“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 youmistress.”
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.
