Page 12 of Kidnapped by a Rogue
“I thought our escort was taking us to Tantallon Castle,” Margaret said to change the subject. “I didn’t expect to meet ye here in Edinburgh, especially at Holyrood Palace.”
She had been looking forward to seeing her childhood home, and she had deeply unhappy memories of the last time she was in Edinburgh.
“We must be where the king is,” Archie said, “and the king is here.”
“How did ye manage to get past the queen’s cannon fire?” Lizzie asked.
Archie’s jaw tightened, and he shot a heated glare at Lizzie, which did not appear to bother her at all.
“The queen has withdrawn to Stirling, under pressure from the King’s Council,” Archie said. “The king is now free of his mother’s overbearing and unfortunate influence.”
That sounded like a significant victory for Archie over his estranged royal wife.
“I, for one, am glad the queen is not here,” Lizzie said. “While ye were away, she called us all in for questioning and threatened us.”
“We heard it was not pleasant for you,” Archie said.
That was hardly an apology, but Archie had never been one to admit blame.
“Not pleasant?” Lizzie said. “Ye must have heard what Wretched William did to Margaret. I hope ye take a hot poker to his eyes and put his head on a pike.”
“You’re a bloodthirsty lass,” George said with a laugh.
“And Sy—”
“Enough, Lizzie,” Margaret said, and discreetly stepped on Lizzie’s foot to stop her from telling them what her sister Sybil had done to escape the queen’s wrath. For the time being, it was best her brothers not know where Sybil was.
“Do ye think exile waspleasantfor us?” Archie snapped. “We had to live on the charity the French court and then on my brother-in-law’s.”
“France wasn’t all bad,” George said, tilting his head. “Ahh, those French women…”
She and George had always been the peacemakers of the family, though their methods were different. While she soothed tempers and accommodated others’ demands, George employed his sharp wit and easy charm—and got what he wanted.
“There’s no profit in dwelling on the past,” Archie said, brushing his hands against each other. “The Douglases will soon have everything we had before and more.”
“I still don’t understand how ye came to be residing here at Holyrood Palace with the king,” Margaret said.
“The King’s Council has recognized that, at thirteen, our king is too young to rule without the protection and guidance of more mature men,” George explained. “They’ve decided that custody of the king’s person shall be rotated every three months among the most important noblemen of Scotland.”
This complex arrangement was obviously designed to prevent another fight like the Battle of the Causeway among the Scottish magnates for control of the young king. Still, Margaret could not help but feel sorry for the lad, separated from his mother and shifted from one set of guardians to another every three months.
“Archie has the king for the first three months,” George said, and exchanged a look with Archie that she could not read.
“I want to see my father,” Lizzie said. “Where is he?”
“He’s keeping watch on the king,” Archie said.
Keeping watch.That was an odd turn of phrase. It almost sounded as if the king was their prisoner.
“He’s giving the king lessons in sword fighting in the courtyard,” George told Lizzie. “The king is so impressed with your father’s skill that he’s given him the nickname of Greysteel.”
After Lizzie left to join their uncle, Archie narrowed his eyes at Margaret and said, “I suppose she’ll require new gowns for court.”
“That fool William was so jealous he made her dress to hide her beauty.” George grinned and flung his arms out. “I say, let our princess shine, as she always should have.”
“New gowns are not necessary,” she said. “I won’t be staying long.”
“You will,” Archie said. “I require your presence here.”
