with child, the garment
masked her size.
The queen turned and studied the room, as if
memorizing every detail. Her gaze fell on a portrait hanging over
the mantel. It was of a beautiful woman with proud, haughty
features. As Lindsey studied the portrait, she saw a resemblance to
the young queen.
“I give you my word, Mother,” the Queen
whispered, “I will not bring shame upon our name.”
Lifting her head proudly, she placed her hand
on Lindsey’s arm and strode beside her out the door and down the
long hall. At the rear of the castle a door stood ajar. Beyond was
a small, paved courtyard where Jamie stood holding the reins to a
horse. The hooded, caped figure of the queen’s husband was astride
another horse.
“I was just coming to fetch you, Majesty,”
Jamie said as the queen approached.
“The groom brought me. Is all in
readiness?”
“Aye.” Jamie’s eyes narrowed on the slender