CHAPTER SIX
“His Majesty King James has arrived!” the Langley Castle steward announced to everyone gathered in the Great Hall.
A collective gasp went around the large chamber, and people started to scurry about, positioning themselves advantageously for when King James entered the castle.
Douglas Elliot’s heart began to pound. She was truly surprised that the king had arrived less than an hour after she had changed from her leather attire into the elegant gown.
She sent up a prayer of thanks that not only had she chosen to ride to Langley, but that her timing had been perfect.
Please, please, let my brother Jock be here.
She hurried out to the castle bailey, where she found an amazing throng of horses, attendants, and moss-troopers. With her heart in her mouth, Douglas searched among the riders until she saw her cousin Will Elliot, her brother’s lieutenant. “Where’s Jock?” she shouted.
“He’s stabling the king’s mount.” He stared in amazement at Jock’s beautiful young sister. “It’s unsafe for ye to be out here with all these men.” He dismounted. “I’ll escort ye to him.” He handed his reins to a Graham moss-trooper.
“Stand back, and give His Majesty room to move!” a deep male voice ordered.
Douglas stared at a group of men crowding together, and saw a burly red-headed man who was doing his best to make way for King James to enter Langley Castle. That must be Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. I’d best give my dearest uncle a wide berth!
She slipped her hand into Will’s and tried to keep up with him as he strode into the stables. Every stall now had a horse in it, but a large box stall had been reserved for the king’s royal mount. She saw her brother Jock giving it a rub down.
Jock Elliot almost dropped the brush when he saw his sister. “Douglas, I didn’t expect to see ye in England. What are ye doing at Langley Castle?”
“I was on my way to Alnwick to find you, Jock. It was just luck that I found out you were coming to Langley.” She took a deep breath before she plunged into her tale.
Suddenly, she was strangely loathe to blame her family’s trouble on Lancelot Greystoke.
“The Earl of Cumberland’s men came to Castle Elliot and arrested Gavin and Rob for stealing horses.
They are imprisoned in Carlisle Castle. You must do something, Jock. I fear they may be hanged!”
“They didn’t find stolen horses at our castle, surely?”
“Of course not!” Douglas was indignant. “Thoroughbred horses were found at Langholm, and Sim Armstrong told Cumberland’s men that he bought them from the Elliot brothers. They had arrest warrants not only for Gavin and Rob, they had one for you too.”
“Me? Didn’t Gavin tell them I was with the king?”
“Of course, but the English devils didn’t believe him. They searched the castle for you. They had an arrest warrant for Douglas Elliot too, and when I told them I was Douglas, they didn’t believe me. It made no difference—they arrested all three of us.”
“Arrested you? The callous English bastards! Gavin and Rob are still imprisoned in Carlisle Castle? How the devil did you manage to escape?”
“I...I had help. After dark, Sir Lance Greystoke led me to a back door of the castle and set me free. I warrant he was acting chivalrously toward a woman.”
“Carlisle Castle is the next stop on the king’s journey south.
I’ll have a word with His Majesty about our brothers being falsely accused and arrested.
Once we get to Carlisle, I’ll see to their release.
King James doesn’t have much use for the Earl of Cumberland.
George Clifford spent his time kissing Queen Elizabeth’s arse, instead of taking care of his estates in the English Borders. ”
Jock closed the box stall door securely. “Stay beside me while I gather up my men. If we don’t go inside soon, we won’t get fed.” He winked at Douglas. “Henry Percy is sparing no expense to entertain King James and his entourage. Ye’ve no idea how pleasurable it is to enjoy English hospitality.”
Douglas glanced down at her fine gown. “Yes, I believe I have a very good idea.”
~~~
The following day was taken up with people being presented to King James. Not only were the English who lived in the Borders flocking to meet him, but the Scots who could afford to accompany the king to London were arriving at Langley Castle every hour.
“Jock, I’m grievously worried about Gavin and Rob. Do you think you can persuade the king to set out for Carlisle tomorrow?” Douglas asked.
“Why don’t I present ye to him and ye can have a try at persuading him yerself? No doubt he’ll remember when he met ye at Edinburgh Castle last year.”
