"I have listened, madame. The Lady Anne doesn"t approve of this, or that, or the other. She feels that Christmas revels are wasteful. And Anne has converted the castle rose garden to a vegetable garden, and she sells them! Pah!"
Janet laughed again. "Perhaps you are right What I fear most is the strain of living under someone else"s rule. I am far too used to running my own home. I shall buy from my brother a piece of Glenkirk land, and I know just the place I want I want Glen Rae where I played as a child, the hills about it its loch, and the island in the loch. That island is just off the sh.o.r.e and would be ideal for a house. I shall begin as soon as we land. I can hire an architect in Edinburgh."
"You had best make the trade with the earl legal before you return to Glenkirk, my lady. From what I"ve heard of her, the countess is a grasping woman, and when she sees her husband"s sister is no pauper, she is sure to try and get twice what you offer."
"You have been with me so long, Marian, that you begin to think as I do. Those were my own thoughts."
Marian smiled to herself. She knew that her mistress would be all right, for she had begun to make plans for the future. Now they could go about the business of getting settled and making a place for themselves in Scotland.
Janet had fallen asleep, her hair strewn about her face on the pillow. Lord thought Marian, she is but three years younger than I, yet she still looks like a girl. Her skin is smooth and unmarked while mine is beginning to wrinkle. My poor brown eyes are fading in color, but her green ones are as bright as ever. My mouse brown hair is shot with gray, but her lovely red-gold tresses have just lightened at bit I am plump with all the good food we ate in the Eski Serai, but my lady is still willow slender. If the men of Scotland are as I remember, she will be overwhelmed with marriage offers before the year is out-especially when word of her fortune is bruited about Already Captain Kerr has made a fool of himself over her each time he"s seen her.
With all these thoughts tumbling in her head, Marian fell asleep. She awoke to the sounds of men"s feet tramping about the deck outside their cabin, Janet was gone from her bunk, but Ruth still slept She went to her and shook her.
"Wake up, daughter! We are entering the harbor."
Ruth stretched and yawned sleepily. She was a pretty, sweet-faced girl of twenty-three with her mother"s brown hair, and her late father"s bright blue eyes. An only child she had been born when Marian, in her early thirties, had long past given up hope of having children. She barely remembered her father, who had been Sultan Selim"s private secretary and had died of a fever while on campaign with his master.
She had grown up with the sultan"s three youngest children for playmates. She was barely nine when she had helped her mother and Lady Cyra smuggle the six-year-old Prince Karim out of Turkey to safety in Scotland. It was at that point she had become a woman, for had she once slipped and even hinted at this secret, many lives would have been lost-including her own.
On several occasions after she reached p.u.b.erty, she had been offered the chance of marriage. She had refused. She hadn"t wanted to leave her mother or her mistress. Ruth had inherited her father"s intelligence and her mother"s strong streak of common sense. She was virtually a free woman while a handmaiden to the sultan valideh Cyra Hafise. As the wife of a Turk, she would be cloistered from the world. Now, however, she was a free woman in actual fact and should the opportunity present itself, she would marry without hesitation.
As her mother bustled about the cabin making sure that everything was packed, Ruth quickly dressed. After a lifetime of underdrawers that reached to her knees, long Turkish pantaloons, sheer blouses, embroidered waistcoats, silk overgowns and waist shawls worn by Turkish gentlewomen, Ruth felt almost indecent in the simple drawers, stockings, petticoats and light wool dress she now put on. Picking up her cloak she called to Marian, "Let us go out on the deck and see this new land we have come to."
It was a fine, clear and crisp, late May morning that greeted them Lady Janet called to them from the upper deck.
"Come and see Leith! The mists have just lifted."
Adam Leslie and Captain Kerr stood by her side. The two women joined them.
"Remember the day we left Scotland for San Lorenzo, Jan?" Adam asked.
"I do," she laughed. "It was raining so hard we couldn"t see from one end of the ship to the other. Grandmother said it was an ill omen-that we should not be leaving our own land. As I remember, we thought it was high adventure."
"The fates wept to see you go, madame, knowing how long it would be before you would see your native land again. Today the sun shines with joy at your return," said Captain Kerr.
"G.o.d"s nightgown," muttered the earl of Glenkirk.
A giggle escaped Ruth.
"Why thank you, captain," said Janet sweetly, as she stepped with force on her brother"s foot He grimaced. "Come, Adam, we most not keep the captain while he goes about the docking." She stepped lightly down the stairs to the cabin deck.
"I think you"ve broken my toe," he grumbled at her.
"It serves you right!"
"You haven"t changed, Jan! You are still a hoyden! A mother five times over, and a grandmother to ten, or eleven if Fiona"s safely delivered and still a hoyden! G.o.d help me, Jan. How did you even keep your head on your shoulders all those years in Turkey? What will my wife, Anne, think of you? You must be more reserved I want peace in my house."
"And so you shall have it while I am there, Adam,"
"While you are there?"
"Yes. Now tell me, brother. How much money did father leave me?"
"A thousand pounds gold What did you mean while you are there?"
"Two hundred fifty are yours if I can have Glen Rae, the huls about it, and its loch-including the island I am going to build a house!"
