by Olivia Rae
“She saved herself from disgrace,” he sneered. “And then she further humiliated the Armstrongs by becoming a spy for the queen. How she must have hated my… Ian Armstrong.” Gavin slammed the dirt floor between his feet.
“You do not know for certain that she was willingly giving information to the queen. I believe she was just conversing with her cousin. I know firsthand that Pimberly has a knack for twisting words to gain an answer he is seeking. More than likely your mother was trying to protect you, like I tried to protect my family.” She paused, wondering how he would accept her next words. “Like you are trying to protect Thomas.”
Even in the darkness she knew his eyes shone with contempt. He lifted his shoulder and turned away. “Leave me.”
“Nay, not yet. There is one thing I do know about your mother: she loves you, and she would do anything to keep you from harm.”
He turned back and rose to his feet, his breeks full of filthy straw. His hands rounded into fists. “You know nothing,” he growled.
“Think my words are false? You are not the only one whose life has been a lie. Let us talk about a man who hides the truth from a young boy all in the hopes to protect him from his mother.”
Gavin dropped his head to his chest. “That is different.”
“Is it?”
“I may have planned to give Thomas away until I found out who his mother really was, then…”
“Not so. No matter if Thomas was the queen’s child or not. You never would have given him up. I wager when the time came you would have changed your mind because you love the boy.”
He shook his head and wiped his nose, trying to hide his tears.
“’Tis true. Do not be so tough on your mother. She chose the life she has because of you. Just as you are willing to take on a queen for Thomas.”
’Twas then Gavin lifted his moist eyes to hers. “Aye. But what does that matter to you? When the fight is over, you will leave with your queen.”
An ache grew to a cavern of despair, as if a fine blade had sliced her heart. She should tell him she wanted to stay, but just like everyone else in Warring Tower, she held on to her secret. Without another word, she fled to her chamber.
* * *
Bleary-eyed and weary, Audrey rose from her bed. The only person who seemed to get a good night’s sleep had been the queen as her snores and snorts could be heard through the walls. Lady Francis hummed and sang to the children all night long while Audrey sat by the window and watched as the full moon traveled across the sky.
She trudged to the hall and sat down on a long bench next to a bleary-eyed Sir Pimberly, who slurped up a large bowl of pottage. Her stomach tumbled with each smack of his lips. “Did you sleep well, Mistress?” he asked.
For a man who had been out all night on the queen’s business, he seemed quite cheery and chipper. Audrey passed on the pottage when Blair offered her a bowl. “I have had better nights.”
“Mmm. Cheer up, soon you will be back in London. Though I must say I do enjoy my time away from the place. Though it does seem to make Mistress Pittman exceedingly grumpy.” He then carried on devouring his pottage.
Nothing could be cheery from this day forth. The thought of going to London withered her spirits, and today would bring more interrogations. Or worse, if the queen longs for London, she might just grab Thomas and leave. How horrifying! Pulling a six-year-old boy from the only family he has ever known would be unthinkable.
She rose. “Have you seen Thomas this morning?”
“The boy is at prayers with Lady Francis.”
“And you did not see fit to join them? Are you not a strong man of God?” He arched his brows, and Audrey bit her lip. She shouldn’t have questioned his faith when she had not gone to chapel either this morn.
“I am at Mistress Pittman’s call. Since she did not attend, neither would I.”
His merry mood fled, and how Audrey wished she could call it back. ’Twas wrong to punish someone else for her own foul mood. “Do forgive me for questioning your choices. I do bid you a good day.”
Sir Pimberly’s slurps echoed behind her as she made her way to the chapel. Slipping inside, she stood against the wall. She joined in on the final prayers and then lingered while the servants shuffled out of the room. Lady Francis and Thomas stood near the altar whispering to one another.
A wide grin split Thomas’s face when Audrey approached the pair. “Mistress Audrey, come look. Gran has found a new hiding place for my ring.”