“I warrant he’s not the type of man who succumbs easily to feminine wiles, Jock.”
“Don’t underestimate yer assets, sweetheart. He’d have to be a corpse not to appreciate yer half-exposed breasts.”
Douglas heard the disapproval in his voice. “The gown is borrowed. I cannot help that it is too tight. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“Come on. We’ll have to get in line behind these English arse-kissers.”
There was hardly room to move in the throng gathered to meet the new sovereign.
Jock struck up a conversation with the people in front of him, while Douglas schooled herself to patience All at once she felt a hand caress her bottom.
She whirled about ready to strike the offending male, and stared into the facetious face of Alexander Hume.
“Do not presume to take liberties with me, sir. Your familiarity breeds only my contempt.” Bugger and balls, I should have known the king would be taking his Treasurer to London.
Alex Hume grinned. “Perhaps you’ll have to be more generous with your favors, my lady, now that you’ll have fierce competition from the English lassies.”
“I welcome their competition. I might even let them win the prize, or take the cake if it is not to my taste.”
“You play a high stakes game, Douglas—luring a man on by holding him off.”
“I don’t remember giving you leave to use my given name, my lord.”
Hume bent close and whispered, “I would be most happy to call you mistress.”
Douglas turned her back on him, and saw that it was her turn to make her curtsy to the king. Jock led her forward and she sank low before James like a supplicant and gave him a poignant smile.
“Och, I’d ken this lassie anywhere,” the king said, staring overlong at her décolletage.
“Your Gracious Majesty, I have two brothers imprisoned in Carlisle Castle, falsely accused of theft by George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland.”
“Clifford has allus bin an avaricious swine, wi’ his eye on the best Scots’ Borderland. It dinna surprise me he’s stoopin’ tae false accusations tae get his hands on a piece o’ it.”
He raised Douglas and patted her hand. “Ye’ll accompany us tae Carlisle, an’ I’ll decide who’s guilty and who’s innocent.”
Dear God, I can’t return to Carlisle! “I think it would be safer for me to go home to Castle Elliot, Your Gracious Majesty.”
The king laughed. “Wheest, lassie, ye’ll be safe wi’ Jamie. Ha’ no fear.”
“Thank you, Sire,” she murmured, and fear of returning to Carlisle rose up in her. As she moved away quickly, Alex Hume caught up with her.
“If you want something from the king, there is no man breathing who has more influence than my brother. King James never fails to take his Treasurer’s advice.”
Douglas almost cursed him for eavesdropping, but shrewdly thought better of it. If Hume could influence the king to pardon her brothers, he could also influence him to condemn them. “It would be very kind of you to use your influence, Alex.”
~~~
Douglas slept in a small chamber with the two English ladies she’d met on the road to Langley. Their husbands had been assigned to a dormitory chamber reserved for men.
On the morning they were all moving on to Carlisle Castle, Douglas donned her leather riding clothes.
She carefully folded the blue brocade gown and an extra set of undergarments, and put them into a bolster case.
She arrived at the stables early to retrieve Greystoke’s mare from the meadow that now held over fifty horses.
She put the problem of finding a saddle in the capable hands of her cousin Will and by the time the king’s cavalcade was ready to depart Langley, she had her garments and the exquisite antique pendant tucked safely into her newly acquired saddlebags.
It’s only about thirty miles to Carlisle, but I warrant it will take most of the day to get there.
Though Douglas dreaded encountering Lance Greystoke, and would have much preferred going home to Castle Elliot, she knew in her heart that she would do anything she could to get her brothers released.
If fortune favors us, I can ride home with Gavin and Rob.
The closer she got to Carlisle, the more she thought about Lancelot Greystoke. She had been in utter despair until he had freed her. That night there was an unspoken bond between us. Then I betrayed that bond.
Douglas told herself that she had justification. I gave myself to him freely, hoping that in return he would offer to free my brothers. She bent forward and patted the lovely mare’s neck. “I promise to give you back,” she whispered.
Though Langley had four great towers, it was small compared with the massive fortalice known as Carlisle Castle. Within its walls were many separate buildings and Douglas vowed to avoid an encounter with Greystoke if it were possible.
