by Sondra Grey
Edane closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wasn’t simple, but Leith overwhelmed her. Each night she left his bedchamber vowing she would not return, and each night - slave to her body, to her emotions - she did.
“Lady Maxwell,” Edane tried again, “Please. I don’t wish to talk about it.”
“Oh, cease your begging girl,” Lady Maxwell snorted, “Honestly, it makes you sound ashamed of yourself – and you shouldn’t be! If you think anyone in this court behaves differently, you’re more naive than I thought. Why, Lady Livingstone has two lovers! Oh, chin up, Dearie, here comes the king!”
Edane looked up and noted that the king was, indeed, strolling this way, attended by Lord Percival and the Earl of Argyle. Edane hoped they’d stride right past, and was dismayed when the King slowed, and offered both Edane and Lady Maxwell as small bow. “Ladies,” said the King, smiling an interested, pleasant smile. “It’s lovely to see you out and about enjoying the morning!”
“And you, your highness, and are looking hail and spry,” said Lady Maxwell, archly. “I see marriage is agreeing with you.”
James’ smile was shallower this time, but he inclined his head. “Quite.” His eyes dipped to Edane’s bosom, and Edane felt herself go still. Keep smiling. “I admit,” said the king, suddenly. “That I will miss my wife this afternoon. Lord Percival has offered to take her riding with some of her ladies - is that not right my lord?”
Edane glanced at Percival who looked startled but nodded.
“Edane,” said the king, meeting her gaze. “Your father tells me that you’ve an excellent head for numbers.”
Edane’s heart began to hammer against her ribcage. “He honors me with such a compliment,” she demurred, offering her father a curtsy, and feeling his eyes on her, weighing her response.
“Now that the tournament is over, my accountants have presented me with the ledgers from the expense. Monstrously expensively, wasn’t it Argyle?”
Her father inclined his head.
“I’d be honored if you came around after luncheon and had a look at the accounts,” said the king. “I’m sure you could tell me if anything was amiss.”
Edane felt her heart skip a beat, and she dropped into a curtsy so low that her knees nearly swept the ground. “Of course, your highness,” she said.
“Wonderful,” said the king. “I eagerly await our meeting.” The small party strode off without a backwards glance.
For once, Lady Maxwell was silent beside her as Edane straightened. “Well girl,” said the old woman, finally. “Now you’ll walk that fine line - pleasing the king, and making sure Margaret knows nothing of it.” The woman gripped Edane’s arm, and Edane was forced to meet the Lady’s eyes. “You can be a victim, love, or you can take your destiny into your own hands. You’re no mouse, Edane Campbell. You are a siren. Remember that.”
Alone in her room, Edane contemplated several ways of escaping the king. More than anything, she wanted to run and tell Leith – hope that her father was wrong, that Leith’s feelings for her were the same as hers for him; hope he might saddle up his horse and the two of them would ride for the Isle of Skye, marry, and live happily ever after.
But if Leith wanted more from her than their nighttime rendezvouses he had yet to express it. Edane had only a few options open to her: flee to a nunnery, continue as Leith’s mistress until he tired of her, or become the King’s mistress and enjoy all the position entailed. Historically, James had been generous to his women when he tired of them, marrying them off, or settling upon them property. In the end, she knew that Lady Maxwell was right. She was tired of being a victim to the machinations of men.
And yet she could not, in good conscious, go to James without forewarning Leith. As she hurried the halls to his chamber, she barely dared hope that, upon telling him of James’ overtures, he volunteered to wed her, to take her away from Edinburgh.
But Leith was not in his room, nor was he on the training grounds, and when Edane went to the stables, the hands informed her that Leith had ridden out some time ago with his cousin, Adam Maclean, and a few of the other highland lords in residence.
And Edane had run out of time. Not only that, but she knew she was being foolish. Nothing in her nightly encounters with Leith suggested that he was at all in love with her, at all willing to risk his position at court for her.
No. Leith was not going to rescue her. It was time for Edane to think of what was best for her, to take her future into her own hands.
