“How much did you pay the lad for hisclothes?”
“A gold sovereign.”Lindsey lifted the cup toher lips and tasted.
“And did you simply approach him and ask himto remove his clothes?”
Across the room, Jamie chuckled.
At the queen’s bold question, Lindsey nearlychoked on the tea.Swallowing, she lifted her head to glare atJamie, then turned a more composed face to the queen.“His sisterwas a maidservant at the inn where we were spending the night.Iasked her to help me with a disguise, and she was happy tooblige.”
“You swore her to secrecy, I suppose.”
“Of course, Majesty.”
The queen became more animated.“And allbecause you wanted to taste the freedom enjoyed by a man, yousaid?”
Lindsey nodded.“I followed Jamie MacDonaldto a tavern.”
“Tell me, Lady Lindsey.Did you enjoyyourself in the tavern?”
Lindsey’s eyes grew dreamy for a moment.“Except for my fear of being discovered, it was not altogetherunpleasant.A wench brought me a tankard of ale, and I sat in acorner and watched the others.”Lindsey thought about the man andwoman who had paraded their lust in front of the entire assemblybefore going off to a room at the tavern.There were some things,she realized, that she could not mention.“Alas, I could not joinin the conversations or the laughter, or my masquerade would havebeen uncovered.”
Caught up in the tale, Mary touched a hand toher heart.“How exciting.Had I been in your place, I would havefeared detection.”
“Nay.It was not so frightening as it sounds.And if I had had the good sense to return to the inn when mycharade was over, no one would have been the wiser.”She loweredher head, aware that Jamie was watching her closely.
“If the opportunity were afforded you, wouldyou care to go back and enjoy a tankard or two with the sailors andtradesmen again?”
Despite herself, Lindsey broke into a grin.“Perhaps.But if truth be told, I now see no reason to envy mentheir freedom to go to such places.The tavern was filled withsmoke.And the smell of ale was quite dreadful.”
“Ah, my dear Lady Lindsey, I am soenvious.”
“Envious?How could you possibly envy others,Majesty?”
“It is laughable, is it not?But I havealways been envious of the freedom others take for granted.”Thequeen gave a deep sigh.“I suppose it is true of all people.Wewant what we cannot have.We despise that which we are forced toendure.And ofttimes, when we are given choices, we choose thatwhich we formerly rejected.”
She cast a meaningful glance at her husband,who drained his tankard and pointedly ignored her.
They looked up when Fergus announced thattheir meal was ready in the refectory.
The queen led the way, with her hand on herhusband’s sleeve.Lindsey and Jamie followed.
The refectory was a bright, cheery room.Sunlight poured through the windows, making patterns on the stonefloor.The fragrance of freshly baked bread mingled with the scentof spring flowers blooming in a garden just beyond the doors.
The queen’s mood seemed to lighten.
“Tell me,” she said, accepting a seat at thehead of the table and glancing toward Lindsey, who sat besideJamie.“How did you happen to be in the drawing room ofHolyroodhouse last night?”
Lindsey felt as trapped as she had lastnight, when her charade had been uncovered.
“I—did not know my way back to the inn.WhenI saw my lord MacDonald leave, I thought to follow him.”
Jamie turned and fixed Lindsey with astrange, compelling look that made her throat go dry.
Their conversation was interrupted whenFergus Macnab carried in a covered silver tray and knelt before thequeen.Mistress Macnab removed the domed cover, revealing a tinyplump pig roasted to perfection and surrounded by glazed fruit.When the queen had uttered the appropriate comments of praise, thetray was carried to a nearby sideboard where the roast was carvedand prepared for serving.While Fergus held the tray, his wifeserved their plates at the table.Sabina entered with a basket offreshly baked breads and a pitcher of cold water.
When their guests’ plates were heaped, thewomen retired to the scullery while Fergus remained standing behindthe queen to see to her every need.
The queen tasted her food and gave a smile ofpleasure.“Mayhap I will not miss Holyroodhouse as much as I hadfeared.Mistress Macnab is as good as she promised.”
