Conal Bruce replied steadily.
“I did not lie!” Alpin Bruce shouted.
“You are a liar, cousin, and the reason you have told this lie is because you wished to make yourself important in the eyes of your master, and because you were foiled in your attempt to rape my mistress,” the laird answered coldly. “Liar, debaucher, and now fool. Have the wounds on your buttocks healed yet?”
“I fucked her! I fucked her, and she loved it!” Alpin Bruce yelled.
Lord Home and the Hepburn of Hailes looked at each other curiously.
“My cousin attempted to force my mistress. He failed in his endeavor, and when Adair called for help her dog fastened his teeth in Alpin’s fat arse. I’ll wager you did not sit for a week or two, cousin,” the laird mocked.
“Now, get out of my hall. I am pleased to entertain Lord Home and the Hepburn, but I told you, you are nolonger welcome in my keep. If you come back again I will kill you, Alpin. Do you understand me?”
Alpin Bruce flung his dram cup across the chamber and slunk from the hall, muttering curses beneath his breath as he went.
“Is she worth the danger Alpin put himself in?”
Patrick Hepburn asked, amused.
“You will see for yourselves, my lords, for both of you are too far from your own homes to return today. You will spend the night, of course. Flora,” he called to the serving woman, “go and tell Elsbeth that we have guests for the night. There are ten of them, two to sit at the high board with me.”
“Aye, my lord, at once,” Flora said, and hurried off.
“Where is this paragon that your cousin covets?”
Lord Home wanted to know. He was a tall, distinguished older man with snow white hair who had once been Scotland’s ambassador to England. His blue eyes were curious.
“At this time of day she will be in her gardens,” the laird answered. “She has spent the spring restoring my late mother’s kitchen and herb gardens. She is an English captive Willie Douglas brought over the border last autumn. I bought her at the Michaelmas fair. I want to marry her. ’Tis past time I had a wife.”
“If you want to wed her, then why don’t you?” the Hepburn of Hailes asked.
“She’s been wed twice before, and widowed twice.
She says when she marries again it will be because the man loves her,” the laird explained. “I don’t understand her, but she will make me a suitable wife,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Lord Home laughed. “A most unusual woman,” he said. “Will she join us for the meal, Conal Bruce?”
“Aye, she will,” he said. Then he continued, “My lord, we have not yet concluded our earlier conversations, and I would not offend you.”
“I will admit I am not pleased that you will not support me against the king,” Lord Home said quietly, “but aye, I do understand your position. There is talk, however, of making the king step down, and setting his son upon the throne. If that were to happen where would you stand, Conal Bruce?”
“With the crown, of course,” the laird answered Lord Home.
The older man laughed heartily. “You are clever, my lord.” He chuckled. “With the crown indeed, but with which king?”
“Whichever wears the crown,” Conal Bruce replied with a small grin.
“A humble bonnet laird indeed,” Patrick Hepburn said. “Your wits are too nimble by far, I am thinking, Conal Bruce.” He chortled. “Our young Jamie would like you.”
The laird did not ask to whom the Hepburn of Hailes referred. He knew the reference was to Prince James.
There was more afoot here than just the matter of Coldingham Priory. He was not certain he wanted to know.
Any hint of treason could destroy him. And while a king sat on Scotland’s throne, suggesting he be replaced with his son was indeed treason. He moved the subject back once again to Cleit. “You will not hold it against me that I cannot publicly support you, my lord?” he asked Alexander Home. “Mind you, I do not disagree with your position. The king has no right to take the revenues that are yours and have been your family’s for many years.”
“There is no quarrel between us, Conal Bruce,” Lord Home said.
At that moment Adair entered the hall. “I am told we have visitors, my lord,” she said, coming forward. She wore a soft light wool gown, pale violet in color. It brought out the color in her eyes and made her pale skin seem paler, especially with her dark hair. She curtsied to Lord Home first, and then to the Hepburn of Hailes.
