Page 70 of The Scottish Bride
And in every tress of her horse’s mane hung fifty silver bells and nine—
“That song!” Tamsin squeezed his hand. “Where did you learn it?”
“Ah, her truthy tongue. Not ‘Oh, sir, what a gifted bard you are,’ but ‘where did you learn that song?’” He chuckled.
“Your voice is like wine and honey, truly. But where did you hear the song?”
“When I was a boy. I do not remember the whole of it, just a few lines. It came to me now. It reminds me of you.”
“It tells the tale of Thomas and the faery queen. Did you know?”
He tipped his head. “I heard it in my household when I was young. But stories of your Thomas are all about. My own grandfather met him, I understand.”
“Ah. Many did, it is so.” The dog trotted toward them then and they both rubbed him affectionately, hands together, even as Liam frowned. He had meant to soothe her in his leaving, but she seemed unsettled by the reminder of her great-grandfather.
“My kinsmen are waiting and we have yet to put on our mail and gear. Even with Gideon’s help that will take time. I must go.”
“Hurry back. And tell Gideon to be ready if you are delayed.”
“So heartfelt, bride,” he drawled, kissing her cheek.
“Come back to me,” she whispered, finding his lips.
Thornhill was astout castle cresting a long slope overlooking rumpled autumn-gold hills. Liam and the others had ridden the better part of a cool and sunny day, and now the sun was sinking beyond the hills as they arrived. Hailing the gate, they waited, horses nuzzling grass, until a guard opened the studded door in the portcullis.
“Sir William Seton,” Liam explained. “With Sir Gilchrist Seton and Sir Finley Macnab. We have a message for Sir Hugh Douglas. He knows my name.”
“Your companions wear English colors but you do not. What is your purpose?”
“We bring an important message for Sir Hugh. We will wait,” Liam repeated.
Within minutes, the double doors opened and the guard waved them through. As a groom took the horses, the sentry led them up stone steps to the keep’s entrance and through to the great hall. There, the setting sun poured rose gold over wooden floors and walls hung with bright shields and embroidered banners.
Sir Hugh, portly and gray, rose from his seat at a table spread with parchments. Three dogs rose with him to run toward the newcomers, barking and jumping.
“Down! Down, I say! They are glad to see someone new, I tell you,” Sir Hugh said. Two were long-legged rough-coated hounds that Liam knew—he had given that brace of dogs to Sir Hugh a few years earlier. The third, a small dark terrier, leaped about in a happy blur. Liam and his companions bent to have hands sniffed and pats welcomed.
“There, now go, get!” Sir Hugh told his dogs. “Well met, Sir William! I did not think to meet you again in this earthly life, sir.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder. “The last I heard, you were not in good straits.”
“All is well now, sir.” Liam introduced his brother and cousin. “We are here on Bruce’s orders. My kinsmen may wear Edward’s gear, but they can be trusted.”
“I see. What is the message? First, let me offer you wine and some supper. Arthur!” he called, as a lad came running from a far corner; directed to bring servings of that evening’s stew for the guests, he hurried off. Sir Hugh poured wine into silver goblets, handing them about. “Good stuff,” he said, “stolen from one of Edward’s baggage trains, months back. We took wheat, too, for bread. I tire of oats,” he muttered. “But wheat hardly grows in these rocky hills. Bread, though—ah! Worth stealing the grain.” He patted his belly, laughed. “Sit down.”
As they drank, Liam explained their mission, while Hugh Douglas listened, frowning, tossing out a brusque question now and then. “My daughter,” he repeated, rubbing his jaw. “Aye, she is here. Arthur!” he bellowed, as the lad entered with a tray holding bowls and bread. “Tell Lady Kirsten I wish to see her. Now,” he added, as the lad scurried off as if the very hounds were after him. Instead, the dogs lazily watched the lad go back and forth, then settled to nap.
“We will see what the lass will do. She makes up her own mind, does my Kirsty.”
“She has little choice, sir,” Liam said. “Bruce feels there is a serious threat to Thornhill, and any Scotswoman with a tie to him or his is under threat too.”
“Just as well she leaves here. Where will you take her?”
“To the safety of Ettrick Forest for now. We will send word.”
Moments later, Lady Kirsten entered the room, the same slim dark-haired girl that Liam remembered, with a winsome smile and lilt in her step. Yet her brow puckered as she gave her father a puzzled look, seeing knights with him. As Sir Hugh introduced the men, she looked at Liam more than once, her frown deepening.
“Sir, I believe I know you. Were you at Lochmaben in September?”
He gave her a wry smile. “I was, my lady.”
