Chapter 20
The King's Chamber
The king's private study was a room Cormac knew well.
Not the great audience chamber where petitions were heard, but the smaller room behind it: a roaring fire, plain furniture, maps on the walls, a jug of wine on the sideboard that the king poured himself when he did not want a servant present.
Cormac had sat in this room more times than he could count across two reigns, and it was private and comfortable.
He and Seumas were shown in by a steward who left immediately and closed the door. The king's guard remained inside the room, within easy distance. He had guarded the young king during his exile in France and remained his loyal guard still.
King David was at the window. He turned when they entered, and the expression on his face was the one Cormac recognized as genuine: warm, alert, amused. He was still young enough to have not lost his eager enthusiasm when amongst friends.
"Shadow." He crossed the room and clasped his hand. "Ye look well. Life agrees with ye."
"Your Majesty." Cormac inclined his head. "Thank ye for the audience."
"Come, sit, we are not standing on ceremony." The king moved to the sideboard and poured two cups without asking. "Seumas. Ye look hale."
"I am, thank ye, Your Majesty," Seumas said, accepting his cup.
They sat. The king settled back in his chair. "Tell me everything. I have heard some parts from my enforcer, but I wish to hear more from ye."
***
CORMAC TOLD HIM. THE kidnapping plot, the intercept on the road, the gang operating through the burgh.
He told him about the thane's daughter used as bait and what had nearly befallen an innocent woman caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He kept it plain, and the king, even for one so young, listened without interrupting.
When Cormac was done, David was quiet a moment. "Laird Gunn of Caithness?"
"Aye. The scheme has his hand in it. The men who ran it were hired, not his own people, which is why it took time to find them. But the coin came from Gunn and the target was chosen by him."
"Why Lady Fenella Lockhart specifically?"
"That," Cormac said, "is an interesting question. The Lockhart girl and Gunn's own daughter are competing for the same match. If Lady Fenella were taken and ransomed, the scandal would remove her as a candidate." He paused. "I heard that from my wife."
The king's eyebrow rose slightly. "Ah, finally. I was wondering when ye would mention the woman who has captured yer heart."
Cormac grinned and shook his head. "I will come to that." He continued. "Lady Fenella's family should be warned quietly. They are here in Edinburgh. I would ask that the warning come from a neutral party rather than from me directly."
"It can be arranged." The king made a note and gestured to his guardsman, who gave a quick nod. "And Gunn himself?"
"He has kept his distance and his hands clean enough that nothing will stick publicly. But if ye were to take a close interest in his activities, I suspect ye’d uncover more."
The king nodded slowly. "Consider it done.
I will deal with Gunn personally and swiftly to ensure no other women are abducted for their dowries.
I thank ye for finding the culprit with such haste.
" He reached for his wine. "Now. I think we need to address this matter of yer supposed betrothal to the Ruthven lass, as it will no doubt affect yer newly married state. "
Cormac stiffened slightly. "How do ye mean?"
"'Tis nothing serious. I want to know more before I make my ruling."
"With respect, I am not going to set aside my wife."
"Aye, I know it. Calm down. I have had Laird Ruthven's petition on my desk since Tuesday. He is persistent, I will give him that, but ye showing up with a bride changes everything. And yer parents, good grief, man, how do ye put up with them? They are the most exasperating people I have ever met."
"Aye, they are the very reason I am in this bind. The betrothal was arranged by my father without my knowledge or consent. I was never party to it and I never agreed to it. Whatever Ruthven may claim about the terms, I did not sign them and I was not present when they were executed."
"I see." The king did not appear particularly troubled.
"Yer father has said as much." He set down his cup.
"The matter is not straightforward legally, which is why Ruthven has brought it here rather than leaving it to the clan to settle.
He will have his hearing. I will sit the session tomorrow and I expect ye to be present.
" A pause. "With yer counsel if required. "
"Understood." Cormac met his eyes. "It will not hold, Your Majesty. There is no contract I consented to and there is no—"
"Cormac." The king cut him off. "I said it will be heard. I did not say I expected it to succeed. Ruthven will have his day and then the matter will be settled." Something in his expression shifted, lighter now. "Which brings me to another rumor."
Cormac waited.
"A little bird," the king said, with amusement, "tells me ye arrived in my castle yesterday via the side yard gate, and that yer bonnie bride does not know ye work directly for me."
"Your Majesty hears a great many things."
"It is my castle, and the walls have ears." He grinned. "So. Why does yer wife believe once ye leave here, she will have to live in the woods?"
