Highland Barbarian Part 14

Meredith braced herself for what was to come. Whatever punishment was meted out by the queen, she had certainly earned it. How could she have been so foolish as to express herself in such forceful language?

"Rise, Meredith MacAlpin, and face your queen as you learn the consequences of your actions."

Meredith stood on trembling legs. She glanced at Brice's face but could read nothing in his hooded gaze.

"I will give you a choice," Queen Mary said.

"A public flogging or..." She bit back the smile that twitched at the corners of her lips.

"An opportunity to entertain your queen. You must relate to me and my ladies-in-waiting every detail of your--encounter with this rogue, Brice Campbell. From the first moment you saw him."

The queen burst into laughter at the look of astonishment on Meredith's face. Even Brice could not contain his laughter.

"That is all that you require. Majesty? A simple narrative?"

"Not simple," the queen corrected.

"Every little detail must be included. I want to know everything." She turned to Brice.

"And you, scoundrel, must leave us alone for at least an hour. This is woman's talk, you understand. And when she has finished, your servants can provide us with a banquet before we return to Falkland."

The queen clapped her hands, summoning the women of her hunting party.

"Oh, Brice, this will be better entertainment than any poet or musician. I am greatly in need of such excitement. My life has been so drab since returning from the gaiety of France."

Brice lifted the queen's hand to his lips before departing the room.

"Your loyal subjects are most happy to oblige." He shot Meredith a warning look.

"Beware what you say in the presence of your queen. The next time you might not fare as well."

Within minutes Meredith found herself surrounded by five women named Mary. The young monarch introduced her four closest friends, Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming, Mary Seton and Mary Livingstone. The four Maries had been with the queen since early childhood. And like all best friends, they shared everything, even their most intimate secrets.

While servants poured tea and pa.s.sed around biscuits, the women arranged themselves in chairs and settles in front of the fireplace.

When the servants left the room, the queen commanded Meredith to begin her story.

While the others listened in awe, Meredith detailed her father's tragic murder and her agreement to marry Desmond MacKenzie in order to a.s.sure protection for her people.

"Those of us who live on the Border know the danger of invasion by the English."

"My beloved cousin, Elizabeth of England," Mary said through clenched teeth, "a.s.sures us that she is doing all she can to protect our land and people. And while she sends us messages of a.s.surance, her soldiers continue to plunder."

Meredith was surprised at the queen's outburst. Was the young monarch always so outspoken? Was she not aware that even in the presence of her friends her words would not be kept secret? A queen, more than any other, must guard her thoughts carefully.

"Go on with your story," the queen commanded.

"Did you love Desmond MacKenzie?" Mary Fleming interrupted.

"What nonsense, Flem," the queen interjected.

"What woman has ever been allowed to marry a man for love?"

Stunned by the queen's comment, Meredith openly studied the young monarch. It was common knowledge that Mary Stuart had been betrothed to Prince Edward of En 9 gland when both had been mere children. But his death had released her from that bondage. The rumors had been that she was fairly happy with the young, fragile dauphin, whom she had married at the age of fifteen. But his mother, Catherine de' Medici, had been more than happy to be rid of the headstrong Queen of Scotland upon his untimely death.

"Well? Did you love him?"

Meredith studied the toe of her kid slipper.

"We were friends when we were children."

"Were you eager to wed him?" Mary Seton asked.

"Or bed him?" Mary Fleming added.

Meredith's face flooded with color.

It was the queen who came to her rescue.

"This la.s.s has not been exposed to such bold discourse. Hold your tongues and allow her to tell the story."

"I--was reluctant to wed Desmond. I do not think I would have ever loved him the way a woman wants to love a man. But I knew that the union would a.s.sure my people the protection of the MacKenzie armies.

I would do anything for my people."

"Spoken like a true Scot." The queen smiled warmly at Meredith.

Despite her earlier insult, the queen admired the girl's spirit.

"So you were willing to wed him though you did not love him. Was he as handsome as Brice Campbell?"

Meredith felt her cheeks growing warmer by the minute. "He was fair of face and hair. Not much more than a lad."

"Brice Campbell," the queen said with a smile of appreciation, "is no lad. He is all man." Seeing Meredith's embarra.s.sed flush she said with an impatient sigh,

"Pray go on with your tale."

When Meredith described the murder of her husband at the altar, and the deception by his brother, Gareth MacKenzie, the women gasped.

"Did Gareth not realize that he was placing your life in danger by defying Brice Campbell's orders?"

"I had not thought about it," Meredith said.

"It all happened so quickly. When Gareth fired the arrow I saw this giant glide through the air and take hold of me. And then I was in his arms and soaring over the heads of the people in the cathedral."

"How exciting."

"How terrifying."