Page 75 of The Guardian
Philippa gave him a bittersweet smile. “I was doing as my family bid me. They sent me to court for that very purpose.”
“I’m sorry your family used ye so poorly. It was wrong of them.”
“Ah, Ian,” she said with a sigh. “You are gallant. I always liked that in you.”
“Since ye are here at court again, I assume the queen never discovered what ye were to the king,” Ian said, hoping she was on good terms with the queen so she could help him. “I hear she is a vindictive woman, so ye are taking a chance being here.”
“This time, it is my husband who sent me.” She leaned forward to whisper next to his ear. “He says Archibald Douglas, the Earl of Angus, will soon have the power of the crown. That’s why he wants me to lure the Douglas into my bed.”
Ian stiffened. “Your husband asked ye to do that?”
“As if bedding the man would do us any good. Archibald Douglas is not a man to make decisions with his cock, or, alas”—she patted Ian’s chest—“with his heart.”
“Ach, ’tis a shame ye ended up with such a miserable husband.”
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “We are of a like mind on most things.”
Ian didn’t know what to say to that.
“Besides, I can take care of myself with the Douglas,” she said. “Unlike the poor virgin he has in his clutches at the moment. The girl is such an innocent, she hasn’t a chance against the likes of him.”
A prickle ran up Ian’s spine. “Tell me about this lass.”
“Apparently, she is heir to a castle the Douglas wants. This morning, I heard him convincing the queen to help the girl end her marriage—and wed her to one of his Douglas cousins.” She heaved a sigh. “I think I met her, and I fear that once the Douglas sees what a beauty she is, the cousin will not have her before he does.”
Ian gripped her arm. “Philippa, I must get to her.”
Philippa’s eyes went wide, and her hand went to her chest. “Do not tell me… No, Ian, you cannot be the husband she is trying to get rid of, are you?”
“I am,” he ground out. “I’ve come to take her home. Can ye get me inside the queen’s apartments?”
She lowered her head. “I don’t frighten easily, but the truth is that I am a bit afraid of Archibald Douglas.”
“I promise ye,” Ian said, leaning closer, “I would never tell who let me in.”
“I suppose you would not, even under torture,” she said, a faint smile returning to her lips. She held out her hand to him, “Come, we’d best hurry.”
Philippa took him up the servants’ staircase, which was hidden behind a screen. When she reached the top step, she turned to face him.
“I hope you won’t blame her if…” She paused and bit her lip. “… if you find her too late.”
Sweat broke out on his forehead. “Just tell me where to go from here.”
“The queen has given the Douglas a set of rooms for his private use, just there.” Philippa pointed to a door down the narrow back hallway.
“Be careful, Ian,” she said and kissed him on the cheek. “There will be guards inside the door—and I hear that the Douglas is very good with a sword.”
CHAPTER 25
Sìleas wished to God she had never left Skye.
“If it is all the same to you, Laird Douglas…” She attempted to lean farther away from him, but she had nowhere to go. “I’ll withdraw my request for the queen’s assistance and be on my way.”
“Nonsense.” The Douglas took a loose curl at the side of her face between his fingers, pulled it straight, and smiled as he let it loose and watched it spring back. “Tell me, lass, are ye as wild as your hair?”
She didn’t like the way his eyes darkened when he said it.
“I’m a very proper lady.” If ever there was a time to stretch the truth, it was now.
