Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile

by Jennifer Wilson

  “Relocate to Holyrood?” Mary turned for a moment to watch the men vanish around the corner. “But what of my court? What of you?”

  “I swear, neither I nor anyone else will disturb your father, or disrupt the good work you have done for him. You may tell him I shall remain in whichever suite of rooms he prefers, and I shall not leave them without adequate warning. But of the rest of us, Sir Thomas and Sir William will take their turns at keeping charge up here, and spend the rest of the time with you. Likewise, I am sure the others would enjoy a change of scenery.”

  “You have it all arranged?” Mary, now calmed down from the shock of seeing her husband caged in by soldiers, had begun to think straight. “Then we leave at once, today. I shall return at some point this week, if they can hold him long enough – I should speak to him, let him know I won’t be treated thus any more. Yes, we leave now.” Pulling herself together, Mary looked towards the main gate, as though she would make her way to Holyrood Palace that very moment. “I should send word to my father, to advise him of our plans. Would you arrange for Robert to go as soon as possible, and alert those as necessary?”

  “Of course, Your Grace, at once. If you are alright…” Janet let her question hang. Everyone knew of Mary’s mood swings, and her occasional panics following shock.

  “I shall be. But I do not want to be within the same walls as him any longer than I need to be. I shall be in the gate, if you need me, but let me know as soon as arrangements have been made.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  It took but half a day to arrange the move, with Janet assuring King James V, via Robert as her messenger, that she would absolutely not leave the suite of rooms Queen Mary had occupied in life. The former King made sure that everybody had witnessed her promise, before agreeing to her entering Holyrood’s gates. By mid-afternoon, the Queen was progressing down the Mile, carefully avoiding as much disturbance as she could, weaving her way in and out of the crowds. This was not a day for overt haunting.

  As she reached the gates, even though she had visited the Palace hundreds, if not thousands, of times since her death, she paused at the notion that this was the first time she had decided to wholly relocate to the place for any length of time. Subconsciously, she glanced back up the Mile, thinking of Darnley, knowing that he would have heard where she was planning to retreat to, and hoping the soldiers could detain him as they had planned.

  She further resolved to take herself away on the Progress, that so far had never quite got any further than a discussion topic with Janet and Sir William. It had seemed such a good idea before she had set off on her mission with her father, and become so distracted with various hauntings. With autumn having been and gone, the year was running out.

  “After Christmas,” she said, aloud, but still largely to herself.

  “Your Grace?” Sir Thomas, standing to attention one step behind her, moved forward to her side.

  “Progress. I still want to go on Progress, after all this is sorted. It is simply delayed, postponed, not cancelled.”

  “Very good, Your Grace: I shall be happy to assist, when, or if, I should be called upon.”

  Still avoiding the hardy November tourists, Queen Mary and Janet made their way up to her rooms, noting, as Mary had done so many years before, the relative security of each way into the suite.

  “There will be guards on all the doors, Your Grace, on full alert at all times, and especially once the visitors are gone for the day. You will be fully guarded at all times.”

  “I am glad, but equally, I am not sure whether I’ll feel protected or imprisoned.”

  Janet smiled. “We have chosen the most discreet gentlemen of the guard for the function, and they will remain largely out of sight unless called for. You will hardly notice them, but be assured that they will always be present, just as your daily guard is present when you are out and about in the city. And, once you have decided where you would prefer to retire, I shall be in the very next room.”

  “Thank you, Janet,” Mary said, turning around to look around the room. “Now, Janet… Janet?” Confusion crept into the Queen’s voice, as her lady-in-waiting vanished into nothing in the middle of her sentence. Momentarily offended, she suddenly realised the reason for Janet’s disappearance.

  “Father! It is good to see you; I hope I am not inconveniencing you by my arrival in this manner?”

  Raising her up from the curtsy she had dropped into, Mary’s father beamed at her, before glancing over his daughter’s shoulder. “She will stay away? She did promise.”

