'Ye'll need new boots, lass.' He dug deep into her trunk, and pulled out a pair. They were as soft as butter. 'Ye'll find some silk and lace nightgowns in there too.'
'How did ye do it, Francis? How?' She pulled the boots on.
'I'm the Wizard Earl, remember?'
Laughing, they descended the stairs and left the lodge. Cat's bay gelding, Iolaire, and Bothwell's great dark-red stallion, Valentine, awaited them. They spent the day riding the Northumbrian hills that separated Scotland from England. When hunger overtook them they stopped at a small cottage. The welcome was warm for Bothwell and his lady. Dark bread warm from the oven with fresh sweet butter, a broiled rabbit, and brown October ale satisfied them.
'Ye eat well here on the borders,' Cat remarked to the woman of the house. She had a disturbingly familiar look.
'My father was the last earl, James Hepburn,' laughed the woman, whom Bothwell called Maggie. 'Cousin Francis sees we're well taken care of, don't ye, lovey?'
The earl smiled at Maggie. 'I do, though keeping up wi Uncle James' obligations is a mighty task.'
'Made greater,' she shot back at him, 'by yer desire to better his record.'
They laughed. Francis kissed Maggie's cheek. Then he helped Cat into her saddle and, mounting Valentine, led the way back over the hills. He did not, however, take her back to the lodge. 'I want to go to Hermitage,' he said quietly. '‘Tis my home, and I want ye there. Will ye come wi me?'
'Yes,' she answered him. 'I am nae ashamed to be yer woman, Francis.'
'I dinna think of ye as my woman, Cat. I think of ye as my wife… perhaps not in the eyes of your church, or the kirk, or even in the eyes of our fellow men. But as God created us, he meant us to be together. I intend that we shall be, my darling.'
They rode proudly into Hermitage together, and Cat discovered that he had prepared for her, hoping she would come with him. The rooms of the Countess of Bothwell with its bedroom adjoining the earl's awaited her. They were newly refurbished with deep-blue velvet draperies and bed hangings, and a bedspread embroidered with the Hepburn lions in gpld.
'These rooms hae nae been used since the earl's mother, Lady Janet, died,' said the little maid. 'And,' continued the girl, 'before that Queen Mary stayed here! What a to-do the earl created, my lady, to get these rooms ready for ye! He told the housekeeper he was nae sure if ye'd even come, but if ye did he wanted the rooms fresh and inviting. It took a dozen women ten days to sew the bedspread alone!'
'What of Lady Margaret?' asked Cat. 'Does she not stay here when she is at Hermitage?'
'Nay,' replied Nell. 'Her ladyship doesna come to Hermitage at all. She doesna like it. It frightens her, being so close to the border. Her first husband was Scott of Buccleuch from near here. She was caught in several raids, and it terrified her. She told the earl when they married that she'd nae come here ever. She loves Crichton best.' Then, embarrassed by her talkativeness, she said hurriedly, 'Ye'll be wanting a bath after yer long ride. I'll have it brought right up!'
Bustling out, she left the Countess of Glenkirk to look about her bedroom in amazement. It was a square, paneled room with two great leaded windows to her left, each with a built-in window seat. Each seat held a tufted pale-blue velvet cushion. Directly in front of her was a large stone fireplace with a carved marble mantel. Behind her was the door from the antechamber. To her right was the door to Francis' bedroom.
The polished oak floors were covered in thick Turkish carpets, mostly blues and golds with a touch of rose. The furniture was sparse, as was usual in a Scots house. On the wall near the antechamber door was a tall wardrobe. On the wall facing the windows was the huge bed and a nightstand. Between the windows, a round, highly polished table held a large, oval-shaped silver bowl filled with coral-pink winter roses. By the fireplace was a settle and a large comfortable chair. Scattered about the room were other simple chairs.
Burying her face in the roses, she inhaled their heady fragrance. 'From my greenhouses,' he said proudly. She turned to face him. Her eyes were wet, the dark-gold lashes separated. 'I am always saying thank you to ye, Francis. Somehow it doesna ever seem enough.'
'Ye hae brought me the first real happiness I have ever known, my precious love.' He gathered her into his arms, and she felt the depth of his love in the heart beating wildly beneath her cheek.
