The Gilded Crown (39 page)

‘My brother looks for me to introduce the daughter of Thomas Holland,' answered Gillet, his own gaze fixing upon a tapestry. Within the coloured stitches a hunter was stalking a timid deer. ‘But I think not. You will not see her at this court.'

‘Inspecting my bastions once again, Lord Wexford?' Lord Symon Locard leaned upon the heavy outer door, bracing it open against the wind. ‘It had always been my hope to increase the overall height of the structure, but I dinna have the coin.'

‘I do not doubt the strength of the walls, Lord Locard, 'tis more my habit I cannot break.' Simon cast his gaze over the cleared ground between the wooded fields and the outer wall of the ancient building. The view to the road was unobstructed and any approach by a large group of men could be easily spotted. Yet he was plagued with worry.

‘Has the tower always been in your possession?' Roderick asked as Simon pushed passed him on the narrow walkway.

‘No, lad. I was quite canny at dice, something Connor Kincaid discovered to his loss. I dinna think he ever forgave me for snatching away his wee castle.'

‘Perhaps you might like to game with me tonight, Lord Locard?' Roderick placed his hand on the older man's shoulder. ‘Many believe Lady Luck covets my heart.'

‘Thank you for the invitation, laddie, but I have always thought it better to walk away whilst the wheel was turning in yon favour.' A burst of cold air swept across the hill, pushing the heavy timber door against the frail Scotsman. ‘I'll be leaving you to finish,' he concluded, before retreating into the passageway.

Simon acknowledged their host's hasty retreat, then continued his journey around the top of the tower, taking note of each vista, the nearby stream and hills to the north.

‘You seem troubled, brother?' Roderick snatched at the corner of his flapping cloak and tugged it down by his side.

‘I cannot deny the knot that has formed in the pit of my gut,' Simon answered.

‘If David knew we were here we would have been routed days ago. Truth be, no fortress in Scotland can protect us from the wrath of the monarch,' Roderick noted.

‘I agree, but still my uneasiness persists.'

‘Then perhaps we should depart for Dumbarton.'

‘Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be one step closer to home, but we cannot leave yet,' Simon stated.

‘Why?' Roderick swept his arm in the direction of Edinburgh. ‘What holds you here?'

‘Walter Odistoun.' Simon crossed to the south parapet and looked out across the landscape towards Craigmillar. ‘I don't trust him.'

‘If it was his intention to run back to his master, do you not think he would have done so by now?'

‘I do, hence my reluctance to play my hand just yet. The longer we remain hidden in Edinburgh, the more likely David will assume we have slipped away.'

‘You are playing a dangerous game, Simon.'

‘Aye, brother, but only skittish rabbits scurry from their dens in broad daylight.'

Roderick frowned. ‘I would much rather we left immediately for Cambridge.'

‘Cambridge! Have you no desire to return to Guildford?' Simon asked.

‘I
desire
to see you safe.'

‘Your loyalty means a great deal and I know my wife has grown quite fond of you,' Simon began, noting the flush to his sibling's cheeks at the reference to Catherine. ‘But I have often pondered, in all the months we have travelled together, you have made no mention of Eleanor and the girls.'

Roderick turned away, his reply harsh. ‘My wife and daughters do not require my presence in Guildford.'

‘What precisely does that mean?'

‘Their happiness has nothing to do with whether I am with them.'

Simon scowled. ‘But what about your happiness? Surely it extends further than dice and whiskey?'

‘What are you suggesting?'

‘Your gambling habits have increased tenfold since we departed France and I often see you rise still dressed in your doublet and boots!'

‘I think you should concentrate your concerns on you own situation, Simon,' Roderick retorted.

‘I worry for you. Catherine worries for you.'

‘Does she?'

‘Of course she does,' Simon replied.

‘You are a lucky man, brother.' Roderick clapped his hand on Simon's arm. ‘There are many who envy you, both for your position and your wife.'

‘I hope you are not one of them,' Simon jested.

‘Of course not,' Roderick said as he released his grip.

Simon held open the door to the inner passageway and turned to study his sibling's face. Roderick's reply had been overly emphatic, so much so that a tiny seed of doubt had taken root in Simon's mind.

‘Tell me of your childhood,' Catherine requested of Agnes as they sat together in front of the fire. There was no great hall at Craiglocard, the accommodation considerably smaller than at Edinburgh Castle. Lord Locard offered to escort Simon and Roderick around the walls of the keep, security paramount to everyone, leaving the two ladies to enjoy their repast.

