Highland Heart

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  Under cover of darkness, all the buildings looked the same. As she

  followed, questions filled her mind. Who was this woman who was

  determined to leave tonight? And what was she to Jamie? Was she

  running from him? Is that why he was so determined to stop her? Did

  he love her?

  As they turned into yet another darkened street, Lindsey paused. What

  she was doing was wrong. This had started out as a lark, but she was

  taking it a step too far. She had no right to intrude on Jamie

  MacDonald's private life. Perhaps he kept a mistress. Aye, it must be

  a mistress, for he had sounded like a man possessed. For a moment she

  felt a terrible pain around her heart. Did she really want to

  discover such things about him? The answer came to her instantly. No

  matter what the cost, she needed to know everything she could about

  Jamie MacDonald.

  Still, she was intruding upon something very private. She had no claim

  on Jamie. And no fight to follow him on such a personal mission.

  After warring with her conscience, she glanced up. Jamie and the woman

  were far ahead, nearly running in their haste. As she studied the

  darkened buildings that towered over her, she realized that she could

  never find her way back to the inn. She had no choice. She must

  follow Jamie or be lost in this maze, perhaps until morning.

  Breaking into a run she came to the end of the street. She looked left

  and right. There was no sign of Jamie or the woman. Taking a chance,

  she turned left and rounded a corner. There, slipping through a tall

  hedge, she spied the two familiar figures. In the next moment, they

  disappeared.

  Lindsey started to run. Ahead of her an unbroken wall of tall hedge

  ringed a darkened building. She searched for the opening into which

  Jamie and the woman had disappeared. But all she could find were

  prickly brambles that tore at her flesh and snagged at her clothes.

  In the darkness she heard the sound of an approaching horse and rider

  coming up behind her. From the opposite direction another horse and

  rider aproached. Judging by the hooflgeats, both were traveling at

  high speed. She would be trapped between them unless she found the

  entrance.

  Frantically she reached through the brambles, searching for escape.

  Suddenly, looming before her, was the carefully concealed opening sh

  sought. As the horses grew close, she ducked into the narrow hole in

  the hedge and stepped through onto a perfectly manicured lawn. A

  walkway led to stone arches, beyond which was a heavy door.

  Her palms were sweating. With great apprehension Lindsey pulled open

  the door. It led to a long hallway lit by sconces that sent eerie,

  flickering shadows across the walls.

  She was grateful to find the hall empty. No sounds broke the

  stillness. No one challenged her presence.

  Following the hallway, Lindsey paused in front of an open door that led

  to a cavernous room. Stepping inside, she saw that Jamie and the woman

  were standing on the far side of the room. They were speaking in low

  tones to someone seated in a massive chair drawn up before the glowing

  coals of a fire.

  Creeping closer, Lindsey strained to hear their words.

  "I dare not stay here." The woman's voice was soft, with a slight

  French accent.

  "I have brought others who are loyal."

  "Brice Campbell?"

  "Nay. Brice is..." Jamie paused, unable to speak the words.

  Carefully he said, "He is still fighting to recover from the wounds

  inflicted in the attack."

  There was a gasp followed by a silence.

  Jamie cleared his throat. His tones were low, persuasive.

  "When the people hear what has happened, our numbers will swell."

  "You do not understand, my dear friend. At this moment I cannot even

  trust those closest to me. My only safety now is in escape."

  "And what of Darnley?"

  There was a slight hesitation.

  "For the moment he is more afraid of my wrath than of hell itself. He

  will do whatever I command."

  "Where will you go?"

  "George and Will have offered me haven in Loch- leven."

  "Lochleven. God in heaven. You would travel that treacherous route in

  your condition?"

  "Aye. We leave now if my steed is ready."

  "Then I go with you. And this I vow," Jamie said fervently, falling on

  his knees and lifting a small hand to his lips.

  "I will not leave your side until all those who dare to threaten you

  are lying in their own blood and you are once more safely ensconced

  upon the throne at Holyroodhouse."

