Chapter 18 #2
“Which meant that we were awakened,” Donald
said, glancing for confirmation at Murray, who nodded his head.
Joining in the laughter, Douglas added, “And
with all the voices complaining and boots hitting the floor, my
sleep ended as well.”
Lindsey leaned back in her chair. A smile of
pure delight curved her lips. This was what she had missed. This
chorus of voices. They were like a symphony. Aye. A symphony of
love. How could she help but love these men?
Jamie saw the smile on her face and joined
her. When she realized that he shared her secret, her smile grew.
Aye. Jamie understood what her family meant to her.
Seeing the two of them, Ian said sharply,
“What amuses you, my lady? Have I missed something that was
said?”
Lindsey merely shook her head and pretended
to eat. It pleased her that she and Jamie shared a secret from the
others. She could not bear to share it with anyone else. She pushed
her plate aside. For some strange reason, she had lost her
appetite.
When they had broken their fast, the queen
smiled at Neal.
“When my—stable master has my mount ready, I
will ride.”
“Aye, Majesty.” Neal was on his feet at once.
“I shall come to fetch you as soon as I have your horse groomed and
saddled.”
“I should like Lindsey to join us,” the queen
called.
Lindsey could not hide her pleasure. But she
was startled when Ian said, “Would I be too bold if I were to ask
to join you as well, Majesty?”
Mary turned. Seeing Ian’s boyish look of
eagerness, she could not resist. But when she caught sight of
Jamie’s frown of displeasure, she nearly laughed aloud. So, these
two young stallions wanted the same mare. What fun it would be to
watch them vie for the lady’s attention. Oh, she would enjoy this
day immensely. Life had become far more interesting since their
small band had grown larger.
“Aye, you are indeed bold, Ian MacPherson.”
Mary’s haughty tones gave way to delighted laughter. “But I like a
man who knows how to slip past protocol at times. Aye. You may
accompany me on my ride.”
“I am most grateful, Majesty.” He made a
grand bow and kept his head lowered until the queen swept past
him.
“I will be in the withdrawing room. Come,
Douglas,” Mary said, placing her hand on his arm. “I would speak
with you about several matters.”
“Aye, Majesty.”
Lindsey watched as her father and the queen
exited the refectory. When she glanced at Lord Darnley, she saw his
barely concealed look of fury at being excluded from his wife’s
company.
* * *
Lindsey descended the stairs wearing a riding
gown of emerald velvet and a matching green cloak lined with
ermine, which Mistress Macnab had found for her among the
trunks.
As he watched her, Jamie thought he had never
seen anyone so lovely. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for the
ride. On her lips was a smile of pure pleasure.
“Why do you not join us?” she asked
Jamie.
“I regret I cannot. Your father wishes to
speak to me about—several matters.”
“It is a pity that you must always attend to
such dull matters when I,” she said with a laugh, “have every
intention of playing.”
It cheered him to see her so happy. But his
smile suddenly faded when Ian MacPherson appeared, wearing black
breeches and a crimson cape flung rakishly over his shoulder. Ian
held the door for Lindsey, then bent to whisper something in her
ear. The sound of her laughter was like a knife twisting in Jamie’s
heart.
He stood at the window and watched as the
queen and her party took off at an easy trot. Then he reluctantly
turned and went in search of Douglas Gordon, who awaited him in the
library.
* * *
The queen was in high spirits. She had been
sequestered far too long. Now suddenly, she was free to ride the
beautifully manicured paths of Lochleven. And when she tired of the
safe trails, she could always venture into the surrounding
woods.
“Are you a skilled rider, Lindsey?”
“A fair one, Majesty.”
“Would you care to race me?”
Lindsey’s eyes crinkled. “Aye, Majesty.”
The queen pointed to the maze of hedges and
formal plantings that surrounded the castle. “The first one through
the maze wins. I will take Neal with me as a guide, and you will
take Ian.”
Lindsey nodded, her blood already heating at
the thought of a race.
“Beware Lindsey,” the queen said with a
smile. “There are many paths in the maze, but only one leads back
to the beginning. Your guide must make decisions in the blink of an
eye. And, to make it more interesting, I think we should make a
wager.”
“Aye, Majesty. Name your price.”
The queen smiled. This was too easy. “Ten
gold sovereigns.”
“Ten...” Lindsey arched a brow. The queen did
not play for small stakes. “Aye, Majesty.”
“Then let the race begin.”
The queen wheeled her mount and entered the
maze, with Neal by her side. Just behind her rode Lindsey, with Ian
beside her. Though the queen and Neal turned left into the first
hedgerow, Ian caught Lindsey’s bridle and urged her to turn right.
They rode at breakneck speed through the maze, twisting and turning
with amazing skill.
“I believe we are lost,” Lindsey called to
the man beside her.
“Nay, my lady. Trust me. I have an instinct
for such things.” He pointed to a turn ahead, and they took it
without pausing.
Within minutes they had broken free of the
maze and reined in their mounts. It was several minutes more before
the queen, with Neal by her side, came thundering toward them.
As they pulled alongside, Mary said wryly, “I
see that my young stable master knows more about this maze than I.”
She leaned over and patted his hand, a gesture that caused him to
blush clear to his toes. “He bade me turn right, but I refused,
thinking I knew better. That misjudgment caused me the race.”
She glanced at Lindsey. “It would seem that I
owe you ten gold sovereigns.” She dug the coins from her pocket.
“Will you grant me the opportunity to win it back?”
“Aye, Majesty. Name your skill.”
The queen paused, deep in thought.
Ian’s voice interrupted. “The woods, Majesty.
Let us race through the woods to the far side of the island and
back. The first ones back shall be the winners.”
Lindsey shook her head. “Nay, Majesty. Jamie
would not be pleased if we were to ride that far without him.”
“Are we children to be watched over by a
wetnurse?” Ian asked.
Ian’s words had their desired effect. The
queen could not ignore a challenge, no matter how dangerous.
With a glittering smile she said, “I have
Neal; you have Ian. What could possibly happen on such a sunny morn
as this?”
“Please, Majesty,” Lindsey pleaded. “Wait
until another time.”
“Nay. I demand the chance to win back my
gold. We ride,” Mary called, wheeling her mount.
Lindsey hesitated a moment, then followed.
Beside her, Ian MacPherson could hardly contain his delight.