Douglas watched him dress, then he kissed her goodbye, and departed.
The minute Greystoke left, a picture of Gavin and Rob rose up in her mind. “Poor Robbie, I hope they don’t hurt you.” She felt bereft that Greystoke hadn’t offered to release her brothers. She thought it was the least he could have done in return for the loving they’d shared.Gavin is a man, but Rob is just a boy.Douglas was racked with worry.
She flung off the covers, and used last night’s bathwater to wash herself. Then she put on the linen shirt Lance had offered her, and drew on her leather breeches and boots. She made her plans swiftly, picked up her leather doublet and went downstairs.
The servant she had seen the night before bade her good morning. “Lord Greystoke asked me to prepare breakfast for you, my lady. Would you like me to serve it in the library?”
Douglas gave him a disarming smile “That would be very kind of you.”
When she entered the library, she gazed at all the books, but the large polished desk drew her like a magnet. She ran her fingers over the intricate vine leaves that decorated the mirrored pendant, and saw her reflection. Her hair was a dishevelled mass of red curls, and she immediately tried to smooth it, then plaited it. Her hairpins lay scattered somewhere in his bedchamber, and she knew she wouldn’t go back up to retrieve them.
She glanced guiltily at the window she had smashed and saw it had already been repaired with a new pane of glass. She also noticed a map of the Borders lying on the desk, and she studied it intently, tracing her finger along the route she intended to take, and committing it to memory.
When the servant entered the library with a breakfast tray, she crossed the room and took it from him. “It smells good. Thank you so much.” She was glad he had included a mug of ale and wondered if Greystoke had ordered it for her.
“Is there anything else I can get you, my lady.”
“No, this is perfect. Thank you.”
When he left, she took it to the desk, sat down in a chair, and devoured the food as quickly as she could. She drank the ale and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Then she picked up the priceless mirrored pendant, fastened it securely to her linen shirt, lifted its silver chain over her head, then donned her leather doublet.
Douglas went to the library window, unlocked it, raised the sash, and climbed out. She silently lowered the window, and headed toward the stables. Last night she had seen that Greystoke’s prize thoroughbreds were safely in their stalls, and she knew they would still be there. But with any luck some of his less valuable horses would be out in the pasture behind the stables.
As unobtrusively as possible, she made her way to the field, and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw three or four horses cropping the spring grass. There was a small mare close to a barred gate in the stone wall. As she moved around the wall it blocked anyone from seeing her. The difficult part would be opening the gate and getting the animal through it.
It had a bridle, but no bit or saddle of course, and she was glad she knew how to ride bareback. She moved quickly, opening the gate halfway, and leading the horse through it. She grabbed its mane and mounted with all the speed she could muster, and trotted away.
When she was a short distance from the Beaumont stables, she urged the mare into a gallop, and did not look back. If anyone had seen her, she was determined that they would never catch her.
Instead of riding north to the Scottish Border, Douglas headed west. Her cousin Will had said her brother Jock was accompanying King James to Berwick, and she knew she must get word to Jock that Gavin and Rob were prisoners in Carlisle Castle. “They’ve likely left Berwick by now,” she told the mare. “Where will their next stop be?”
In her mind Douglas went over the castles in the English Borders of Northumberland.
“Of course! The Earl of Northumberland will want to ingratiate himself with his new king and will offer hospitality at his castle of Alnwick.”Hellfire, that must be more than fifty miles away.
Douglas rode on determinedly until the pale spring sun was directly overhead and she decided it must be close to the hour of noon. When she came to the next stream, she dismounted and allowed her mare to drink. She quenched her own thirst, and splashed her face with the cool water. She had no idea how far she had come, nor how far she still had to travel, so she remounted and pressed on with dogged determination.
After she had ridden an hour or so through the rolling hills and dales she heard the distinctive sound of horses, and wagons. This told her there must be a road nearby. Then she heard voices and laughter. She drew rein and waited for the travelers. Her hand went to her hair.I must look a fright, wearing breeches and riding bareback.As soon as the traveling party came into view she waved and gave them a friendly smile.
There were two men and two women who were mounted; the others who were obviously their servants rode in a baggage wagon. They all gave her curious stares, then one of the men said, “You must be going to Hexham.”
“Hexham?” she echoed.
The lady who was his wife explained, “Langley Castle. We are going to welcome our new King. We are at the head of the cavalcade. There must be scores behind us.”
Douglas remembered that Langley was another castle owned by the Earl of Northumberland. “Yes, that’s where I’m going. Do you mind if I ride with you?”
In less than an hour, the four towers of Langley Castle came into view. When they rode into the bailey it was packed with carts and wagons. Douglas lost no time dismounting and leading her mare to the stables. Obviously there were already people here, and crowds more were on their way.
She threw a stableman a ravishing smile. “I know you are expecting King James. My brother is one of his attendants. May I put my mare in the stable?”
He grinned at her. “All these stalls are reserved for the royal party, but there’s plenty of room in the pasture.”
Her smile widened. “You are a gentleman, sir. Could I have a few oats? She’s had a hard ride today.”
“Leave her with me. I’ll feed her and put her out back.”
Douglas tried to slip into the Great Hall of Langley Castle without being noticed, but the first servant she encountered bowed to her. “My lady.”
