apologetic smile.
“I do wish you would have told me; I’d have canceled the whole thing,” he said.
“But I couldn’t have done that after you went to so much trouble for me,” I told him.
“Moving a mountain would be no trouble, were it to be done for you,” he said, and my heart stirred in delight. How I adored courtiers!
I hoped the Scottish court was as good to me as Thomas Dacre!
BOOK 2
Jamie
4
Scotland!
T he progress was getting too long for me and I was anxious to settle at Edinburgh. What was a joyous journey was now a chore. I grew tired and sore from riding. I wanted to soak in a warm bath for hours and know that for one day I would not have to go anywhere and do anything, not even dress up. Certainly that meant I was exhausted, for I cherished my finery and most any opportunity to don it.
Accompanied by eighteen hundred ladies and gentlemen, dressed so fine they looked more like dolls than people, we approached Lamberton Kirk, where we encountered the Scots. They were the most glamorous barbarians I had ever seen! Surely I did not think them capable of dressing so fine, but they wore their damasks and cloth of gold and silver much like we did. It was only that crude accent that separated us.
My hair and gown were threaded with pearls and I was disconcerted by this, for pearls were a symbol of mourning and I had had my fill of that. I banished these dark thoughts from my mind, however, as I lay in my litter gazing at the assemblage of Scots in wonderment. My eyes could not help but be drawn to some of the men’s legs, which their kilts showed to great advantage, and I compared many a well-turned calf. As I admired these rogues I wondered what my husband looked like; I had tried not to think upon him too much during the progress. The thought that I would soon meet him filled me with such fear and excitement that I knew not how to manage it.
After feasting and entertainment, a thousand of these beautiful barbarians joined our entourage and we set to riding again. I was in Scotland now. England was behind me and I knew not if I would ever return. More and more I found myself swallowing tears. This was a wild place, a beautiful land with its rolling hills and emerald fields. But it was not my land and I was frightened of it. What would these people make of me after the novelty of my arrival had worn off? We had been enemies for so long and grudges died hard....
On 3 August I was met at Dalkeith and given the keys to the castle by Lord and Lady Morton. This was my last stop before Edinburgh and I was glad of it. Soon I would be at my new home. I could not wait!
Lady Morton showed my ladies and me to our apartments while the rest of the assemblage sought out their lodgings. Many had to sleep in stables and barns, inns when available, and tents. It was good for me indeed to be queen as I thought of crawling into a comfortable bed with covers and herbs to sweeten my chambers.
Alone with my ladies I kicked off my slippers and twirled about. “I cannot wait to sleep and dream of my coronation! I am so very tired!” I sat on my bed while Agnes Howard, Lady Surrey, brushed my hair. “I should like a hot bath before bed,” I yawned, imagining being enveloped in steaming scented water. Perhaps they would put lavender in it. Yes, that would be pleasing....
At once the door burst open and Lady Morton entered, curtsying. “Forgive the intrusion, Your Grace, but the king is approaching!”
“The king?” I asked, dazed. I rose. “The king! No! He cannot come now! I look—well, I am not ready. He wasn’t supposed to see me till Edinburgh.”
“He will see you now,” said Lady Morton, not without a slight note of annoyance in her tone.
I scowled. “Help me with my gown, Lady Surrey, and make certain the pearls are still threaded prettily through my hair.”
I stared down my reflection in the metal of the mirror, wishing there were some better way of seeing myself. I held the swells of my
“I do wish you would have told me; I’d have canceled the whole thing,” he said.
“But I couldn’t have done that after you went to so much trouble for me,” I told him.
“Moving a mountain would be no trouble, were it to be done for you,” he said, and my heart stirred in delight. How I adored courtiers!
I hoped the Scottish court was as good to me as Thomas Dacre!
BOOK 2
Jamie
4
Scotland!
T he progress was getting too long for me and I was anxious to settle at Edinburgh. What was a joyous journey was now a chore. I grew tired and sore from riding. I wanted to soak in a warm bath for hours and know that for one day I would not have to go anywhere and do anything, not even dress up. Certainly that meant I was exhausted, for I cherished my finery and most any opportunity to don it.
Accompanied by eighteen hundred ladies and gentlemen, dressed so fine they looked more like dolls than people, we approached Lamberton Kirk, where we encountered the Scots. They were the most glamorous barbarians I had ever seen! Surely I did not think them capable of dressing so fine, but they wore their damasks and cloth of gold and silver much like we did. It was only that crude accent that separated us.
My hair and gown were threaded with pearls and I was disconcerted by this, for pearls were a symbol of mourning and I had had my fill of that. I banished these dark thoughts from my mind, however, as I lay in my litter gazing at the assemblage of Scots in wonderment. My eyes could not help but be drawn to some of the men’s legs, which their kilts showed to great advantage, and I compared many a well-turned calf. As I admired these rogues I wondered what my husband looked like; I had tried not to think upon him too much during the progress. The thought that I would soon meet him filled me with such fear and excitement that I knew not how to manage it.
After feasting and entertainment, a thousand of these beautiful barbarians joined our entourage and we set to riding again. I was in Scotland now. England was behind me and I knew not if I would ever return. More and more I found myself swallowing tears. This was a wild place, a beautiful land with its rolling hills and emerald fields. But it was not my land and I was frightened of it. What would these people make of me after the novelty of my arrival had worn off? We had been enemies for so long and grudges died hard....
On 3 August I was met at Dalkeith and given the keys to the castle by Lord and Lady Morton. This was my last stop before Edinburgh and I was glad of it. Soon I would be at my new home. I could not wait!
Lady Morton showed my ladies and me to our apartments while the rest of the assemblage sought out their lodgings. Many had to sleep in stables and barns, inns when available, and tents. It was good for me indeed to be queen as I thought of crawling into a comfortable bed with covers and herbs to sweeten my chambers.
Alone with my ladies I kicked off my slippers and twirled about. “I cannot wait to sleep and dream of my coronation! I am so very tired!” I sat on my bed while Agnes Howard, Lady Surrey, brushed my hair. “I should like a hot bath before bed,” I yawned, imagining being enveloped in steaming scented water. Perhaps they would put lavender in it. Yes, that would be pleasing....
At once the door burst open and Lady Morton entered, curtsying. “Forgive the intrusion, Your Grace, but the king is approaching!”
“The king?” I asked, dazed. I rose. “The king! No! He cannot come now! I look—well, I am not ready. He wasn’t supposed to see me till Edinburgh.”
“He will see you now,” said Lady Morton, not without a slight note of annoyance in her tone.
I scowled. “Help me with my gown, Lady Surrey, and make certain the pearls are still threaded prettily through my hair.”
I stared down my reflection in the metal of the mirror, wishing there were some better way of seeing myself. I held the swells of my
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