“Aye. The pugnacious little mon has already been to visit me. But he knows enough to keep me alive.” King Robert approached but stepped to the window hanging, which he pushed back. He walked to Alex and examined his injuries. “How are you even balancing on your feet with a face like that?”
“Carefully, Your Majesty.” Alex clenched his jaw as he struggled to tie the laces. Knowing the king watched him only flustered him more, but the determination not to appear like an invalid was stronger.
“No one’s seen them since the evening meal.” Alex didn’t need the Bruce to name who he meant. “I suspect it was them, but I have no proof.”
“You have the proof that I recognized them.” Alex wished he could cross his arms. He refused to put his hand on his hip like a nagging fishwife.
“They’re gone, which should suffice.” King Robert peered at Alex’s face, then shook his head.
“You’re disgusted at what you can see. Even with my eyes nearly swollen shut, I can tell. Yet you wish for me to accept a beating, then you want knowing they ran away to mollify me.”
“That’s politics.”
“That’s a slight to my clan and me. But more than aught, it’s a royal sod off.” Alex turned away from the king as he fought not to wince when he withdrew a fresh doublet from his satchel.
“Tread carefully.” King Robert’s ire rang out in the room.
“Like they did? Och, aye. They didn’t put a toe over our borders to assault my people. They took care of it by attacking me here. Sounds like they complied well.” Alex felt his anger growing each moment King Robert remained in his chamber.
“Alexander, I can understand you’re in pain, but—”
“This has naught to do with any pain I might be in. This has everything to do with the insult they’ve doled out to my father and my clan. I disagreed with being my father’s delegate, but here I am. I warned of this happening, and it did. But just because I guessed the inevitable trouble doesn’t mean I have to accept it. If they had the bollocks to attack me in your keep, right beneath your nose, then what confidence doyouhave that they will obey you when they are beyond your reach? Like I said, they told you to sod off just as loudly as they did me.”
Alex finished buttoning his doublet, surprised he’d done it with ease while he railed against the Scotts and insulted the king. It was nearly midday, and he expected Caitlyn to return. He didn’t want King Robert to linger lest she arrive while he was still there. Alex forced himself to stop speaking. He would let the king say his piece, even if he barely listened and didn’t agree.
“I can send an entourage to accompany you to Mangerton.” King Robert nearly stepped back when Alex turned his angry face toward him. Even discolored and swollen, he witnessed the disgust in Alex’s eyes.
“Is one of them a wet nurse for me too?” Alex sat on the edge of the bed to pull up his stockings. He cared not that the king remained standing. He didn’t intend to offer the Bruce a seat, since he wanted him gone.
“Then what do you want?”
“I want their bollocks on a platter. What I’ll settle for is their cowardly arses dragged back here and tossed in the oubliette. Don’t think of it as a gift to me. Think of it as reminding the Scotts who’s king.”
“You play a dangerous game, Alexander.” King Robert’s temper frayed with every antagonistic word Alex spewed.
“One where I might wind up dead? I didn’t ask to join in, but I seem to be the only player. Whether it’s you or the Scotts, someone’s bound to get it right. But I refuse to die before you resolve the matter in my clan’s favor. Just like you promised.” Alex threw down the gauntlet.
“You seem eager to be the one whose bollocks are on a platter.”
“Mayhap, but you won’t be able to deny I have the biggest set.” Alex cocked an eyebrow, but he didn’t think King Robert could tell.
“I’ll give you that. I will not bring them back to court, nor will I insist upon an escort for you. But I will send men to make my position clear to Laird Scott since his men have proven untrustworthy. The royal livery might make them take notice.”
One can hope.“Thank you, Your—” Alex turned his attention at the door as a soft knock sounded. He was certain who was on the other side of the portal, and he wanted to groan. He couldn’t avoid Caitlyn or the king finding her, whether it was on his doorstep or in his chamber. “Enter.”
Caitlyn stepped across the threshold carrying a basket but stopped short when she caught sight of King Robert. She dipped into a low curtsy. When no acknowledgement came that she could rise, she did so anyway and closed the door behind her. She didn’t think anyone noticed her, but if word circulated that she was in a chamber with the king and Alex, not only would her reputation be beyond repair, she feared the queen would send her to the gallows.
“Lady Caitlyn, you’ve returned.” King Robert scrutinized Caitlyn, but after years at court, she no longer grew uncomfortable under the intimidating gaze. She wondered how he’d heard that she’d already been to visit Alex. Then she recalled the physician. She said nothing, knowing the king didn’t expect a response. “You risk much coming here, not only at night, but in the middle of the day.”
“Lady Caitlyn promised to check in on me in case I need more bandages or willow bark, then be on her way.” Alex turned to face Caitlyn who, to her credit, didn’t show her shock at how much worse Alex’s face appeared. “I have what I need, thank you. Mayhap I’ll see you at the meal.”
Alex watched Caitlyn’s jaw set, and he prayed she didn’t argue. She cast him a warning glare before lowering her head as she dipped into another curtsy. She rose gracefully, looking at the king rather than Alex.
“Good day, Your Majesty.” She shifted her eyes to Alex. “Until I see you attomorrow’smidday meal, Alexander.”
“Lady Caitlyn, do you not approve of Alexander being up and moving around? Did you expect to find him abed, waiting for you?”
Alex opened his mouth to defend Caitlyn, aghast at the Bruce’s implications. But Caitlyn was swifter. “Aboot as much as I expected to find him beaten, Your Majesty.”