She put on her burgundy gown, let her hair loose, and went to find the king.
As she approached the East Wing of the castle, where the king and queen kept their residences, it was clear that the king had emptied the wing. Only a few guards dotted the halls, and those who did seemed to look past Edane as she approached the king’s door.
The guard at the door opened it before Edane could even halt her stride, and so she stopped walking only once that door was closed behind her.
Edane had never seen the King’s quarters before. The first room was a receiving chamber of sorts, with the King’s enormous gilded desk stacked with leather books, maps, and sheaths of paper. There were several chairs, but Edane’s eyes went to the small couch, covered in red velvet and big enough for two people to sleep side by side.
“Miss Campbell.”
Edane turned to her left, where the King was leaning against the doorjamb of a door that led into another room (his solar perhaps).
Edane tried to see the king the same way in which she saw Leith. In truth, James wasn’t classically handsome. He did not boast Leith’s height or impressive musculature. His face was less chiseled, chin weaker, but his eyes were bright, nose long and aristocratic in its arch. What James lacked in classical good looks, he made up for in personality. The King was fiercely intelligent and boundlessly energetic. Even now, leaning against the wall, energy seemed to crackle about him. Edane had once seen him leap from a horse in full gallop and land on his feet.
When she’d first encountered him over a week ago, in one of the alcoves, she’d been ill-prepared for that energy, that entitlement, that exuberance. Now she knew what to expect.
Edane dropped into a low curtsy. “Majesty,” she said. “I’m here to see if I can help you with your books.”
“Rise, girl,” said James, an interested, almost playful smile dancing around the corners of his mouth. “And forget I even mentioned the blasted ledgers. I admit, I’ve been eager to spend more time with you.”
He straightened from his position on the wall and moved into the room with all the prowling grace of a lion. “Your beauty is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You are a gem among pebbles.”
“Your majesty flatters,” Edane said, forcing herself to smile as the king circled her, observing her, eyes running from the top of her head, to the toe of her slipper. “I am unworthy of such praise, I assure you.”
“Nonsense,” said the king, stopping and holding out his hand. Edane put her hand in his and allowed him to lift her from her curtsy. “Your father says that your beauty hides a sharp mind. Does it?”
Edane blinked, uncertain how to answer.
“I admit, I admire a woman with a sharp mind,” said James. “My wife is such a woman, don’t you think?”
“The queen is astute,” said Edane.
“I hear she mistreats you.”
Edane took a deep breath. He said he liked a sharp mind, might she able to banter with him?” “I fear,” said Edane, slowly, “That she suspects the reason for my inclusion in her retinue.”
The king’s gaze grew sharp, assessing. “Ah. And what do you think that reason is, Miss Campbell?”
Edane wet her suddenly dry lips and watched the king’s eyes catch on her tongue. “I am here to serve at your pleasure, majesty,” she said, peering at him through her lashes. “If your pleasure is for me to serve the queen, then I serve the queen.”
“And if I require something else to please me?”
Edane swallowed and h
oped it wasn’t audible. “I am at your disposal, majesty.”
The king was silent a moment, assessing her, “I don’t want you at my disposal, Edane. I want you to delight in my company, to yearn for my hands on your body, my lips at your neck…”
Fear shot through Edane, and she bowed her head. If ever there were a time for her to become a good liar, now was it. She let Leith fill her mind, pretended it was him saying those words, standing there before her. She smiled, slowly. “I think,” she said, her voice soft and breathy, “I would like that.”
The king he smiled - a slow delighted smile. “Then please, Miss Campbell, follow me.” Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, James led Edane out of his office and down the hall, towards his bedroom.
CHAPTER 15
“I ’m more intrigued than worried,” said Leith as he and Richard strode down the castle halls towards the East wing and the King’s apartments. “What sort of the trouble could the Macdonald’s be causing that I could possibly shed light on?” Leith shook his head and wondered what James was up to. Since Leith’s arrival, the monarch had seen fit to hold Leith at a distance, even after Leith’s tournament win – and this was fine with Leith. But the summons that had called him back from the hunt this afternoon was strange enough that he’d seen fit to bring Richard with him.