Audrey almost laughed, who else would want the boy’s ring, except for his nurse, Mistress Jonet. Nonetheless, Thomas proudly showed a loose cornerstone at the base of the altar.
“Gran says no one would ever look in the same room where the ring had been before.” Thomas dropped the jewel into a little wooden box and placed it in the secret spot.
Quite so, Lady Francis would take to task anyone who would dare try to remove it. The woman seemed to have aged at least ten years since yester eve.
“How are you feeling?” Audrey asked the older woman.
“Oh,” Lady Francis sighed, “as well as anyone could be after losing the love of her son.”
The flatness of her voice froze like ice in Audrey’s veins, but she did not know how to mend the break between mother and son.
Lady Francis placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Thomas is going to show me his other secret treasures. He was telling me all about them last night.”
“Gran is going to help me find new hiding places for all of them.” A special alliance had formed between the pair last eve. At least something good came out of a day of disasters. Though no one knew how long that confidence would last now that the queen was here.
“Well, we are off. If the que—Mistress Pittman has need of us, you know where we shall be.” Lady Francis ruffled Thomas’s hair.
He pulled his grandmother through the door. Gales of their laughter echoed down the hall. Audrey took a deep breath and faced the simple altar. The rough wooden cross gave little comfort to her disheartened soul.
She fell to her knees and folded her hands, her gaze fixed on the rugged cross. Dear Lord, you created this world, and I know you have the power to make the wind blow and the meadows to bloom. All is within your power. I come to you this day to ask that you bind this family together in love. Heal old hurts and allow Thomas to stay in this caring home. Your wisdom is greater than all. In your son’s name, thy will be done.
“Mistress Audrey,” Blair called from the entry. “Mistress Pittman is awake and wishes to see ye.”
Audrey rose to her feet and with renewed strength strode out of the chapel.
Chapter Thirty-one
The next morning Gavin was led like a criminal to his mother’s chamber. Waiting inside and dressed in her black disguise sat Queen Elizabeth flanked by Audrey. The deep shadows under her eyes spoke of little sleep. Something Gavin and she had in common this morn.
The queen, on the other hand, looked bright and cheery; however, she raised a cloth to her nose as he entered the room. “Good heavens, you smell like a donkey who has rolled in his own dung.”
He fought the urge to give the queen a wicked smile. “My apologies, I do believe the waste you smell is from other past residents of the cell and not a donkey’s.”
“Methinks you should clean out those cells. When we are finished, make sure you bathe,” the queen ordered.
He tipped his head. “On both accounts, we are in agreement.”
“Now then. What is this nonsense about a great French army come to help Mary de Guise and you leading a Scottish army into England?” Her fingers rapidly tapped the arms of her chair. His answer had best be forthright or she would take his head and any others she pleased.
“I am sorry, Mistress Pittman. I forced Mistress Hayes to write such a missive to you. Everything in it was false.”
“So I have learned.” The queen’s fingers stilled.
Audrey had given him up so easily. His gut grew tight. Though she sa
id she cared for him, her true loyalties would always be to her queen. Gavin tried to hide his despondency by looking away.
“Come, come now, Laird Armstrong. Do not be so disheartened. Mistress Audrey has said nothing. My information came from a man named Peter Boyd. He claims you have been twisting the mistress’s words for some time. Though I must say I only received a few communications from Mistress Hayes to begin with.”
“What would any of that matter? You could have gotten what you wanted from my mother.”
“Lady Francis was never a willing confident. She just on occasion conversed with her cousin. Pimberly has a talent for asking the right questions. Your mother was always willing to share about her family. But you must know that we cannot trust every word a mother writes about her son. ’Twas your own erratic actions that brought Mistress Audrey here.” She paused. “And, of course, the boy.”
So the queen admitted to her interest in Thomas. Audrey’s eyes grew wide as if her ears could not believe what she had just heard.
