“No one must know,” said Robin.
“Of course,” agreed Murrough.
“Why?” questioned Velvet.
“If word got out as to the amount of gold our ships are carrying, we would be a prime target for pirates. There are many miles of water between London and Bombay. We must travel in a small fleet, in a tight formation, without hailing any other vessel before we reach our destination. We’ll be transporting several thousand pounds of gold in five ships. Even one of those ships would be a tempting prize. That, Velvet, is why no one must know.”
“In that case I can only hope no one saw you at Whitehall,” remarked Willow.
Murrough laughed. “Only the queen and Lord Burghley. ’Twas too early in the morning for the high and mighty to be up and about. Besides, the fact that I am back is no reason for anyone to be suspicious. It looks like I simply came ahead.”
“You will get them home safely, won’t you, Murrough?” Velvet’s voice was slightly unsteady. “The Portuguese won’t harm Mama and Papa before you return with the ransom?”
“If I know Mother, Velvet, she will have wagered some mad bet with the viceroy and won back every penny of the ransom before I arrive. Do not fear, little sister. The viceroy is only interested in becoming a wealthy man. Harming Mother and Adam would gain him nothing. They may sail beneath an English flag, but they are Catholics. There is no reason to harm them. By this time next year our family will be back together, I promise you!”
She believed him. He was Murrough, her Murrough, the big brother who had carried her on his shoulders when she was a wee girl. This was the brother who had sneaked sweetmeats into her bed when she had been sent to her room supperless for some long-forgotten infraction. Murrough had never failed her, and Velvet knew that he wouldn’t now.
In the next few days Murrough set in motion the revictualizing of his ship and the provisioning of the ships that would accompany him. The gold that was secretly brought from goldsmiths in three different countries would be placed aboard at the last possible minute, hidden among the trading cargo that was even now being placed in conspicuous locations on the O’Malley-Small docks in order to allay any suspicions. All the captains and the crews involved in the mission were hand-picked and trustworthy. Murrough was pleased to discover that his own crew didn’t want to be replaced. Despite their many months at sea and their short stay at home, they had begun to love this adventure, and to a man they were determined to finish it. Once everything was well under way, Murrough departed for Devon to visit his wife and children.
Although she was concerned for her parents, Velvet knew now that come spring Alex would request the queen’s permission to return toDun Broc.Under the circumstances she suspected that the queen would give him that permission. Velvet might get Alex to remain in England until her sixteenth birthday on May 1, but she knew that soon after that they would be on their way. So she would have only a few months more at court, and the Lenten season would shortly be upon them with its fasting and prayers. There would be no gaiety or parties during the six weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter. She debated the wisdom of allowing Alex to get her with child now, but discarded the notion for she knew it meant a great deal to him that his heir be born atDun Broc.Better to wait until they returned to Scotland than to attempt pregnancy now and force Alex to remain in England until the baby was born.
There was to be a final masque on Shrove Tuesday night at court.
“On the morrow ’twill be fish and ashes,” mourned Essex, and the queen rapped him sharply on the knuckles with her fan.
“Fie, sire!” she scolded. “A six-week penance will do you no harm, and I’ve no doubt that come Easter Sunday you’ll begin to make up for lost time!”
The queen had ordered that the ladies come to the masque garbed in either silver or gold, the gentlemen in red or black. The celebration would end precisely at midnight. Until then there would be music and dancing and feasting at Her Majesty’s expense.
“What will you do in the next six weeks?” Angel asked Velvet as they lunched on the day of the masque. “We are leaving forLynmouthtomorrow. My health is excellent, and Robin feels that if we travel slowly there will be no danger to the baby. Surely you don’t mean to stay in London. ’Twill be so dull!”
Before Velvet could answer, Alex broke into their conversation. “We are leaving for Scotland in several days’ time,” he said quietly.
“Scotland!”Both Velvet and Angel gasped, and then Velvet cried, “ ’Tis winter! The roads will be terrible, if not impassable! I did not think we would leave until after Easter, my lord.”
“I have been away from my lands ten months now, Velvet. I have an enormous group of retainers that is costing me a fortune to feed and house here in London. They are restless, and restless men grow troublesome. They long for their homes and families. It may be cold, but the roads are passable here in England. I cannot say what they will be like in Scotland, but we are going to try to get through. With luck we will be atDun Brocwithin the month. I have already asked the queen’s permission. Yer parents will not be back for a full year or more. With luck we can greet them with a fine grandson.”
“Which is just as it should be!” said Willow briskly. “Why James and I are for Alcester once Lent begins. With your permission, brother Alex, we shall ride with you. For once I’ll have no fear of getting home safely, for no one will even consider trifling with that wild-looking band of Highlanders who owe you loyalty. If you wish the hospitality ofHill Housebefore traveling on, you’re most welcome to it.”
“I’m most happy to have you travel with us, Willow,” responded Alex courteously. “As for yer hospitality, we shall see. If the weather is good we shall press on without delay.”
“When did you intend to tell me of your plans, my lord?” said Velvet. Her voice was ominously calm at first, then it began to rise angrily. “Tonight is the queen’s masque, and then how many days was I to be allowed to pack up my life before being dragged into the wintry Highlands? Or perhaps, my lord, you meant to drag me off again with nothing but the shift on my back as you did the last time we traveled north together!”
“Ye don’t need to take everything ye own now,” Alex replied foolishly. “Pansy can pack the rest and come in the spring.”
“What?” Velvet shrieked. “First you propose to deprive me of my family, then my clothing and personal effects, and now my tiring woman! Is it that you have duplicated everything at that Highland stone heap you call a castle? Have you a maid waiting there for me who can speak the queen’s English to keep me company, or will I be faced with some half-savage girl who’ll not understand me, nor I her? I’ll not go! If you’re so anxious to return to Scotland, then go yourself, but you’ll go without me if I cannot have the time to pack my things and if I cannot have my own tiring woman!”
“Will ye disobey me then, Velvet?” he shouted back at her, and everyone in the room jumped at the threatening tone in his voice.
“Is it the horses and dogs again, Alex?” she demanded, hands upon her hips.
He glowered blackly at her, and then Robin spoke. “You cannot expect my sister to go to her new home without her own things and servants about her, Alex. How soon do you want to leave?”
“Within the week.”
“Plenty of time,” soothed Robin, “for Pansy and my servants to pack everything up for transport. Can you use my traveling coach?”
“As far as Edinburgh,” muttered Alex.