"My wife is still getting used to the fact she has married a laird's son. She is a talented seamstress from Kyleakin who married me believing I was merely a criminal without a fortune. She accepted me, the Shadow, without judgment or expectation. Do ye know how rare that is?"
The king looked at him for a moment. "'Tis rare indeed," he replied.
"If she discovers that the Shadow is purely a ruse, I fear it may be all too overwhelming. 'Tis why I have been giving her time to grow accustomed to things here before I share all."
"What are ye afraid of, Shadow? That she will like ye less once she discovers ye are not a pauper or a criminal?"
"I'm afraid she will believe herself unfit to be my bride. That she will try to escape from me."
"And has she tried to escape ye before?"
Seumas let out a quiet laugh. "Aye, and she very nearly succeeded."
The king laughed. "Then it seems ye have found yer match." He looked at Seumas. "What think ye of the lady?"
"She makes a fine mistress. She has earned the loyalty and respect of the men."
Cormac felt pride at those words.
"Well, she'll find out soon enough that I am not just a friend working in the castle," the king said. "Let's hope she does not petition for an annulment too soon."
They all laughed. The king reached for the jug and refilled both cups.
"There is a gathering in the main court this evening. Nothing formal, just a few select families." He looked at Cormac directly. "I want yer wife in attendance."
Cormac thought of Una that morning: pressing her lips together over the ring tray, looking at the fabric and calculating its cost, moving around the chamber like a woman not yet certain the room belonged to her.
"She will be there," he replied.
The king settled back and they moved on to more informal matters.
***
BACK IN THEIR CHAMBERS, Hilde arrived at mid-morning with the first of the gown fittings, just the shell of the green dress for pinning, and Una was grateful for the distraction. They worked for an hour, Una giving feedback that Hilde relayed to the seamstress's assistant.
Cormac returned at noon. He ate the food Guntar set out, spoke to Seumas in low tones, and glanced at Una several times with a warm smile.
It was Nessa who arrived in the early afternoon with the news.
She swept in with her guardsman trailing, her eyes bright. "There is to be a gathering in the main court this evening. We are invited to attend." She looked at Una. "That includes ye."
Una set down her cup. "A gathering."
"Aye. It will be a lovely way to introduce ye to court life."
"I will be mixing with nobles?"
"Aye. Among others."
"I dinnae think I should attend. I am just a seamstress from a small village."
"Ye are Cormac Stewart's wife," Nessa replied briskly, "and ye will attend as his wife." She paused, and something in her expression softened. "I mean that kindly, Una. Ye are part of our family now and the court needs to see ye."
To be considered family so soon felt strangely wonderful. Una looked at Cormac.
"Are we to attend?"
"Aye, love. I was going to tell ye but Nessa beat me to it. Ye have been invited especially and there is nothing to fear. As my wife, yer place is by my side." He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I would also like ye to meet my friend."
She took a sharp breath and slowly exhaled. "All right. But I will need time to ready myself."
"Good," Nessa said. "My lady's maid can help ye dress. And if ye mean to remain in the castle longer, ye should probably have a maid of yer own."
"I can dress myself," Una said.
"Of course ye can," Nessa replied. "But ye'll need someone who knows the way court ladies dress." She sat down.
Una looked at Cormac. He nodded. "Aye, 'tis true, love. Ye'll need assistance donning court garments. Dinnae fash, I already have Hilde searching for a lass who will suit ye. Ye get to choose, of course. In the meantime, Nessa's maid can assist ye."
"Ye've already seen to it?" Una asked. "Thank ye, husband."
"Una, sweeting, I would do anything for ye."
Overwhelmed by his words, Una leaned across and kissed him. Cormac returned it with ardor. They forgot they had an audience until Nessa cleared her throat loudly. Una blushed as they separated. Cormac glared at his sister for interrupting. Nessa smirked back.
Soon Una's smile faded as the reality settled over her. Cormac had done so much. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him or his family with her simple ways. She had a great deal to learn about this new life, and that worried her. She was frowning before she realized.
"Love." Cormac brushed her brow gently with his fingers. "Dinnae be overly concerned. If ye wish to hold off retaining a maid, that is perfectly all right. I wish only for ye to be happy."
"I am worried about disappointing ye. We come from such different worlds. Ye are the son of a laird and I have no title or standing to match that."
Cormac cut off her next words with a kiss. "Ye are my equal, Una Stewart. Ye could never disappoint me."
They gazed at each other for a long time until Nessa chuckled and shook her head. "I see now why my brother was so determined to marry ye. But I best leave before Ma and Da realize I'm missing. I'll see ye both this evening and I'll send my maid to assist ye."
Una thanked her as Nessa rose and took her leave, her guard trailing close behind.
***