Stuart, Elizabeth (25 page)

She
turned at the door for one last look. Lady Lynton was staring at her. "Get
yourself off to bed now. I'll see to him."

Jonet
looked first at Alexander then back to the countess. It was an order, a
challenge, thinly veiled as a courtesy. Her eyes narrowed. If Lady Lynton
thought she was going to give Alexander up without a fight, she was a fool. And
something told her the countess of Lynton was certainly no fool. "Good
night, Lady—" She caught herself. "Diana."

Diana
smiled. It was a wide, self-satisfied smile. "Good night, child. Pleasant
dreams."

"You
call this breakfast? This isn't enough to keep a babe alive!" Alexander
pushed the empty bowl aside, smiling his most engaging smile at the young
maidservant. "Find me something more substantial, lass. I assure you I'll
be most grateful."

"You've
no need to be turning off your tricks on my servants, Alex." Diana walked
through the door and smiled. "Go on, Martha. You may fetch Lord Hepburn a
helping or two of whatever you find in the kitchens."

The
girl curtsied and moved away, her eyes lingering on Alexander before she
slipped through the door.

"You'd
best damp some of that charm, Alex, else you'll have my whole household in
turmoil."

Alexander
grinned. "But I've awakened with an appetite that would do justice to an
army. It must be the fault of whatever you put in my ale."

"Or
the fact that you slept the clock around. You must have needed it." Diana
sat on the bed and put a hand on his arm. "How are you feeling?"

"All
right, save for my back. A bit sore."

"You'll
have a few scars, but God help us, the women will love it." Diana began to
grin. "It'll make you seem wildly dangerous, love, though you'll have
their sympathy as well if you play your cards right."

Alexander
laughed. "I should thank the Frenchman it seems. Odd, but I'd not thought
of that side of it."

Diana
stopped smiling. Her fingers tightened unconsciously. "What happened,
Alex? Lyle and I were near worried to death. Then to add to the frustration, we
were suddenly ordered home. Wolsey's back, it seems."

Alexander
gave her a brief account of the ambush at Angus's town house, the time he had
spent as a prisoner, his escape and the ride to Whitestone.

Her
hand fell away. "You've been busy it seems. But how did you get so tangled
up with the Maxwell girl?"

Alexander
shrugged. "You know about Mute. I felt I owed the lass something. She's a
sweet child, but not a notion of how to get on in the world—though that's
Mure's fault too. And what a beautiful way to get back at Murdoch. Angus no
longer trusts him, and with his son's bride missing, Murdoch dare not trespass
on the Maxwell wealth." He grinned. "All of Scotland'll be in an
uproar. Worrell will see to that."

"I'm
not worried about all of Scotland. I'm worried about Angus and whether or not
he'll slap you in prison if you show your face over the border."

Diana
rose and paced to the fireplace and back. "How are you going to win back
his trust after stealing that girl from beneath their noses? You've jeopardized
our plans with this impulsive knight-errantry of yours." She frowned and
studied him thoughtfully. "It's a side of you I've not seen before, though
it's not unbecoming, Alex. But then, perhaps your own plans have changed.
Perhaps you've no wish for an earldom."

Alexander
met her eyes, the amusement in his face dying out. Diana was on guard and
probing, but he couldn't let her probe too far.

"The
lass jeopardizes nothing. Murdoch played into our hands when he couldn't resist
the temptation to be rid of me. He lied to Angus so Angus can't trust him.
Angus does trust me. More so, I'll wager, for a note I left informing him of
every step I planned to take as revenge. I've punished Murdoch without
decreasing his usefulness to Angus. Something our chancellor will appreciate,
if you don't."

He
frowned. "I've proven my abilities and allegiance, and as Angus's trust
for Murdoch wanes, his need for me increases. It will increase further when I
rush back to warn him of an English plot to kidnap James. Ten pounds says he'll
even ask me to help watch over the lad."

"You're
going to tell him our plans to take James?"

"Certainly.
Of the rumors at least. How better to make him trust me? Besides rumors of the
like have circulated since the lad was eighteen months old. It'll be nothing
new to Angus."

