Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
“So Lindsey, you
have decided to join the living.” The queen looked up with pleasure
when Lindsey entered the refectory on Jamie’s arm.
“Aye, Majesty. I have been pampered too
long.”
Fresh from her bath, Lindsey looked radiant
in a gown of emerald satin. Her long hair had been brushed to one
side and allowed to fall over her shoulder where it spilled across
her breast.
Though her wounded hand was healing nicely,
Jamie had insisted that she wear a clean linen dressing on it.
When they reached the table, Jamie held her
chair. “Everyone has been so kind,” Lindsey said as she took her
seat.
“We were all very concerned.”
Mary signaled the housekeeper, who, having
been warned to dispense with the formalities, began to serve their
plates as soon as they were all seated. “To think there was a
villain hiding out on our island. My lord MacDonald said you fought
bravely.” The queen regarded Lindsey closely as she bit into the
roast duck.
“I do not know how bravely. I know only that
I fought with desperation.”
“You are too modest. It is fortunate that you
knew how to fight. I would have been at his mercy,” the queen said
thoughtfully.
The others at the table grew silent. That
thought had crossed their minds.
“How is it that you chose such a late hour to
go riding?” Mary pinned Lindsey with a direct look.
Lindsey swallowed. She had anticipated the
question. And she had prepared herself for the queen’s wrath when
she answered truthfully.
“I was planning to return to Edinburgh,
Majesty.”
“Against my orders?”
“Aye, Majesty.”
“For what purpose?”
“To calm my father’s fears. I knew he would
be shattered by my absence.”
“You would risk your queen’s safety by
revealing our location?”
“Nay, Majesty. I would die rather than do
such a vile thing. It was my intention only to allay my father’s
fears. I would not have told him where you were. I would have my
tongue cut out before I would place you in harm’s way.”
The queen studied her bowed head for several
moments before saying softly, “Your father must have a very tender
heart, my lady, that you would risk even the queen’s wrath.”
“Aye, Majesty.” Jamie felt the unexpected
need to come to Lindsey’s defense. He knew how the lass must be
suffering. “He has a most tender heart where his daughter is
concerned.”
“She seems to have that effect on other men,
as well.”
Jamie clamped his mouth shut at the queen’s
knowing look, and they all fell silent until they finished their
meal. No one, it seemed, had much appetite for Mistress Macnab’s
fine cooking.
“I would retire to the withdrawing room,” the
queen announced.
Taking Lord Darnley’s arm, she led the way,
with Jamie and Lindsey following.
In the cozy room, Fergus stoked the fire,
then offered goblets of wine before departing.
A moment later Mistress Macnab bowed her way
into the room.
“Forgive the interruption, Majesty, but I
have a message for Lord MacDonald.”
Jamie excused himself and followed the
housekeeper from the room.
Mary, resplendent in a scarlet gown, reclined
on a chaise pulled before the fire. Lindsey steeled herself against
the queen’s anger, which she was certain would spill over at any
moment.
“My lord MacDonald was most solicitous when
you were wounded, my lady.” Mary’s lips curved up in a hint of a
smile. “Mistress Macnab informed me that he was like a wounded bear
when he arrived at the castle with you in his arms. He shouted
orders to everyone before locking himself away with you in your
chambers.”
Lindsey felt the color rise to her cheeks.
“He was very kind to me during my distress.”
“He was much more than kind. He behaved like
a man possessed. He would not permit Mistress Macnab or her family
to tend to your needs.”
“But my clothes were...” Lindsey stopped,
appalled at the thoughts that leaped to her mind. It was obvious
that she had been stripped of her torn and tattered stable boy’s
clothes and dressed in a fine night shift. She had supposed that
Mistress Macnab or Sabina had seen to such intimate care.
“Jamie insisted upon doing everything
himself. And when I visited him in your sleeping chamber...” Mary
saw the look of surprise on Lindsey’s face and said coyly, “Aye, I
wanted to see for myself how you were mending.” She fixed Lindsey
with a narrow gaze. “Jamie looked to be the one who had engaged in
battle. His eyes were red-rimmed, his chin covered with stubble. He
had not even bothered to dress himself. His only thought, my lady,
was for your well-being.”
Lindsey wondered if the turmoil she felt at
the queen’s words could be seen in her eyes. “I am—grateful, of
course, for his concern.”
“Come here, Lindsey. Sit by my side.”
The queen patted the chaise. Lindsey
hesitated, then hurried across the room to sit beside her. Mary
seemed to be studying her very carefully.
“I have known Jamie MacDonald for many years.
