Виктория Холт: The Thistle and the Rose

Letters from France reached her. Albany had a suggestion. His wife’s niece, the daughter of the Duke of Urbino and Marie of Boulogne, was one of the wealthiest heiresses in Europe. It was true that Catherine de Medici was not royal, but Albany believed she would be a very good match for the King of Scotland.

Margaret feigned to consider this but James’s marriage could wait.

In the meantime there remained the menace of the Douglases; and it seemed to her that the most urgent matter of all was the need to obtain her divorce from Angus.

In exchange for a divorce she offered him a portion of her dowerlands which would bring him in a good income. He refused the offer and his refusal was ominous. The more so because the Parliament, realizing the power of the Douglas faction, had decided that he should be included in those selected to take over the guardianship of the King. It had been arranged that Angus and the Archbishop of Glasgow should have the guardianship of James for three months; Arran and the Bishop of Aberdeen for the next three; Argyle and Chancellor Beaton next, to be followed by Lennox and the Bishop of Dunblane. Thus it seemed that none of these ambitious and able nobles should have the King for too long a period in his care.

On a bleak February day the King was escorted to the Tolbooth in the state procession. With him rode his mother; and before them Angus solemnly walked, carrying the crown, while Arran held the scepter and Argyle the sword.

It was the first time in years that Margaret had seen her husband, and she found it difficult to look at him without emotion.

He had not lost his handsome looks for, although the freshness of youth was no longer his, he would always be extremely distinguished in appearance.

If he had been a faithful husband, she told herself, we could have found great happiness together.

She was aware of Harry among those riding with her. Poor boy! He looked apprehensive, fearing, she knew, that she might return to Angus. She wanted to comfort him. Never would she forgive Angus for the unhappiness he had caused her. No! She had given her love to Harry Stuart now, and as soon as she could she would marry him. He was to be her last love.

In the Tolbooth, when the ceremony of opening Parliament was completed, Margaret rose to tell the assembled lords that her greatest desire was for peace throughout the realm.

It was arranged then that a Regency should be formed, with the Queen as the principal member, which should be made up of lords temporal and spiritual. The latter consisted of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dunblane; and the former were headed by Angus, Arran, Argyle and Lennox.

On the surface it was a peaceful meeting, but there were many hard looks directed toward Harry Stuart; and several of the lords whispered together that although they accepted the Queen as a member of the Regency they would not accept her paramour.

The meeting over, the King made his way back to Holyrood with the Queen. Not far from Margaret rode Harry Stuart, very pleased with himself, and not in the least disconcerted by the curious and hostile glances cast in his direction.

Young James was uneasy, knowing that he was to be passed to the custody of Angus for the next three months, and because he adored his mother and knew how she hated her husband he was displeased. He would have preferred to be in the care of Lennox whom he liked best of all of those selected to guard him.

Margaret sought to comfort him.

“Never fear,” she said, “we will find some means of rescuing you. But I doubt not that he’ll be a lenient guardian. He’ll not dare be otherwise. You are the King and even though as yet you are a boy who must obey these men, it will not always be so and they’ll remember that. And while you are with him you can do your best to persuade him to the divorce.”

James said he would do his best; and while they were together Harry joined them.

“You are looking disturbed,” said the Queen tenderly.

“I have just been warned,” he replied, “that the Douglases have sworn to murder me and my brother James this night — if we remain in Holyrood.”

“Harry!” cried Margaret, and she began to tremble. “But,” she went on quickly, “they must not find you in Holyrood. You must leave at once.”

“Leave you and the King!”

“I know you would stay to defend us, but these Douglases are a ruthless clan. Harry, you must leave at once. Take your brother with you. I shall not know a moment’s peace while you are here.”

“But to leave you… ”

“It is a command,” said Margaret firmly.

Harry looked from her to the King, who said: “Yes, Harry, you must go. My mother and I would be deeply grieved if harm should befall you.”

Harry bowed and retired, but Margaret followed him to his apartment and they remained some seconds in a close embrace.

“My love, how can I go?” demanded Harry.

“How can you stay when it might mean your death?”

“I would not care… ”

“But I would. Nay, Harry, this is farewell but not for long. Go to Stirling and remain there. I shall be with you erelong, for I cannot bear to live apart from you.”

There was another passionate embrace which was interrupted by the arrival of Harry’s young brother James.

Margaret regarded him sadly — such a handsome boy! — then she kissed him on the brow.

“Take care of each other,” she cautioned. “And now… go quickly.”

They both kissed her hands and, when they were gone, Margaret was for a time cast down.

Her lover gone to Stirling; her son in the care of Angus. This was a day of mourning; but it was not her way to accept defeat.

She was certain that soon she would be divorced from Angus and married to Harry; soon the power of the Douglases would be overcome; soon her son would rule in truth with herself and Harry in the background to guide him.

The rule of the Douglases had begun.

When the period of Angus’s guardianship had elapsed, he simply refused to give up the King. He had by this time set the members of his clan in the highest posts and as Douglases from all over Scotland rallied to his banner his followers grew in number. Any ambitious man who hoped for honors placed himself in the service of the Douglas; Angus had the King, and although it was said that James V ruled Scotland now, the real ruler was Angus.

Margaret, angry and alarmed at her husband’s growing power, watched events from the shelter of Stirling where she had joined Harry and his brother. The subject which dominated her mind was the divorce. She longed for it passionately and she was desperately afraid that the growing power of Angus would enable him to prevent her obtaining it.

James himself was fast growing away from boyhood. He was going to be as handsome as his father; he was strong-willed; very skilled in the joust and the hunt, he surpassed his companions in these fields. In order that he should not allow himself to become a mere tool of ambitious men, Margaret had impressed on him his need to assert himself, and James had learned that lesson thoroughly.

He had learned also to hate Angus, and the arrogance of his stepfather did nothing to endear him to the young boy. Deeply he resented firstly being made Angus’s prisoner, for that was how he regarded himself, and secondly being obliged to give his assent to matters with which they scarcely bothered to acquaint him.

While he was under the care of Angus he was continually plotting as to how he could escape. He believed that, once he could rid himself of Angus’s rule and escape to his mother, he would rally the loyal lords against the Douglases who must be hated because they were feared so much.

When an opportunity came to speak to Lennox of his feelings he did so; and although Lennox was cautious there was a tacit agreement between them that when the time was ripe the King should escape from Angus’s care.