A Rough Wooing (8 page)

She hurried down to the dining hall, assuming
she would find Jock at breakfast. “Will, I must speak with my
brother, has he eaten yet?”

“Ye just missed him. The king and the Border
Wardens are holding Court in the Great Hall. Today and tomorrow the
Carlisle prisoners will be tried and sentences pronounced.”

“Dear God, I hope Jock gets Gavin and Rob
released before they go on trial.”

Will made room for her at the table. “Sit
down and eat. It’ll be a long day.”

“I couldn’t eat a thing. My stomach is
knotted with worry.” Douglas hurried in the direction of the Great
Hall. Suddenly, to her horror she saw Sir Lancelot Greystoke
striding toward her. The thunderous black look on his face, made
her step back in alarm.

“Douglas Elliot, you are a thief and a liar.”
His accusing eyes swept her from head to foot. In the pale green
velvet, her fiery hair looked like flames, and her exquisite beauty
infuriated him. “You are a manipulative little bitch, who deserves
to be locked up with your thieving brothers. You are damned lucky I
am late to Court, but rest assured that when today’s trial is
finished, I shall find you, and lay charges against you.”

She was trembling as Greystoke strode off,
his spurs striking sparks on the flagstone floors. The antique
mirrored pendant pinned inside her gown felt as if it were burning
a hole in her flesh. She wanted to flee to the safety of the
bedchamber, but the thought of being cooped up all day in the small
room, worrying over her brothers’ fate, and now her own, was
unbearable to Douglas. She hurried back to where she had left Will,
but when she saw that he was no longer sitting at the trestle
table, she felt faint.

To give her courage, she drank a mug of small
ale, and took an oatcake from a huge platter. It seemed as if the
walls were closing in on her, and she found it so difficult to take
a deep breath that she felt as if she were suffocating.
I must
get some fresh air!

She found the massive oak doors to the keep
and went outside. She was stunned to see that the sun was shining
and she could smell the sweet green grass from the outer bailey.
The red sandstone castle was such a formidable stronghold, the rays
of the sun never penetrated its seven-foot thick walls.

Douglas hurried to the outer bailey and
walked through the sweet spring grass. She nibbled on the oat cake
and it seemed to settle her stomach. On impulse she departed
through the main gate and when she found herself outside the castle
walls, an overwhelming desire to flee came over her. The April
weather was lovely and she longed to be riding through the
incomparable beauty of the hills and dales of the Borders.
I
cannot leave my brothers behind. I must find a way to help
them.

She looked up and saw the spire of Carlisle
Cathedral. She picked up her velvet skirts and hurried toward the
medieval church that had been built in the twelfth century. It was
rather small, as cathedrals went, but inside there was much to look
at and occupy the senses. She gazed up at the barrel-vaulted
ceiling, amazed at the skill of the craftsmen who had created such
a magnificent building.

The stained glass window was larger and more
vivid than any she had ever seen before. There were images of the
twelve apostles, and she stopped before each one and said a prayer
for her brothers. Finally she sat down on a hinged seat, known as a
misericorde, and gave herself up to a higher power.

God helps him who helps himself.
The
words came to her as clearly as if someone spoke them aloud.
Douglas searched inside herself for an answer to her family’s
dilemma.