For
a moment more Diana stood thoughtful, then she began to smile. "So
nothing's changed then?"

Alexander's
gaze shifted away. "Nothing's changed. As soon as we hear from Lyle about
that letter, I'll get on about business. With Wolsey back it'll be soon."

"Ah,
yes, the letter. Everything hinges on that, doesn't it?" She grinned.
"Were I the romantic type, I'd be crushed. Luckily for you, I'm not. But
just what are you going to do with the Maxwell girl? Or I suppose I should be
calling her Lady Douglas."

Alexander
forced a smile for Diana's benefit. "As soon as Lyle sends those safe
conducts, I'll get her to someone who can take her to France. Albany's pressing
for Mure's release. I've no doubt he'll take her in. With the duke of Albany
behind her, an annulment of the Douglas marriage will be merely a matter of
form."

"And
does she know all this?"

"No,
I haven't told her."

"Well,
perhaps you'd better. It's fairly obvious that she's in love with you, darling.
And you'll forgive me if I say that you seem to be encouraging her."

Diana
tilted her head and smiled indulgently. "But then perhaps the two of you
have your own understanding. Perhaps she has talents I'm in no position to
judge."

Anger
shot through Alexander. Anger at Diana. Anger at himself. "There's been
none of that!"

"Oh?"
Diana pursed her lips in amusement. "So that's the trouble, is it?"

Alexander
slid both hands behind his head. Normally he enjoyed fencing with Diana. But
not now, not about this. "If I didn't know better, I'd suspect you were
jealous, love." He sent her a grin. "Naturally, I know better."

"I
should hope that you do." Diana bent and kissed his forehead. "I'm so
far from being jealous that I've dressed her in some of my own cut down gowns
and lent her Marie to shape that impossible hair. If you met her at court,
you'd not know her. She looks quite elegant."

"Thank
you, lass. That's all I ask."

Diana's
fingers traced slowly about his mouth. "If so, it'll be the first time,
Alexander. And I, for one, will be sadly disappointed."

She
smiled and stepped away. "Now enjoy the rest of your breakfast. When
you've finished, you'll find Lady Douglas in the garden. I suggest that you
tell her your plans. Or some of them anyway."

She
opened the door, then glanced back. "Just be gentle, darling. Young women
suffering the pangs of unrequited love are the very devil to have as
houseguests."

***

By
the time Alexander went in search of Jonet, over an hour had elapsed. In
addition to finishing off a substantial breakfast, he took time to bathe and to
shave. Then he donned his freshly cleaned breeks and a white linen shirt and
went for a walk in the garden.

But
Jonet wasn't there. He looked for her in the keep, then began a search of the
outbuildings. By the time he tried the stables he was beginning to be
concerned. He met Grant, seated on a stool and whittling, a darker-than-usual
scowl on his face.

"Have
you seen Jonet?"

"Aye.
She went for a ride. Said she needed some time alone."

Alexander
frowned. "You let Jonet ride out? Alone?"

"She'd
the look of a lass who needed it."

"Saddle
my horse! If she's come to any harm, I'll—"

Grant
looked up. "There's a bit of parkland the countess had groomed and
planted. It's just beyond the meadow. I took the lass there for a ride
yesterday." He scowled again and returned to his whittling. "I've a
feeling she's better off there than inside these walls."

Alexander's
eyes narrowed. "If you've something to say, then say it. Why was Jonet
upset?"

"Mure's
trial's been set. They say the list of witnesses against him is long."

"Damn
it all! Who told her?"

"Diana.
Happened to mention it this morning just in passing, ye ken. Said she'd heard
it as she was leaving Edinburgh."

"God's
death! How could she be so foolish?"

Grant
grunted. "Ever known any woman so little the fool as our Diana?" He
whittled a moment in silence. "Just think on it a minute, lad. It'll come
to you."

Alexander
swore again, then turned as a stable boy rounded the corner. "Saddle my
horse. Be quick about it!"

"Two
of your women in the same household. Looks like things are apt to heat up a
bit, doesn't it?"

