Giving her a hug, the Earl of BrocCairn did just that, traveling swiftly with Dugald and but a dozen men-at-arms. ReachingQueen’s Malvernin record time, the first person he saw was his mother-in-law.
Surprise was written all over Skye’s face as Alex and his men rode up the drive. She had just returned from a long ride with Adam, who had taken their horses to the stable. “Alex! Where is Velvet? Isn’t she with you?”
He felt his heart sink, and he slid from his mount to take her hand. “Madame,” he said, “I had hoped that you could tell me where Velvet is.”
“What?”Skye’s blood ran cold in her veins.
“Velvet was kidnapped several weeks ago and taken to Leith. She managed to escape her kidnappers, but we have not be able to find her. She’s disappeared entirely. I had hoped she had come to you.”
“Who in hell kidnapped her?” Adam de Marisco had come from the stables in time to hear his son-in-law’s brief explanation.
“Please, Adam!” Skye put a restraining hand on her angry husband’s arm. “Let us go into the house and hear Alex’s explanation. Can you not see how worried he is?” She led her husband, Alex, and Dugald into the library to settle them down with goblets of dark red wine, all the while moving as if in a dream, though none of the men noticed it. Velvet was her baby, perhaps the dearest of her children, if a mother who has borne eight children can have a favorite. They waited tensely until she had joined them, and then Alex began his tale.
When he had finished, Adam exploded with rage. “You entertained James Stewart’s sworn enemy in your house, you damned fool? What in hell ever possessed you to consort with a traitor? If anything has happened to my daughter, my lord, I’ll settle with you myself!”
“Lord Bothwell is nae a traitor, Adam!” rejoined Alex. “None of us can help it that the king is and always has been both envious and afraid of Francis. Oh, ’tis true that Francis sometimes deliberately bedevils Jamie, but it has always been that way between them, and a more loyal subject James Stewart never had than his cousin, Francis Stewart-Hepburn!”
“Where did you look in Leith?” Skye interrupted, finally beginning to regain her wits.
“Where could we look, Skye? She was gone from the lodging. There was no place else.”
“Leith is a port, Alex. Did it ever occur to you that she might have taken passage on a ship?” Skye asked.
“But why?” he said, surprised.
“I don’t know why, Alex. We will have to find Velvet to learn that, but if she did, then she had a very good explanation, you may be sure, unless you are not telling me everything. Were you both happy? Truly happy? Or did you still hold her responsible for the separation that you both suffered?”
“Nay, madame!” he cried. “We had long reconciled our differences. We were both happy. She lovedDun Broc, and everyone there loved her.”
“Aye,” chimed in Dugald. “The countess is beloved by our people, for she is kind and loving. She had nae enemies but for the English whore.”
“Your …” Skye hesitated.“That woman, the silversmith’s daughter, was still in the castle?” Her look was one of outrage.
“I hae not been involved with Alanna Wythe for three years,” Alex said quietly. “When Velvet was to return, Alanna was yet living atDun Brocalthough I had not slept wi’ her for many months. I offered to send her back to London or to gie her a cottage in Broc Ailien. I dinna expect her to stay, for she hated Scotland, or so she claimed. When she took the cottage, I could not go back on my word. She was naught to Velvet but a nuisance, but that is all, I swear it!”
“She had your child,” said Skye quietly.
“Aye, she did, and I will always care for the little lass,” Alex answered honestly, “but Sibby is my bastard. The child Velvet carries is my heir.”
“Velvet is with child?” Both Skye and Adam spoke in unison. “The bairn is due in early spring as near as Velvet could decide. Had she not written ye? But nay. She wouldna had the time, would she?”
“If my daughter was happy with you,” said Skye, “then I cannot understand why she has left you, but before we can know for sure we must find her. I will send one of my own people to Leith. They will know the questions to ask and the places to ask them, Alex. Will you stay with us until we know something? If Velvet returns toDun Brocon her own, your people will send for you.”
“Aye,” he answered her gratefully, “I’ll stay, Skye, and I thank ye.”
“My poor child, alone and friendless,” muttered Adam.
“She isna alone!” snapped Dugald. “My wife is wi’ her, and Pansy practically due again of a bairn. Yer daughter has the damndest sense of timing, if ye’11 excuse me, m’lord, for each time my wife is to gie me a bairn, off goes m’lady, and Pansy wi’ her!”
Skye couldn’t help but laugh, and even Adam and Alex were forced to smile. “I’m sure that Velvet doesn’t do it deliberately, Dugald,” Skye said.
Dugald sniffed, sounding as if he wasn’t too convinced.
“Will you go and explain this all to Daisy?” asked Skye of Alex’s man. “She’ll know you’re here and will be anxious for word of her daughter.”
“Thank ye, m’lady, and I will,” said Dugald, rising from the bench where he had been sitting and hurrying from the room.
“It is too late in the day,” Skye said, “to send my messenger out now, but he shall have his instructions tonight and leave in the morning for Leith.”