  “Father, yes, I assure you. She has plenty to keep her occupied in these chambers, what with monitoring the guards, and ensuring the ladies of both households don’t clash. She won’t come anywhere near you – did you see how she vanished so quickly just then? All will be well, I promise.” Aware she was talking too quickly in her attempt to calm her father, Mary stepped back, looking around the room. She hadn’t visited since her confrontation with Darnley. “It will be nice to be back here, without the constant worry that he’ll show up and ruin everything. He always has been good at ruining things.”

  Her father nodded. “Well, at least he gave you James. So you had one blessing from him. Now, I shall leave you to things.” Slowly, glancing around him as he went, James left the room. At the door, he turned. “Do you know how long you’ll likely be in residence?”

  “Father! You want rid of me so soon?” Mary exclaimed, a hint of laughter trying to disguise her concern that she was correct in her jocular assumption.

  He responded with a rapid denial, but Mary knew her father. Even now, so much improved, routine was still the key to his happiness. Any change or new idea needed to be introduced gently, and calmly advised well in advance. He didn’t respond well to sudden changes in plans, such as, for example, his daughter and her entire court arriving with only a couple of hours’ warning, and no indication of how long their stay would last.

  “It won’t be long, Father, just until we can work out what do to with Darnley.” Hopefully sooner rather than later, she added silently. Much as she loved Holyrood, she didn’t like her own way of life being controlled by her former husband. She would have a word with Sir William as soon as he arrived, and see what he suggested.

  As the other ghosts wandered the halls of Holyrood, exploring the building which a remarkable number of them had never visited before, Mary slipped out into the garden, unnoticed by all apart from the solitary young soldier she nodded to as she left her apartments. Silently, he fell into place, several steps behind her, watching all the time in case unwelcome guests were to suddenly appear. Aware of him, but not worried about his presence, Mary relaxed into the peaceful solitude of the garden, grateful she couldn’t feel the chilly drizzle which hung in the air.

  She thought about where Darnley could be held and could cause the least trouble to the rest of the city’s occupants, living and dead. As Janet came into view, herself taking a stroll in the garden for a well-earned break, but clearly flouting her promise to James V, the idea came to Mary. The vaults under the South Bridge. Let Boots deal with the pest that was Darnley.

  “Janet!” she called to her companion, as the other lady came within earshot. “Janet, I know where we can put Darnley, where he hopefully won’t cause us any more problems – South Bridge.”

  She watched as Janet’s face cleared, and her smile broadened. “It’s perfect, Your Grace. Safely tucked out the way, and yet, if he does decide to start causing a fuss, somewhere that ghosts and hauntings are but to be expected. And Boots will enjoy a bit of unfriendly rivalry in the trouble-making stakes, I think.”

  “Just what I thought. Tell Sir William to come and find me when he arrives. He is coming, is he not?”

  Janet darted a glance towards the Palace, as though trying to conjure the knight with her very eyes. “He is meant to be, but I haven’t actually seen him yet. I’ll send somebody to look properly for him, so I can return to your rooms and avoid your father’s anger.” Sh
e dipped into a curtsy before the Queen, daring to meet her eyes and smirk. “I do promise I will try to behave, but it is so tempting…”

  “No. I don’t put my foot down often, Janet, but no. It’s going to be hard enough for him anyway, dealing with our motley crew arriving so suddenly, so let’s make it as easy as we can for him.”

  She smiled at Janet’s retreating back, sure that she would keep her word, despite all her jocular threats. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to tell somebody to keep an eye on things, just to check life didn’t get too complicated during their short stay in Holyrood.

  She waved to the soldier, beckoned him across, and issued her instructions.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  It didn’t take much to convince Sir William of the benefits the South Bridge could offer in terms of a prison for Darnley. His first thought had been Craigmillar Castle, but logistically, the more he thought about it, the more difficult it seemed to get. All that way, having to travel at night, in full view, then find somewhere in the Castle itself to hide the man away, keeping him out of sight at all times; it would have been impossible. Not to mention the fact that both Queen Mary and King James had a fondness for the place, one which he wouldn’t want to ruin for them.

