“They say men are easily bewitched by Mary Stuart,” he replied.
Annabella snorted impatiently. “Did ye ever meet her?” she asked.
“Nay,” he said.
“Then do not repeat the drivel spouted by Master Knox and his ilk,” Annabella told him. “Mary Stuart is beautiful, ’tis true. She hae great charm, and is educated, but she is nae a fair devil leading men astray. Men are fools, Master Stewart, to repeat such rumors and innuendo.”
“But she murdered her husband,” he protested.
“Nay, she did not. If any be implicated, it is those who plotted in the murder of Riccio, the queen’s secretary. Those same men now grappling for power. Lord Darnley was not a careful man. He was debauched, and when in his cups spoke too freely. He would hae died a natural death sooner than later. Did ye know he murdered my first child?” Then she turned away, saying to Matthew, “See that someone brings Angus a hot meal as soon as possible. He was barely through the door when this nonsense began.”
When the day had ended and the hall was quiet, a maidservant came to Annabella. “My lady, I would speak wi’ ye privily,” the girl said.
“Bring a bowl of apples to my apartments,” Annabella said softly. Then she arose and left the hall to go to her own rooms.
It was there that the servant girl came, holding a brass bowl of apples as her excuse to enter the lady’s apartments. Setting the apples upon a sideboard, she curtsied to her mistress. Jean Ferguson stood by Annabella’s side and encouraged the lass to speak.
“I overheard the Stewart men talking as I served them this evening,” the girl began. “Donal Stewart hae orders to kill the earl should treason be found. That is why he was put in the cellars, my lady. They will slay our lord, and then be on their way, and to whom can ye raise a complaint? They laughed, saying all yer preparations to keep yer husband warm and comfortable were for naught, for he will shortly be dead.”
Annabella sat frozen with shock for several long moments. Then, regaining her voice, she said, “Ye are certain that is what ye heard? That they mean to do murder?”
The servant nodded. “Aye, my lady. I dinna mistake their wicked intent.”
The Countess of Duin didn’t hesitate. Turning to Jean, she said, “Find yer husband, and tell him to take Donal Stewart and his men into custody. House them in the dungeons. Then he is to release the earl. Angus will know what is to be done.”
Without a word Jean ran from the room.
“Stay wi’ me,” Annabella said to the servant girl.
After an hour had passed they heard footsteps in the hallway outside. The servant grew pale, but Annabella jumped to her feet, running to the door to open it. The Earl of Duin strode into her chambers.
“Jeannie hae told me,” he said. He kissed her a hard kiss. “Ye’re a clever lass, wife. We’ve put Stewart and his men in the dungeons until I can decide what to do wi’ them. He doesn’t seem the type of fellow who would kill a man in his own house.”
“He’s one of Moray’s bastards,” Annabella said. “He’ll do whatever his da bids him do to keep his favor. Where did they obtain the information that makes ye seem guilty? Moray doesna need to slay an unimportant border lord to maintain his power.”
“Moray will slay anyone he believes is working toward bringing Mary Stuart back to power. If she had been a less intelligent woman, if she had been a woman easily directed, if she had nae wed first Darnley and then Bothwell, perhaps things might have been different. But the plain truth is that while James Stewart, because of his birth, cannot be king, he would be king. If Mary Stuart had let him rule through her, Scotland might be a more peaceable place today. Like most of the Stewarts he is an ambitious man.”
“But there is nae proof of yer disloyalty!” Annabella said.
“Dinna forget that a packet sealed with a ring bearing the de Guise seal, and a bag of gold coins were found in my saddlebags. But why they were put there to implicate me in some plot, I dinna know,” Angus responded slowly. “I’ll hae to go back to France to unravel this puzzle so I may clear my name.”
“I’m coming wi’ ye,” Annabella said.
“Sweetheart,” he replied, “this is nae a trip for a woman to make.”
“I can travel as a young man,” she told him.
“Nay,” he said in a determined voice.
Annabella looked at her husband. “I will nae allow ye to go wi’out me, Angus.”
“Nay, ’twill be dangerous, for the moment Moray learns I’ve gone they will be after me, Annabella. I want ye here, safe wi’ our bairns.”
“Moray doesna have to know until we are safe in France. Matthew can keep Donal Stewart and his men confined for a few weeks. Ye know the castle is in good hands wi’ him. And the bairns have their nurses and Aggie.”
“Aggie is about to deliver her own bairn. She will need ye wi’ her,” he said.
“If we are quick we may be back before she has it,” Annabella replied, knowing very well, even as he did, that such a swift trip would be difficult at best.
