Instantly the dogs circled around, yelping and baying.
"Why are you spying on us?" Brice"s tone was low, menacing.
Meredith"s cheeks reddened. She was mortified as she faced the haughty young woman who stared at her as if she could not believe her eyes. How she must look. Like some sort of ragged beggar. The cloak hung from one arm, dragging behind her on the floor. The fur throw was caught about her feet, threatening to trip her. Jagged sc.r.a.ps of bread and meat spilled from the pockets of the cloak. The hounds leaped up, s.n.a.t.c.hing at the sc.r.a.ps and dragging them from her pockets.
At the sight Brice"s eyes narrowed.
"Are you ready to explain what this is all about?"
She swallowed. She was caught. There would be no use trying to lie.
"I--intended to run off while you were occupied with your guest."
"Run off?" The young woman took a step closer, study n ing Meredith with open curiosity.
"And why would you do that?"
"Because I"m being held here against my will," Meredith cried.
"Brice." The young woman turned wide eyes toward her host.
"Is this la.s.s telling the truth?"
Meredith"s heart soared. Surely this young woman would insist that Brice return her to her clan at once.
Brice continued to hold Meredith by the arm. His fingers tightened their grip. He could feel his temper rising.
"She is. This is Meredith MacAlpin."
"Oh, how exciting. I heard about the--incident at the cathedral. You must tell me everything." The young woman"s eyes danced with mischief.
"This is so..." She spoke in rapid French for several minutes, while Brice"s eyes darkened with anger. Then, reverting to English, the young woman continued,
"Such a dashing, romantic adventure. My heart fairly bursts with the thought of it. You are a devil, Brice Campbell. A rogue and a devil.
And you, Meredith MacAlpin. What a thrilling story you will one day tell your grandchildren."
"You are daft." Meredith kicked the fur throw from her feet and shrugged out of the confining cloak. Around her feet the dogs slathered after the last of the food sc.r.a.ps.
"I am being held captive by a barbarian and you suggest that I should faint for joy."
At her insulting words the young woman"s laughter faded. She tilted her head at a regal angle and regarded Meredith with a look of contempt.
"You do not have permission to speak to me in that tone. Kneel at once and beg my pardon."
Meredith"s mouth dropped open. For a moment she could scarcely believe her ears. She turned toward Brice and found him grinning.
That only served to further enrage her.
"Of all the vain, arrogant, pigheaded..."
Brice"s fingers fastened upon her arm. In a tone tinged with laughter he said,
"Hold your tongue, woman. Have you not yet realized who our visitor is?"
Meredith gazed upon the haughty young woman who continued to watch her through narrowed eyes.
"Kneel, Meredith," he murmured.
"And pay homage to your queen."
"Queen?" Meredith"s throat went dry. For long moments she studied the woman. Then, with a gasp, she fell to her knees.
"Oh, Majesty.
Forgive me."
She had heard the stories, of course. All of Scotland had heard that the young queen, having recently buried her husband, Francis, the Dauphin of France, had been returned to her birthplace to a.s.sume the throne.
She was kneeling before Mary, Queen of Scots.
Chapter Five
Vain? Arrogant? Pigheaded?" The queen enunciated each word with great care.
Meredith, kneeling before her, flinched as though lashed by a whip.
"She goes too far. This time, Brice," the queen said haughtily, "you have found a woman with a temper to match your own."
"Aye." He seemed not at all concerned that the queen continued to glare at the la.s.s who knelt abjectly at her feet.
"I could have you publicly flogged for your disrespect of the queen"s person."
Meredith lowered her head, afraid to meet the queen"s eyes.
"Would you like the flogging to take place here?" Brice inquired, struggling to hold back his laughter. He knew that the queen was far too tenderhearted to ever follow through on her threat.
"Or will you have her dragged back to Edinburgh?"
"You mock your queen?" Mary arched an eyebrow and glowered at Brice.
"Nay. In fact, I will send Angus to fetch a. whip from the stables."
As Brice turned away the queen caught his arm.
"Wait.
You are too eager. I have thought of a better punishment for this disrespectful subject."