The Princeling by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Author:Cynthia Harrod-Eagles [Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

In January of 1570 Lord Moray had been murdered, and Lennox had taken his place as Regent of Scotland and guardian of the infant King with Morton at his right hand. Lettice heard the news with fear and horror: during her time at Court, the two people she had found the most repulsive of that frightening crew had been Morton and his henchman Ruthven. They had seemed to her not quite like human beings -- more like ravening beasts, utterly heartless and ruthless, without fear of pain or pity for suffering.

Rob Hamilton had been widely known as one of Moray's men, and Lettice supposed that the change would be the worse for him. The news reached her late, for she was at that time at Aberlady with the children, and the murder took place at Linlithgow, on the other side of Edinburgh; but still it arrived a little before Rob, who came galloping in from the City just after the gates had been closed for the night. There was much to do to get the gates opened for him, for the servants were naturally nervous, and Lettice herself when she heard the hoof-beats outside thought they probably announced her end. Over the years she had spent in Scotland, she had become accustomed to the idea of death being only a step away: the women and children of these savage foreigners were the natural target for revenge or punishment.

So when she heard the sounds without, she gathered her stepchildren, thirteen-year-old Jean and eight-yearold Lesley, and the baby into the solar, along with Kat, and Mackie, the chamberlain, whom she had come to trust. They had their orders, and would carry them out on a command from Lettice: death was not so much to be feared, being a thing they must all face sooner or later, but it was well known what the assassins did to young women and girls before they killed them. Kat and Lettice were armed with long knives, Mackie with a short sword. If the intruders were assassins, the three children would be quickly despatched before they could be taken and made sport of by a gang of hired murderers. When the door opened to reveal Rob, mudstained and bedraggled from his hard ride, Lettice dropped her knife and ran to him with a cry of relief. She put her arms out to embrace him, but he caught her and set her aside with hard hands that bruised her upper arms.

'Peace, wife, there's no time for that,' he said harshly. `Oh I am so glad to see you,' Lettice cried, but quickly controlled herself, biting back the stream of relieved babble that sprang to her lips. Her family would hardly have recognized the vain, silly, lazy Lettice they had known in this alert-eyed young woman, so calmly ready to execute her children if it were necessary. Rob's eye took in those preparations without surprise, and his only comment was, 'You have heard the news then.'

'Only an hour since.

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