The Gilded Crown (24 page)

‘Perhaps you can help me convince her to return home before she becomes too deeply embroiled.'

‘She does not know me,' Catherine argued, ‘I doubt she will listen to anything I say.'

‘The young do not like advice offered by the old.' Lady Dunbar sighed. ‘Agnes is worse than naïve. David has no need for a wife, only a lover, but common sense is silenced by lust. I dinna want to see my niece attacked and left to die in a muddy field.'

‘I will ask her to meet with me.'

‘Thank you, Catherine,' the older woman smiled.

Simon and Roderick rode through the reinforced gates of Edinburgh Castle and headed for the meadows at the base of the edifice. A large contingent of knights could be seen practising quintains on the flat grassed area, their squires darting in and out of the action, collecting broken and discarded lances. Simon spotted Robert on the edge of the field, his banner fluttering madly, whipped up by the wind off the ocean.

Seeing them approach, Robert dismissed several men around him, waving them away as though they were annoying flies. ‘Come to join the melee?' he asked as Simon dismounted.

‘No, M'lord. Please excuse the intrusion but I was hoping you might allow me a moment to speak with you.'

Robert nodded and pulling off his gauntlets, tossed them to the ground beside his helm. ‘How fares your wife and son?'

‘They are both well. They—'

‘I hear rumours from London, about Lady Wexford's mother,' Robert interrupted. ‘I am told that she wishes the rubies she wears around her neck to be fashioned into a crown?'

‘I have no knowledge of what is taking place across the border, M'lord, and nor does Catherine,' Simon insisted.

‘No?' Robert snatched up a goblet from the table, placed beneath the canopy of a large oak tree. ‘Lady Holland does not write to her daughter?'

Simon watched Robert fill the expensive drinking vessel whilst he considered his reply. Roderick had tied their horses to a nearby stump and though he appeared to be adjusting a girth strap, Simon sensed his brother's full attention.

‘Catherine received a missive some weeks ago, the first from her mother.'

‘So they are not close, mother and daughter?'

‘If you hoped to obtain gossip on an English widow and her bed partner then you are sadly mistaken, M'lord.' Simon was unable to keep the exasperation from his voice.

‘I would advise you to bide your temper, Wexford. After all, you are a guest of the Scottish king.'

‘I do not believe
guests
are kept under lock and key!'

‘You are not a prisoner.'

‘Then we will depart for Craigmillar today.' Simon turned to go.

‘Of course.' Robert smirked. ‘You and your brother can leave whenever you want.'

‘And my family?'

Robert drank down his ale then turned to refill the goblet. ‘I believe the King has instructed Lady Dunbar to entertain Lady Wexford. I think he would be somewhat disappointed if Catherine were to suddenly leave.'

Simon could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and he clenched his fists.

‘Walk with me.' The Scotsman shot a piercing stare at Roderick. ‘You will not need your brother's protection.'

They walked over a slight incline and into a nearby grove of trees. ‘We cannot be seen from here,' Robert explained, indicating in the direction of the castle bastion.

‘You don't want to be spotted speaking with me?'

‘My reputation is far more important than yours, Wexford.'

Simon cast his gaze over the dense woodland. The Scottish Earl was taking a risk. ‘Are you suggesting the David is holding Catherine in order to manipulate me?'

Robert raised his eyebrows.

‘Your silence speaks volumes.'

‘Your sister's snivelling husband spends a great deal of time whispering in the King's ear. It seems your arrival took them by surprise.'

Simon placed his back against a large yew in order to keep the surrounding forest in view.

‘I suspect, as they do, that you have more than one reason to grace Edinburgh with your presence.'

‘Do you? And what would they be?' Simon resisted the urge to shift his grip on the hilt of his sword. He had The Lady completely concealed beneath his cloak.

‘Your recent travels have seen you pass through London, yes? Perhaps you had time to visit the White Tower whilst you were there?'

Simon smiled. Robert's motivations were becoming clear. ‘No, I did not.'

‘I see. There comes a time, does there not, when one must decide which side one is on?'

‘Declaring one's interest though can be fraught with danger,' said Simon.

‘Very true, my friend, but I believe, in this instance, that you and I share a common goal.' Robert hesitated. ‘I am told that Odistoun is collecting rent and taxes on property held by your family.'

‘I am not sure what that—'

‘He is doing so at the request of his King,' continued Robert, ‘under the proviso that it is to be used to pay the ransom yet I know that not one coin has made its way to London.'

It was as Simon had himself suspected, but he had no intention of revealing that to Robert. ‘What do you imagine David is doing with the money?'

‘This I have yet to determine, but there is a far greater issue at hand. If David is not paying the ransom, why then has Edward not moved against him?'

‘So you thought I had been sent by Edward? To spy?'

‘You have another excuse to be here?' Robert asked.

‘And that is David's reason for holding Catherine and Gabby?'

‘I can only presume so.'

Simon scratched his chin in thought. He needed time to consider what Robert had told him. He didn't trust the Scotsman.

‘Perhaps if you were able discover something from Walter?' Robert suggested.

‘Then you would be willing to help me? Is that your meaning, M'lord?'

‘As I said, there comes a time when you must decide where your loyalties lie.'

