Fotheringham found her it was not a dagger but shears in her breast. My shears,’ she added grimly.
Will put a consoling arm around her shoulders. ‘Tansy, my dear Tansy,’ he said soberly. ‘There is certainly a mystery here, but it is my most earnest desire – indeed I implore you – that you do not involve yourself in this matter, even knowing the unfortunate woman as you did.’
Shaking his head, he glanced over at Tam. ‘I feel that there is much more in this unhappy story than we will ever be allowed to know about. If you have any ideas about what goes on here in Falkland, then you must realise that the king’s authority is final – and dangerous to those who unwittingly offend him.’
Again he gave a sad shake of his head. ‘I cannot explain why but I suspect a sinister reason behind it all. A reasonwhich goes deeper than the poor woman’s death. In these circumstances , it would be well for all of us to look the other way.’
‘Look the other way!’ Tansy exclaimed. ‘That I will never do, Will Hepburn. Agnew never harmed anyone. She was a good kind soul – a friend to many in this court and to me – ’
‘A friend, dear Tansy. Could you really claim her as a friend, this woman about whom you know nothing?’ Will interrupted shrewdly and, including Tam in his sharp glance he added desperately, ‘I beg you, sir, if you know any means of dissuading Mistress Scott from interfering in this matter – ’
‘Interfering!’ Tansy was furious. ‘I will not be told what to do, Will Hepburn, not even by you.’
Will’s arm about her tightened. ‘Indeed you will, my dear,’ he said his voice soft but stern. ‘Listen to me, both of you. Realise there are dangerous forces at work. Someone wanted Margaret Agnew dead and it would be better for all of us if we did not know why and did not try to find out. If we remained silent,’ he added emphasising the words.
Turning again to Tansy, he said sternly ‘I have warned you. I like it not your being close to the queen and I want you kept clear of court intrigues, so step aside and do not become involved.’
To Tam, he said earnestly, ‘I do not care for Mistress Scott’s relationship with the Gowrie family either. The king hates them. He bears a long grudge – ’
‘Master Eildor knows all about that,’ Tansy put in shortly.
‘Very well,’ said Will. ‘But do not imagine that King James has forgotten – or forgiven – the Gowries or anyone related to them.’
‘This is old history,’ said Tansy impatiently.
‘Old history perhaps, but by no means forgotten or forgiven . If there is one thing certain sure, the king has a remarkable memory for those who abuse him. He is prepared to wait patiently, years if necessary, to have his revenge. And I do notdoubt that his day will come.’
Tansy darted a frightened glance at Tam as Will continued solemnly, ‘As a close neighbour to Ruthven, I have heard much that disturbs me and one day, sooner or later, James will strike at them. When he does so, Master Eildor, I do not want my Tansy to be involved. Because he will not spare her. Or any who have associations with the Gowries.’
Will’s words had a sombre echo for Tam. He knew instinctively that there was a grain of truth, of deadly foreboding, that Mistress Agnew’s death and the careful efforts to mark it as an accident were only the prologue to a greater tragedy. Yet even if he knew the nature of the imminent danger to Tansy Scott, he was helpless to avert it, with no power to change the course of recorded history.
As Tansy once again changed the subject to more general remarks about Will’s visit to Edinburgh, a page came in and announced that Her Grace wished Mistress Scott to wait upon her immediately.
‘This will be more about her costume for the Masque,’ groaned Tansy. To Will she said, ‘Is it possible that you might be back with us by Saturday, then you could escort me.’
‘I cannot be sure,’ said Will, ‘but if I
Will put a consoling arm around her shoulders. ‘Tansy, my dear Tansy,’ he said soberly. ‘There is certainly a mystery here, but it is my most earnest desire – indeed I implore you – that you do not involve yourself in this matter, even knowing the unfortunate woman as you did.’
Shaking his head, he glanced over at Tam. ‘I feel that there is much more in this unhappy story than we will ever be allowed to know about. If you have any ideas about what goes on here in Falkland, then you must realise that the king’s authority is final – and dangerous to those who unwittingly offend him.’
Again he gave a sad shake of his head. ‘I cannot explain why but I suspect a sinister reason behind it all. A reasonwhich goes deeper than the poor woman’s death. In these circumstances , it would be well for all of us to look the other way.’
‘Look the other way!’ Tansy exclaimed. ‘That I will never do, Will Hepburn. Agnew never harmed anyone. She was a good kind soul – a friend to many in this court and to me – ’
‘A friend, dear Tansy. Could you really claim her as a friend, this woman about whom you know nothing?’ Will interrupted shrewdly and, including Tam in his sharp glance he added desperately, ‘I beg you, sir, if you know any means of dissuading Mistress Scott from interfering in this matter – ’
‘Interfering!’ Tansy was furious. ‘I will not be told what to do, Will Hepburn, not even by you.’
Will’s arm about her tightened. ‘Indeed you will, my dear,’ he said his voice soft but stern. ‘Listen to me, both of you. Realise there are dangerous forces at work. Someone wanted Margaret Agnew dead and it would be better for all of us if we did not know why and did not try to find out. If we remained silent,’ he added emphasising the words.
Turning again to Tansy, he said sternly ‘I have warned you. I like it not your being close to the queen and I want you kept clear of court intrigues, so step aside and do not become involved.’
To Tam, he said earnestly, ‘I do not care for Mistress Scott’s relationship with the Gowrie family either. The king hates them. He bears a long grudge – ’
‘Master Eildor knows all about that,’ Tansy put in shortly.
‘Very well,’ said Will. ‘But do not imagine that King James has forgotten – or forgiven – the Gowries or anyone related to them.’
‘This is old history,’ said Tansy impatiently.
‘Old history perhaps, but by no means forgotten or forgiven . If there is one thing certain sure, the king has a remarkable memory for those who abuse him. He is prepared to wait patiently, years if necessary, to have his revenge. And I do notdoubt that his day will come.’
Tansy darted a frightened glance at Tam as Will continued solemnly, ‘As a close neighbour to Ruthven, I have heard much that disturbs me and one day, sooner or later, James will strike at them. When he does so, Master Eildor, I do not want my Tansy to be involved. Because he will not spare her. Or any who have associations with the Gowries.’
Will’s words had a sombre echo for Tam. He knew instinctively that there was a grain of truth, of deadly foreboding, that Mistress Agnew’s death and the careful efforts to mark it as an accident were only the prologue to a greater tragedy. Yet even if he knew the nature of the imminent danger to Tansy Scott, he was helpless to avert it, with no power to change the course of recorded history.
As Tansy once again changed the subject to more general remarks about Will’s visit to Edinburgh, a page came in and announced that Her Grace wished Mistress Scott to wait upon her immediately.
‘This will be more about her costume for the Masque,’ groaned Tansy. To Will she said, ‘Is it possible that you might be back with us by Saturday, then you could escort me.’
‘I cannot be sure,’ said Will, ‘but if I
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