“My brother is the second Earl of Argyll,” she said. “The title was passed to Alexander upon our father’s passing three years ago and with the blessing of his majesty. We are grateful for the honor and the support of Your Majesties. We have worked hard to protect these lands and her people.”
Lady Jean was very passionate about her family, causing Marion to pause. Did she know half of her lineage? She’d been so caught up over the past years of fighting against her parents’ aspirations for her, she had lost sight of her own histories somehow. Upon her return, she would surely rectify that and ensure Alice did as well.
The afternoon passed in pleasant exchange as the three shared stories of their families and their thoughts on social gatherings. It turned out, the queen preferred quiet evenings, but her husband was never happy unless the house was full, as it were.
Marion could see how a social gathering here could be full of people, but also not chaotic like the king’s court tended to be. And she wouldn’t have long to find out for there was just such a gathering planned.
“’Twill be quite different from your lavish affairs, Your Majesty,” Lady Jean said. “We will have country dancing and storytelling, butthe food will be decadent, that much I can promise.”
“I welcome the change, Lady Jean, and thank you for your hospitality. Truly, these woods and these grounds are so very serene, I am certain the most troubled soul could find solace here.”
And that was it. The point Marion could not find up to now. There was something about the way the castle was situated and surrounded, almost enveloped in beautiful foliage and trees, that whispered, “safe place.” Even though the feelings the earl drew from her were somewhat alarming as they were so new, she was never in danger. Everything about that man also whispered the same thing.
“The men have returned, and they’ve killed the buck!” one of Lady Jean’s younger brothers called from the doorway. He was a bit young for formalities, but he still stopped and moved to the queen and bowed his head then ran off.
Lady Jean looked to the queen who smiled and nodded then stood. “Ladies, shall we take ourselves to greet the men?”
“Aye, that we shall,” Lady Jean said and directed them through the hallway and exited the castle.
Marion was not prepared for the sight that awaited. While she could not see the animal clearly for it had been wrapped in great canvas to protect it from the heavy drizzle, its size was unexpected. She’d never seen a buck, but didn’t expect this great protrusion above the relatively large cart that carried it off to the area of the butchery and kitchen.
“Congratulations on your kill, husband,” the queen said.
He dismounted and kissed her on the forehead. “’Tis the second most joyous thing I have ever done in my life.”
Anyone who had eyes would have understood his meaning. It was obvious the king possessed affection for his wife. Marion admired that. That was how a marriage should be, and it had been long since she’d viewed such in her parents.
A light touch of her elbow made her jump, though she didn’t have to guess who it was.
“Lady Marion, might we take a walk in the gardens?”
She looked up to see the earl staring down at her. In this light, his eyes were so blue she was certain even the ripest blueberry would be green. How could she resist him and why would she want to?
“Aye, my lord. I would like that.”
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led her down the stone path that led to the gardens separating the castle and Loch Fyne. For long moments, neither spoke, giving her time to take in the serenity and peacefulness of a place where the loudest activity was the seagulls fighting over a fish.
“Do you like my home, Lady Marion?”
“Aye, my lord. ’Tis a beautiful place and is peaceful which reminds me of my home, though I do not have a loch at the edge of our lands.”
“Posso Tower, is it?”
“Aye.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, ’tis not as grand as Linlithgow Palace, nor as large as Inverary Castle, but ’tis peaceful like here with rolling hills and quiet save for the creatures who share the land.”
They lost sight of the castle as they strolled through the hedges and bushes of beautifully bloomed hawthorne, bunches of heather, spreads of bluebells, and yellow daisies. Truly, it was like they’d tamed the wild and groomed it to appear domesticated.
“Aye, I believe I too found Linlithgow Palace to be a wee too boisterous.” He turned to her then. “Lady Marion, there is something I wish to ask you.”
“Aye, my lord?”
They stopped and faced one another. He took her hands in his and raised them to his lips.
“I have a passion for you, Lady Marion, that has a need to be unleashed.”