  At least the South Bridge was out the way, and most visitors heading down there were expecting, if not actively hoping for, a ghostly encounter. Nice and close to keep a retinue of soldiers in regular turnover, too, keeping the team refreshed and vigilant, rather than risking tiredness setting in and observation dropping away. The thing he wasn’t keen on was Queen Mary’s intention to speak to Darnley at some point, either before, during or after the move. She had remained in Holyrood and along the Mile, as she promised she would, but he knew she was getting restless, knowing that her former husband was so close at hand.

  Sir William couldn’t see it changing with Darnley at South Bridge, if he was honest, but hopefully knowing that he was tucked out the way where nobody could reach him would be sufficiently comforting for her. At least she could wander the streets of her capital knowing she wouldn’t be confronted by him anymore.

  “Sir William?”

  Hearing his name jolted him from his thoughts, bringing him back to the moment with a jump. Looking around him, he had hardly realised he had strolled out of the Palace and pulled up a seat in the outdoor section of the café. There wasn’t much competition at this time of year, as visitors huddled inside, clutching warming teas and coffees. A couple of hardy people braved the cold, but nobody threatened to join his table. None of the living, at any rate.

  “Sir William? May I join you?”

  Finally registering the woman’s voice, he looked up, hoping he had not been ignoring Queen Mary. Thankfully, for more than just that reason, he saw the familiar outline of Janet. She was smiling at him; he liked it when he had her entire focus. He loved his Queen, and the opportunity to serve her in death as he wished he had done better in life was one he truly valued, but sometimes, just sometimes, he enjoyed his time alone with the lovely Lady Glamis. He shifted his chair sideways, unnecessarily, given the amount of space, and the risk of being observed. Still smiling, she sat down next to him, leaning back comfortably in the chair.

  “I am glad we don’t suffer cold anymore,” she said, watching a young couple hurry across the courtyard to get into the warmth of the gift shop.

  “Yes, even with our level of luxury, these places could be chilly in the winter. Central heating and warmer clothes would have been very welcome during some of our darker seasons.”

  Janet shivered at the memory of it. Even with their fur-lined cloaks, and tapestries lining every wall, draughts were draughts, and thick snow could creep through even the strongest leather boot.

  “Did you have any message for me?” William prompted her.

  “I did, but it isn’t urgent. Well, it is for Queen Mary, but it’s difficult – what she’s wanting this time, well, I still don’t think it’s really going to be good for her.”

  “She wants to see Darnley?” William guessed from Janet’s reluctance.

  “Not for us to decide, of course, but is there nothing we can do? I just don’t see it being a good idea – you saw how shaken she was when he was in her room at the Castle. I know it’s different when you know somebody is going to be there, but still, I don’t like it.”

  William stared into the distance, trying to think of a way to deny his Queen something she had directly ordered him to do. “She knows where he is being kept, and she now knows where he is going to be moved to; I don’t see how we can trick her without letting him go, and she would never forgive us for that.”

  Janet nodded. Mary’s wrath wouldn’t be worth the deception. “In that case, I want it planned to the finest detail. I will be there, of course, but I want only the minimum of guards. I know we need Darnley guarded, but bring in some of the nobles to help, if you can convince them. If she breaks down, then I want it to be away from too many lower-ranking prying eyes. Plenty of ladies present too, I think – it may just trick him into being well-mannered for once.”

  “Not too many women, and none of the younger, most susceptible ones; we don’t want him turning on the charm, winning them over, softening her to him,” cautioned William. The last thing any of them wanted was for Mary to forgive and forget with Darnley, and let him back into the inner circle of Edinburgh ghosts. It had been bad enough having to associate with him in life; to put up with him socially in death would be the final straw.

  “That’s true, although I suspect we’re safe there. Right then, shall we go and see her, see what sort of plan we can come up with?”