“My son—”
“Stop.” The queen held up her hand. “We shall talk about that later. First, we must discuss your lies and deceit to England and Scotland alike. I have come here under false pretenses.” Her hand came down gently to her lap, and her gaze pierced him like a sleek blade. “What games do you play, Laird Armstrong?”
He wanted to argue that she started this game when she ordered Pimberly to make inquiries or when she sent Audrey to his door, but neither revelation would bring about a satisfactory ending. “With all respect, you are here because you fear these things may happen someday. The borderlands shift their loyalties often because they have suffered much. Aye, I have brought you here under false pretense, but then, you and your sister used trickery many years ago. And I will not give up what I claim is rightfully mine.”
The queen slammed the arms of her chair and rose. “How dare you. I should take your head now and sack your keep as a warning not to trifle with England.”
“Then you will start a war indeed,” he spat.
Audrey quickly stepped forward and curtsied deep before the queen. “Please, Your Majesty, it is his love for his son that makes him say such vile things. He would move heaven and earth to keep the boy safe. Please forgive Laird Armstrong.”
The fire in the queen’s eyes receded, and she sat back down. Once again her fingers strummed the arms of her chair. “You are fortunate that Mistress Hayes thinks so highly of you. I must think on this matter some more.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “Go and bathe. We shall talk again soon for I have no wish to stay on this repulsive soil much longer.”
Gavin wisely bowed. But before he left, he shot Audrey a thankful glance for this morn she had truly saved his life and that of his kin.
* * *
During his bath, Gavin played the next conversation he would have with the queen. ’Twould be about Thomas. Somehow, he would have to convince her that the lad would be better off raised in Scotland than in a palace in London. Every argument he produced to sway the queen had more deficits than Warring Tower’s ledgers, and he had to offer them up as a sound venture. He couldn’t lose Thomas.
Once finished and dressed in clean clothing, he headed to the hall, but the queen was not present. Gavin let out a slow breath. Certainly, she did not leave already. Unless…his heart began to wildly gallop. “Where is my son? Where is Thomas?” he shouted to the servants.
Pimberly rose from a table situated in a dark corner. The man was becoming like Clyde, always favoring a special spot. “Laird Armstrong,” he called. “Shall we go find Mistress Pittman? I believe they are walking along the river.”
They? Who was they? Again he let his gaze shift around the hall. Where was Thomas? Knowing Pimberly held the answer, Gavin followed. All the way to the river Pimberly rambled on. They had not gone far when laughter greeted their ears.
“You got him, Mistress.” Thomas’s excitement rose above the noise of the rushing stream. “Give it a quick yank to secure the hook.”
At water’s edge stood the queen with a pole in hand trying to land a rather large trout. Audrey and Gavin’s mother waved their hands, encouraging the queen to land the fish.
“Good heavens, he is a fighter,” Queen Elizabeth chortled. The fish flopped and landed on a rock in the middle of the stream.
Immediately, Thomas waded into the water and secured the prize. He held it up proudly. “I wager it’s about four hands long. And at least two stones in weight.”
The lad exaggerated. If the fish were half that size, it would be a stretch. With great enthusiasm, Her Majesty, Gavin’s mother, and Audrey appeared to agree with Thomas’s assessment.
“Da,” he called as Gavin approached. “Look at the fine fish Mistress Pittman caught.” Thomas rushed out of the water, proudly holding the wiggling trout.
“Methinks Mistress Pittman should give up her other responsibilities and become Warring Tower’s official fisherman.” Gavin winked at Audrey who paled slightly at the comment.
Queen Elizabeth winced and raised her hands when Thomas tried to give her the fish. “Nay, I think all fishing should be left to Thomas.”
The lad smiled, and the queen smiled back. For the first time, Gavin saw a resemblance between the pair. The moment of bonding seemed to end when Queen Elizabeth handed Pimberly the fishing pole. “How about you, Thomas, and Lady Francis take this fine catch and clean it for our supper later?”