There are few men for whom I have such admiration.” Mary’s voice
lowered, and she glanced to where Darnley stood, filling his
tankard.
“Jamie MacDonald is a rare breed. His loyalty
is absolute. His strength is boundless. His word is true. I have
seen many women at court vie for his attention.”
She smiled at the little frown line that
appeared between Lindsey’s brows. So, the lady was not as immune to
his charms as she would pretend.
“But his is not a fickle heart. His interest
does not lie in silly flirtations or cheap liaisons. I have always
known that once Jamie gave his heart to a woman, it would be
forever.”
Lindsey lowered her head and said nothing.
But the words the queen had just spoken had her mind awhirl.
She looked up when Jamie returned. Though he
was silent, there was an odd, satisfied look on his face. Lindsey
saw him exchange glances with the queen.
A minute later Fergus Macnab entered with a
bow and announced, “Majesty, your guests have arrived. Shall I
announce them?”
Guests? Lindsey was mystified. Had they not
all gone to great lengths to see that no one knew where they were?
Why then would the queen invite guests to Lochleven?
She turned toward the door with a puzzled
frown.
“Majesty,” Fergus said in his most
authoritative tone, “may I present my lord Douglas Gordon and his
sons Murray, Donald, Robert and Neal. And my lord Ian
MacPherson.”
It took Lindsey a full minute to comprehend
what Fergus had just announced. As the truth dawned, she got to her
feet and brought her hands to her mouth. Bowing before their queen
were her father and brothers and Ian. All were clad in their finest
breeches and tunics, with their traveling cloaks still tossed
rakishly over their shoulders.
They continued to kneel for several moments
while the queen spoke in whispers to each of them. When at last
Mary commanded them to rise, their beaming faces told Lindsey
everything she needed to know.
“Father.” With tears streaming down her
cheeks, Lindsey launched herself into her father’s arms.
His eyes were moist as he drew her close and
kissed the top of her head.
“So, lass. Another adventure?” he murmured as
he held her a little away and studied her face.
“Aye. But it is so much better now that you
are here to share it.”
He caught her bandaged hand and brought it to
his lips. “You are wounded.”
“Nay. A small cut. It is nothing.” She
snatched it away and, eager to distract him, turned toward her
brothers. “Murray.”
The eldest wrapped her in his big arms and
nearly smothered her in his warm embrace. Then, embarrassed by his
show of affection, he quickly released her.
Donald lifted her high in the air and swung
her around until she laughingly ordered him to put her down.
“I missed you,” he shouted.
“And I missed you. You must tell me later all
about your adventures with the lasses in Edinburgh.”
“Aye.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “If
you will tell me about yours with the Heartless MacDonald.”
Lindsey was shocked. “You are mistaken. I am
here at the command of the queen.”
“Aye, Lindsey. And the fact that Jamie
MacDonald is here has nothing at all to do with it.”
Ignoring his taunts, Lindsey turned to
Robbie’s outstretched arms. The golden-haired lad drew her close
and kissed her cheek.
“You had us half-crazed with worry,” he
whispered.
“Forgive me. But you can see that I am
fine.”
“Aye.” Robbie stared deeply into her eyes
until she felt her cheeks grow hot. “I can see that you are more
than fine. You look... you look more a woman than the lass who left
the Highlands for a wee journey to Edinburgh.”
She flushed and turned away from his scrutiny
to her youngest brother. “Neal. I have missed you so.”
He gave her an awkward embrace. “I missed
you, too, Lindsey.” He patted her shoulder in a clumsy gesture of
affection and gave her a quick, hard kiss, then drew away,
embarrassed at the film that misted his eyes.
The queen watched their warm reunion with
great interest. This love and easy affection was something she was
determined to give the babe she carried.
From across the room Jamie watched as Ian
separated himself from the others and caught Lindsey’s hand. He
gave her a long, lingering look before lifting her hand to his
lips. “So, my lady. It seems we are fated to be together
again.”
Lindsey gave him a warm smile. “So it would
seem.”
Ian continued to hold her hand. Jamie’s frown
deepened.
“We all grieved your unexpected departure, my
lady. And I, for one, was prepared to ride to the ends of the earth
to find you.”
“I am grateful for your concern, Ian.” She
withdrew her hand and turned to include her family. “And I deeply
regret the unhappiness I caused all of you.”
“We are together now,” Douglas said, opening
his arms to his daughter. “And Jamie’s message that you were safe
with him allayed all our fears.”
“Message?”
“Aye. He dispatched Justin MacLeod to tell us
that you were in the queen’s company.”
Lindsey glanced at Jamie with a look of