“Very well. Have Thomas come to the castle on the morrow. I must go now.” Eva hurried away and returned to buy more apples for her father, and bread.
After she took care of replenishing the items she’d given away, she rushed back to the castle. The sky had dimmed and surely the late meal had been served. Eva didn’t want to be late for her meeting with the queen, so she would find the chamberlain later to tell him about the lad. She left the items she’d purchased in her chamber, checked on her da who continued to sleep, fixed her appearance, and rushed back to the great hall where she presumed the meeting with the queen would be held. Unfortunately, she hadn’t noticed the muddy edge of her gown.
“Mistress Eva,” Chamberlain Edmund called from down the hallway.
“Sir,” she said and curtseyed. “I am not late, am I?”
“The queen has not come yet so nay, not late at all. Come, I will show you where to go,” he said and held out his arm. “Queen Margaret is taking an audience in her private solar with some of her ladies in attendance and shall arrive momentarily.” He eyed the edge of her gown and smiled. “Did ye enjoy your outing?”
“I did until… Yes, the market is wonderful.” Apprehensively, Eva held onto his arm and walked next to him. She took advantage of the moment and told him about the lad and the family’s position. “They are in dire need. There must be something we can do to help them.”
“What a dreadful situation for you, Mistress. That you would offer such aid to the lad after he tried to thieve from you…”
“His father died while serving the king. Surely there is something you can do to help Thomas and his mother. Is there not a job he can do…perhaps in the stables or helping the kitchen servants? Surely the king cares about that family and their loss.” She implored him with hopeful eyes.
“I suppose so, Mistress. I could find something for the lad to do and shall look for him on the morrow,” he said and stopped. “You are a tenderhearted lass to think of them, and aye, we should do something to aid them. Here we are.” He opened a door and waved her inside.
She pulled away, thanked him, and hurriedly entered. Inside the small but cozy solar stood a few women who whispered amongst themselves. They glanced at her but when they realized she wasn’t the queen, they returned to their conversations, ignoring her. Eva felt awkward because she was unfamiliar with the women and wasn’t one to converse easily with people she didn’t know, so she slunk back toward the wall and waited.
A short while later, the queen finally arrived. Margaret was thin with long brown hair and long limbs. Her hair was covered with a short wimple. She smiled at them, nodding her head as she looked at each of the women. “Ladies, welcome. Come and sit with me.” She seemed to glide across the floor until she reached the plush chair by the hearth.
There were several chairs situated near her seat. Eva was the last to join them. She took the last unoccupied chair and sat back, content to watch and listen. The queen made small talk with the women until she finally raised her hand.
“My husband means to give the hands of some women to the Highlanders. I hope to abate their fears, but alas, I am certain nothing shall be of a comfort. Alexander means well and has selected the most courageous and noble Highlanders to wed them to. They shall not be disappointed with the selection. When they meet them, they will see how fortunate they are.”
Several of the queen’s attendants agreed with nods. Conversations rose as the women talked with each other and put their views forth about the coming marriages. As she watched the women, Eva realized that she was the only “bride” present and that none of the others hadattended the queen’s gathering.
Eva looked away from the queen and moved her gaze around the chamber to note the queen’s taste for furnishings and other decorative items: elegant tapestries, golden candlesticks, small statues of religious figures, and other unknown objects. She hadn’t realized the queen had given the ladies their leave until Margaret stood before her.
“Mistress Eva, come with me.” She quickly turned and moved to the other side of the room.
Eva hurried to follow and the queen stopped at the one window casement in the solar. “Your Grace, I am honored to be here.”
“Are you?” Margaret chuckled. “It appears to me that perhaps you speak falsely. Were you listening? I doubt you were.” Even though she appeared affronted by Eva’s aloofness, Margaret’s empathy came with a small smile. “I understand why you would be apprehensive. I was myself a betrothed bride and had not met Alexander long before our wedding.”
Eva nodded but kept quiet. She didn’t want to say anything to offend the queen.
“Now, I had my hopes set that you would find Laird Buchanan to your liking. He is rather handsome, and has a serious demeanor, but would do well for a husband.”
She felt her chest constrict when Margaret mentioned a laird. It made her situation more real to her. There was a husband at the end of this. “Ah, Laird Buchanan, Your Grace? Are you saying that we shall marry Highlanders?”
“Were you not listening at all, lass? Aye, Highlanders. I am certain that Laird Buchanan shall find you exceedingly beautiful and you will make a good match. I do believe that you may have more than one man vying for your hand, Mistress Eva, which is why I want to whisper Buchanan’s name in your ear. And before you speak your reasons against such a match, I should tell you that Laird Buchanan needs a good woman. Are you such a woman?”
Eva almost groaned aloud but she managed to keep her distress hidden.Grace and decorum, she reminded herself. No one refused the king or queen and if they wanted her to accept Buchanan, then she had to make an effort to show her eagerness.Sweet Mary.“I hope so, My Lady. At least, I shall try.”
“I doubt you need to try at all. He will be overcome by your beauty.” At the moment, Eva’s supposed beauty seemed less of a blessing and more of a curse. Margaret’s smile widened and her eyes shone as if she wanted to say more but didn’t. Eventually, she led Eva away from the window casement and toward the door. “Now that is settled, we shall see what you think of him at your first meeting.”
“I am certain, My Lady, that I will find him acceptable.”
The queen opened the door. Before she could flee, Margaret blocked her from leaving. “Mistress Eva, you may be used to being coddled, for I heard that your dear father holds you in great esteem… But I suggest that you do not expect to be treated so affectionately by a Highlander. Highland men have no time for tenderness or to indulge their wives. Best remember that and save yourself a little bit of heartache.”
She bowed to the queen and turned to leave. Along the way to her chamber, Eva almost laughed at this dreadful farce and her conversation with the queen. It wasn’t that she found it comical, quite the opposite. It seemed that she’d be doomed to a life of hardship and a husband who cared not about her wants or needs. Eva didn’t like the sound of that and prayed that wasn’t so. She didn’t know much about the Highlanders and had spent all of her life by the border. Most of the people she’d met appeared more English than Scottish.
With hope, Laird Buchanan would be an amiable husband and treat her with as much care and tenderness as her father had.
Chapter Four
The lass hadleft before he could ask her name. Breckin was taken aback by her beauty when he’d first spotted her on the lane. She was lovely with long, glorious brown hair that curled at the edges. It was when he was close enough to see her eyes, though, that she thoroughly captivated him. She had eyes as blue as the sea, so rich in color that they seemed to shimmer with excitement. He could lose himself in the depth of them and wondered what she found so enthralling. She fascinated him even from afar and when he noticed a lad getting too close to her, he had to step in when he suspected the lad was going to snatch her coin pouch.
