A Rough Wooing

by Virginia Henley

  “Ooh, fancy that!” the woman said laughing. “Since Queen Anne won’t be coming, I’ll accompany you up to your Aunt Dorothy’s chamber. If memory serves, I think she did leave some garments in the wardrobe.”

  As they climbed to the top of the tower, the woman asked, “When do you think your uncle and the king’s party will be arriving?”

  In fact Douglas hadn’t the faintest idea. “Not until tomorrow at the very earliest, I warrant. I mustn’t take up any more of your time. My uncle is blessed to have someone like you at Langley. I shall be sure to mention how helpful you have been.”

  The servant bobbed her a curtsey, visibly pleased at the compliment.

  Douglas glanced about the tower chamber. It had clearly been furnished for a lady. The first thing her eyes fell on was a hairbrush sitting atop a tall chest. She immediately slid open one of the chest’s drawers. When she saw the linen undergarments she sent up a silent prayer of thanks. As she lifted out a shift, petticoat, and hose, the scent of roses perfumed the air. She crossed the room to the wardrobe. A silver mirror had been mounted on the door and when she saw her reflection she was aghast. No wonder the servant looked me up and down with dismay. She crossed her fingers and opened the wardrobe door. Oh, I have the luck of the devil!

  She lifted out a blue damask gown and laid it on the bed. On the floor of the wardrobe she found a pair of matching slippers. She removed her doublet, then with careful fingers she lifted the silver chain from around her neck and unpinned the antique pendant from Greystoke’s shirt. When she took off the shirt, his male scent stole to her, and sent a spiral of desire curling through her belly. She forced herself to stop thinking of him, folded her clothes and put them in the wardrobe.

  Douglas unbraided her hair and brushed it until it crackled, then she donned the undergarments and crossed her fingers as she unlaced the gown and stepped into it. The damask dress was not a perfect fit. There was no farthingale, but the skirt was very full. It came only to her ankles but as she tightened the laces on the front of the bodice, she had to take a deep breath before she could close it completely. Percy’s wife must be exceedingly slim. When she looked in the mirror she saw that her breasts swelled provocatively above the low-cut neckline. Well, at least no one will notice my ankles!

  When she could drag her eyes from her own exposed flesh, she noticed that the right side of the bodice had been embroidered with a silver initial. Her mouth curved with delight when she saw the letter D. How appropriate, the D for Dorothy now becomes a D for Douglas.