A solution did not come, but she vowed before
God and his Apostles that she would be willing to do anything to
gain her brothers’ freedom.

~~~

In the late afternoon, Douglas made her way
back to the castle with reluctant steps. If sentence had been
passed on her brothers she was reluctant to hear it, but she knew
she had no choice. By the number of men streaming from the Great
Hall, she knew today’s Court must be over. She saw Jock and hurried
to his side.

Jock looked down at her and shook his head.
“They weren’t brought before the Court today, so it will likely be
tomorrow.” He saw the relief in her eyes. “I had a chance to talk
with Gavin and Rob at dawn today. The young fools told me they
ignored my warning about reiving. You deceived me, Douglas. You led
me to believe they were falsely accused and arrested.”

“They didn’t find Greystoke’s thoroughbreds
at Castle Elliot!” she cried.

“Nevertheless, they were the ones who lifted
the horses. Tomorrow, Greystoke will be in Court, and when he
brings the charges, it will be up to the king to decide their guilt
or innocence. I shall have little say in the matter.”

Tears flooded her eyes, as guilt washed over
her. “I’m so sorry, Jock. Will you escort me upstairs to my
chamber? I don’t feel safe walking alone.”

“Come on, my wee lass. Why don’t you have a
lie down? Yer pale as a ghost.”

Douglas did lie on her bed, but she was far
too restless to stay there for long. She got up and began to pace,
as her thoughts chased themselves in ever-defeating circles.
I’ll go to Alex Hume and beg him to ask his brother to have a
word with the king. His Majesty will listen to his Treasurer and
will mayhap take his advice.
She tried to push aside the price
she would have to pay.
In the cathedral I vowed I would do
anything. I mustn’t be a coward.

She took up the brush she had brought with
her from Langley and began to brush her hair. She knew a female
must look her best if she wanted a favor from a male. As she
stroked the brush through her long tresses, a measure of calm
descended. Douglas gathered her courage and formed a far different
plan. She unpinned the priceless antique pendant from inside her
gown, and wrapped it with care. Then she sought the castle
chamberlain and asked him to direct her to the chamber of the man
who held her brother’s fate in his hands.

~~~

Douglas knocked on the door and when it was
opened she asked, “May I come in, my lord?”

Lance Greystoke’s dark face looked as hard as
granite. He stood immobile for a full minute before he opened the
door wide and motioned for her to enter. He did not offer her a
seat, but loomed above her, waiting for her to speak.

Douglas licked dry lips, and cleared her
throat. “I am the one to blame. The day we met, I was deliberately
looking for Beaumont Hall. When I saw your thoroughbreds, I coveted
them, and when I got back to Castle Elliot I told my brothers about
them and urged them to ride into England and steal them.”

Greystoke remained silent, his dark face a
mask of contempt.

Douglas swallowed the lump in her throat and
continued. “My brother Jock, who was in Edinburgh with the king,
sent his lieutenant home to tell us that the Queen of England had
died, and that King James was now King of England as well as
Scotland. He warned us that the king was determined to make it all
one country, and we were to bury the quarrels between England and
Scotland.

“But all the Scots Borderers thought it a
God-sent opportunity to pay the English back for all the raids
they’d carried out in Scotland. The Johnstons and the Maxwells, and
every other Border family planned to ride into England. I told my
brothers they should ride to Beaumont and get their hands on your
thoroughbreds.

“They didn’t know it, but I too went on the
raid that night. I planned to steal the jeweled pendant that I saw
on your desk. I smashed your library window and was about to climb
in, when I realized that if I took the priceless artefact, you
would guess it was me, and you would realize it was the Elliots who
had taken your thoroughbreds.”

She glanced up at Greystoke’s face, but it
was closed against her. Douglas swallowed the tears that gathered
in her throat, and continued her confession. “When Cumberland’s men
came and arrested us, my bravado deserted me. When they locked me
in the storeroom here in Carlisle Castle, I was terrified for my
brothers, and afraid for myself. When you rescued me, I realized
you were as chivalrous as your namesake.”

She raised her lashes and her eyes met his.
“That night there was an unspoken bond between us. Then I betrayed
that bond.” She lowered her lashes. “I am shamed.” She unwrapped
the pendant and held it out to him. “This is yours, my lord.”

Greystoke took it from her hands. “You also
stole one of my mares.”

She nodded. “She’s in the stables.” Douglas
bit her lip, then continued, “If you would withdraw the charges
against my brothers, it would save them from hanging.”

“You come to me as a penitent, begging
favors, thinking to manipulate me all over again. I am not such a
bloody fool, Douglas Elliot. Do you truly think your beauty blinds
me to your treachery?”

His words pierced her like sharp arrows,
because they were all true. Her heart spoke to her and she admitted
that she had given herself to Greystoke because she had been deeply
attracted to him and cared for him. She took a deep breath, raised
her lashes and told him the truth. “With all my heart I wanted to
stay with you, but that morning all I could think of was finding my
brother Jock to let him know that Gavin and Rob were
prisoners.”

“There was
one
other thing you thought
of.” He held up the mirrored pendant.

