Love Wild and Fair

Several hours after her mother left that morning, Bess had decided that perhaps she would like to ride. After an hour, the cold having forced her back, she returned to find the grooms gone. Leading her mare into its stall, Bess unsaddled the animal, rubbed it down, and fed her. Then, curious, she climbed to the loft to see what she could see. From the loft of the Glenkirk stables you could-on a clear day-see all the way to the loch, and to the towers of Sithean.

From the loft of the Huntley stables she could see nothing but hills and more hills. Disappointed, she was about to climb down when she saw her mother and Lord Bothwell enter the stables leading their horses. Elizabeth Leslie could not have said why she remained hidden in the Huntley's stable loft that day rather than announcing her presence.

The adults below her talked quietly to each other about ordinary things, of the celebration to come, and of what they would be giving the children. Bess learned that her mother and Bothwell would be presenting her with a longed-for strand of pearls plus a bracelet, earrings, and matching brooch of pearls and diamonds. At Twelfth Night she was to have a lynx cape, and a necklace and earrings of garnets.

'She grows so fast,' sighed Cat. 'We shall soon have to arrange a suitable match for her. George and Henriette have suggested that their second son, Andrew, might suit Bess.'

'She's going to be a beautiful woman,' agreed Bothwell. 'Keep her from court.'

Cat nodded. 'I will hae no problem there. Bess is like her grandmothers. She prefers being a country mouse. She will make the man she marries an admirable wife.'

Bess preened silently in her hiding place, pleased that her mother should have such faith in her. Then Bothwell leaned over and said something Bess could not hear. Her mother laughed and, grabbing a handful of hay, tossed it at the earl. The chase was on, and the two adults romped back and forth until they collapsed laughing in a pile of hay in the empty stall directly below Bess.

The young girl could not see what was going on beneath her unless she peered over the edge. Lured by assorted sounds, she carefully lay on her stomach and looked down. Bess had only the vaguest idea of what went on between a man and a woman. What she saw below enlightened her somewhat.

Her mother lay on her back in the hay, the pale-violet velvet skirts of her riding habit turned up. Cat's long, shapely legs, sheathed in knitted purple lace stockings, were spread, and between them Lord Bothwell labored back and forth. Bess could see nothing of great note, for both Bothwell and her mother were kissing passionately while breathing roughly, and murmuring unintelligible things to each other. Then her mother cried out quite clearly, 'Oh, Bothwell! I adore ye!' and all was quiet but for the sounds made by the horses.

So that was lovemaking! Strangely, she wasn't shocked. It was a curious matter, and it did clear up things she had overheard the maids speaking about when they thought she wasn't listening.

Lord Bothwell stood and adjusted his kilt, then pulled Cat's skirts back down. Bess saw her mother sit up, and was amazed at how lovely she was-all rose with her tawny, tousled hair. 'Damn, Francis! That was nae wise. What if someone had come in?'

'They would have left rather quickly, I imagine,' the great border lord laughed. 'Besides, madame my love, I dinna hear ye complaining,' he finished teasingly.

Cat laughed helplessly. 'I have always wanted to be ravished in a haypile,' she admitted, and he echoed her laughter.

But slowly, Cat sobered.

'I dinna think I can bear it, my love.'

'Hush, my darling. Dinna think about it. Let us enjoy the time we have left.'

'Let me come wi ye, Francis! Please let me come wi ye!'

'Cat!' His voice was patient, and very tender. 'Sweeting, we hae been through this before. We canna be responsible for the destruction of all the Leslies. Then too, my love, I am a poor man now. James has everything I own. How would we live?'

'Surely Jamie has forgotten me now that Prince Henry has been born.’Tis said he fair dotes on the bairn. Surely he would hae compassion on our children? As to our living-oh, Francis! I am a very wealthy woman in my own right. Just a word to my bankers, the Kir as, and my investments and gold can be placed anywhere in the world!'

Bess was shocked to hear her mother talk of abandoning her family, especially when she had promised to return to Glenkirk. She strained to hear what Both-well would answer. She did not have long to wait

'Never!' he spat. 'Never would I allow a woman to support me! As to James softening his stand, ye may disabuse yerself of that notion, madame. James has not altered his stand! At least my children are half Douglas, and allied by blood to a great family which will protect them. But ye Leslies intermarry. Who will protect them? Unless we obey Cousin Jamie he will destroy them! Christ, my love! My sweet, sweet love! I hate the thought of losing ye, but I cannot build a life wi ye on the ruins of Glenkirk and all his family.'

Bess could see her mother's face clearly now, and the tragic look was almost too much for the girl to bear. Cat stood very straight and, composing her face into a mask of passivity, said, 'I am sorry, my lord, for adding to yer pain. What is it about ye lords of Both-well that turn sensible women into irresponsible ones? Mary Stewart lost both her kingdom and her only child for love of yer Uncle James. And here am I ready to sacrifice my entire family for ye.'

He held her close. Her eyes closed, and she smelled the damp leather of his jerkin. Sometimes, she thought sadly, sometimes I wish I could just close my eyes, and nae wake up. I dinna know how I bear life wi'out this man.

Then she realized that he would be even more alone than she would be. There would be no spouse, no family, no bairns for him. Penniless, he would roam the continent selling his sword to the highest bidder. Or being kept by women. There would always be women happy to take care of Francis. So why would he not let her do it?

As if reading her mind he said, 'No. Not a penny-piece, my love. Never from ye, for I love ye. Wi the others it does nae matter.'

She looked at him ruefully, in control of herself now. 'Let us go in and get dressed for dinner, Francis.'

'I will never stop loving ye, my darling,' he said quietly. And turning from her, he strode from the stable.

'Oh, Christ!' Bess heard her mother swear softly. 'Dear Christ, help me to be braver than I am. He needs me to be strong now.' Then she followed Lord Bothwell from the stables.

Bess remained quietly in the loft, stunned by what she had heard. She had grown up in the last half-hour, and for some reason it hurt. It had not been the sight of her mother and Lord Bothwell coupled in close physical embrace that upset her, but rather the fact that their love brought them pain. Bess did not understand that, for she had always believed that love would be sweet. If it brought pain rather than pleasure, why did they pursue it?

Slowly she climbed down the loft ladder, then picked herself clean of telltale hay. She could not ask her mother for answers, but perhaps later on she could pursue this puzzle. For now, she had to hurry and change lest she be late for the celebration.

Chapter 37

THE holidays had passed. Deepest winter had settled upon the land. The Leslie children had long since returned to Glenkirk. Though the king knew that Bothwell sheltered with the Gordons, he had not learned that the Countess of Glenkirk was with her lover. James sent the Earl of Huntley an arrogant letter offering him a full pardon if he would turn Bothwell over for execution. The great highland chief gave orders that the royal messenger be fed and allowed to rest the night. In the morning he had the man brought before him.

'I want the king, my cousin, to know that this message comes directly from me,' he said quietly. 'I do not believe that James would even hint that I violate the laws of hospitality. Therefore, I do not believe that this letter is from him.' The Earl of Huntley quietly tore the parchment in two pieces and handed them to the royal messenger. 'I return this to my lord the king in hopes that it will help him to trace the bold traitor who so blatantly uses the king's name for his own foul ends.'