‘Oh, my dear, I fear there is little to tell.'

‘You were a Randolph, yes?' Catherine enquired as she filled two goblets with the dark, sweet wine provided by their host.

‘I was and, like you, I married in my nineteenth summer to Patrick, Lord of Dunbar and March.'

‘Did you have siblings? A sister?'

Black Agnes smiled. ‘Yes, brothers and sisters. They are all passed now, but one. My sister and I are the last of my family.'

‘Oh, I did not mean—'

‘Be still, I am not distressed,' Agnes interrupted. ‘I remember them fondly.'

A comfortable silence settled over them and Catherine let her mind drift back to her own past. She had but one memory of Cécile and the longing to reunite grew as strongly as the child she carried.

‘I did not know my older brother, Thomas, very well. He, like my father, died fighting for the Bruce. He was a handsome boy, tall with deep-blue eyes. My parents felt his loss keenly.'

Catherine sat up in her chair and watched Agnes. The older woman's gaze was fixed on the dancing flames within the hearth, her hands locked together as though in prayer.

‘My sister, Geilis, was a funny little thing, sweet yet demanding. She married a kinsman of my husband and they moved away. But it was John who commanded my heart – such a devoted brother and son, he could do no wrong.'

Catherine quietly placed her empty goblet on the table and settled back in silence, in the hope that Agnes would continue.

‘He was loved and admired by all who knew him and had few enemies, other than Salisbury, who hated him with a curse.'

Catherine's head shot up in surprise. ‘Salisbury?'

‘They loathed each other with more venom than I could ever understand. I am sure they knew of each other, even before, before …'

‘William Salisbury?' Catherine asked again, the mention of his name causing her heart to leap in panic.

‘William Montague, the first Earl of Salisbury,' spat Agnes.

Catherine willed herself to breathe slowly. This was the father of the current Earl of Salisbury – the man who had separated her as a babe from Cécile and forced their mother to marry his son. ‘You knew Salisbury?'

‘A more wicked man I have yet to meet and were he still alive, I would torture his body until his soul learned to bleed!

‘The first Earl of Salisbury betrayed my family and caused great harm to my mother.'

‘That devil caused harm to each and every person he met. He besieged my husband's castle for six months and threatened to rape and torture the ladies in my service. He tried to starve us out, blocking the route that led to Dunbar and terrorising the local villagers.'

Catherine gasped. ‘What did you do?'

‘It was fortunate that he was not aware of the secondary entrance.' Lady Dunbar laughed. ‘Lord Ramsey was able to sail close the bottom of the cliff and enter the castle through our sea dock, bringing with him much needed supplies. I took great enjoyment dusting off the battlements with my kerchief and tossing fresh crumbs down upon my attacker.'

‘How did you defeat him?' Catherine asked, now fully engrossed in the story. ‘I have been told that he was a furious warrior.'

‘He was and I could do naught but wait. Eventually he became bored and marched back to England.'

Catherine frowned. Salisbury's determination was reputed and she could not imagine such a man simply giving up.

‘John visited the castle on numerous occasions during the siege. He was a great comfort to me and my ladies. 'Twas only two years later that he was included in a prisoner exchange, for Salisbury, both of whom had been captured in separate battles,' Agnes sighed. ‘When David invaded England, John was one of the first to take up arms against the English. He was killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross, fighting for his country and King.'

‘I am so sorry, Lady Dunbar.'

Agnes patted Catherine's hand. ‘What is done is done. We cannot change the past.'

Catherine lay between the cold sheets of the large bed and shivered. It was impossible to achieve the sleep she so badly required as Lady Dunbar's story spun around and around in her mind. She could see Agnes acting in such a defiant manner, standing on the tops of the bastions, antagonizing her enemy as she paraded up and down. Catherine imagined the delight of the castle inhabitants at the arrival of Lord Ramsey and his fresh vegetables. It was much more difficult to picture Salisbury's retreating back, as he rode away, his pride wounded, his head hanging low in defeat. Simon had told her many times that a lie always starts with a truth and Catherine wondered at what point Lady Dunbar had chosen to alter her tale.

The tailor's five apprentices filed through the inn door and began their ascent on the stairs, the result of hours of labour from the seamstresses flowing over their arms. When they entered the room above, Cécile and Minette cried with delight and threw themselves at the boys, relieving them of their precious consignment.