“The queen fled to England to her brother, King Henry VIII, but her husband…,” D’Arcy paused, lifting an eyebrow, “… accompanied her as far as the border and turned around.”
Alex laughed. “There’s true love for ye. I suppose the Douglas was afraid of being labeled a traitor and losing his lands.”
“I’m glad your clan is not part of this rebellion,” D’Arcy said. “I’d rather not face you and your cousins and that big fellow Duncan in battle.”
Alex grinned, recalling the last time they had practiced together. It had been a hard fight, but it had ended with D’Arcy on his back and the point of Alex’s blade at his throat. To his credit, D’Arcy had conceded with his usual grace.
“You’ll find that rebellions are like mud in the Highlands,” Alex said. “Everywhere ye step, more squishes through your toes.”
“Albany is intent on putting an end to them,” D’Arcy said. “He and the Council have appointed Colin Campbell, the Earl of Argyll, as Protector of the Western Isles, and they’ve given him authority to put down the rebellion ‘by sword and by fire.’”
“Ach, ’tis dangerous to give that much power to the Campbells,” Alex said.
“Albany is aware of the risk,” D’Arcy said. “But as the Scottish Crown has no army of its own, he must rely on chieftains who can command large numbers of men to enforce the Crown’s authority. In this case, that is Colin Campbell.”
Alex had come to Edinburgh to appease the Crown, but it was the Campbell chieftain who now wielded immediate power over the clans in the Western Isles. Fortunately, the Campbell chieftain owed Alex a favor for rescuing his sister. He hoped he could use it to benefit his clan.
“Albany has charged me with delivering the decree to the Campbell chieftain,” D’Arcy said. “If you are leaving for your home, you must travel with me as far as Inveraray Castle. It would be like old times.”
“I’m leaving as soon as I collect my horses,” Alex said. “But I’ll wait for ye outside the city.”
“I can’t let you go yet,” D’Arcy said. “Sabine de Savoisy insisted I bring you back to the palace to see her.”
Alex groaned. He had forgotten all about Sabine.
CHAPTER 20
The guards at the door to the palace looked as if they would like to gut Alex, but they let him through with D’Arcy. Once they were inside, D’Arcy sent a message for Sabine with one of the servants.
“Ah, the exquisite Sabine de Savoisy has arrived,” D’Arcy said a short time later.
Alex turned in time to see her descending the wide staircase. All the men in the hall seemed to be watching her as she paused on the stairs to survey the room. When her eyes met Alex’s, she gave him a slight nod.
“Weren’t you and she once… ,” D’Arcy said.
“A very long time ago,” Alex said.
“If you wish to ride to Inveraray with me and my men, meet us at noon tomorrow outside the palace gates,” D’Arcy said. “Of course, I won’t blame you if you decide to stay longer to visit with Sabine.”
Alex bid D’Arcy farewell and crossed the hall to greet Sabine.
“You’re as lovely as ever,” he said, as he brought her hand to his lips.
Sabine was a few years older than Alex, so she must be about thirty now. The planes of her face were sharper, giving her a starker, more austere beauty. Her hair was drawn up into a high, elaborate headdress that drew the eye to the graceful line of her neck.
“I am delighted you could visit me at last.” As she took his arm, she added in a low voice, “I’ll take you to a room where we can be alone.”
Her skirts rustled and shimmered as they crossed the crowded room. When she led him through a low doorway, up a back stairway, and into a chamber with a large canopied bed in the center, Alex wondered what kind of fool’s errand he was on. Surely Sabine could not have asked him to travel all this way to roll around on a bed for an hour or two.
When she settled on the settee by the windows, Alex sighed with relief and took the chair opposite her.
“You look well, Alexander,” she said with a bright smile.
He held her gaze and let the silence grow between them while he waited for her to state her purpose.
“Does your clan support the faction that favors France, or do you favor ties with those dreadful Englishmen?”
“I fear we Highlanders have been too occupied cutting each other’s throats to give the question our full consideration,” Alex said.
Sabine leaned her head back, revealing her ivory throat, and gave a light, musical laugh. There were those who would be surprised to know it was Sabine’s laugh, and not her lush body, that had first drawn him to her.
“Did ye ask me to travel across the breadth of Scotland—and into Lowlander territory, no less—to discuss politics with ye?”
“You used to be better at taking your time with … the preliminaries,” she said, her lips curved in amusement.
“Sorry, but your friend Albany had me tossed into a prison cell today.”
“I heard you made a memorable entrance.” She laughed again, but this time it was a nervous laugh. “You’re the talk of the palace.”
“What is this gift ye have for me?” he asked.
She dropped her gaze and ran her fingers along the edge of the settee. This hesitancy was unlike the Sabine