“Do you think he wishes to speak with you about other matters?” asked Richard, voice soft.
Leith shot his cousin a suspicious look. “What other matters?” His tone brooked warning.
“The castle has been abuzz over your, ah, interest in Edane Campbell,” said Richard, delicately. “She is one of Margaret’s ladies in waiting. Perhaps he wishes to understand your intentions.”
“What do you think you know?” asked Leith, voice dangerous.
“Only what I hear,” said Richard quickly. “But apparently the king has asked after your interest in Argyle’s daughter.”
Leith glowered. “I don’t care how you’ve come by that information. The truth is that my interests are my business. Not yours and certainly not the king’s.”
“Cousin,” Richard placed a hand on Leith’s arm, halting him in his tracks. “I speak as your friend and your clansman. Anything that happens in James’ castle is his business, and if you don’t understand that, you’ll end up on the wrong side of the Scottish crown. And that is something that the Macleods can ill afford.”
Leith scowled but didn’t contradict his cousin. Perhaps he and Edane would have to be more careful about their meetings. There was no way he was going to cease his relations with her. Edane was the sunset: full of gentle, intense fire, her appearance hastened the calm in him, gave him a contentedness he’d never felt in his life before. He refused to think too much on it, but he knew what his future held. When he left Edinburgh at the season’s end, Edane would be coming with him.
As the cousin’s turned the corner and entered the King’s hallway, Leith stopped in his tracks. The door to James’ suite of rooms was open and standing in the entryway, with her breasts pressed again the king’s chest: Edane.
Leith’s stomach plummeted into his feet. The King had his arm around her, his nose in his hair, his hand rested on the small of her back. They looked intimate, and Edane’s mussed hair and wrinkled skirts suggested that they’d recently been just that. Images assaulted Leith: the king between Edane’s thighs, her hands scraping down his back, tangling in that long, thin brown hair.
James looked up then, sensing Leith, a small smile curved his mouth, and he released Edane and straightened, as if embarrassed to be caught in a compromising position with a woman not his wife. Edane looked too. As her eyes lit on Leith he could have sworn she paled.
A seething, black rage overtook Leith, starting in the pit of his stomach and spreading outward until he nearly vibrated with it. He was ready to launch himself down the hall, draw his knife on the King of Scotland, but Richard bumped him. It was a gentle jostle, but it has the effect of a lightning bolt. Leith sucked in a breath.
“Ah! Macleod!” said James. “What are you doing here?” The king sounded surprised, interested, as if he hadn’t sent Leith the invitation for just this hour.
“Breathe,” Richard hissed. “Leith, please!”
Leith straightened and strode down the hall towards the king, bowing low when he was close enough to see the rosy red blotch of a love bite on Edane’s collar bone. His rage turned cold, deadly.
“Majesty, you required my assistance,” he said, his voice steady, void of emotion.
“Did I?” The king’s surprise was exaggerated. His brows rose along with his voice. “I entirely forget why. Well I apologize for drawing you down here, Sir Macleod, but am delighted to see you all the same. Perhaps you might escort Miss Campbell to her rooms. I expect the Queen will be returning shortly and Edane might like to eh, freshen up before dinner.”
The King winked at Edane who offered him a slight curtsy. Leith was close to murder.
“Of course,” Leith said to the king. Without looking at Edane he gestured down the hall. “Miss Campbell,” he said, voice steady. “After you.”
He watched Edane straighten her spine and move past him, down the hall towards where Richard waited.
“Miss Campbell,” his cousin murmured, eyes glancing anxiously at Leith, who moved ahead of them and began leading the way.
