intrusion, Your Majesty. Viscount Cranborne has arrived,” said the king’s page.
Cranborne?
“Your Majesty,” said Cranborne as he entered the room and gave a low bow.
King James gestured for Cranborne to rise. “Sit and join us.” Cranborne tugged at his doublet and took his seat, uneasy under Declan’s scrutiny.
If Cranborne had a hand in this, there was no doubt in Declan’s mind that he would be hanged for killing a peer of the realm. The man’s guilt was further confirmed when he hastily looked away under Declan’s gaze.
Declan seethed with mounting rage.
“I was explaining to MacGregor the conditions of our agreement,” the king explained to Cranborne.
“Of your agreement?” Declan asked Cranborne, his voice cold.
His Majesty smirked and shook his head in disgust. “All that reaches my ears is discord between the Campbells and MacGregors, and the Highland squabbles that grow ever so tiresome. The lairds continue to fight among themselves with no regard for my command. I have decided to heed Cranborne’s recommendation.”
King James leaned forward in his chair and spoke in a grave voice. “Your clans have been warring for years. I cannot think of a better example to be set than by the two of you. You gain a portion of your enemy’s land but, in doing so, must wed Campbell blood. The Highland lairds may think twice before they act and cease with these trifling quarrels. Make no mistake, I will be obeyed.”
***
Liadain sat up abruptly, instantly wide awake. “Give me but a moment.” She sprang out of bed and hastily donned a clean gown. She was shaking, aware her day of reckoning could not be postponed forever. She had to fight a battle of personal restraint not to flee. King James had made up his mind. Why else would he summon her?
Attempting to tame her unruly locks, she fumbled to secure the loose tendrils with a couple of pins. That would have to do. With a deep, penetrating breath and a not-so-steady hand, she opened the door.
His Majesty’s young page stood before her. “M’lady.”
As she was escorted through the halls, she could not stop herself from feeling a shiver of apprehension. She wiped her palms on her dress. Being a ward of the court, she would inevitably be forced to wed. But what if the king arranged for her to wed someone as unsavory as Lord Dunnehl? Liadain tried to swallow the lump in her throat. No matter King James’s feelings toward her deceitful brother, she was still the sister of an earl. Surely that should count for something.
The young page approached the massive wooden doors, and as soon as she passed the guards, her nervousness was back to grip her. Stiffening her spine, she held her head high as she entered King James’s study. She would accept her fate with grace and dignity.
Rows of books graced several shelves, and a huge wooden desk took up the entire end of the room. A long table with at least ten chairs stood in the center of the study and there was still ample room to move around it. Heavy drapes hung over the windows and there was an open view to the fountains. The study was truly one of the many magnificent rooms at court.
“My lady,” King James said.
Whipping her head around, she realized she was rudely gaping. She lifted her skirts gingerly to the sides and bowed her head, bending in a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty.”
“Please rise.”
“Thank ye, Your Majesty.” As she rose, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.
What were they doing here? Her nerves had been too on edge to notice them before. Why would King James have MacGregor and Robert present to hear her fate? Robert’s gaze came to rest on her questioning eyes while MacGregor kept his eyes forward.
“Please sit,” said His Majesty, gesturing to a chair in front of his enormous desk.
Everyone sat silently for a moment and Liadain tilted her head to one side, stealing a slanted look at MacGregor. He sat very still, his eyes straight ahead. In fact, he did
Cranborne?
“Your Majesty,” said Cranborne as he entered the room and gave a low bow.
King James gestured for Cranborne to rise. “Sit and join us.” Cranborne tugged at his doublet and took his seat, uneasy under Declan’s scrutiny.
If Cranborne had a hand in this, there was no doubt in Declan’s mind that he would be hanged for killing a peer of the realm. The man’s guilt was further confirmed when he hastily looked away under Declan’s gaze.
Declan seethed with mounting rage.
“I was explaining to MacGregor the conditions of our agreement,” the king explained to Cranborne.
“Of your agreement?” Declan asked Cranborne, his voice cold.
His Majesty smirked and shook his head in disgust. “All that reaches my ears is discord between the Campbells and MacGregors, and the Highland squabbles that grow ever so tiresome. The lairds continue to fight among themselves with no regard for my command. I have decided to heed Cranborne’s recommendation.”
King James leaned forward in his chair and spoke in a grave voice. “Your clans have been warring for years. I cannot think of a better example to be set than by the two of you. You gain a portion of your enemy’s land but, in doing so, must wed Campbell blood. The Highland lairds may think twice before they act and cease with these trifling quarrels. Make no mistake, I will be obeyed.”
***
Liadain sat up abruptly, instantly wide awake. “Give me but a moment.” She sprang out of bed and hastily donned a clean gown. She was shaking, aware her day of reckoning could not be postponed forever. She had to fight a battle of personal restraint not to flee. King James had made up his mind. Why else would he summon her?
Attempting to tame her unruly locks, she fumbled to secure the loose tendrils with a couple of pins. That would have to do. With a deep, penetrating breath and a not-so-steady hand, she opened the door.
His Majesty’s young page stood before her. “M’lady.”
As she was escorted through the halls, she could not stop herself from feeling a shiver of apprehension. She wiped her palms on her dress. Being a ward of the court, she would inevitably be forced to wed. But what if the king arranged for her to wed someone as unsavory as Lord Dunnehl? Liadain tried to swallow the lump in her throat. No matter King James’s feelings toward her deceitful brother, she was still the sister of an earl. Surely that should count for something.
The young page approached the massive wooden doors, and as soon as she passed the guards, her nervousness was back to grip her. Stiffening her spine, she held her head high as she entered King James’s study. She would accept her fate with grace and dignity.
Rows of books graced several shelves, and a huge wooden desk took up the entire end of the room. A long table with at least ten chairs stood in the center of the study and there was still ample room to move around it. Heavy drapes hung over the windows and there was an open view to the fountains. The study was truly one of the many magnificent rooms at court.
“My lady,” King James said.
Whipping her head around, she realized she was rudely gaping. She lifted her skirts gingerly to the sides and bowed her head, bending in a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty.”
“Please rise.”
“Thank ye, Your Majesty.” As she rose, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.
What were they doing here? Her nerves had been too on edge to notice them before. Why would King James have MacGregor and Robert present to hear her fate? Robert’s gaze came to rest on her questioning eyes while MacGregor kept his eyes forward.
“Please sit,” said His Majesty, gesturing to a chair in front of his enormous desk.
Everyone sat silently for a moment and Liadain tilted her head to one side, stealing a slanted look at MacGregor. He sat very still, his eyes straight ahead. In fact, he did
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