  Together, they rose, and drifted through the walls and floors to Mary’s chambers. The Queen was browsing the museum room, re-reading the handwritten notes which explained what each item was, and what it represented.

  “Your Grace,” they said, accidentally in unison, as they entered the room.

  “Ah, Sir William, Janet, good to see you. Have you come to discuss our plans?”

  Janet gently nudged Sir William forward, urging him with her eyes to speak up, to tell the Queen of their misgivings. Thankfully, he understood her meaning.

  “Your Grace,” he repeated, wondering how to find the right words. “We appreciate that you wish to see Darnley, but, have you truly considered what it is you are going to say to him? We – that is, myself and Lady Glamis – are concerned that there is the risk he will cause you greater upset again, and that perhaps, yes, perhaps, it would be better to wait until after your planned Progress before you speak with him.” Sir William glanced around at Janet, who was smiling at this unplanned recommendation.

  “Indeed, Your Grace,” she said, stepping forward, in line with Sir William. “The time away will allow you to clear your mind of the troubles this last month has brought about, so that when you do meet with Lord Darnley, you will do so rested, calm, and ready to deal absolutely with any of the usual nonsense he throws at you.”

  Queen Mary watched them, silently contemplating their advice. They were partly right, she knew that. As much as she wanted to shout and rant at Darnley, confronting head-on every accusation he had ever thrown at her, and pointing out his own shortcomings while she was at it, she also suspected this wasn’t the way a Queen should really deal with an upstart such as Henry Stewart. She saw the hope in Sir William and Janet’s eyes that she would listen to them. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt.

  “I suppose,” she said, idly tracing her finger along the side of a cabinet, “that it would give Darnley longer to think, longer on his own, away from genteel company, away from those who feed his ego.”

  “Boots and the others down at South Bridge will certainly not do that, Your Grace,” said Lady Janet, eagerly, thinking of the crowd that haunted the chambers. They certainly wouldn’t show the prisoner any respect, especially if heavy hints were dropped in that direction, and the odd favour passed their way.

  “And his soldiers are definitely still ignoring him?” Mary asked Sir William.


  The knight nodded to confirm.

  “So he has no communication with anyone?”

  Again, her knight nodded.

  “I still need to see him.” She raised a hand to silence the dispute she saw rising in both her companions. “I won’t speak to him, but I need to know where he is, that he is safely contained, well out of my way. The night you move him, you must tell me, and I will be waiting, out of sight, at the Bridge. I won’t be swayed from this,” she added, the look in her eyes warning them not to try.

  Janet smiled at her, and curtsied to signify that she would respect the Queen’s wishes. Beside her, Sir William bowed, and grinned to himself. This was a much easier situation to control; he would ensure the Queen was guarded at all times, but by the highest-ranking folk he could find. Not just to keep Darnley away from the Queen, but to keep the Queen from approaching and confronting Darnley.

  “It sounds an excellent idea, Your Grace. I will speak to the guard this evening, and work out the best evening to transfer Lord Darnley to the South Bridge. Given that it’s Friday now, I think we would be best waiting until Sunday at the earliest. Trying to move him on a Friday or Saturday night would, I think, simply over-complicate things, with all the extra people out and about.”

  Mary nodded. “I agree. Thank you, Sir William, Janet; I’ll look forward to hearing your plans.”

  Hearing the dismissal in her voice, the pair left the room, returning to the privacy of the Queen’s supper room to discuss their plans in more detail.

  Mary drifted through the rooms of the Palace, watching the small groups of visitors, not having the heart or inclination to haunt any of them. Whereas the Castle, or even the Palace grounds, were fun haunting, here at Holyrood, apart from her own suite of rooms she had never really been that keen on bothering the visitors of the rest of the rooms. They were so grand, so large, and none really decorated in a manner which would make sense for Mary, Queen of Scots to arrive in full attire. She had once or twice haunted the painting of herself in the great hall, but that required floating for quite a length of time, and eventually she decided it simply wasn’t worth the effort.