“Put not your trust in a Scot!” It was a maxim all English Borderers lived by, and that went double for a warden, orshouldhave. He was filled with fury that Douglas Elliot had made a fool of him.I laid my heart at her feet, and she stomped on it.
He turned from the window, walked slowly to his desk, sat down, and smashed his fist into the polished oak surface. That was when he saw that the priceless antique pendant was missing. “The thieving little bitch! She coveted that pendant from the moment she saw it; damn her avaricious eyes!”
Douglas Elliot had touched Greystoke’s heart, but now his feelings for her hardened.She is a thief and she belongs in prison.He vowed to track her down.She ran away, so I will stalk her as prey.With cold deliberation he swore he would take his revenge.
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’sand 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.”
“Arrestedyou? 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.”