"Jonet
Maxwell isn't my woman," Alexander responded coolly. "I brought her
here because I gave my word I'd help, but mainly because I wanted to punish
Murdoch. As soon as I can arrange it, she'll be on her way to France."

"Oh,
I don't doubt that." Grant continued his methodical shaping of the stick.
"But are you trying to tell me, lad, that you don't care?"

"That
she's going to France? Certainly not."

Grant
looked up. "Lie to the lass if you will, to yourself if you're fool
enough, but don't try to bluster this pap past me. I'm a canny old Scot and I
know you. And despite the last two, I'm fond of you, boy. I'm prone to worry a
bit, ye ken."

Alexander
drew a deep breath. For several moments he didn't speak, then his frown twisted
into a smile. "I'd no idea I was so easy to read. First Diana. Now
you." He hesitated, his voice took on a bitter note. "Ironic isn't
it? And sweet merciful Lord, wouldn't Mure die laughing if he knew?"

Grant
resumed his whittling. "I don't think so."

"Oh,
but I promise you he would. What a damned exquisite revenge! I've let my
feelings run ahead of my brain... or so Diana's hinting. And she's right, of
course. I'll send the lass on her way. I've nothing to offer her. Nothing to
offer any decent woman. Mure's seen to that!"

"I'm
sorry, lad."

"So
am I. But it'll be over soon enough." Alexander sighed and ran a hand
through his hair. "That's the way of all flesh, isn't it? To want what we
can't have. I suppose the wise man learns to seize what he can and enjoy it so
long as it lasts."

"Most
would say that."

"I
would have two weeks ago. Not now." Alexander hesitated. "Grant...
we've rescued each other time and again from impossible scrapes past counting.
I don't suppose I've ever told you—" He broke off, bit his lip. "I
mean I hope you know..."

Grant
met his eyes. "I told you I was a canny Scot. You've no need for the
words. You've been schooled on the dark side, lad, and you've endured it
better'n most. I just hope I live to see you reach the light."

The
two men stared at each other. Suddenly Alexander began to grin. "Lord,
man, how'd we get off into this? I was just about to threaten to strip all the
hide from your back."

The
stable boy was approaching with Alexander's horse. Grant's features shifted
into their accustomed frown. "You'd best mount up then and go find her.
I've a decided partiality for my hide. I'd be loathe to part with so much as an
inch after all these years."

Alexander
swung onto his horse. "Anyone who takes yours will have to take mine as
well. And I've little to spare these days." Turning, he urged his horse
across the courtyard, breaking into a canter as he reached the gate.

Grant
gazed after him. "And whose fault is that, my lad?" He shook his
head, still frowning. "Sometimes, you're just too damned clever by
half."

***

Jonet
stared into the waters of the narrow pool, focusing beyond the scowling
reflection that dipped and shifted on the wind-ruffled surface. A tiny fish
darted from beneath a submerged log, settling among the roots of a trailing
saffron weed. A larger fish idled from behind the log, swimming lazily past.

Unconsciously,
Jonet held her breath. She knew now what it was like to be hunted.

But
the hunter drifted past unawares. His tiny prey would live to grow the larger
and wiser for another day—or perhaps only another few minutes.

"What
an absorbing pastime. Staring into the water. I wonder I've never thought of
it."

Jonet
started in surprise.

Alexander
moved toward her. He was on foot and leading his horse, and he looked tanned
and fit in his tight breeks and white shirt. The long sleep had obviously
restored him. Relief coursed through her, and paradoxically, resentment. She
doubted Robert looked half so well by now.

"Do
you mind if I join you?" Alexander inquired politely. But he was already
tying his horse.

"Would
it matter if I did?"

"So
it's that kind of mood, is it? Perhaps English air doesn't agree with
you." Alexander sat down and stared blandly at his boot. "You can
always go back if you like."

Jonet
flushed and looked away. "Forgive me, Alex. I'm in an odd mood
today." She glanced back at him and smiled. "But you're looking well
and I'm glad to see it. You gave me quite a fright, you know."

"It
was nothing to worry about."

"That's
not what Grant said. He told me what happened."