  She picked up the lovely pendant, and saw the image of Greystoke in its mirrored depths. D for Deception! She heard his voice as clearly as if he were in the room with her. Douglas slipped the silver chain around her neck and pinned the jeweled mirror between her breasts. She raised her chin defiantly and shrugged a pretty shoulder.

  ~~~

  It was barely dusk when Greystoke arrived home from Carlisle Castle. The anticipation of seeing Douglas spurred him to cover the four miles to Beaumont in record time. He had even fed and watered his horse before he left Carlisle so that when he reached home, he could simply stable his mount and go straight to the house. He hadn’t felt this way about a woman in years. The beautiful Firebrand heated his blood and made him feel alive. He couldn’t wait to see her golden eyes light with pleasure when he entered the hall.

  Greystoke had pictured her before the fire, her mass of molten hair reflecting its flames. When he saw that the Great Hall was empty, his heart skipped a beat. Then a smile curved his mouth. She’s in the library.

  His footsteps quickened and he heard the ring of his spurs as he entered the book-lined room. He glanced about. “Douglas?” His heartbeat faltered when he found the chamber empty, then he heard a noise behind him and turned eagerly to the doorway. When he saw it was his servant, Ridley, he asked, “Where is she?”

  “The lady has gone, my lord.”

  “Gone?” Greystoke held his breath. “Gone where?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know.”

  “When did she leave?” he demanded.

  “I have no idea, my lord. I served her breakfast here in the library, but when I returned with lunch, the room was empty. It was as if she had disappeared.”

  “She didn’t vanish into thin air, man!” Greystoke felt his anger ignite and he knew he was in danger of savaging Ridley. With an effort he held his temper. “Thank you.”

  When Ridley withdrew, a foul oath dropped from his lips. “Goddam the wench!” It was a severe blow to his pride that Douglas Elliot was not at Beaumont awaiting his return. The bloody little Firebrand took off the moment my back was turned. It not only stung him that he was a poor judge of character, it was also a cudgel blow to his manhood.

  He strode to the window and gazed out with unseeing eyes, as a feeling of impotence gripped him. He noticed that the lock was unfastened and realized that this was how she had made her escape unseen.

  The little bitch is laughing at me.

  “Put not your trust in a Scot!” It was a maxim all English Borderers lived by, and that went double for a warden, or should have. He was filled with fury that Douglas Elliot had made a fool of him. I laid my heart at her feet, and she stomped on it.

  He turned from the window, walked slowly to his desk, sat down, and smashed his fist into the polished oak surface. That was when he saw that the priceless antique pendant was missing. “The thieving little bitch! She coveted that pendant from the moment she saw it; damn her avaricious eyes!”

  Douglas Elliot had touched Greystoke’s heart, but now his feelings for her hardened. She is a thief and she belongs in prison. He vowed to track her down. She ran away, so I will stalk her as prey. With cold deliberation he swore he would take his revenge.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “His Majesty King James has arrived!” the Langley Castle steward announced to everyone gathered in the Great Hall.

  A collective gasp went around the large chamber, and people started to scurry about, positioning themselves advantageously for when King James entered the castle.

  Douglas Elliot’s heart began to pound. She was truly surprised that the king had arrived less than an hour after she had changed from her leather attire into the elegant gown. She sent up a prayer of thanks that not only had she chosen to ride to Langley, but that her timing had been perfect. Please, please, let my brother Jock be here.

  She hurried out to the castle bailey, where she found an amazing throng of horses, attendants, and moss-troopers. With her heart in her mouth, Douglas searched among the riders until she saw her cousin Will Elliot, her brother’s lieutenant. “Where’s Jock?” she shouted.

  “He’s stabling the king’s mount.” He stared in amazement at Jock’s beautiful young sister. “It’s unsafe for ye to be out here with all these men.” He dismounted. “I’ll escort ye to him.” He handed his reins to a Graham moss-trooper.

  “Stand back, and give His Majesty room to move!” a deep male voice ordered.

  Douglas stared at a group of men crowding together, and saw a burly red-headed man who was doing his best to make way for King James to enter Langley Castle. That must be Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. I’d best give my dearest uncle a wide berth!

  She slipped her hand into Will’s and tried to keep up with him as he strode into the stables. Every stall now had a horse in it, but a large box stall had been reserved for the king’s royal mount. She saw her brother Jock giving it a rub down.

  Jock Elliot almost dropped the brush when he saw his sister. “Douglas, I didn’t expect to see ye in England. What are ye doing at Langley Castle?”

  “I was on my way to Alnwick to find you, Jock. It was just luck that I found out you were coming to Langley.” She took a deep breath before she plunged into her tale. Suddenly, she was strangely loathe to blame her family’s trouble on Lancelot Greystoke. “The Earl of Cumberland’s men came to Castle Elliot and arrested Gavin and Rob for stealing horses. They are imprisoned in Carlisle Castle. You must do s
omething, Jock. I fear they may be hanged!”

  “They didn’t find stolen horses at our castle, surely?”

  “Of course not!” Douglas was indignant. “Thoroughbred horses were found at Langholm, and Sim Armstrong told Cumberland’s men that he bought them from the Elliot brothers. They had arrest warrants not only for Gavin and Rob, they had one for you too.”

  “Me? Didn’t Gavin tell them I was with the king?”

  “Of course, but the English devils didn’t believe him. They searched the castle for you. They had an arrest warrant for Douglas Elliot too, and when I told them I was Douglas, they didn’t believe me. It made no difference—they arrested all three of us.”

  “Arrested you? The callous English bastards! Gavin and Rob are still imprisoned in Carlisle Castle? How the devil did you manage to escape?”

  “I...I had help. After dark, Sir Lance Greystoke led me to a back door of the castle and set me free. I warrant he was acting chivalrously toward a woman.”

  “Carlisle Castle is the next stop on the king’s journey south. I’ll have a word with His Majesty about our brothers being falsely accused and arrested. Once we get to Carlisle, I’ll see to their release. King James doesn’t have much use for the Earl of Cumberland. George Clifford spent his time kissing Queen Elizabeth’s arse, instead of taking care of his estates in the English Borders.”

  Jock closed the box stall door securely. “Stay beside me while I gather up my men. If we don’t go inside soon, we won’t get fed.” He winked at Douglas. “Henry Percy is sparing no expense to entertain King James and his entourage. Ye’ve no idea how pleasurable it is to enjoy English hospitality.”

  Douglas glanced down at her fine gown. “Yes, I believe I have a very good idea.”