"No!"
"Yes, I am! It is something to leave Charles and my grandchildren when I die. I have a right to Glenkirk land. Had I lived my life here, Charles would have inherited from his father, but my son was not born a Scot and has nothing. If you do not sell to me, I will buy land from one of your neighbors."
"They wouldn"t sell!"
"Money, my dear brother, especially bright gold, has a habit of convincing people. Never forget that! Are you so wealthy you can afford to scorn my money? Perhaps I should discuss this with your wife."
Adam Leslie frowned, then said "all right The land is yours!"
"When we arrive in Edinburgh, we will see a lawyer immediately to make the transaction legal. When I arrive at Glenkirk, I would be my own mistress."
"Very well I would recommend Fergus More. He"s been handling Leslie family matters for many years."
She nodded her agreement The ship was now firmly docked and its sailors put the gangway down. Several porters hurried aboard to begin the unloading of the cargo. Adam Leslie offered his arm to his sister.
"Well, Janet, shall we go?"
She hesitated for a moment, and then moved forward to the gangway. At that moment a tall, elegantly dressed young man rushed aboard the ship, and blushing past her enveloped the earl in a bear hug.
"Uncle Adam! Welcome home!"
Janet Leslie felt her legs buckle beneath her. Staggering, she grasped at the ship"s railing for support The hood of her cape fell back revealing her face, drained of color. It had been fourteen years, but she knew him.
"Karim," she gasped softly.
The young man whirled, and whitening, he stared at her.
"Mother! G.o.d in heaven! Mother!" Enfolding her in his arms he wept.
"Hush, my little lion," she comforted him "Hush now. I promised you we would be together again one day."
"Words spoken to a six-year-old child being sent far from home," he sobbed. "Oh, mother, I never thought to see you again! I have missed you so!"
Wordlessly they hugged each other until Janet pushed him away.
"Let me look at you, Sir Charles Leslie. You"re a giant and you do do look like your grandfather!" look like your grandfather!"
Holding her by the shoulders, Charles looked down into her face. "And you, mother, you are the same! But how do you come to be here?"
"I will tell you in private, my son. Like you, my true ident.i.ty is secret from all but your uncle."
He nodded, and then his eyes strayed to the two cloaked figures emerging from the cabin. With a whoop he descended upon them and grabbing the smaller of the two he swung her up with a shout.
"Marian! You"re here, tool"
She shrieked. "Put me down, you great oaf!"
He lowered her to the deck and with a loud smacking noise, kissed her on both cheeks.
"You haven"t changed at all since you were six," she sniffed, reaching for her handkerchief.
"Neither have you, you exotic creature!"
Marian slapped at him playfully, "Greet your old playmate, Ruth, you mannerless b.o.o.b," she commanded.
He turned to the young woman who was standing next to Marian. "Why, Ruth," he gently pushed the hood from her face, "how pretty you"ve become." Kissing the blushing girl"s cheek he smiled down at her. "Welcome to Scotland"
"Thank you, my lord"
"Enough," interrupted Adam Leslie. "Let us go. I must get to Edinburgh today and report to his majesty. You have arranged for transportation, Charles?"
"I was not expecting mother, uncle. Your horse is waiting, but I will have to arrange something for mother."
"No need my lord" said Captain Kerr, who had been standing waiting to bid farewell to his pa.s.sengers. "Madame," he bent over Janet"s hand "allow me to offer you my own horse for your trip into Edinburgh. If you"ll tell me where you are staying, I will send a wagon along later with your baggage and your serving women."
Janet looked to her son.
"My mother will be staying at the Rose and Thistle, captain. I thank you for the loan of your mount We shall see he is safely returned"
The distance between Leith and Edinburgh was a short one. It seemed to Janet that little had changed during her absence, but one thing she did note-the Scots capital was more bustling. When she had left Scotland James IV had been king. Now his son, young James V, ruled Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Adam dispatched a messenger to his wife with the news that his search for his sister had been successful, and that Janet would be staying with them at Glenkirk. Then, he went to report to the king.
When Adam returned from court to the inn where Janet was staying, he brought an invitation for his sister to meet the young king. Janet could not refuse, but Adam was distressed. His sister laughed at him.
"It would seem strange if you tried to hide me, Adam, If you stick to our story, no one will know my "shameful" past"
Charles laughingly agreed with his mother and personally escorted her to James" reception. She took the court by storm. She wore a low-cut black velvet gown, the floral design on the bodice embroidered in pearls and gold thread. Her gold tissue underskirt glittered with rubies and pearls, as did the white silk showing through the slashes in her gold embroidered sleeves, the wrists of which were edged in fine, wide, Venetian lace. Around the base of her neck was a flat necklace made of alternating gold squares each with a ruby center. From the center square hung a large gold and ruby square with a large teardrop pearl. A second necklace, similar to the first but without the pendant, hung below the other into her bodice.
Her hair, parted in the center, was hidden beneath a beautiful cap matching her gown. It was set half way back on her head and from it flowed a sheer black silk veil.
