“I give you my word, Mother,” the Queenwhispered, “I will not bring shame upon our name.”
Lifting her head proudly, she placed her handon Lindsey’s arm and strode beside her out the door and down thelong hall.At the rear of the castle a door stood ajar.Beyond wasa small, paved courtyard where Jamie stood holding the reins to ahorse.The hooded, caped figure of the queen’s husband was astrideanother horse.
“I was just coming to fetch you, Majesty,”Jamie said as the queen approached.
“The groom brought me.Is all inreadiness?”
“Aye.”Jamie’s eyes narrowed on the slenderfigure beside the queen.
Lindsey’s heart stopped.Surely he would seethrough her disguise.
Jamie was too distracted.“I would urge youonce more to consider what you are about to do, Majesty.This is aperilous journey you undertake.”
Lindsey felt the queen’s hand on her sleeveand wished she could flee.But there was nowhere to hide.Jamie’sscrutiny had her trembling.
“Help me mount,” the queen said toLindsey.
Before Lindsey could assist her, Jamie cameto the queen’s aid, lifting her to the saddle with ease.
He handed her the reins, then said, “I haveinstructed your maid to notify Douglas Gordon and his clan, whoawait me at the inn, to return to the Highlands and assemble acouncil of all the Highland lairds.If they unite behind YourMajesty, you will be powerful enough to repel any attack.Further,you will return to Edinburgh in triumph.”
“Oh, Jamie, my dearest friend.I pray it isso.”
They looked up at the sound of a commotion atthe front gate.
“God in heaven,” the queen whispered.“Irecognize Ruthven’s voice.”She rounded on the figure astride thesecond horse.“Why has he come?”
In a sullen voice her husband said, “It is asI have sworn to you a hundred times.They no longer confide in me.I know nothing of their plans.”
Ignoring the man, Jamie whispered, “LordRuthven was here the night Brice was wounded.”He withdrew hissword form its scabbard and made a move to follow the sound of thevoice.“I would deal with this villain now.”
“Nay, Jamie.There is no time.Do you notsee?If he is here in Edinburgh, he has brought others with him.Others who wish me dead.The man covets my power.”The queen’s tonewas urgent.“We must ride now.”
For a moment Jamie hesitated.The need toavenge the brutal attack upon his foster father burned in hisheart.But he had given his word to Brice Campbell that his firstallegiance would be to his queen.Her safety must remain uppermostin his mind.
Sheathing his weapon, he pulled himself intothe saddle.“Aye, Majesty.We ride to Lochleven.”
“What of your groom?”the queen askedsuddenly.
“He is not my groom,” Jamie said, tearing hisgaze from the queen to study the slender figure more carefully.“Ithought he was your groom.”
“Nay.God in heaven.”Fear darted into thequeen’s eyes.
In one fluid motion Jamie slid from thesaddle and grasped Lindsey by the front of the tunic, pulling herclose.His voice was a low rasp of fury.
“For whom do you spy?”
For a moment her voice was lodged in herthroat.She felt the cold steel of his knife as he lifted it to herthroat.
“By heaven, you will speak or I will cut outyour tongue.”
“I...followed you here, my lord.”
At the sound of that soft, husky voice,Jamie’s eyes widened.
“Lindsey?”
Without waiting for her reply, he tore thehat from her head and watched as her hair tumbled down herback.