Douglas stiffened. She had humbled her pride
and thrown herself on his mercy to no avail. She raised her chin,
and shrugged a shapely shoulder. “Forgive me for taking up your
valuable time, Sir Lancelot.”

~~~

Douglas lay on her bed with her arm thrown
over her eyes. For hours she had tried to find the courage to seek
out Alex Hume, but something inside her recoiled. In the late
afternoon she was distracted from her dilemma by the sound of
bagpipes. The skirling got louder and then she heard a commotion.
She got off the bed and opened the chamber door to investigate. A
castle steward, accompanied by two pipers, was making his way
through every story of the massive keep, heralding that King James
commanded everyone to assemble in the Great Hall.

Her heart sank.
The trials must be over
and I warrant the king intends to make a royal proclamation. I’ll
go down to the Great Hall and see if I can find Jock. I will need
his strength to face hearing Gavin and Rob’s sentence.

Douglas washed her tear-stained face and
brushed her hair, then she made her way with many others down to
Carlisle Castle’s Great Hall. The chamber was packed with people,
and their collective voices made a loud cacophony that echoed about
the high walls. It took her a long time to locate Jock, and when
she finally saw him she pushed her way through the crowd toward
him. When she reached him, she slipped her hand into his to give
her strength. Then she saw Alex Hume standing a few yards away.
When he saw her, his hand went to his face to touch the cheek where
she had raked her nails. His smile was half leering and half
promising revenge.

A hush fell over the Great Hall as King James
entered with his royal attendants and climbed onto the dais. He
stood before the throng and raised his voice.

“I ha’ the unifying task o’ uniting the two
great countries o’ England and Scotland. I am determined that the
old quarrels will be buried, and fro’ now on, I charge ye all tae
keep the peace! I intend that these heretofore bloody Borders will
be a fit place for decent folk tae live fro’ this day for’ard. By
the king’s order ye are tae turn in yer arms. Any mon, be he
English or Scot, who breaks the law, will be punished by exile or
the gallows. I hae appointed a Border Commission to deal wi’ the
malefactors.”

James hawked and spat to emphasize his royal
decree. There was a low murmur of dissent, which he silenced by a
fierce glare at those assembled.

“As a royal gesture o’ goodweal, I hereby
proclaim a general pardon fer the unlawful activities an’
atrocities committed during ‘
ill week’.
All those imprisoned
in Carlisle’s dungeons are tae be released!”

A deafening cheer went up from the crowd and
lasted a full ten minutes. Douglas looked up at Jock with a joyous
look of disbelief. “Will Gavin and Rob be pardoned?”

Jock nodded and grinned down at her,
overjoyed that James was showing mercy.

The king held up his arms for silence, and
the crowd gradually complied, eager to hear what else their monarch
had to say. “There is no finer way tae cement our two countries
than by marriage. I ha’ been asked fer the hand o’ one o’ ma wards,
and I ha’ given ma royal consent tae the match!”

Suddenly, Douglas went cold. Her glance flew
to Alex Home, as her heart plummeted.
My nightmare is coming
true! The swine carried out his threat. He asked the king to
consent to our marriage.

“I ask that Lady Douglas Elliot come tae the
dais.”

She clutched her brother’s hand, as the roar
in her ears deafened her, and she felt as if she would faint.

An excited cry went up from the crowd:
“Douglas! Douglas! Douglas!”

Jock loosed her hand and urged her toward the
king.

Her legs were trembling so badly, she would
not have been able to arrive at the dais if the laughing crowd had
not propelled her forward. King James himself, took her hand and
helped her up the steps.
I will die before I marry Alex
Hume!
Douglas opened her mouth to protest to the king, but once
again he held up his arms for silence.

“I ask that Sir Lancelot Greystoke come tae
the dais.”

Douglass stared in disbelief as the English
noble strode to the dais, and the crowd went wild.
Lance
Greystoke asked the king for my hand in marriage?

Greystoke, bowed his head to the king, then
murmured low to Douglas, “I knew His Majesty would consent to a
marriage between us, because it symbolizes the union of our two
countries. I don’t want to be your enemy, Firebrand, I want to be
your husband, if you’ll have me.”