The king was enchanted. Lady Leslie might be old enough to be his mother, but by G.o.d she was a beauty! Half-Stewart, half-Tudor, James would not have been his l.u.s.ty parents" son had he not made an overture.
Putting her slender hand on his, Janet smiled warmly up into his eyes. "My lord, were I ten years younger I should seriously consider your offer. As it is I am extremely honored by Your Majesty"s kind favor."
"The rogue," she later laughed to her son and her brother.
Charles laughed with her, but Adam was shocked. "You could be his grandmother," he said.
"I most certainly could not!" she snapped back. "G.o.d"s bones, Adam! What a prig you"ve become. Father would have laughed as does my son."
Several days later, they left for Glenkirk, but not before Fergus More had paid them a visit As they rode from the city, the earl of Glenkirk was richer by two hundred and fifty pounds gold, and Lady Janet Leslie was the owner of Glen Rae, its surrounding hills, lake and island. Each was well satisfied.
Janet Leslie was returning, after more than forty years, to her ancestral home, and as the cavalcade wended its way down the hills that surrounded Glenkirk Castle, Anne MacDonald Leslie, countess of Glenkirk, sat in her bedchamber receiving reports of its progress. She was a handsome woman of forty-five with a clear peachy complexion, beautiful dark brown hair, and cold gray eyes.
"They are almost to the bridge, my lady," said her chief waiting woman. "We will just have time to reach the courtyard."
"No, Hannah. I am not going down. It is vital that my lord"s sister learn immediately her place in my house as a poor pensioner is of no importance. If this lesson is not made clear in the beginning, I shall have a querulous old woman upsetting the routine of my household. I want you to secret yourself somewhere where you can see, but not be seen. Report back to me as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lady."
Moving swiftly through the stone corridors, Hannah slipped into a small enclosure that overlooked the entry court She was just in time to see the lord of Glenkirk and his party enter the castle yard. She waited while the men-at-arms guarding the convoy dispersed. She could identify the earl and his nephew, Sir Charles. There were three women, but two were obviously servants. The third wore an elegant dark hooded cloak. As Sir Charles helped her to dismount the hood fell back, and Hannah gasped in amazement. I must get closer, she thought That cannot be my lord"s sister! Squeezing out of her cubbyhole, she scampered down to the courtyard.
"Welcome home, my lord. My lady is indisposed and begs to be excused."
"Thank you, Hannah. Nothing serious?"
"Nay, sir. She will be up by dinner."
The earl drew the beauty forward. "Janet this is Anne"s waiting woman, Hannah. Hannah, this is my sister, Lady Leslie. She will show you and your women to your apartments."
"Och, my lord, Lady Leslie will think us terribly ill-prepared, but we were not sure when to expect you, and several of the maids have been ill with the flu. If my lady and her companions will follow me, there is a good fire going in the Great Hall, and she may wait there while I finish the preparations."
"Thank you, Hannah," Lady Leslie said in her musical voice. "Adam, go see to Anne. You also, my son. Now, Hannah," she spoke as she walked, "since naught is prepared for me, I would reside in the apartments in the West Tower. They are available?"
"Yes, my lady, but-"
"Good! This is my Marian, and her daughter, Ruth. They will help you. I have brought draperies, rugs, featherbeds, linens, and all manner of things to make me comfortable. See that the trunks are carried up to my tower. Be sure there is plenty of wood for my fires. And you don"t have to escort me to the Great Hall. I remember the way quite well After all, I grew up here. Thank you, Hannah."
Stunned, Hannah watched the beauty leave her. Then turning to Marian she asked, "Is she always like that?"
"She ran a household a hundred times the size of this one," snapped Marian. "My, but you"re a quick one, my dear. What shabby quarters did your mistress prepare for mine? My lady was not fooled, you know. However, she does admire your loyalty."
Janet walked into the main hall of the castle and up the stairs to the Great Hall which was on the second floor of the building. Four steps led up from the anteroom to a landing. Four steps led down from the landing into the hall. To the right and to the left were enormous fireplaces flanked on either side by tall, high gla.s.s windows. In front of her was the dining board in the shape of a T, on either side of which were also windows. It looked the same as it had when she had left it, except for two large, full-length portraits that hung over each fireplace. The painting on the right was of her father as she remembered him-a big, sensuous male animal. Tears clouded her vision for a moment, and she said a silent prayer for him.
Over the other fireplace hung her own portrait-the one her father had commissioned in San Lorenzo. It pictured her in her betrothal gown and had been finished just before she was kidnapped. She couldn"t help smiling at the innocent, haughty little face that stared out of the picture.
"Except that your hair is lighter, you look just the same, madame. You must tell me your secret."
Janet descended the steps into the hall and saw on a long bench by the left fireplace a tiny blond woman with laughing gray-blue eyes.
"I am Jane Dundas Leslie, your nephew Ian"s wife. Forgive me for nae rising, but," she patted her distended belly, "it would take too long."
Janet laughed. "I was in the same position five times, child. Soon?"
"Last week according to the midwife; however, my son refuses to obey the midwife! Fiona was due after me, but she may birth her second afore I hae my first"
"Patience," counseled Janet sitting down next to the girl. "How old are you, Jane?"