Until You by Bertrice Small Page B

would not wed him. That I loved Patrick Leslie.”
    “He is to be married Twelfth Night Day!” the queen exclaimed.
    “Who is to be married?” Rosamund asked, puzzled.
    “Logan Hepburn! He is to marry that sweet little Jean Logan who has been in my household these past few weeks.”
    “That quiet little lass with the big blue eyes who hardly says a word?” Rosamund asked. “God’s blood! Bothwell did not wait long to propose that, although I suspect he had it planned all along.”
    “Then you do not mind?” Margaret Tudor sounded disappointed.
    “Nay, Meg, I do not mind. It is past time Logan Hepburn gave up this childish fantasy about me, and married. He needs an heir, and he has a duty to his family. Nay, I am pleased he has seen reason at long last.”
    “You really are in love with Patrick Leslie, then?” the queen asked.
    “I really am in love with him,” Rosamund replied.
    “I hold myself responsible for what has happened to you,” the queen said. “If I had not invited you to visit me, you should never have met Patrick Leslie. Logan Hepburn might have even forced you to the altar, Rosamund! I have saved you once again, as I saved you from my brother all those years ago!”
    Rosamund laughed. “It is true, Meg! Though until now I never thought of it that way. If I had not come to see you at this moment in time, I should not have met Patrick Leslie. But believe me when I tell you, Logan Hepburn would have never forced me to the altar. If I ever marry again, it will be for love alone, and the choice will be mine to make and no one else’s.”
    “You remember Grandmother’s advice,” the queen chuckled.
    “I do indeed, Meg. The Venerable Margaret was a great woman, and I admired her muchly.”
    “I wonder what she would think of us today. I think she would approve of your exchanging Logan Hepburn for the Earl of Glenkirk, no matter he is an old man. She always considered a woman advancing her status in life a good thing. Will you marry Lord Leslie?”
    “Nay,” Rosamund said quietly. “And before you ask, Meg, or attempt to interfere, let me explain. Patrick has a duty to Glenkirk. I have a duty to Friarsgate. Neither of us will eschew our duty. We both comprehend that, and we are content. This is the way it must be between us. I know you will not understand, but you must not meddle, Meg. Promise me that you will not involve yourself in this matter.”
    The queen sighed. “I just want you to be happy,” she said.
    “We are happy,” Rosamund told her.
    “But one day you will part from each other,” Meg replied.
    “I know,” Rosamund said. “That is what makes whatever time we have together all the sweeter, Meg. No one is ever happy constantly. I should rather have these days with the Earl of Glenkirk than with any other man. I should rather know this perfect happiness for even a short span in my life than to never know it at all. What memories we are making together. What dreams of the past we shall cherish when we are no longer with each other in the years to come.”
    “You are far braver than I am, Rosamund, and I should have never thought it of you,” the queen said softly. She sighed. “I need the security of a marriage. I need to know that my husband is there for me even if he does stray now and again. You are really alone, and you are not afraid.”
    “I think I have been alone my entire life until now,” Rosamund answered.
    “But you wrote that Owein loved you,” the queen protested.
    “Oh, he did, Meg, and I was so fortunate to have him as my husband. But Owein was raised to a life of service to his betters. He always stood slightly in awe of me as the lady of Friarsgate. He always deferred to me, bless him. Not once did he ever corrupt my authority. And he loved Friarsgate.”
    “Did you love him, too?” the queen wondered. “He seemed like the right match for you back then when we were girls at my father’s court.”
    “Aye, I learned to loved him, which is why I