No longer could Catriona Leslie deny her emotions. They swept over her in a great tide. Looking up into the rugged, handsome face of Francis Hepburn, she said, 'I love ye, Bothwell! May God hae mercy on us both, but I love ye, and I would sooner die than be parted from ye, my lord!'
A great sigh of relief escaped the big earl and, bending, he took possession of the sweet mouth offered him. 'Cat! Oh, Cat,' he murmured against her lips. His arms tightened about her.
At that moment, the maid returned with a coterie of servants. They carried a tall oak tub and several caldrons of hot water. Bothwell released Cat. 'I thought we might eat by the fire in the antechamber. Until then, madame.'
Her eyes followed him as he returned to his own room. Ordering the other servants away, Nell went about the business of preparing the countess' bath. Climbing the steps to the tub, she poured a thin stream of clear liquid into the steaming water. Almost immediately the room was scented with the smell of lilacs. She left Cat to soak while she chose a simple gown from Cat's wardrobe. It was pale lavender silk with long flowing sleeves and a deep V neckline. Having done this, she returned to Cat, washed her lovely hair, and scrubbed her back. Wrapping Cat in a large towel, she sat her by the fire and dried the long hair, using first a rough towel, then a hairbrush, and finally a piece of silk to give it shine. Last, Nell pared Cat's fingernails and toenails and plucked her free of extraneous body hair.
Cat remained silent through all of this. She loved Bothwell, and he loved her. What would happen to them she did not know. There were so many other lives involved, but for now it was all right. Nell helped her into the silk gown, fastened the pearl buttons beneath her full breasts, and slid a pair of kid slippers on her feet.
'Where are my riding clothes?' she asked the servant.
'I've sent yer shirt and hose to the laundress, ma-dame. Everything else is in the wardrobe, and Will has gone to the lodge for yer trunk.'
'Thank ye. Nell. Ye may go now. I'll nae need ye again this evening.'
'Thank ye, my lady, but let me see to the removal of the tub before I go, and I'll take the spread from the bed also.'
Cat smiled her thanks at the girl, and then went into the antechamber to await her lover. A decanter and two goblets sat on a silver tray on a table, and she poured herself some pale gold wine to still her pounding heart. There were so many problems, but she did not want to think of them tonight. All she wanted now was him, his strong arms about her and his mouth on hers. She wanted his laughter and sharp wit.
Two hefty servants lugged the tub from her bedroom and then returned for the tub from the earl's bedroom. Nell left, bidding Cat good night. The earl's man, Albert, finished up and left. Cat waited expectantly.
He came through the door wearing dark trunk hose, a white silk shirt buttoned up to the neck, a wide leather belt with a gold-and-ruby buckle, and soft leather slippers.
She flew to him. Holding her away from him, he asked, 'Is it true? What ye said to me before?'
A smile lit her face. 'I love ye, Bothwell! I love ye! I love ye! Now, my lord! Do ye believe me?'
'Aye, I believe ye, my darling! I was only afraid that in my passion, I had fooled myself into imagining you said those words.' He drew her against him and gently kissed the tip of her nose. 'The gown becomes ye, as I knew it would.'
'Another something ye picked up on one of yer raids?' she teased him. '‘Tis a surprisingly good fit.'
He chuckled and lightly brushed his fingers across her chest. 'It lacks one thing. Turn around.'
She turned, and he clasped a necklace of pale golden pearls about her neck. Moving her around again, he put a matching pearl teardrop on each of her ears. 'There,' he said quietly. 'Perfection made better, if possible. These belong to ye, come what may. Patrick Hepburn, the first Earl of Bothwell, gave them to his bride.' He gazed at her with open admiration. 'Christ! Ye hae flawless skin, Cat. I've never seen pearls look so beautiful.'
Servants entered, bearing silver trays of food. The earl led Cat to the table and seated her. He had ordered an excellent supper, in superb taste. They began with cold raw oysters, which Cat adored, and finished with a flaky tart of early strawberries from the Hermitage greenhouses.
Cat ate with gusto. Amused, he encouraged her, handing over to her the last piece of tart. When she had finished and bathed her hands, he spoke in a mock-serious voice. 'Now, madame. Ye must pay for yer meal.'
