"He trusts you, Vicky-as there are few he does. And as he would never trust Gray."
"It may be so. But can I trust James? There's the rub! But… Gray. That is why I am here, Geordie. I have come straight from a meeting of the Privy Council. I am for Scotland the morn's morn. Would that you were coming with me, again. But," he glanced at Alison, smiling, "that attraction is not what it used to be, I think!" "I could by no means leave London this week…"
"No, no-I did not think you could. I but came to see if I might carry any letters or messages for you, or otherwise serve you, in Scotland." "You are kind. Will you be gone for long? " "That depends on… fate! My errand this time is an awkward one. I am to bring back the Earl of Dunbar." "Bring back?"
"Aye. Doddie Home's reign is over, I think! James has given him a lengthy rope-of a purpose, I swear-and now he has hanged himself! He is summoned back to London to give account of his stewardship." "But he comes frequently…"
"This time I am sent to fetch him! He will perceive the difference! And I am to bring Tom Hamilton, Dunfermline and Archbishop Spottiswoode with him." "These too? Are they in trouble also? All these?" "I think not They are to act Dunbar's accusers, rather."
"Ah! What has he done, then? We all know the style of him. He is a rogue-but James has always known that he was. And used him, in despite. What has he done, to change that?"
"He has committed the unforgivable sin. He has put his hand in James's pocket! So long as it was others he robbed-like Logan or the Catholics-James could use him. You would have thought, as Treasurer and Collector both in Scotland, offices capable of lining his pouch richly enough for any man, he would have been careful not to foul his nest But, no. He has it seems, been taking his pickings out of James's beloved Ulster scheme. If a Scot wants a share in Ulster now, he has to get it through Doddie Home-at an extra charge! The man is a fool-for it was bound to come to the King's ears in time. I suppose the fact is that he is just a Home Border freebooter at heart, for all his earldom, like the rest of his clan, and could not keep his hands off even the King's kye!" "Aye, James would not like that" "How did the King find out, do you know?" Alison asked.
"Oh, yes, we know. A friendly letter, no less-not to James himself but to the English Privy Council, through Lord Chancellor Ellesmere. From Patrick, Lord Gray of Fowlis, no less! Enclosing sworn testimony. Statements from three Angus lairds that they had paid each one thousand pounds Scots, above the required figure, for Ulster lands, signed and sealed."
"Save us! So Gray wins another round 1" Heriot exclaimed. "He set a trap-and the fool Dunbar walked into it. Mind, Scotland will be the cleaner lacking Dunbar. But it makes Gray that much the stronger. "Who is there now to oppose him?"
"Heaven help me-myself, I fear!" Lennox answered ruefully. "Or so James would have it. After I have seen to Dunbar, I have to be the new Great Commissioner for Scotland, to deal with the Kirk-and Patrick Gray " "Oh, Vicky!" Alison cried.
"I protested, actually refused, there and then, before the Council. But James made it a royal command, on pain of treason. What could I do? At least it will mean that I am much in Scotland. Can see more of Mary."
There was silence in that panelled room above the goldsmith's shop for a little, as they all considered the implications of this development
"Mary…?" Heriot demanded. "What will she say? You are to bring down her father!"
"God knows! Only… James can make me go, mind you-but he cannot control what I do, there. With Mary's sharp wits, we may find a way to weather this storm," "The King is a devil!" the young woman declared.
"I wonder?" her husband said, slowly. "If I was James-which God forbid I – I think… I might have done the same " "Oh, you ever favour him, Geordie "
"He has two realms to govern, lass. One of them four hundred miles away."
"Geordie's right," the Duke admitted. "And James has the cleverest man in Europe to master-so he sends me! He can scarcely expect me to outwit Gray-so what is he at? Though, to be sure, it may be getting beyond the wits stage. Coming to the sword, at last! And with the sword, it may be, I might shine a little brighter " "Oh, no…!" "Is it so bad as that, Vicky?"
"It looks so. Young Robert Stewart, Orkney's bastard and favourite son, has set himself up, in Kirkwall, as his father's appointed representative, indeed proclaimed himself Sheriff of Orkney and Shetland, declaring the Isles to be an independent principality under Udal law. He has taken over all Scots shipping there and announced that he is coming to rescue his father and uncles."
"Rebellion! From the Orcades. Lord-is this to be taken seriously?"
"Who knows? It sounds crazy-mad. But if Gray is behind it- and few doubt that-then it is serious indeed. Shiploads of arms are known to have been sailed into Kirkwall for months past. But not only Kirkwall-there is word of the like all along the east coast of Scotland, from Angus northwards. Especially into the Catholic Gordon lands of Aberdeenshire and Banff. This threatened invasion is not just to rescue Earl Patrick from Dumbarton Castle! It could be the armed Catholic revolt, at last, only making use of Orkney." "With what hope of success?"
"More than seems likely at first glance. Our peace-loving monarch has maintained no real army in Scotland. Such Scots soldiers as there are, are over in Ulster settling in the planters and ejecting the Irish. Dunbar has divided and weakened the country. And, more important, recollect who Patrick of Orkney is-the King of Scots' nearest living kinsman. Nearer than I am. His father was illegitimate, yes, where mine was not, but he was a son of James the Fifth and brother to Queen Mary. And Earl Patrick himself is not illegitimate, whatever else he is."
"Dear God-you mean he might yet become King Patrick the First?"
"Would that be so much more strange than the plot to put the child Henry on the throne in 1603?" "I can scarce believe all this serious, Vicky."
"Maybe not. But have you forgotten the Casket Letters, Geordie? What is it James so fears in them? That he himself could be proved illegitimate-or allegedly so! Would Orkney, then, not have a better claim to the throne? And it is believed Gray now holds those Letters. You may not see it as serious-but James does. Sufficiently to have given me a private letter for Patrick Gray. And told me privily I shall receive secret instructions from him before I leave for Scotland. Gray, no doubt, is only using Orkney for his own ends-but that could mean Scotland with a new and resident king again. Which many might welcome. James is much concerned. Not so much that he fears for his Scots throne, I think-he believes God will secure him that! But that he, the peace-maker, may have to take the sword to hold that throne. To have to go to war in his own native land, just when European peace seems to be within his grasp."
"And that, I swear, is Patrick Gray's strongest card! If indeed there is a devil here, Alison lass-that is he!"
***
Heriot and his wife were conducted through the gardens of Denmark (or Somerset) House, in the golden September sunshine, to the same arbour where once before the man had sat, with the Queen, and handed over to her the jewel which was his first present to Alison. Anne sat there again, amongst the ripe-hanging fruit and turning leafage, and looked notably older than on that other occasion, older and sadder, if not wiser-although she was still but thirty-six.
The Queen was alone and she dismissed the junior Lady in Waiting who had brought them, "My friends," she said, in her guttural voice, heavier even than it used to be, as they made their obeisances, "come and sit by me. It is pleasant here, and the sun warms my aching joints." 'Your Majesty still suffers pain?" Alison asked. "Bodily pain is the least of my troubles," the Queen said. "His Highness the Prince of Wales is better, Madam?" Heriot enquired. "I heard that he appeared very well at the ship-launching of the Prince Royal, at Gravesend."
Читать дальше