Rise of a Legend (Guardian of Scotland Book 1) (30 page)

“Long.” She absently rubbed her hand over her belly.

“When are you due?” Eva asked.

“How did ye know I was expecting?” She looked down at her stomach, which showed no signs of pregnancy. “Ye cannot possibly tell.”

“William thinks I’m a seer,” Eva chuckled. “But you did just rub your tummy.”

“Tummy?” Lady Murray chuckled. “Andrew warned that your speech is odd.”

“Apologies. I traveled a great deal with my father.”

“How interesting,” the lady said with a warm smile. “So if ye are a seer, can ye tell me if my child will be lad or lass?”

Eva stopped and held up her hands. “May I?”

The lady grinned and nodded.

Making a show of placing her hands on the woman’s abdomen, Eva closed her eyes and hummed, noting no annoying heat from the medallion. “’Tis a lad for certain.”

“Honestly?” Lady Murray clapped her hands, beaming excitedly. “Andrew will be delighted.”

Eva forced a smile. “The bairn shall become a great man. I’m sure of it.”

“Please forgive me, but I must inform my husband at once.”

Eva curtseyed. “By all means. I shall see you anon.”

As planned, Andrew’s wife met Eva at the back of the parade. “Hello, Miss Eva.”

“You look stunning, Lady Murray.”

“Please call me Christina.”

“Very well, and I am just Eva.” She gestured ahead. “Are you ready? Even from here, people are lining the road to the castle. There must be thousands up at the top.”

“And so there should be. ’Tis time all of Scotland united in our cause.”

Eva looked away and rubbed a hand over her mouth while her gaze trailed sideways. Yes, Scotland would face many, many battles large and small before her people completely regained their liberty. But as with so many things, she couldn’t allow herself to fixate on the future. For today was one reserved for great celebration. Tapping her heels against her horse’s barrel, Eva followed the procession up the hill.

The crowd cheered wildly, throwing flowers onto the cobbled road, shouting Wallace at the top of their voices. Eva looked to Christina, but the lady showed no outward sign of concern that William’s name was the one being hailed.

And Eva had been right. The closer they moved to the castle, the more crowded the route became. The wall-walk was lined with guards standing at attention with bows and quivers of arrows over their shoulders.

Before they crossed under the portcullis, Eva spotted yet another gruesome medieval custom. Cressingham’s head hung above the Scottish coat of arms, flanked by the heads of other English victims.

She swallowed back her urge to be sick and looked to Christina. “Do those severed heads give you pause?”

“Oh no. That man received his due if ye ask me. ’Tis right to honor our men by displaying the spoils of their victory.”

Eva had never thought of it like that. “You mean everyone
wants
to see grotesque heads on the castle walls?”

The lady looked as if Eva had lost her mind. “Aye, lassie, it gives the men courage for the next battle.”

“Ah, of course.” Eva swallowed hard and averted her eyes from the gruesome sight.

Once inside the crowded courtyard, grooms took the horses, and Eddy Little approached. “Willy and Sir Andrew will be at the high table with the nobles, but he’s reserved a place for ye near the dais. Follow me.”

Eva looped her arm through Christina’s. “This is so exciting.”

The lady stumbled into her. “Aye, if we make it to the great hall without being trampled.”

“Just stay close to Eddy and we might live.” Eva laughed.

Inside the enormous hall, the ceiling had to be fifty feet high, supported by thick beams. A gallery surrounded the entire chamber, and aisles of tables filled the room. Joyous music resounded between the walls. The smell of roasting meat and baking bread wafted up from the kitchens, making Eva’s mouth water. “This should be a grand feast indeed.”

Eddy stopped at a table beside the dais. “Here ye are ladies.”

“Thank you.” Eva sat on the bench beside Christina, facing the dais.

She spotted William right away. Lord, what a grand picture he made, head and shoulders above them all. “I recognize Lord Stewart and the Earl of Lennox. But aside from Andrew, I cannot place a one. Can you tell me who each man is?”

Christina leaned in. “It has been a time since I was last at court. Hm. On the left is Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, and his son, the Earl of Carrick.” Christina giggled. “I see John Comyn, the Lord of Badenoch, is seated at the opposite end of the table. Ye ken their families hate each other?”

