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By Root 2305 0

since Oliver Semple, who led them, had lodged his party sensibly between simple stages, and since the boy had his mother’s especial attention. No mother, naturally, was perfect, but the lady Gelis paid strict attention to her child’s care, and spent time in his company. She spent less time, as was natural, when her husband was at hand to distract her, and now might seem to be repairing the omission. Or she might be reassuring herself of the child’s affection. Parents could become jealous, at times, of each other. They could become jealous of the child’s nurse.

Mistress Clémence, alive to such dangers, had averted them. The present threat was not to her authority but to her job. Although Dean Castle was no longer hers but the Queen’s, the Princess Mary was lodged there with her children. With her fractious Boyd children, who had responded so well to Jordan’s nurses. Mistress Clémence wondered whether, if it came to a tussle, the royal household would accept Pasque as a servant for Jamie and Margaret. She feared not.

Gelis herself took profound pleasure in the ride. Brought up to the dunes and slades and wide skies of Zeeland, she preferred the bracing shores of the east, but the softer valleys and moors she now entered had been home to her when she had served the young Mary, and she was pleased to be back, even so close to Kilmirren. She shut her mind much more easily now to the recollection of what she had done there. Her sister Katelina had seduced her future husband for a purpose, and so had she. She despised Simon.

No, she could dismiss that charmless small episode. It was over, and it had led to success. In all but a few minor instances, Nicholas had acted as she had expected and planned. She knew him. However skilful you were, if you had no real objective in life, you would lose. She was filled, as she rode, with exultation dimmed by an ache she did not want to identify; but which made her think, unexpectedly, of her father. In any case, Nicholas would be back soon enough; and would find her at Beltrees.

North of Dean, and close to the house of Kilmirren, which was empty, Bel of Cuthilgurdy heard of Jordan’s arrival at the Castle. Indeed, Oliver Semple was the first to ride over and tell her of it. He added, ‘The woman says she’s going to Beltrees. I can’t stop her.’

‘Why should you?’ said Bel. She had made a point of cultivating the de Fleury factor, and had acted as his confidante and friend when awkward decisions fell to be made about furnishing Beltrees. When he had raised the question of expense, for example, she had always invited him airily to place the blame for this bed or that plate on her shoulders. A family man, and well connected to others of substance, Oliver Semple had said plainly enough that he had never seen silver-gilt of such weight in a laird’s house: was she trying to ruin the fellow? He knew she had strong views about Master Nicholas de Fleury, Knight of the Unicorn. She did not tell him that, on matters other than furnishing, she might occasionally choose to do what Nicholas de Fleury asked of her.

So now she said, ‘If you’re worried, why not let me take the blame of her visit? The lady can come and stay here. If she wants an expedition to Beltrees, she can have it.’

‘She wants to lodge there,’ Oliver said. ‘It’s not seemly. Unless of course you’d fancy keeping her company. We’d need a day to redd it and warm it and get childer to cook and to serve.’

‘You do that,’ said Bel. ‘I’ll invite her.’

After he had gone, she sat and stared at the fire for a long time; then she heaved herself up and went to hold a council of war in the kitchen. The house was accustomed to visitors. But this time she liked to think there might be a wee knave and his nurses to care for. A wee laddie with dimples called Jordan whose sorry motherless sibling was far away now.

When Nicholas failed to arrive at Dean Castle, Gelis set out to move, as she had intended, to Beltrees. She also decided to accept Mistress Bel’s proffered company. It might, if nothing else, even the balance. After all, Nicholas had taken the