“Thank you, Ian,” she answered him.Blessed Mother!The king was overly proud, and so was her husband. But Ian Douglas had no real idea of how ruthless James Stewart could be. His decisive actions and firm grip on Scotland were not those of an easy man. Everything the king did was done with a purpose, and carefully thought out beforehand. She would have to apologize too, Cicely knew. And not just to the king, but to Jo as well. “Let us leave for Edinburgh in a few days,” she said.
The laird nodded. “I’ll have Ambrose bring me the patent for our lands. He has them.”
Sir William found himself relieved, but he feared for his kinsman when he learned how the king planned to take his revenge on Cicely and Glengorm. He hoped his kinsman had been speaking the truth these many months.
He spent a pleasant evening with Ian and Cicely, departing in the morning after a good night’s rest in a comfortable bed and two excellent hot meals. The laird and his wife would survive James Stewart’s wrath. He had seen for himself how much they loved each other. Their love would sustain them.
Ian was not pleased at having to ride to Edinburgh to prove his ownership of his lands, but every man and woman holding property in Scotland was required to do it. But spring was a busy season. There was some planting to be done. The cattle and sheep had to be driven to their spring meadows. And spring was the beginning of the raiding season. Hopefully with an English queen the raiding would cease, or at least lessen. It was not safe to leave one’s lands.
But then Andrew Grey of Ben Duff sent word that he would be going to Edinburgh also, and suggested that if Ian was going they might travel together, for safety’s sake. He would bring six men-at-arms with him. Ian sent the Ben Duff messenger back, saying he intended departing in two days, and that Cicely had to travel with them, as she was going to claim her dower from the king.
Cicely packed for them both, for the only way to get her husband off in a timely manner was to tell him when to get on his horse the morning of their departure. They had no intention of remaining long in Edinburgh. They would do what was necessary and quickly return home. She was certain Andrew Grey would agree, for he was leaving Maggie and their child alone. She packed lightly. They would both wear breeks to ride, for it was easier, and they could make better time. Orva helped her carefully fold her dark green velvet gown to wear when they spoke to the king. It had a wide, low neckline and fur-trimmed sleeves. She would tuck her long hair in her gold caul and set a sheer gold veil atop her head. Her garb would show respect for the king’s majesty but would not make her appear proud. For Ian she put in a fine silk shirt. He would wear his breeks with a length of his Douglas plaid slung across his chest and fastened with his clan badge. She folded the wool plaid and tucked it into a saddlebag.
“Will you take any jewelry?” Orva asked.
“A gold chain, three or four rings,” Cicely answered her. “I don’t want to appear overproud. I am the laird of Glengorm’s wife, and no more.”
“Nay, you are the Earl of Leighton’s daughter too,” Orva said. “Youhave married for love, ’tis true. You must never forget that, or let your children forget it.”
Cicely reached out and patted Orva’s hand. “I never forget who I am, but I also know I must beg the king’s forgiveness meekly so that he will continue to be our friend.”
“Lady Joan will protect you,” Orva said.
Andrew Grey and his six clansmen arrived just as the spring dawn was breaking. Cicely invited them all into the hall to eat, for the loss of half an hour would not trouble them, as the days were longer now. But as soon as they had eaten they departed. Six Douglas men-at-arms assured their protection. That night they stopped at a small monastery, where they were given shelter and a meal. They departed the following day at sunrise, reaching Edinburgh just after sunset. One of the Douglas men-at-arms traveling with them was married to the daughter of a man who kept a small inn on the edge of the town just off of the High Street. They would be staying there.
As they arrived the innkeeper himself rushed forward to welcome them, and brought Cicely and the two lairds to a small private room, where a hot supper was immediately served, along with a surprisingly good wine. The two men fell into conversation while Cicely slipped into the little bedchamber, washed, and, climbing into the bed, fell asleep. She was half wakened when Ian joined her, but fell back to sleep.
As the inn was small, Andrew Grey had slept before the common room fire on a pallet their host had brought for him when the dishes were cleared away. Ian awakened him early, already dressed to ride up to Edinburgh Castle. Cicely came forth from the bedchamber, inviting the laird of Ben Duff to use the chamber to refresh and relieve himself. He thanked her, and a short while later came forth. Like Ian he was dressed in border garb, the difference being his plaid, which was dark green with a design of stripes in red and deep blue and black.
“I didn’t know the Grey family had a plaid,” Cicely said.
“The Greys don’t,” Ben Duff replied. “We are an allied family of the Stewarts, and I am wearing old Stewart, for the clan has several different plaids. The allied families usually wear either this one or the one called dress Stewart.”
They left their men-at-arms at the inn. There was no need to take them to the fortress castle on the hill that overlooked the town from a height of three hundred feet. They had no need to make an entrance that would draw attention to themselves. They were simply two border lords coming to obey the king’s command. Riding through the town they arrived at the esplanade, which was set before the curtain wall of the castle. The space was always left open so any enemy approaching might be seen and identified. They traversed the open space, their horses clopping across the drawbridge spanning a wide moat, finally arriving at the gatehouse, where they dismounted and identified themselves. Their horses were taken, and a soldier called to bring them to a chamber where they would wait until the king deigned to receive them.
“Where is the queen?” Cicely asked the man-at-arms escorting them.
“She is probably in her apartments, madam,” he answered as he brought them into a small paneled room with a single window.
“You will take me to her,” Cicely said in an authoritative voice.
The man-at-arms looked confused. He was not certain what to do.
“Ladyfaire,” Ian said to his wife.
“I must make my peace with her first,” Cicely said. “I am in her service. Besides, the king, when he learns who has come, will keep you waiting for several hours so there is no doubt in your minds that he is in charge.”
Andrew Grey snickered. “She’s right, Ian,” he said.
Cicely turned back to the man-at-arms. “I am Lady Cicely Bowen, the queen’s close companion, and you will take me to hernow,” she said firmly.
“If you will follow me, my lady,” the man-at-arms said, and led her away through several narrow corridors until he stopped before a large oak door. He rapped sharply, and shortly the door was opened by an older lady who peered out.
“My lady!” she cried, a smile wreathing her face. “Come in, come in!” She looked at the man-at-arms. “Go about your business now.” She waved him away.
“Thank you,” Cicely said to the soldier, who bobbed his head to her.
“Oh, the queen will be so happy to see you, dearie,” Bess, the queen’s old tiring woman since her childhood, said. “And wait until you see the child she birthed. Bless me, the wee princess is sturdy and healthy, praise God!” She crossed herself piously as she led Cicely into the queen’s apartments and through the dayroom to the queen’s privy chamber. Cicely recognized some of the women, for they had been there before. And they obviously recognized her, for they began to whisper to one another.