“Yes, I am aware.” Eva could scarcely believe she was seeing these great men in the flesh. If only she could play seer and tell the Earl of Carrick he’d one day become king. But, given the enormous egos at the high table, such a declaration could start a riot.

“Let us see, Father Lamberton is the Chancellor of Glasgow Cathedral, acting Bishop for the duration of Wishart’s absence.”

“My, he’s very young.” Eva bit her tongue, well aware that Lamberton would become pivotally important to William in the near future.

“Aye, but his father’s Lord of Kilmarus,” Christina said with reverence, and then pointed. “Beside him is Lord Campbell, Lord Eglington. I’m surprised not to see Sir Douglas. He has been verra active in the rebellion.”

Eva’s gut squelched. “I’m happy he’s not here. I had the misfortune of meeting that man and he is most disagreeable.”

Christina made a sour face. “I’ve heard the same. Though he is a good soldier.”

“And a good backstabber to boot.”

“Well then, ’tis fortuitous he is indeed absent.”

Eva stared at the Earl of Carrick. Broad shouldered with bold eyebrows, he was handsome with an aristocratic mien. He looked out over the throng with a hawk-like gaze. The man exuded intelligence and cunning. Though all the men seated at the high table wore fanciful airs, and fur-lined cloaks, the future Robert the Bruce had the most commanding presence. Even if she didn’t know it was he, she would have picked him out of a lineup to be future king.

“Is something amiss?” asked Christina.

Eva blinked. “Hmm?”

“You’re staring at the Earl of Carrick like his head is twisted backward.”

With a laugh, she reached for a ewer of wine. “Forgive me. I was deep in thought.”

“Did ye have a vision?” Christina held up her cup. “I understand seers have visions.”

Eva poured for the lady, then for herself. “No. Just being silly, I suppose.” Thinking or talking about the future would only land her in a world of trouble.

Servants processed up the dais carrying trenchers laden with food, while throughout the immense hall people made merry. Eva closed her eyes and listened to the delightful music and inhaled the delicious aromas swirling about the candlelit hall. Oh how lucky she was to be included in this momentous feast.

When she opened her eyes, William stared directly at her from behind his goblet. Robert the Bruce might be an imposing future king, but William’s dark stare took her breath away. No other man at the table was as tall, as broad shouldered, or as completely magnificent as William Wallace.

Then the High Steward stood and raised his cup. The men pounded the hilts of their eating knives on the table, demanding silence.

“This eve, I dedicate this feast to Mr. William Wallace and Sir Andrew Murray for their heroic seizure of Stirling’s palace. May they continue to lead our forces to drive out Longshanks and restore Scotland’s freedom.”

A triumphant cheer rose together with trumpeters atop the gallery. But it didn’t slip past Eva’s observation that Lord Stewart had omitted John Balliol from his toast, or any mention of the imprisoned Scottish king.

She looked again for William’s reaction, but her attention was drawn away when John Comyn stood, a slight, rather pale man. “My vote is to nominate Scotland’s two heroes as the new Guardians of Scotland.”

Nearly every man at the table frowned.

William glanced at Andrew, who had a sheen of sweat across his sallow brow.

The High Steward shot a stern nod Comyn’s way. “Your suggestion is a decision for parliament. We shan’t consider it now, for tonight we feast.”

***

When the meal was over, William bid good eve to Andrew and his wife. Turning to Eva, still seated at her table, he bowed and placed a tender kiss on the back of her hand. “Ye look like a queen.”

A lovely blush enlivened her cheeks as she glanced down at the burgundy gown he’d purchased for her in Renfrew. “You’ve seen me wear this once before.”

“Aye, and ye looked like a queen then as well.” He tugged on her hand. “Come. Let us stroll along Stirling’s wall-walk and watch the sunset.”

“Don’t you want to talk with the nobles? I’ve never seen such a gathering of dignitaries in all their finery.” She lowered her voice. “And they’ve all come to see you.”

“There will be plenty of talk on the morrow and for the next sennight to come. But presently, I want to enjoy a moment holding the bonniest woman in all of Scotland in my arms.” He let out a rumbling chuckle. “During the entire feast, I wanted nothing more than to take ye away to a place of solace.”