Simon closed his eyes. He had no need to choose. His loyalty lay with the woman now held against her will within the walls of Edinburgh Castle. ‘I will seek the information you require, but I must have your word. You will assist me to remove my family from Edinburgh Castle should the need arise?'

‘Aye. However, I will deny this conversation to anyone who may ask. You have more than one enemy here, Wexford. Best you think carefully before you make your next move.' Robert turned and strode back towards the tourney field.

Catherine sat in the alcove, drawing what little warmth she could from the evening twilight. The ladies had been permitted to dine within Lady Logie's private bower, the gentlemen of the court settling to a night of gaming. She smiled as she recalled Roderick's enthusiastic holler; her brother-by-marriage certainly liked to entertain his gambling habits. Lady Dunbar appeared to have the ear of Lady Stewart, whilst her niece, Agnes, sought the company of the younger girls, the group consisting mostly of Euphemia's daughters and friends.

Catherine leaned back against the stone wall, closed her eyes and concentrated on the raucous laughter of the men on the floor below. Even though their merriment was great she could not pick out her husband's voice among them. Resting her palm protectively upon her abdomen, Catherine's thoughts turned to her unborn child. Only that morning English Mary had asked about her upcoming confinement. Catherine had not considered that her first babe would be born anywhere other than in England. Now it seemed likely she and Simon may still be residing in Scotland and she was not sure if this pleased or terrified her.

‘Is everything all right, my dear?' Lady Dunbar sat down beside Catherine and took her hand.

‘Yes, of course … I was just listening to the mayhem below.'

The older lady frowned. ‘If you are tired you should take your rest. I fear our husbands will play through the night.'

‘Yes, you may be right.' Catherine rose slowly to her feet. ‘I have been feeling a little dizzy today. I think perhaps an early night would benefit me.'

‘That being the case, I will walk with you.'

‘No need, Lady Dunbar, I am happy to escort my wife.' Simon appeared at the doorway and excused his presence to the ladies.

Catherine beamed with delight. ‘You do not wish to dice?'

‘Not this evening,' he stated, nodding to Lady Logie as they departed. Grasping Catherine's arm he drew her closer. ‘I wanted to speak with you. Did you enjoy your day with Black Agnes?'

‘She is a most interesting woman, Simon. In fact, I learned so much, I fear I will not be able to convey it all to you in one evening!'

‘Of gowns and headdresses?' Simon teased.

Catherine laughed. ‘You think me interested in court fashion?

‘Of course; are not all ladies?' Simon scoffed.

Once they reached the privacy of their own apartment, Simon closed and latched the door. ‘It is as we imagined. You and Gabby are not free to depart the castle.'

They sat in front of the fire and locked hands.

‘What did Lord Stewart say?'

‘He confirmed my fear. The Scottish King is collecting the ransom but not paying it,' Simon explained. ‘He wanted me to believe that David thinks me an English spy. Of course I neither confirmed nor denied it, but I certainly had the impression that Robert was hoping for more information than I could supply.' Simon stood and crossed to the loophole. ‘I agreed to question Walter in return for Robert's assistance.'

‘Can we trust him?'

‘No more than we can David or Walter.'

‘But what do you hope to learn from Walter?'

Simon opened and closed his fist several times. ‘Robert hinted at something that has long bothered me. If David has broken the agreement, why hasn't Edward acted against him?'

Catherine considered the question. ‘Are you sure that is what David has done? Perhaps the nature of his promise changed as he left England?'

Simon stared at her for several minutes before a wry smile gathered at his lips. ‘Of course. We are assuming that David and Edward are telling the truth. How can we know, for sure, what matter of payment was agreed upon, or whether a ransom was even sought? Perhaps it was simply a ruse?'

‘Would David confide in Walter?' Catherine asked.

‘There is only one way to find out.' Simon returned to his wife's side and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I promise you, as soon as we are able, you and I, Gabby and Roderick will be away from Edinburgh.'

‘'Tis not all bad here, Simon.'

‘A prison is a prison, no matter its form!'

Catherine reached up and placed her hand on Simon's cheek. ‘Yes, of course, you are right.' Catherine could see the concern in his face and her throat constricted tightly. ‘I do not like King David.'

‘Why so?' Simon enquired.

‘I heard much about him today and his preoccupation with the women in his inner circle. Lady Dunbar is terribly worried for her niece.'

‘As she well should be. David's last favourite died in his arms. Robert's supporters do not want the King to sire an heir – even a bastard child could lay claim to the throne.'

‘I met her today, the younger Agnes. During our conversation she suggested that I visit Dunbar Castle.' Catherine paused, watching her husband's reaction. ‘I declined the invitation by saying that we had already planned to see Dumbarton. I am sorry, Simon. I did not mean to let that slip.'

‘I see,' Simon replied. ‘And what did she say?'

‘Nothing; it was more her aunt, Lady Dunbar. She gasped with surprise and wanted to know why we would want to go there? I lied, very badly I'm afraid, and said it was a family matter.'

Simon laughed. ‘I think you have inadvertently helped our cause.'

‘I did?' Catherine asked.

‘What better way to raise suspicion than to offer such information to Lady Dunbar?'

‘Are you suggesting that Lady Dunbar will share our conversation with others?