  At his words Lindsey's legs seemed unable to support her. She sank to

  her knees as the realization dawned. This was not the home of his

  mistress or a friend. This was indeed the queen's fortress. And the

  figure seated before the fire was Mary, Queen of Scots.

  Lindsey struggled to shake off the light-headedness that seemed to grip

  her. She had never before fainted. Nor would she permit such a

  weakness now. But there was no denying that she was confused.

  She remained kneeling on the cold floor and watched as three women

  crossed the room and bowed before the queen. All three were weeping

  and wringing their hands.

  "I implore you, Majesty. Do not attempt to ride in your condition."

  "Stay here with us, where you will be well tended."

  "My dear Maries." The queen kissed each woman, then caught their

  hands.

  Lindsey knew then that these were three of the queen's maidservants,

  all of whom were named Mary. And the woman at the tavern must have

  been the fourth, also named Mary.

  Lindsey studied them, recalling the stories she had learned, at her

  mother's knee. Mary Fleming, Mary Seton, Mary Beaton and Mary

  Livingston had been the queen's best friends since childhood. The five

  were inseparable.

  "You must let us accompany you, Majesty."

  "Nay."

  At their chorus of cries the queen added, "This I must do alone."

  "How will you survive without us?"

  There was a long, drawn-out sigh before the queen responded "I know

  not. But survive I must."

  "But why Lochleven? Surely if the people knew, they would rise up and

  slay those who would threaten you with harm."

  "Aye. The people love me. But their minds have been clouded by

  Knox.

  And he has been fed lies by my enemies. For now, I must depend upon my

  own wiles. " The queen's tone mirrored her sadness.

  "But know that one day soon they will hear the truth, and they will

  take up arms against those who spread lies against me."

  "I pray that day is soon," one of the women responded.

  "Aye." The queen kissed her friends, and they fell into her arms with

  sobs and fresh tears.

  "I will see that your steed is ready," Jamie said, leaving them alone

  for a final goodbye.

  "Then I will return toes cort you to the courtyard, Majesty."

  Lindsey watched as he strode from the room. She wanted desperately to

  go after him and explain what she had done. But there were
too many in

  the room now. She was terrified of being discovered by the queen's

  staff. And so she continued to kneel in the shadows and watch and

  listen.

  The women around the queen were openly weeping.

  "You will have neither maid nor trunk, Majesty."

  "I will have my life, and my Faith. And my wits about me."

  "Would that I had your courage."

  "Hush," the queen whispered.

  "We must all be brave." She turned when a tall, handsome man entered

  the room. To her maids she said, "Leave me now. I wish to be alone

  with my husband."

  The women embraced, then hurried from the room, leaving the queen to

  face the man.

  "What madness are you planning now, madame?"

  "Yours was the madness.

  My thoughts are quite clear. I ride to a place of safety. You may

  stay or go with me. The decision is yours. "

  "You know I cannot stay without you."

  "Why? Would your loyal men decide that you are no longer of any use to

  them, and do to you what they did to poor Riccio?"

  "You cannot believe that I had anything to do with that."

  "I know only this. I leave now. If I leave alone, I will return to

  rule alone."

  With a hiss of anger the man turned on his heel and stormed from the

  room, leaving the queen standing before the fire with head bowed.

  Lindsey knew this was her only chance to escape with her dignity

  intact. Scrambling to her feet she rushed to the door, then halted in

  mid-stride at the sound of the queen's voice.

  "Ah. So my steed awaits me. Come here, lad."

  On trembling legs Lindsey turned and approached the queen. She was a

  small woman, no taller than Lindsey. Up close, the tears that still

  dampened her lashes were clearly visible.

  "I will need that cloak," Mary said imperiously, pointing to an

  elegant, ermine-lined cloak draped over a chaise.

  Lindsey lifted the cloak over the queen's shoulders. Though the

  monarch was heavy with chi Id the garment masked her size.

