The Bruce's Angel (The Highland Angels Book 0) by Caroline Lee

Author:Caroline Lee [Lee, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“And do ye believe the lass?”

The Bruce, King Robert I, had no trace of skepticism in his voice when he asked the question. He was leaning on spread fingers, peering down at the letters from John MacDonald to the Earl of Surrey, and the question hadn’t indicated he doubted their veracity.

Liam would’ve answered, except he knew the King hadn’t been talking to him.

From her seat by the cold hearth, Queen Elizabeth hummed. She was stitching something, a perfectly acceptable queenly pastime, but Liam knew she’d only begun to care about it while in captivity, with nothing else to occupy her time besides prayer. From where he stood, he admired the way she kept her shoulders straight and proud, as she frowned down at the green thread.

Finally, her chin dropped just slightly. “I do. I believe her. She is a bold lass, as you say, for certes. But she is passionate, and believed the MacDonald lad to be a traitor. I tend to agree, based on the evidence.”

Robert grunted an affirmative and pushed himself upright once more. He wasn’t a particularly impressive-looking man, being of average build and coloring, but it was the belief in those dark eyes, which had united a nation. He might not have been the leader Scotland expected when he took power all those years ago, but he’d built a nation by sheer force of belief.

And many, many sacrifices.

Liam met his cousin’s dark eyes and inclined his own head, pleased to be in his confidences once more.

“And ye, Liam?” Robert asked softly. “Ye believe her?”

“Without a doubt,” Liam responded quickly. “Char isnae one to overact.”

The King’s brows rose. “Really? Then what was this I hear about her threatening yer verra life, due to a misunderstanding?”

Liam winced. When it was said like that, Charlotte sounded a wee bit unstable.

“It was understandable, Yer Majesty. As far as she kenned, I’d declared my love for her, taken what I wanted, and left her to face the consequences. I would’ve threatened to stab me too.”

Robert’s lips twitched as he crossed toward his wife. “I believe I might have as well.”

“Aye,” Elizabeth agreed solemnly, not looking up from her stitches. “ ’Tis almost as bad as leaving your lady wife in captivity for—”

“—eight long years,” Robert finished, with a put-upon sigh. But he was smiling when he reached her chair and rested his hand on her shoulder. “How long are ye going to keep bringing that into arguments, lady wife?”

Elizabeth’s lips twitched. “Likely until we are both old and grey.”

“I’m already getting grey hairs, Elizabeth, and ye’ve been home less than a fortnight.”

Finally, the Queen rested her embroidery on her lap and reached up to touch his hand on her shoulder. “Someone has to keep you sharp, Robert,” she said, with a slight smile. “Elsewise, your mind will turn to mush, and Scotland will fall.”

As if emboldened by her teasing, Robert’s grin grew, and he twisted his fingers through hers, lifting her hand to his lips. “I gladly give ye leave to keep me sharp and happy, my love.

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