Chapter 17 #2
astonishment. This was one more kindness of which she had been
unaware, and his gesture of concern touched her deeply.
“Mistress Macnab,” the queen called. “Bring
refreshments for our guests. Theirs has been a long and arduous
journey, as we well know.”
“Aye, Majesty.”
The housekeeper hurried away. Within a short
time, the sideboard was groaning under the weight of silver trays
bearing cold duck and mutton, hot crusty breads and tankards of hot
mulled wine.
Lindsey watched with affection as her father
and brothers ate great quantities of food and downed more than a
few tankards of wine. At last, refreshed, they were content to pull
their chairs in a circle around the queen and bask in the warmth of
her presence.
“You spoke of a missive from me,” Mary said
to Ian.
“Aye, Majesty.” With a smug look Ian turned
to glance at Jamie. Pulling the rolled parchment from his tunic, he
bowed and presented it to Mary.
She read it quickly, then looked up to study
the handsome young man who knelt before her.
“So you are Ian MacPherson. You were highly
recommended to me by my cousin, Lord Desmond Frazer, who told me
that you served him well. You are welcome here at Lochleven,” Mary
said. “Your skill with a sword as well as your love and loyalty are
sorely needed. Your presence here should greatly relieve the burden
of my good friend Jamie MacDonald who has been seeing to my
safety.”
Ian turned and gave Jamie a measured look.
Jamie, who stood alone beside the fireplace, scowled into his
tankard. But moments later, while the others were talking, Ian
sidled up to Jamie and said, “I believe you owe me an apology.”
“And you shall have it.” Ian smiled, but the
smile quickly turned to a scowl when Jamie concluded, “When I am
convinced of your loyalty to the queen.”
“That is heresy. Since when do you place
yourself above the queen?”
Jamie’s voice was low, controlled. “Beware,
Ian MacPherson. I do not play the fool.”
“Nor do I. I will have your apology.” Ian
emptied his tankard and turned away. “Or your blood upon my
sword.”
Jamie moved not a muscle as the arrogant
youth stalked away.
Unaware of the tensions, the queen turned to
the handsome, white-haired leader of his clan, who sat surrounded
by his family. “Tell me, Douglas, what are they saying in Edinburgh
about my absence from Holyrood?”
“There are many rumors, Majesty.” The older
man placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward. “There are
those who say you have fled to England, and are now under the
protection of your cousin, Elizabeth.”
At that the queen laughed. “So they think I
have fled to England? What else do they say?”
“Some say yours is a difficult confinement,
Majesty, and that you reside with a physician in attendance at
Stirling Castle.”
“Ah. Stirling.” Mary threw back her head and
laughed. “Aye, and well they should think that. It is where I was
crowned Queen of Scots when just an infant.”
“Aye, Majesty. It is natural that you should
want to return to those happier places to await the birth of your
child.”
Mary placed her hand over Douglas Gordon’s.
“Do you think anyone suspects that I am here?”
“I heard no such rumors, Majesty.”
“Then I am safe, praise heaven.”
Douglas glanced over the queen’s bowed head
to meet Jamie’s gaze. He shook his head slightly. His gesture was
not lost on Lindsey. She felt a tremor of fear for her queen.
In a much lighter mood, Mary turned to the
handsome young men who surrounded their father. “Lindsey has told
me much about you. I feel as if I already know you. Let me see...”
She studied the four, then turned to Murray. “You are the eldest,
Murray. Is that not so?”
“Aye, Majesty.” Murray flushed with
pleasure.
“You are the most like your father. And you,”
Mary said turning to Donald, “are the one who makes all the lasses’
hearts flutter.”
Donald was not the least insulted by his
image as a wencher. But he was surprised that the queen should know
such a thing about him. “Aye, Majesty. I am fond of women.”
“You, Robert, are the poet.”
“Aye,” Robbie said. “And I know that, having
met my queen, I will be moved to write many inspiring verses to
your beauty.”
Mary’s smile grew. “I cannot wait to hear
your poetry.” She turned to the shy lad who ducked his head when
she looked at him. “You are Neal,” the queen said. “Your sister
tells me that you love caring for horses.”
“Aye, Majesty.” His cheeks were as bright as
the queen’s gown.
“I have put off riding here at Lochleven,
because my stable master did not accompany me. But while we are
here, you shall be my stable master.”
“Majesty.” Neal fell to his knees before her
and, overcome with emotion, caught her hand and kissed it.
Mary was touched by his devotion.
She turned to his father. “Ah, Douglas. Would
that life could always be this simple. And yet, though I long
yearned for some time away from the pressure of ruling my people, I
find I miss the pomp and ceremony at court.” She brightened. “Do
you remember the time you helped me greet the Emperor of
Spain?”
“Aye, Majesty. You ordered me to match him
drink for drink. Little did you know how much wine he could
hold.”
Mary laughed until she wiped tears from her
eyes. “Or how little you could hold, Douglas. As I recall, you had
to be helped to your chambers.”