  ~~~

  The following day was taken up with people being presented to King James. Not only were the English who lived in the Borders flocking to meet him, but the Scots who could afford to accompany the king to London were arriving at Langley Castle every hour.

  “Jock, I’m grievously worried about Gavin and Rob. Do you think you can persuade the king to set out for Carlisle tomorrow?” Douglas asked.

  “Why don’t I present ye to him and ye can have a try at persuading him yerself? No doubt he’ll remember when he met ye at Edinburgh Castle last year.”

  “I warrant he’s not the type of man who succumbs easily to feminine wiles, Jock.”

  “Don’t underestimate yer assets, sweetheart. He’d have to be a corpse not to appreciate yer half-exposed breasts.”

  Douglas heard the disapproval in his voice. “The gown is borrowed. I cannot help that it is too tight. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  “Come on. We’ll have to get in line behind these English arse-kissers.”

  There was hardly room to move in the throng gathered to meet the new sovereign. Jock struck up a conversation with the people in front of him, while Douglas schooled herself to patience All at once she felt a hand caress her bottom. She whirled about ready to strike the offending male, and stared into the facetious face of Alexander Hume. “Do not presume to take liberties with me, sir. Your familiarity breeds only my contempt.” Bugger and balls, I should have known the king would be taking his Treasurer to London.

  Alex Hume grinned. “Perhaps you’ll have to be more generous with your favors, my lady, now that you’ll have fierce competition from the English lassies.”

  “I welcome their competition. I might even let them win the prize, or take the cake if it is not to my taste.”

  “You play a high stakes game, Douglas—luring a man on by holding him off.”

  “I don’t remember giving you leave to use my given name, my lord.”

  Hume bent close and whispered, “I would be most happy to call you mistress.”

  Douglas turned her back on him, and saw that it was her turn to make her curtsy to the king. Jock led her forward and she sank low before James like a supplicant and gave him a poignant smile.

  “Och, I’d ken this lassie anywhere,” the king said, staring overlong at her décolletage.

  “Your Gracious Majesty, I have two brothers imprisoned in Carlisle Castle, falsely accused of theft by George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland.”

  “Clifford has allus bin an avaricious swine, wi’ his eye on the best Scots’ Borderland. It dinna surprise me he’s stoopin’ tae false accusations tae get his hands on a piece o’ it.”

  He raised Douglas and patted her hand. “Ye’ll accompany us tae Carlisle, an’ I’ll decide who’s guilty and who’s innocent.”

  Dear God, I can’t return to Carlisle! “I think it would be safer for me to go home to Castle Elliot, Your Gracious Majesty.”

  The king laughed. “Wheest, lassie, ye’ll be safe wi’ Jamie. Ha’ no fear.”

  “Thank you, Sire,” she murmured, and fear of returning to Carlisle rose up in her. As she moved away quickly, Alex Hume caught up with her.

  “If you want something from the king, there is no man breathing who has more influence than my brother. King James never fails to take his Treasurer’s advice.”

