As she handed over the scrolls, Jamie saw thelight in her eyes, and suddenly knew.The queen would stop first atKinloch House.And see for herself if Brice Campbell, the HighlandBarbarian, had survived.
* * *
As their horses’ hooves ate up the miles,Jamie’s thoughts grew pensive.It seemed so long since he had beenhome.And when he had left, Brice had been hovering near death.
Throughout this long adventure he hadadamantly refused to allow himself to think the worst.Brice was astrong man who had been wounded many times before.Always he hadregained his strength.But this time, the wounds had been brutal.And Brice was no longer the young, carefree lad he had once been.Nor, Jamie thought gloomily, was he.Strange how one adventurecould change a man’s life forever.He felt so much older and morebattered than when he had left Kinloch on that bitter morning.Butno wiser.
As they topped a rise, Jamie caught sight ofKinloch House in the distance.As always, his heartbeat quickenedat the view.He felt as he had that first time he had seen it as aterrified orphan, carried in the arms of a rough Highlander.Themagnificent structure sprawled between two towering peaks.
Their hoofbeats thundered as hundreds ofHighlanders assembled in the courtyard of Kinloch House.The doorswere thrown wide and those assembled inside spilled forth to greettheir monarch.
Jamie stood at attention on one side of Mary,with Douglas on the other.They watched as Meredith, Brice’sbeautiful wife, curtsied before the queen and presented herbairns.
“Tell me of Brice,” Mary said softly,gripping Jamie’s arm for support as she waited for words.
Meredith’s eyes filled with tears, and for amoment Jamie felt his heart stop.Then he realized that hers weretears of joy.
“He lives, Majesty.And already he is wellenough to make us all miserable with his demands.”
The queen pressed a hand to her heart andfelt her own eyes fill.“Praise heaven.I would see him.”
“At once, Majesty.But first, my sisters waitto greet you.”
Mary patiently greeted Brenna and her Englishhusband, Morgan Grey, and the youngest sister, Megan, and her Irishhusband, Kieran O’Mara, and dutifully placed her hand upon alltheir bairns’ heads.Then, her patience wearing thin, Mary insistedupon being taken to see her beloved barbarian.
As they climbed the stairs, Jamie thoughtabout all the battles that had been waged within these walls.Andall the love and laughter this old fortress had witnessed.Nowanother generation of bairns laughed and cried and played throughthe rooms.
They entered Brice’s chambers and Jamiewatched as across the room, Brice was helped to his feet by two ofhis men.He made a gallant bow before the queen rushed forward andfell into his outstretched arms.And for the first time that Jamiecould recall, his queen burst into tears.
“There now,” Brice murmured.“Am I such anold weak man that you must weep for my wounds?Has Meredith nottold you that I am healing nicely?”
“Aye,” she cried through her tears.“It is mycondition.I find I cry easily these days.”
“Ah.”Brice drew her close for anotherembrace.Over her head he winked at Jamie.“All women seem to crymore easily when they are with child.I well remember Meredith’stears before our last bairn was born.”
“It is a comfort to know that I am not—theonly one to behave in such a strange fashion.”Mary wiped her tearsand forced a smile to her lips.Sniffling she asked, “Are you wellenough to sup with me before I leave for Edinburgh?”
“I would not miss it.Meredith has planned agrand banquet.”He gave her a mysterious smile.“We received yourmessage.All is in readiness.”
Her smile brightened.“Then I will refreshmyself from the rigors of our journey and prepare for thefeast.”
Mary followed Meredith from the room, leavingJamie alone with Brice.
For a moment the two stared at each other insilence.Then Jamie strode across the room and caught Brice in awarm embrace.
“You are truly well?”
“Aye.The wounds heal.Slowly.But theyheal.”Brice studied the haggard features and clapped a hand on hisshoulder.“I knew you would succeed,” he muttered.
“Did you?That was more than I knew.I merelydid as you suggested.”
“From the queen’s missive, you did much morethan that.She considers you her champion.”
Jamie hung his head at Brice’s scrutiny.
“And there are rumors of—misadventures, aswell,” Brice said thoughtfully.
Jamie’s head came up sharply.“What have youheard?”
