“And have you met him yet?”
“I have not, but I suspect will through the course of the evening once the meal begins and he comes to find his niece.”
“A logical assessment. Right, then let us enjoy our meal and let the game unfold before us.”
William was seated to the right of the king and Lady Agnes seated to the queen’s left. That meant they could not converse during the course of the meal, but he would stay close to her once the crowd mingled later on.
Before long, the tables were topped with more food than William had ever seen anywhere, but for at this king’s gatherings. A suckling pig was placed before the king who appeared to enjoy watching one of the cooks sharpen his knife to carve the meat for his inspection and indicating to whom it would be offered. It was no surprise all the best cuts went first to his wife and then to Lady Agnes. After that he offered William and then filled his own trencher.
Steaming pots of stew and platters of bread and cheese and fruits were brought out one by one. William focused on enjoying the hospitality, but being ever aware of Lady Agnes and of the king.
William scanned the crowd for the lady’s uncle and eventually found him near the end on the far side opposite. He stared hard at the head table and William couldn’t make out if he even touched his food. There was a marked difference between his demeanor and that of his niece, giving William even more pause as to whether or not she was part of this.
“Do you see how fixated he is?” the king asked.
“Aye, I do.”
“Quite interested in what is happening up here, I think.”
“Your assessment mirrors my own, Your Majesty. Have you spoken with Fin and Archie? What are their thoughts?”
“I spoke with Fin. He believes she isa creature of perfectionas he put it,” the king said and chuckled. “She has bewitched our Fin, I think.”
She’d bewitched more than Fin by William’s estimation. More than a few gentlemen glanced in her direction repeatedly only to glance away again.
William and the king enjoyed the remainder of the meal in silence quietly observing those around them. Once the meal ended, the king offered his welcome to his guests and invited them to explore the market in the inner courtyard.
“We have vendors from near and as far away as France. I do believe the ladies will be particularly interested in the delicate fabrics and fragrances,” he told his guests.
Once the king and queen stood and their chairs were pulled back, the crowd did the same and began making their way out of the stuffy hall and toward the market.
William waited for the king and queen to link arms and move to the side entrance then offered his arm to Lady Agnes. Her eyes were bright and her expression soft as if a weight had been lifted from her.
“Did you enjoy your meal, Lady Agnes?”
“Aye, I did, my lord. ’Twas the grandest feast I have ever attended.”
Her comment made William smile. She appeared full of wonder.
“Would you do me the honor of exploring the market with me?”
She stopped and looked around for a moment. “I really should find my uncle as I am sure he would wish to accompany me.”
“That he would,” the uncle said from behind her.
Lady Agnes jumped at his voice which was a peculiar reaction if they were in collaboration willingly.
“Uncle John, allow me to introduce Lord William Graham, the Earl of Montrose. My lord, this is my uncle John Sinclair.”
The man did not smile and when he bowed as he should, it was so quick, if William had blinked he’d have missed it. He didn’t need to be a scholar to understand there was a dislike held by this man that he was not trying hard to conceal. Interesting.
Chapter Four
She would havemuch preferred to stroll through the market with the earl, however, she was well aware her uncle would never allow that. And truly her parents wouldn’t either.
“You appear to have befriended the queen rather quickly,” he said in her ear. His words were spoken quickly and in a sharp tone.
“I thought that was why I was here, to become one of her ladies and serve her,” Agnes said quietly and couldn’t help feeling a little defensive.
