“And the lady?” James Stewart said.
“With Your Highness’s permission I should like her to wed my son, Kier,” Sir William answered. “You should know that his mother was a Stewart.”
“I did not know,” James Stewart said, surprised again. This was the result of being out of Scotland for so many years. There was much he did not know, but was learning.
“A distant kinswoman of Your Highness’s. She was a widow. Albany forbade our marriage, but our son was born nonetheless. He is a good man. You may rely upon him,” Sir William told the king. “I hope you will entrust Kier with Glengorm, should it be necessary. He will not disappoint you.”
To his surprise the king nodded. “It would be a good solution.”
Then Sir William surprised himself. “And her dower?” he asked. “Will you restore it to her? This time she weds with your approval and your permission.”
“I will restore the portion remaining,” the king agreed. “Perhaps then her father will stop hounding the goldsmith in London who sent it to the goldsmith in Edinburgh from whom I obtained the lady’s monies. The goldsmith dares not offend me, but he is frightened because his English counterpart says he should have given the monies only to Lady Cicely; the Earl of Leighton is threatening him. I had promised the queen when she gave me my son that I would restore Cicely’s dower portion to her, but while she is with child a third time, she has birthed only two daughters. Still, they are healthy, praise God. I mean to match my eldest, Margaret, with the dauphin of France. One day she will be a queen, Sir William. Aye, you may tell Cicely that when she weds with your son I will turn over a dower to him.”
“It is too soon, of course, for Kier to even approach the lady,” Sir William said. “She mourns my kinsman, and Ian is scarce gone twomonths. May I speak with the queen, Your Highness? I should like to tell her of these developments.”
“Nay, go back to the borders before the snows become heavy,” James Stewart said. “I know that is where you would rather be. I will inform the queen of what has happened. And you may carry our affections to Lady Cicely. But keep in mind that I will expect fighting men from both Drumlanrig and Glengorm when I am ready to go into the north against the lord of the isles. You will be summoned then. Remember my kindness to you this day. Speak with my secretary, and he will give you the patents to Glengorm to carry back to your son.” Then, with a nod, he turned and went from the alcove.
Sir William Douglas was relieved that his journey had been so successful, and that he had accomplished exactly what he had wanted to so easily. But, of course, now he and his son would owe the king a favor, payable upon demand. And kings never asked for little favors. He would instruct Kier to begin training men for battle, so that when the call came, Douglas clansmen would march forth from both Drumlanrig and Glengorm to do the king’s service. He remained the night at Scone Palace, sleeping in the stables with his horse. The following morning before departing he found the king’s secretary, and was given the patents to Glengorm neatly enclosed in a thin leather pouch. He rode directly for Glengorm. It was almost Christmas.
Kier was glad to see his father, as was Cicely. “I have brought back the patents for Glengorm,” Sir William told her. “They have been approved and authenticated by the king’s men. And I bring you the greetings and the affections of James Stewart.”
Cicely gave a small laugh. “I suspect you would have brought neither of these things, my lord, had my husband been alive. But I am glad to have my child’s inheritance substantiated and approved. And it is comforting to know my child will have royal favor.”
“My son will keep the patents safe,” Sir William told her with a smile as he handed the pouch to Kier.
“Of course,” Cicely replied. So that was how it was to be, shethought. Well, there was little she could do about it. But one thing concerned her: Would they allow her unborn son to claim his rightful inheritance? But now was not the time, she sensed, to broach such an issue.
“There is no Christmas in the hall,” Sir William noted.
“We are in mourning,” Cicely reminded him. “Will you come to the board now and eat, my lords?” she invited.
Later in the evening, when Cicely had left the hall, Sir William chided his son. “Do not allow her to make a saint out of her late husband, Kier. Ian was far from that. You will soon be the master here. Glengorm’s people should not have their loyalties divided. Even if she births a male, you will still be the lord in fact until the lad reaches his majority. She must put all unnecessary mourning from her by the time her bairn is born. And you will need to take her for your wife as soon thereafter as you can. I want no chance of another courting her, or misunderstanding the situation here.”
“She will wed me, Da. You need have no fear of her finding another,” Kier said.
“I will speak with the priest before I depart tomorrow,” his father said.
Ambrose Douglas listened to Sir William’s plans for Glengorm the following morning. He didn’t disagree with the clan chieftain, and Cicely would indeed have to be married again to protect her, and to protect the child she bore. But he was concerned that, should Kier use too heavy a hand with her, the widow of Glengorm would refuse him. “If she says nay I cannot force her, my lord. Is your son a man who can court a woman and win her over? Or will he do this because he has been told to do it, and because it is the expedient thing to do?” the priest asked candidly.
“We have the king’s permission,” Sir William said.
“Aye, and therein lies the problem. The lady was given the privilege of choosing her own husband by her father. The king was supposed to relinquish her dower to that man when she did so. You knowwhat happened. She has never really forgiven the king for shaming her that way, despite the fact that it meant naught to Ian, and he told her so. Now, should you attempt to force her to the altar by telling her that the king has approved such a match, well, my lord, I shudder to think what Lady Cicely will do.”
“James Stewart will also return the portion of her dower remaining,” Sir William said to the priest. “Will that not make a difference to her? And he has returned the patents to Glengorm as legitimate.”
“The fact that the king will return her dower now will but anger her,” Father Ambrose said. “It is a difficult situation, I know, but if your son can make an attempt to woo the lady you may have an opportunity to make this match a reality. I will speak with him myself. And when the time comes I will encourage her to accept your son as her husband. Lad or lass, Glengorm will need more than one heir.”
“I thank you for your help, Ambrose,” Sir William said. “Your father would be proud of you, the way you always put the family first.”
“I put God first, my son. Always remember that,” the priest told him candidly.
Sir William departed.
Twelfth Night came, and the winter set in. About them the hills were white with snow. The loch was frozen over. Cicely could see it from her bedchamber window now that the leaves were gone from the trees. She worried that the Grahames might use the loch to attack the village and the hall.
“Nay, lady,” Kier assured her. “Remember the redoubt Ian ordered built. It was finished before December was half gone, and is manned day and night. If the Grahames are foolish enough to come again we are ready for them. But they will not come, for my cousin beat them badly in their last encounter. Their women will mourn for years.”
“As will I,” Cicely said.
