And then another foot protruded from the carriage, this one not so ornate, but a lady’s foot just the same. Another foot and a rustle of pale blue fabric and a flash of red hair and he stopped talking mid-sentence. How much time passed as he watched her straighten her hair and gown, he was not sure, but somewhere in his consciousness he was aware the king turned to look in the same direction.
“Argyll,” he said. “Do you remember Lady Marion from Stobo in Peebleshire?”
“Aye, I recall,” he said as she drew nearer.
“She is here by invitation of my wife. I trust that meets with your approval?”
“Aye, Your Majesty, I do not object.”
Their eyes met and the world fell away for a heartbeat. She was more lovely than he remembered. Something was different. Like she had been let in on some secret only she knew and it emanated confidence around her.
“Welcome to Inverary, Lady Marion,” he said.
“I thank you, my lord,” she said. “You have exquisite grounds, my lord. Your gardeners must be busy day and night to keep up such beauty.”
Alexander smiled. He was pleased by her approval. Aye, there was something different about her, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.
“And who is this lovely young lady?” the king asked, moving down the line to Jean.
Alexander spent the next while introducing his family and main staff to the king and their party. He stood closest to Marion during this time, drinking in her scent, fingers itching to touch her hair.
Her hair.
That’s what it was. She wasn’t wearing it fully down like when he’d first met her. Rather, she had some pieces loose but the majority of it was pinned up in large curls. It took a lot of restraint to keep from picking up one of the loose tresses and bringing it to his nose to inhale. Once or twice, she looked back at him over her shoulder and when she turned back, he would focus on the curvature of her neck, how he longed to press his lips there.
Once the introductions were complete, Jean pretty much took over guiding them through the castle and speaking of its long history of Clan Campbell and the short history of Inverary Castle.
“You’ve done well with your earldom, Argyll,” the king tossed over his shoulder from time to time.
Marion and the queen had linked arms during the tour as the king asked question after question about the land and the sea loch adjacent to the castle and even questions about the Campbells’ involvement at Bannockburn. By the time Jean was done with the tour, Alexander was filled with pride for the ease with which she had conducted herself before the royals, but also of the message she conveyed. They would never forget to honor all those who were loyal who had come before them.
Jean led them to the great hall where a feast was laid out which was not on the king’s scale, but it was on their scale. They’d prepared various fish as the main for their midday meal and had reserved roasted boar for later that evening. Breads and other cured meats and cheese along with cold rabbit pies and more pastries than they could eat in a lifetime. Alexander had been the one to suggest the pipes play outside the castle during the meal which was something they reserved for only very special occasions.
At the table, the king and queen sat at the head with Alexander and Marion seated across from one another, with the remainder of Alexander’s siblings filling up the remainder of the seats on either side as their ages dictated. Up to this point, Alexander had not had the opportunity to speak with Marion but hoped he could manage to steal a moment or two of her time as the afternoon allowed.
“What of the sport in the area?” the king asked.
Thomas, who had been relatively quiet to this point, spoke up. “We’ve been tracking a particularly large buck for the past few weeks, Your Majesty. We would be honored if you would join us.”
The king’s eyes grew wide and for good reason. Alexander was well aware the king had been craving the opportunity to collect that particular trophy, and Alexander would see it happen as long as the animal was appropriately honored with no wastage of the spoils. In fact, if it were to transpire, Alexander would ensure the nearby village was invited to pay respects as they did when any of the majestic beasts were felled.
“I would very much like that. When do we leave?”
“We can leave within the hour, Your Majesty, if that pleases you,” Thomas said.
“Argyll, will you join us?” the king asked.
“I beg you to excuse me as I have some things to attend to at the moment,” he said as he pointedly caught Marion’s gaze, “and it is my brother here who is the master huntsman. I believe he also has hopes to show you our best fishing places as well.”
“Very well, if the ladies will excuse us,” he said and arose from the table, “I believe I have a buck to collect.”
With that, he kissed his wife’s cheek and followed Thomas out of the hall.
“Your Majesty,” Jean said. “Would you like to join me on a tour of the back gardens? I have heard so much about yours at Linlithgow. For surely ours are not so grand, but we have some very pretty places toenjoy the sun’s warmth and the many songbirds visiting this time of year.”
Alexander caught her eye, understanding what she was about. It appeared the queen did as well for she accepted very quickly.
“Lady Marion, would you like to see our library?” Alexander asked.
