'And when was your son born?'
'Approximately an hour after the wedding ceremony.'
Elizabeth, sipping her wine, began to laugh. She laughed until the tears ran. Gasping, she choked on the wine and began to cough. Without thinking, Glenkirk stood up, leaned over, and clapped her on the back.
When the queen had finally caught her breath she said, 'I hope you have brought your wild wench with you, my lord, for I should like to meet her.'
'I have brought her, yer majesty, and I've also brought my mother, Lady Margaret Stewart Leslie. I hope ye'll receive them both.'
'I will, Glenkirk. Bring them anytime. Tell me, is your wife beautiful?'
'Aye, madame, she is.'
'As beautiful as I am?' said the queen coyly.
'One can hardly compare the beauty of a child with that of a mature woman, yer majesty.'
Elizabeth chuckled. 'God's foot, Glenkirk! I do believe there's hope for you. That's the first real compliment I have ever heard you utter at my court.'
Two days later Patrick brought his wife to court. As Cat advanced towards the queen the younger women thought how plain her gown was, and the more experienced ones envied her her cleverness. The Queen of England stood in a stiffly brocaded, beribboned, be-jeweled red velvet gown that glittered and gleamed beneath a huge gold lace ruff. The Countess of Glenkirk wore a full-skirted black velvet gown. The wide sleeves were edged in lace and slashed to reveal white silk scattered with gold-embroidered stars. The neckline was low, and framed in a high, well-starched, sheer lace collar. Around her neck were four long ropes of magnificent pale-pink pearls. She wore.only one ring, a large, heart-shaped ruby. Her hair, uncrimped, was parted in the center and drawn over her ears into a knot at the nape of her neck. A delicate little lace cap sat on the back of her head, and two fat pink pearls bobbed from her ears.
The maids of honor thought the countess' raiment too simple, but Leicester leaned over to Lettice Knollys, his wife, and whispered, 'What a beauty!' to which Lettice whispered back, 'Aye! I hope she'll not stay long at court.'
The handsome couple had reached the queen. Gracefully sweeping off his cap, Glenkirk bowed low. His countess dropped into a graceful curtsy. They rose and faced the English queen proudly. For just a moment, Elizabeth Tudor wondered what she had missed by not following her heart.
'You are welcome at court, countess.'
'I am most grateful for yer majesty's welcome,' replied Cat carefully.
The queen turned to Patrick. 'Your child is indeed most beautiful, Glenkirk,' she said dryly. 'Next time bring your mother with you. I should also enjoy meeting her.' She turned back to Cat. 'I hope your stay here will be a pleasant one.'
Dismissed, Cat curtsied prettily. Thanking the queen, she backed off. Later she asked her husband what the queen had meant when she called her a child. He told her, and Cat laughed. A few days later they took Meg to court, and the queen received her politely, though not without pursing her lips and saying, 'I don't suppose your sisters are ill-favored either, Glenkirk.' Meg's warmth, however, won Elizabeth over.
Eli Kira had rented the Leslies a magnificent house on the Strand. It had a large garden ending in a terrace overlooking the river, and its own waterman to row them. They also had a house some fifteen miles from London in case they wanted to get away from the city.
Cat was in her glory. She cajoled Patrick into escorting her and Meg to one of Master Shakespeare's plays at the Globe Theatre. Afterwards she said she thought the young boys who played the female roles were quite sweet, but she really didn't see why they wouldn't allow women to act women's roles. They went to a bearbaiting, for she had wanted to see one. But the sight of a half-starved, moth-eaten bear being attacked by a dozen or more half- starved and brutalized dogs revolted her.
They entertained heavily both in London and at their country house, near Waltham Abbey. They were quite popular. The queen had put her stamp of approval upon them at their third visit to court. Elizabeth, scornful of decorative, frivolous women, had remarked to the young countess, 'I understand you have been educated.'
'Yes, yer majesty. My great-grandmother believed women should be. All her female descendants are offered a chance at learning. It takes wi some, wi others it doesn't I have not, however, had yer majesty's great advantages.'
'Do you know mathematics?'
'Some, majesty.'
'Music?'
Cat nodded.
'Languages?'
'Aye, madame.'
'What languages?'
'French, Gaelic, and Latin well. Some Flemish, Italian, German. Spanish, and Greek.'
The queen nodded, and suddenly phrased a question in Flemish, switching to Latin in mid-sentence. Cat replied in French, switched to Greek, and then to Spanish. The queen laughed delightedly and pinched Cat's cheek. The Glenkirks popularity was assured. 'You are a pert minx, my dear,' said Elizabeth. 'I don't know why, but I like you!'
Cat made one good friend In England, the first she had ever had outside her own family. Lettice Knollys, the beautiful Countess of Leicester, older than Cat, had secretly married the queen's precious 'Robin' two years prior. Six months later their secret was discovered and Lettice, Elizabeth's cousin, was just now being permitted back at court. She had been in deep disgrace for all that time.
Even now she trod very carefully. The Leslies' town-house was one of the few places Lettice and her husband could meet without offending the queen. Cat generously gave them a suite of rooms for privacy. The queen, in jealous spite, had offered them none.
There was a delay in Patrick's business, as there were no warehouses for sale along the waterfront. There was, however, a fine piece of property along the river that Eli Kira bought for them. Bidding was opened to the builders of London for the construction of two warehouses and adjoining docks to serve them. It became necessary for Patrick to remain in London and see the plans completed.
Meg chose to return home to Glenkirk. She had seen enough of London.
Patrick delegated half of his men-at-arms, under the faithful Conall, to take his mother home. Cat wanted them to bring Jamie back with them. It would be summer before she and Patrick could go home. Patrick overruled her and said she might return home with his mother if she chose.
'And leave ye to play the honeybee among all these English roses? I think not, my lord!'
'Jealous, sweetheart?' he inquired infuriatingly.
'Of yer admirers?' she replied sweetly. 'I am no more jealous of yer admirers, my lord, than ye are of mine.' Her lovely eyes and mouth mocked him, and Patrick thought how lucky he was to have her. He caught her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Molding herself to him, she returned the kiss with equal passion, thinking that if she ever caught him loving another woman she would kill him. If he had known her thoughts he would have been flattered. He hated the court gallants who looked at her with lust. Well, just a few more months, and they would be on their way home.
But it was not to be that way. After Christmas, Cat miscarried the baby she had so recently conceived. Devastated by this tragedy, she fell into a decline. She wept continuously, ate almost nothing, and slept fitfully. She saw no one. Even Lettice was not received. Finally, Ellen approached Patrick.
'There is only one thing for it. Ye must bring Jamie to her.'
'Christ, woman!' exploded the earl. 'It's mid-January, and the snow will be heavy in the north. Conall's just back!'
'Send Conall alone. He'll get there faster without the others, and he'll bring Sally and the child back safely. Lord, mon! Sally was raised on the borders. She can ride like a trooper, even wi the bairn. Send a messenger today ahead of Conall. Hugh can bring Sally and the child as far south as Edinburgh.'
He didn't like it, but Patrick did as Ellen suggested. Once Conall was on his way, he told his wife of the mission. Cat brightened immediately. She began to eat. When her son arrived, three-and-a-half weeks later, she was almost her old self. She covered the surprised little boy with kisses until he squirmed away, protesting, 'Mama, no