  The queen turned and studied the room, as if memorizing every detail.

  Her gaze fell on a portrait hanging over the mantel. t was of a

  beautiful woman with proud, haughty features. As Lindsey studied the

  portrait, she saw a resemblance to the young queen.

  "I give you my word, Mother," the Queen whispered, "I will not bring

  shame upon our name."

  Lifting her head proudly, she placed her hand on Lindsey's arm and

  strode beside her out the door and down the long hall. At the rear of

  the castle a door stood ajar. Beyond was a small, paved courtyard

  where Jamie stood holding the reins to a horse. The hooded, caped

  figure of the queen's husband was astride another horse.

  "I was just coming to fetch you, Majesty," Jamie said as the queen

  approached.

  "The groom brought me. Is all in readiness?"

  "Aye." Jamie's eyes narrowed on the slender figure be side the

  queen.

  Lindsey's heart stopped. Surely he would see through her disguise.

  Jamie was too distracted.

  "I would urge you once more to consider what you are about to do,

  Majesty. This is a perilous journey you undertake."

  Lindsey felt the queen's hand on her sleeve and wished she could

  flee.

  But there was nowhere to hide. Jamie's scrutiny had her trembling.

  "Help me mount," the queen said to Lindsey.

  Before Lindsey could assist her, Jamie came to the queen's aid, lifting

  her to the saddle with ease.

  He handed her the reins, then said, "I have instructed your maid to

  notify Douglas Gordon and his clan, who await me at the inn, to return

  to the Highlands and assemble a council of all the Highland lairds. If

  they unite behind Your Majesty, you will be powerful enough to repel

  any attack. Further, you will return to Edinburgh in triumph."

  "Oh, Jamie, my dearest friend. I pray it is so."

  They looked up at the sound of a commotion at the front gate.

  "God in heaven," the queen whispered.

  "I recognize Ruthven's voice."

  She rounded on the figure astride the second horse.

  "Why has he come?"

  In a sullen voice her husband said, "It is as I have sworn to you a

  hundred times. They no longer confide in me. I know nothing of their

  plans."

  Ignoring the man, Jamie whispered, "Lord Ruthven was here the night

  Brice was wounded." He withdrew his sword form its scabbard and made a

  move to follow the sound of the voice.

  "I would deal with this villain now."

  "Nay, Jamie. There is no time. Do you not see? If he is here in

  Edinburgh, he has brought others with him. Others who wish me dead.

  The man covets my power." The queen's tone was urgent.

  "We must ride now."

  For a moment Jamie hesitated. The need to avenge the brutal attack

  upon his foster father burned in his heart. But he had given his word

  to Brice Campbell that his first allegiance would be to his queen. Her

  safety must remain uppermost in his mind.

  Sheathing his weapon, he pulled himself into the saddle.

  "Aye, Majesty. We ride to Lochleven."

  "What of your groom?" the queen asked suddenly.

  "He is not my groom," Jamie said, tearing his gaze from the queen to

  study the slender figure more carefully.

  "I thought he was your groom."

  "Nay. God in heaven." Fear darted into the queen's eyes.

  In one fluid motion Jamie slid from the saddle and grasped Lindsey by

  the front of the tunic, pulling her close.

  His voice was a low rasp of fury.

  "For whom do you spy?"

  For a moment her voice was lodged in her throat. She felt the cold

  steel of his knife as he lifted it to her throat.

  "By heaven, you will speak or I will cut out your tongue." "I ...

  followed you here, my lord?"

  At the sound of that soft, husky voice, Jamie's eyes widened.

  "Lindsey?"

  Without waiting for her reply, he tore the that from her head and

  watched as tier hair tumbled down her back.

  The queen let out a little gasp.

  "What trickery is this?" Jamie hauled the ragged figure close to the

  queen's horse, then caught a handful of her hair and forced Lindsey's

  head up so that she was facing the queen.

