Mary threw back her head and laughed.“Aye.You have just described Desmond perfectly.Fetch him to me atonce.”
Justin bowed humbly, then returned to hisboat.On shore, Jamie and the queen watched as the boat was ferriedto the far side, where the two men were helped aboard.The boatthen made its slow progress to the island.
Desmond, followed by a stocky, shaggy-hairedstranger, hurried to kneel before the queen.
“Majesty,” he said kissing her outstretchedhand, “forgive our tardiness, but it could not be helped.”
“Tardiness?I do not understand, Desmond,”Mary said with a puzzled frown.“I was not expecting you.”
“Nay.But you were expecting my soldier.”
The queen’s frown grew as she turned to studythe man who stood behind her cousin.He wore the garb of aHighlander, with saffron shirt and rough tunic.On his feet werebrogues.His legs were bare.The man’s arms and legs were cordedwith muscles.The scars of hundreds of skirmishes marked his face,his neck, his arms and legs.He was not a man against whom a swordwould be lightly lifted.In his eyes gleamed the fire of awarrior.
“You make no sense, Desmond.Pray tell me thename of this soldier I was expecting.”
Desmond, too, looked puzzled.“I thought youwould be angry with me, Majesty, for making you wait so long forthe services of my most trusted soldier.May I present IanMacPherson.”
ChapterTwenty-two
As the warrior kneltbefore his queen, Mary’s mouth dropped open in stunned surprise.Beside her, Jamie’s heart plummeted.
“You are Ian MacPherson?”
“Aye, Majesty,” the man said.“I was on myway here when I was attacked by a band of highwaymen.The scum leftme for dead.If it were not for the kindness of a traveler who cameupon me lying in my own blood, I would not have survived.”
The queen turned to Jamie.“Then the man whopossessed that scroll—”
“Was one of the band of highwaymen,” Jamiefinished.“And he is leading Douglas Gordon and his family into atrap.”Jamie’s mouth was a grim tight line as he shouted to Justin,“See that my horse is saddled and ready at once.”
Turning to the queen’s cousin, he said, “LordDesmond, you and Ian MacPherson must stay beside the queen at alltimes until I return.”He pressed a hand to Mary’s sleeve.“Evenwhen you sleep, Majesty, one of these men must be outside yourdoor.”
He saw the fear that she struggled to hide.“Is that really necessary, Jamie?”
“Aye, Majesty.Promise me you will not riskyour safety.”
She gave a reluctant nod of her head.
He lifted her hand to his lips, then drew herclose.
Against his cheek she murmured, “I pray thatyou are not too late, Jamie.For I fear that the Gordons are ingrave peril.”
She saw the look of grim determination in hiseyes as he turned and strode to the boat that awaited him at thewater’s edge.
* * *
“You have been very quiet on this journey, mylady.”Ian brought his horse close to Lindsey’s as they entered theforest.“Are you reluctant to leave the glittering life of royaltybehind and return to the Highlands?”
“Nay.I am just—weary,” she said as her gazescanned the heavily forested area.They were very near the placewhere they had encountered the highwaymen.She felt as nervous andskittish as a colt newly put to saddle.
“No matter.Your journey is almost over.”Hesaw her stiffen and asked, “What is wrong?”
“I thought I saw someone, or something, justbeyond those trees.”
“I will investigate,” Ian said, leavingLindsey alone on the trail.
She turned in the saddle, to call out to herfather, who rode a short distance behind.A few minutes later herbrothers caught up with them.They milled around, impatientlyawaiting Ian’s return.
At last Douglas said, “Murray and Donald.Goand see what is keeping Ian.”
