Julianna de Vescy coming upon him lying battered on the ground where he might have perished if she hadn’t found him—
“De Vescy?”
She felt her heart lurch into her throat at the intensity of King Robert’s gaze upon her, while Roger nodded.
“A noble landholding family in Cumberland.”
“I know the name. Go on.”
Roger did with no hesitation, rushing through everything that had happened that fateful evening and into the next day as the king listened intently, his eyes never straying from Julianna.
“Your betrothed is Charles de Montfort…the man who attacked my delegation,” King Robert said in a manner that didn’t require a reply, though she bobbed her sodden head.
“Y-yes.”
She had never spoken to a king before, and now she feared her knees would truly give way as he advanced toward her.
“So Laird Douglas stole you away and now it’s my task tae decide what’s tae be done with you, aye?”
He had fairly shouted at her, which made her duck her head and stare down at the puddle at her feet, trembling.
“I-I’m so sorry for what happened to your delegation, King Robert. It was wrong, but cannot be undone no matter how much I might wish it so. Charles believed your men an invading force, though he would have slain them no matter any document they carried to explain their mission. He hates the Scots”—Julianna glanced up to find the king staring at her with an incredulous look upon his face—“I-I mean…all of you.”
Silence fell, no reply coming from King Robert as he shook his head as if in disbelief and then began to pace in front of her, Roger remaining silent as well.
No sound but for the king’s heavy footfalls back and forth across the floor and the muted hubbub from the great hall beyond the antechamber, the aroma of what must be supper drifting underneath the closed door.
To her chagrin, Julianna’s stomach grumbled loudly, which made the king stop in mid-stride to stare at her again.
He appeared neither angry nor calm, but somewhere in between, though his face remained reddened and his gaze piercing.
“Your unexpected apology has saved you, lass, from being escorted straightaway tae the dungeon, though you’re of no use tae me as a hostage. Soon enough King Edward will receive word that you were carried off tae Scotland, and he willna want you back, I’d swear tae it.”
“Not want her back?” Roger echoed, glancing with confusion from Julianna to the king, who shook his head.
“That young man is a weakling, we all know it, and will never be a ruler like his late father, but he’s shown cunning since he claimed the English throne six years ago. Look how long he’s kept my wife as prisoner! Are there any direct heirs tae lay claim tae your estate?”
“No, sire,” Julianna murmured. “My parents and brother are long dead, and my grandfather only days ago. I am the last of our family—”
“And a daughter whose lands would pass tae her husband when she wed—but with you gone, why wouldna Edward claim the De Vescy estate for himself tae bestow upon any of the preening courtiers who surround him?”
“But De Montfort—”
“Will have no say in the matter,” the king cut off Roger, his gaze almost pitying now as he looked at Julianna. “Edward will believe you defiled by your captor as well and mayhap with a Highlander’s whelp already in your belly—”
“I havna touched her!” Roger broke in, moving to stand at Julianna’s side as King Robert waved him to silence.
“Of course you havna, Douglas, you’re as honorable as the day is long—but Edward doesna see any of us as decent men, only barbarians, just as did his father. He would rather seize the De Vescy lands than risk a half-Scots bastard as the De Montfort heir one day. So now what do we do with you, lass? You have no estate in Cumberland any longer and you’re as good as dead tae your countrymen.”
Her throat tightening at this grim pronouncement, Julianna felt as if the room was closing in upon her and she glanced wildly at Roger, who took her arm as if to steady her.
What was she to do? Where was she to go? God help her, she was worth less than nothing to the Scots, to the English—
“I willna have Julianna’s honor sullied by lies, my lord king. I will take her for my bride if she will have me.”
Julianna barely heard King Robert’s exclamation of surprise for her heartbeat pounding in her ears, and she met Roger’s gaze, wholly stunned.
“You…you wish to marry me?”
