“You mean woman,” Mary emphasized.
“I mean women.”Lifting his goblet in thedirection of the housekeeper he snarled, “Fill this, wench.And bequick about it.”
Mistress Macnab lifted a decanter and filledhis goblet, then started to walk away.He caught her by the wrist,pulling her back with a vicious tug.His display of temper wasdistressing for all to witness.
Jamie started to rise, but the queen laid herhand upon his sleeve to stay his movements.
As the three watched, Darnley snatched thedecanter from the housekeeper’s hands and set it down with aclatter beside his plate.“I need to fortify myself,” he mutteredto no one in particular, “lest this meal should go on forever.”
“You need not stay,” the queen said with icycalm.
“You would suggest that I break withprotocol, madame?Who would dare to leave the room before thequeen?Surely not her husband and loyal servant.”
“You are neither.”
His head came up sharply, and he got to hisfeet so quickly his chair tumbled backward, making a terriblenoise.
Mistress Macnab and her daughter came runningfrom the scullery, then stopped in their tracks.
“Are you suggesting that I am no longer yourhusband, madame?”
The queen said nothing as he weavedunsteadily.
“And as for loyal servant...There has neverbeen a more loyal servant than I,” he shouted.“I have given youwhat your first husband, your beloved Francis, could not give you.A child, madame.A royal child, an heir to the throne.”His voicewavered.“There is no more devoted servant in all of Scotland thanI.And you would be wise to remember that.”
In the silence that followed the queenshocked the onlookers by getting to her feet.In her most haughtytones she said, “I would take your arm now, Darnley, so that Imight retire.”
He blinked, then stood straighter as he camearound the table and offered her his arm.Placing her hand upon hissleeve she turned to the bewildered housekeeper.“My compliments,Mistress.Macnab.The meal was every bit as fine as any I have everbeen served.”
Mistress Macnab curtsied.“Thank you,Majesty.”
“Good day, Jamie.Lindsey.”
The two stood and bowed until the queen andher husband exited the room.Then they sat down.
Shaken by the scene she had just witnessed,Lindsey sipped the strong, hot tea that had been served with thesweets.Beside her, Jamie brooded in silence.
When the servants left the room, Lindseyturned to Jamie.“Is he mad?”
“I think not.But his mind is surely addledby spirits.I had heard the rumors, of course, but I had no idea ithad gone so far.”
“The queen does not seem to fear him.”
“It is not her nature.Mary is a fieryMonarch, who was raised since infancy to believe that the world ishers.I think she still cannot completely believe that anyone wouldwant to see her dead.”
“But she fled Holyroodhouse.”
“Aye, and perhaps she was right to flee.Thatband of angry lords had fire in their eyes.I know that look.Theywill not be satisfied until there is blood on their hands.But Ithink my fear for her was greater than her fear for herself.”
“But you tried to persuade her to stay.”
“Aye.It is why I brought your family toEdinburgh.They are the sort of warriors I need to keep the queensafe from attack until she can take her cause to the people.ButMary fled because she fears that the minds of the people have beenpoisoned against her.”
“And what say you, my lord?”
“I think, for now, this quiet place will begood for Mary.I will do all in my power to raise an army to leadher back, victorious, to Edinburgh.”
Jamie stood and paced to the windowsoverlooking the fragrant garden.When he turned, his eyes werenarrowed upon Lindsey.