  "This is Lindsey Gordon, Majesty. Her clan accompanied me to

  Edinburgh, to offer their services."

  "The daughter of Douglas Gordon?"

  "Aye, Majesty," Jamie said, still holding Lindsey in a death grip.

  "Why are you dressed like that, girl?"

  Lindsey swallowed, overcome with emotion. The queen. She was talking

  to the queen. Her tongue seemed all twisted. The words simply would

  not come out. Worse, she felt like weeping. And if she did, she would

  disgrace herself and her family forever.

  "Speak, woman. Lives are at stake."

  She swallowed.

  "Please, Majesty. I can explain."

  "Quickly," Jamie said through gritted teeth.

  "We have no time for silly prattle."

  "I--wanted to experience the freedom of a man, Majesty And so

  I---dressed like one and followed my lord, Jamie MacDonald
, to a

  tavern."

  The queen's eyes widened, "A tavern? You entered a tavern dressed like

  this?"

  "Aye." Lindsey swallowed.

  "But when Jamie left with a woman... The queen glanced from Lindsey to

  Jamie, then back again.

  "I believe this will prove to be a longer story than we have time for,

  my friend." She drew her cloak around her and said dryly, "She tides

  with you."

  "What?" Jamie released Lindsey so quickly she stumbled.

  The queen wheeled her mount and called over her shoulder, "I said, the

  woman tides with you."

  "Surely you cannot mean to take her all the way to Lochleven,

  Majesty."

  "Would you leave her here with Lord Ruthven and his cutthroats? They

  would have our destination pried from her with a single, carefully

  placed thrust of their knives."

  Jamie heard the sounds of horses drawing nearer. He could see the

  wisdom of the queen's words. Yet his mind and heart rebelled against

  such a move. He did not need the distraction of this female during

  another dangerous journey.

  Still, the queen had commanded it. Pulling himself into the saddle, he

  offered his arm to Lindsey.

  She drew away as if to run and he leaned down, catching her roughly by

  the shoulder.

  "Give me your hand," he ordered.

  "Nay. I will not go with you to some distant place."

  "The queen commands it."

  "Then to hell with the queen, Jamie MacDonald. And to hell with

  you."

  As she tried to twist away he leaned down in the saddle and caught her

  around the torso, lifting her easily off the ground.

  Through gritted teeth he said, "You had best learn two very important

  lessons this night, my lady. First of all, keep your foul curses to

  yourself. And second, when the queen commands, it is done. Now," he

  rasped, wrapping his arms around her and clutching the reins, "hang on

  tightly, woman. If you fall off, I will not come back for you. If you

  are bleeding, you will lie in your own blood until you are drowned."

  '

  "But my father and brothers..."

  "You should have thought about them before you leaped into this

  dangerous little adventure."

  Within seconds the three horses sailed over the hedge and disappeared

  into the darkness. A moment later, amid shouting and sweating, more

  than a dozen horses and riders entered the empty courtyard and milled

  in confusion.

  As their horses clattered along the deserted streets of Edinburgh,

  Lindsey held herself stiffly in Jamie's arms.

  In the darkness she whispered furiously through clenched teeth, "I will

  never forgive you for this, Jamie MacDonald. Never."

  And with each mile, her hatred of the man grew as she found herself

  wondering if she would ever see her beloved family again.

  Chapter Twelve

  A thin sliver of pale moon still hung in the sky as the gauzy pink of

  dawn began to streak the horizon.

  All night they had ridden without stop, hardly dating to glance over

  their shoulders as they fled. On the long night's journey they had

  stayed far ahead of those who would harm them, and had encountered no

  resistance.

  Lindsey held herself stiffly in Jamie's arms. But as the horses moved

  along mile after endless mile of gentle, rolling hillside, frosted by a

  silver, predawn mist, she gave in to the overpowering need to sleep.

  Jamie knew when sleep overtook her. Her face lowered to his shoulder

  and her lips pressed against his throat. Her hands grew slack and