  Douglas almost cursed him for eavesdropping, but shrewdly thought better of it. If Hume could influence the king to pardon her brothers, he could also influence him to condemn them. “It would be very kind of you to use your influence, Alex.”

  ~~~

  Douglas slept in a small chamber with the two English ladies she’d met on the road to Langley. Their husbands had been assigned to a dormitory chamber reserved for men.

  On the morning they were all moving on to Carlisle Castle, Douglas donned her leather riding clothes. She carefully folded the blue brocade gown and an extra set of undergarments, and put them into a bolster case. She arrived at the stables early to retrieve Greystoke’s mare from the meadow that now held over fifty horses.

  She put the problem of finding a saddle in the capable hands of her cousin Will and by the time the king’s cavalcade was ready to depart Langley, she had her garments and the exquisite antique pendant tucked safely into her newly acquired saddlebags.

  It’s only about thirty miles to Carlisle, but I warrant it will take most of the day to get there. Though Douglas dreaded encountering Lance Greystoke, and would have much preferred going home to Castle Elliot, she knew in her heart that she would do anything she could to get her brothers released. If fortune favors us, I can ride home with Gavin and Rob.

  The closer she got to Carlisle, the more she thought about Lancelot Greystoke. She had been in utter despair until he had freed her. That night there was an unspoken bond between us. Then I betrayed that bond.

  Douglas told herself that she had justification. I gave myself to him freely, hoping that in return he would offer to free my brothers. She bent forward and patted the lovely mare’s neck. “I promise to give you back,” she whispered.

  Though Langley had four great towers, it was small compared with the massive fortalice known as Carlisle Castle. Within its walls were many separate buildings and Douglas vowed to avoid an encounter with Greystoke if it were possible.

  The king’s entourage clattered through the high covered arch of the main gateway into the outer bailey. Douglas rode with her brother’s moss-troopers and in her leather breeches and jack, she blended in well. At a slower pace, they passed beneath the internal gatehouse with its L-shaped barbican and entered the inner bailey that led to the massive three-story keep.

  “Welcome to Carlisle, Your Gracious Majesty. I am honored to present you with the keys to the castle, as well as the ceremonial key to the City of Carlisle.” Sir Thomas Scrope, the Governor of Carlisle bowed low before King James. “Our castle and our city are yours to command, Sire.”

  The king was well-pleased with Thomas Scrope who had carried on a secret correspondence with him for the last year of Queen Elizabeth of England’s life. “We thank ye fer yer hospitality, Lord Scrope.”

  ~~~

  It was evening before Douglas was assigned a chamber with other ladies, and she quickly washe
d and changed into her brocade gown so she could meet Jock, who had insisted on escorting her to the dining hall. She pinned the mirrored pendant inside her gown for safekeeping, brushed the tangles from her hair, and waited for her brother.

  Douglas was thankful that she sat between Jock and Will Elliot at the long, overcrowded trestle table. They were able to grab food from the great platters, which were emptied the moment the servers set them down. Her eyes searched the crowded hall for Lance Greystoke. One glimpse of his dark countenance and I shall flee from the hall.

  With her attention focused on looking for Greystoke, she did not notice Alex Hume watching her like a hungry predator. When she finished eating, she told her brother she was going up to bed.

  Jock reached into his pocket and handed Douglas a couple of gold crowns. “I saw at least a dozen Carlisle merchants arrive earlier. They are setting up their wares in a chamber off the Great Hall. I think it’s time you had another dress.”

  Her eyes widened with pleasure. “Oh, Jock, thank you. You are the best brother in the world. Whatever would I do without you?”

  Douglas spent the next hour selecting a gown from the array of feminine attire the merchants had on display. They had brought the latest fashions, knowing both the Scots and the English who planned to follow the king to London would spare no expense on their wardrobes.

  She finally chose a pale green velvet gown with detachable sleeves. She also bought another pair of sleeves embroidered with pink English roses and silver Scots thistles that she could not resist.

  Douglas carried her treasures up to the chamber she was sharing. When she opened the door she suddenly found herself propelled into the room from behind. She swung about to find Alex Hume leering at her.

  “What the devil are you playing at? Please leave; I am sharing this chamber with four other ladies.”

  “None of whom will be retiring this early. We’ll have plenty of time for dalliance.”

  “I am not the least bit interested, Alex. I want you to leave at once.”