The king’s entourage clattered through the high covered arch of the main gateway into the outer bailey.
Douglas rode with her brother’s moss-troopers and in her leather breeches and jack, she blended in well.
At a slower pace, they passed beneath the internal gatehouse with its L-shaped barbican and entered the inner bailey that led to the massive three-story keep.
“Welcome to Carlisle, Your Gracious Majesty. I am honored to present you with the keys to the castle, as well as the ceremonial key to the City of Carlisle.” Sir Thomas Scrope, the Governor of Carlisle bowed low before King James. “Our castle and our city are yours to command, Sire.”
The king was well-pleased with Thomas Scrope who had carried on a secret correspondence with him for the last year of Queen Elizabeth of England’s life. “We thank ye fer yer hospitality, Lord Scrope.”
~~~
It was evening before Douglas was assigned a chamber with other ladies, and she quickly washed and changed into her brocade gown so she could meet Jock, who had insisted on escorting her to the dining hall.
She pinned the mirrored pendant inside her gown for safekeeping, brushed the tangles from her hair, and waited for her brother.
Douglas was thankful that she sat between Jock and Will Elliot at the long, overcrowded trestle table.
They were able to grab food from the great platters, which were emptied the moment the servers set them down.
Her eyes searched the crowded hall for Lance Greystoke.
One glimpse of his dark countenance and I shall flee from the hall.
With her attention focused on looking for Greystoke, she did not notice Alex Hume watching her like a hungry predator. When she finished eating, she told her brother she was going up to bed.
Jock reached into his pocket and handed Douglas a couple of gold crowns. “I saw at least a dozen Carlisle merchants arrive earlier. They are setting up their wares in a chamber off the Great Hall. I think it’s time you had another dress.”
Her eyes widened with pleasure. “Oh, Jock, thank you. You are the best brother in the world. Whatever would I do without you?”
Douglas spent the next hour selecting a gown from the array of feminine attire the merchants had on display. They had brought the latest fashions, knowing both the Scots and the English who planned to follow the king to London would spare no expense on their wardrobes.
She finally chose a pale green velvet gown with detachable sleeves. She also bought another pair of sleeves embroidered with pink English roses and silver Scots thistles that she could not resist.
Douglas carried her treasures up to the chamber she was sharing. When she opened the door she suddenly found herself propelled into the room from behind. She swung about to find Alex Hume leering at her.
“What the devil are you playing at? Please leave; I am sharing this chamber with four other ladies.”
“None of whom will be retiring this early. We’ll have plenty of time for dalliance.”
“I am not the least bit interested, Alex. I want you to leave at once.”
“You’ve led me a merry chase, Douglas. I tried to woo you when you were at Court in Edinburgh, but all you did was cocktease and say no.”
“I did no such thing, sir! You are the reason I left the Queen’s Court in Edinburgh.”
Hume grabbed her and brought his mouth down on hers.
He held her imprisoned against him. “You play a high-stakes game, Douglas, holding out for marriage with a Hume.” He squeezed her bottom.
“If I can’t have you any other way, I warrant I’ll have to offer for you.
How about a foretaste? If you are generous, I will help get your brothers released.
” His hand slipped into her décolletage and cupped her bare breast.
Douglas raked her nails down his cheek. “Take your lecherous hands from me, pig!”
Two of the ladies who were sharing the chamber with her entered. They saw the couple struggling, and stared at the man’s bloody cheek.
Alex Hume stepped back from Douglas, but before he left his eyes narrowed with thwarted anger. “Since you are a ward of the Crown, I shall speak with the king.” Hume added another threat. “One word from my family could get your brothers hanged if you don’t change your tune.”
Douglas blushed as she explained to the ladies, “His attentions are unwanted. I thank you for saving me.” She hung up her new gown in the large wardrobe.
Alex Hume had taken the joy out of her purchase with his threat to her brothers’ safety.
He may look like an effete popinjay, but he is deadly dangerous.
I must tell Jock what he is threatening.
But Douglas was loathe to leave the safety of the chamber tonight.
She removed the blue brocade gown and hung it beside the new one.
I’ll tell him first thing in the morning.