“Since you put it so eloquently, there’s no way on earth I could refuse.” Eva’s smile radiated more brightly than the candelabra on the table. When she stood, she inclined her lips to his ear. “I’m proud of you, William.” By the stars, the woman could make butter melt in a snow storm.

Wallace’s chest swelled as he led his woman out to the courtyard and up the winding steps in the stairwell. Up they climbed as he crouched to avoid hitting his head. Glancing back, Eva had to crouch a bit too. Lord, she was tall for a woman. Once atop the walk, a brisk breeze tousled his hair and he took in a reviving breath. Built high upon a rocky cliff, the castle was as great a fortress as he’d ever seen. Verdant pastoral lands and forest stretched until it met with the mountainous Highlands.

He smoothed his hand up her back and rested his fingers on her shoulder. “’Tis as if we’re standing above all of Christendom.”

She fearlessly leaned through a crenel notch. “Almost like being at the top of the Empire State Building.”

“What?” William pulled her back by the arm before she fell. Goodness, Eva could say the damnedest things.

“Sorry. You must think I’m an idiot.” She shook her head. “I should have said we are at the top of the gateway to the Highlands. Anyone who controls Stirling controls Scotland.”

“I agree there.” Wallace had no doubt that she spoke true about the building of the Empire. He still couldn’t imagine her world or the things she’d described, but he no longer feared them. He offered her his elbow. “Let us stroll to the western walk.”

She smiled. It wasn’t the innocent smile of a maid, but a knowing smile of woman who knew what she wanted. “Do lead on.”

The western sky turned pink and orange as they ambled toward it, their feet lightly tapping the stone. After they’d passed over the main gatehouse, Eva released her grip and leaned against the wall. “The River Forth looks so different from this vantage point.”

“Aye, as does Abbey Craig.” Pride swelled in his chest as he gazed across the Carse of Stirling to the hill where he and his men had lain in wait.

With a sigh, she straightened and rested her head against his shoulder.

William closed his eyes and allowed himself to drink in her sweet fragrance. Together they stood as contented lovers until brilliant hues of sunset faded.

“May I remove your snood, m’lady?” He slid his hand atop her crown.

She glanced over each shoulder with a playful grin. “Won’t someone balk about my short hair?”

“If they do, they’ll answer to me. Besides, ’tis growing and I want to watch your tresses shimmer in the moonlight.”

She bowed her head forward and allowed him to remove it. When she looked up, her hands flew to her temples. “Is my hair smooshed?”

He ran his fingers through the silken copper tresses. Such a simple gesture, but it calmed the ferocious beast in his soul. Aye, he would fight for his country, but after every battle, he yearned for peace—yearned for Eva to soothe him as her lithe fingers had done last eve. William smiled and gazed into her fathomless green eyes. “Your tresses are bonny. ’Tis a shame ye have to cover them.”

“I like letting my hair loose in the wind.” She stepped closer, sliding her hand around his waist. “But more so, I like what you’re doing right now. Your touch makes me feel wanted.”

He pressed his lips against her temple. “Never for a moment should ye think I dunna want ye, Eva.”

“Honestly?” she whispered. “Even though I’m from a different time?”

“Even though. Besides, I dunna think there’s so much time between us, ye and I. We are two drifting souls. In such a short time, we’ve come to share so many things—come to mean so much to each other.”

She rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say that. We
are
soul mates.”

He chuckled. “I love your twists of phrase.”

She rested her head on his chest. “I love your honor and honesty, and the deep burr that rolls across your tongue.”

He took his left hand and held out her right, placing his other in the small of her back. “Shall we waltz?”

She looked up with wide eyes. “Up here?”

“Aye.” A warm chuckle rumbled through his chest. “The walls are high enough, I doubt we’ll fall to our deaths should I stumble over my feet.”

Her feline eyes crinkled at the corners with a delightful giggle. “You are ever so reassuring, sir knight.”

His shoulders tensed a bit. “I am no one’s knight.”

“You are mine,” she whispered.

“Verra well. I’ll give ye that. I
am
yours.” He glanced down at their feet. “Now how does it go? One, two three?”

She picked up the steps. “Aye, down, up, up. One, two three.”

Her lovely voice hummed an enchanting tune as they danced in place. William hadn’t a mind to be anywhere else. In his arms he held the only woman he’d ever met who’d suited him in every way. And oh, could her voice lull the savage beast within his heart.