Lindsey glanced from her father to the queen,
then back again. In her father’s eyes was a light of laughter that
had long been missing.
While the fire blazed and the goblets were
filled, Mary regaled them with stories about life at court, often
asking Jamie or Douglas to interject their comments. Lindsey and
her brothers found themselves laughing often. None of them had
realized just how dear a friend their father was to the queen.
Stifling a yawn, the queen got slowly to her
feet. “I must retire for the night,” she said. “I find that I tire
easily these days.”
Immediately everyone stood at attention. The
men bowed. Lindsey curtsied.
“But on the morrow, Neal, you and I will ride
the grounds of Lochleven.”
“Aye, Majesty.” The lad’s eyes were bright
with pleasure. “It will be my honor.”
The queen shot a glance at her husband, who
reluctantly set down his tankard and crossed the room to offer his
arm. Everyone remained standing until the door closed behind
them.
As soon as they were alone, Murray clapped a
hand on his father’s shoulder and said “You old dog. You never told
us that you and the queen were such close friends.”
Douglas gave a negligent shrug of his
shoulders and emptied his tankard. But though his words were
humble, there was a twinkle in his eye as he said absently, “I
thought you knew. In my younger days I spent much time at court.
But like Jamie MacDonald, my heart lay in the Highlands.”
“But you were never boastful of your close
friendship. Most men would have used their relationship with the
queen to acquire favors or power.”
Douglas dropped an arm around his eldest
son’s shoulders. “My son, I need neither favors nor power. That is
why my friendship with Mary is an easy one. I value my queen for
who she is, not for what she can give me.”
The housekeeper, looking flushed and untidy,
entered and bowed before Douglas Gordon.
“My lord, I have prepared rooms for you and
your sons, and my Lord MacPherson. If you would follow me, I will
offer them for your approval.”
Lindsey’s heart went out to the little woman
and her daughter, who had probably worked themselves into a frenzy
seeing that enough rooms were prepared for so many unexpected
guests. With no servants to assist them, they must be nearly
exhausted by the additional work.
Ian, seeing the way Jamie was watching
Lindsey, gave a smug smile and caught Lindsey’s hand. “Would you
care to join us on a tour of our rooms, my lady?”
She felt weary beyond belief. But this was,
after all, her father’s first night at Lochleven. With the queen
retired for the night, it was her duty to act as hostess.
“Aye. I would be happy to join you.”
Before Lindsey could move to her father’s
side, Ian placed her hand on his arm and closed his hand firmly
over it. Lindsey was forced to move along at his side.
Turning to Jamie, Douglas extended his hand.
“Thank you for keeping my daughter safe.”
The two men shook hands solemnly, and
Lindsey’s brothers followed suit, before following the housekeeper
up the stairs.
Ian flashed Jamie a triumphant smile before
leaning close to Lindsey and whispering loudly, “When we have
inspected our rooms, my lady, I will see you to your room.” When he
began to lead her past Jamie, Lindsey paused. “Good night, my
lord.”
Jamie inclined his head slightly. “Good
night, my lady.”
Together, Lindsey and Ian climbed the stairs.
But as they followed Mistress Macnab toward the far end of the
hall, where the rooms had been prepared, Lindsey suddenly realized
she had forgotten something very important.
“My lord, I must see the queen.”
“Now?” Ian gave her a startled look. “She has
retired for the night.”
“Aye. But this cannot wait. I must see her
now.”
Ian accompanied Lindsey along the hall until
they reached the queen’s chambers. His knock was answered by the
queen’s voice from within.
“Who is there?”
“Lindsey Gordon, Majesty.”
“Enter.”
Ian opened the door and stood aside to allow
Lindsey to enter. When she stepped inside, she barred his way.
“Good night, my lord.”
“Good night, my lady.” He lifted her hand to
his lips and allowed the kiss to linger until she withdrew her hand
and pulled away.
Ian gave a sigh of regret. His plans to get
Lindsey alone had been thwarted. But there would be other
chances.
The sitting chamber and dining room of the
queen’s suite were in darkness. But beyond, in the queen’s sleeping
chamber, Lindsey could see the flickering light of candles. When
she reached the doorway, she paused. The queen, with Sabina’s help,
had changed to an ornate lace sleeping gown. Over it she wore a
crimson robe of cut velvet.
Mary was seated before a looking glass.
Sabina stood behind her, brushing her long red hair.
“What did you wish, Lindsey?”
Lindsey felt suddenly shy in front of her
queen. With her head bowed she said, “I was so overjoyed to see my
family, Majesty, that I neglected to thank you properly. You must
know what their presence here means to me. How can I ever thank you
for your kindness?”
“You thank the wrong person.” The queen met
her gaze in the looking glass. With a gentle smile she said, “I
thought you knew, my lady. It was not I who sent for your father
and brothers, though, of course, I gave my approval.”
The other woman saw the questioning look that
came into Lindsey’s eyes, and her smile grew.
“Aye, Lindsey. It is Jamie MacDonald you must
thank.”