As they rounded the corner, he felt Edane’s fingers on his sleeve. “Leith…”
“Don’t.” The word cut through the silence of the hall. “Your rooms are just down this way, Lady.” He infused the word with all the disdain he could muster and couldn’t feel guilty as she seemed to sway under the weight of it. “You’ll need to find a higher necked gown for dinner. It will cover all that gorgeous skin and lessen your chances of landing yet another bedfellow tonight, unfortunately. However, it will keep Margaret from seeing those…” He gestured to the rose-red splotches on Edane’s creamy skin. Her hand leapt up to cover them.
“Good evening to you,” he finished, bowing only his head. He turned on his heel and strode down the hall, with Richard following hotly after. He expected her to call out to him, but only silence followed.
“Do you have a chill Miss Campbell?” Margaret sneered when Edane sat down for dinner. Edane had had to wrap herself in a shawl to cover the mark’s that James had left.
“A small one, highness,” Edane said, dipping her head.
“Caught from one of her gentlemen no doubt,” the queen muttered to Catherine Gordon, who pressed her lips together and refused to comment. “Honestly, I’m embarrassed by her behavior.” Margaret spoke in a stage whisper. Almost everyone nearby could hear. Edane took a deep breath. This was the tightrope act. She would not be a victim.
That was why she’d not called after Leith. Though her heart had broken when he looked on her with such disgust, she would not be a victim. She would not mourn something she’d never really had in the first place: Leith’s love. Indeed, she tried to convince herself, there is nothing to mourn! The King had not been cruel. He had been attentive and exuberant, and Edane had shut her eyes and imagined it was Leith’s hands on her body, Leith’s lips on hers.
She knew that James had summoned Leith to his rooms there so that the highlander might see them together. It was a terrible way for Leith to find out, but it was just as well. Edane Campbell and Leith Macleod had no future together. At least that was what she was trying to convince herself.
It wasn’t working. She felt terrible and desperate. She felt like holing up in her room and never coming out?
“You won’t have to worry any more, your highness,” said Joanne Newbury, one of the English girls. She smiled at Edane with mock pity. “The highlander is having his belongings packed up as we speak.”
Edane felt dizzy.
“Is he?” asked Catherine Gordon. “I was sure he’d stay the season at least…”
“My maid heard it from his cousin,” continued Joanne. “Apparently his father has written and requested Leith return hom
e. He left immediately with the King’s blessing.”
Edane couldn’t breathe. She had known that sleeping with James would mean giving up Leith, but she hadn’t imagined he would leave court, that she’d never see him again.
But he was leaving. He was leaving her here alone, to survive amongst the wolves by herself.
She knew it was pointless to be upset now. Becoming the king’s mistress insured she’d never be with Leith again. But his abrupt departure signaled a reality she had not considered and confirmed the look he’d given her when he saw her in James’ arms: she’d misjudged him, that his feelings for her were stronger than he let on.
Edane didn’t bother pretending calm. “If you’ll excuse me, majesty,” she murmured. “I’m afraid my chill is more severe than I’d thought. I need to go rest…”
“Good riddance,” Margaret sneered, shooing Edane away with her hand. “We’re happy to be rid of you.”
It wasn’t until Edane had locked her door, and collapsed onto the chair near her window, that she let the first tear fall.
Feeling sorry for yourself? Life isn’t one of your books girl! For the first time in months, it was the Lady Argyle’s voice she heard. You’re no fool, Edane, much as you’d lead everyone to believe otherwise. You’ve ten minutes to feel sorry for yourself, then you’ll figure out what to do next.
Edane took exactly ten minutes to cry, and when her time was up she straightened and strode over to her bureau, where her copy of Erec et Enid sat. She lifted the book, strode over to her fireplace where the flames still smoldered and dropped the book into their hungry embrace. The fire caught the pages and flared up, consuming the words and all their false promises.
It was time to let go of dreams. Her future was with the King.
PART 2
CHAPTER 16
“I ’ll admit I expected a warmer welcome.” Calum Grant, Laird of Dundur, stared at his friend, whose booted leg was propped against the window sill as he gazed moodily out over the black and brooding waters of Loch Dunvegan.