Lady Francis lowered her chin, and Pimberly’s jowls sagged as Thomas grabbed his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you how to gut it. ’Tis easy.” The lad then turned back to the queen. “I am sure you will be okay with me da. I dinnae think you need all them guards. Me da will protect you.”
The queen chuckled and waved at Thomas. “I am certain I am in good hands.” Though her guards remained in place.
Thomas skipped down the path holding the fish out to Pimberly, who looked positively grey. “Look at the color on him. What kind of a fish do you think he…”
The lad’s voice drifted away, and Gavin’s chest was ready to burst with an undeniable boast. The basking in parental pride dissipated when his gaze rested upon his mother’s sad face.
Lady Francis gave a weak, longing smile to Gavin before she followed the pair. He should make peace with her as that would be what Christ would want him to do. But his heart still fought against the idea. Right now, he had a queen to persuade.
“I think I should leave also,” Audrey added.
“Certainly not,” the queen ordered. “What goes forth now will concern you too.” The queen paused. “Shall we continue down this way?” She held out a hand to her guards. “Stay here. I shall not wander far.”
The uneasy looks the guards held did not channel their agreement. Nonetheless, the men did not move.
The confidence Gavin had tried to muster all night seemed to dissolve on the gentle morning wind. Somehow, he had to find the courage to show the queen what a fine teacher and proxy parent he would be for Thomas.
Looking up, Gavin noticed that puffy clouds floated across the bright blue sky. A few golden finches weaved through the air as a spotted woodpecker hammered on a nearby tree. If this day were a judge of how his conversation with Queen Elizabeth would go, then all of his desires would be granted. But weather was never a predictor of human conduct and best he chose his words wisely.
He led the queen along the river path while Audrey followed behind them. The silvery ripples and gentle burbles of the stream he hoped would keep the queen in a cheery and charitable mood.
She stopped under the shade of a large oak, searching for a place to sit. Gavin spied a fallen log. He placed it beneath the tree for her comforts. “Your—Mistress Pittman, this would be a nice place to rest?”
She nodded and sat. Her large black gown spilled across the log and over the lush moist grass. “Though this is truly a lovely spot, we are not out here for our amusements. I have decided to overlook your treachery. And if all remains quiet here, I will leave with
in the day. However, if you truly do plan to form an army against me…”
Gavin fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, I would never do so. I only wish for peace to reign in this land.”
“Good.” The queen nodded. “That is settled. Which brings us to another matter. What are your plans for Thomas?”
His plans? Gavin expected the queen to tell him what would happen to Thomas. Never had he suspected she would want his opinion on the matter. “I-I—”
“Out with it. Last night, Pimberly had a long conversation with your old nurse and that boorish father of yours. Do you still plan to give the child away?”
It amazed Gavin how quick the queen acted on small bits of information. But then he must remember Thomas was the queen’s son and his protection was of great importance.
“Do not stand there gaping like a cavernous cave. There is little that goes on in my kingdom that I do not know about.”
He wanted to state that Scotland wasn’t part of her kingdom, but a warning look from Audrey blocked any words on that matter. Instead, he stood and got to the heart of the matter. “Will you let me choose what is best for Thomas, or is this just a tactic to test my loyalties concerning the lad?”
The queen ran a slim finger down her neck. “How odd that you would twist a conversation about the boy into your allegiance.”
“Is that not what this is about? Am I a loyal enough servant to you to raise your son?”
“My son!” Queen Elizabeth jumped to her feet. Her arms became rigid while her hands curled into tight fists. Flashes of red ripened her cheeks. “Who would utter such nonsense? Ah, did your thinking come from that fool, Maxwell? Scots are always so thickheaded and misguided.”
Gavin assessed the two women. Audrey seemed just as bewildered by the queen’s outburst. With the boldness of a lioness, Audrey stepped forward. “My queen, you asked me to keep an eye on Thomas, and when we found out that he came from England—”
