Banquo's Son (A Crown of Blood and Honour Book 1) (27 page)

‘Aye, I can see that and I can see how you consider her. But, Fleance, she is an innkeeper’s daughter and you are . . .’ he paused. ‘Indeed, after Macduff, you are next in line to the throne. So, think on this: would the people of Scotland accept a commoner as wife of a thane? Do you not think a more strategic union best for all?’

‘What care I for the political workings of Scotland?’ Fleance said angrily. ‘I am here to fulfil my father’s command. And to fight this battle at your side. Once that is done, I’m back to England to find Rosie.’

Duncan looked hard at him. Then he sighed. ‘My dear friend. Though you have desires for your life, it seems fate has other plans. Let us finish this war and then regroup to consider what is the right path for Scotland.’

Fleance was rattled. At this moment he could not give two oxen for the opinions and gossip of the people of Scotland. What he desired was freedom from his father’s ghost and opportunity to be with Rosie for good.

‘So,’ Duncan began, ‘Rachel.’

Fleance frowned. ‘What has Rachel to do with this?’

Duncan walked to the window, then turned to look at his friend. ‘Fleance, what are your intentions towards my sister?’

Fleance was shocked by the question. ‘I have no intentions towards Rachel, Duncan, except those of a loyal servant to the crown. You know of my love for Rosie.’

‘Then,’ Duncan said, ‘you have been misleading her.’

‘No!’ Fleance cried. ‘I have never given Rachel any encouragement. She knows of my feelings for Rosie.’ He put his hand to his forehead and then looked back at his king. ‘Duncan. Rachel is beautiful. She is kind and sweet and so . . .’

‘She would be a good wife to you, Fleance.’

His head was spinning. Why was Duncan pressuring him so? ‘How can you say that, Duncan, when I have told you over and over: my heart belongs to Rosie.’

‘But this Rosie is gone. You have lost her. You said so yourself.’

‘I know!’ Fleance said, his voice raised. ‘But I will find her.’ He shook his fists. ‘When the battle is fought and won, I will find her and I will win her too.’

Pressure was building in his head and chest and he struggled against the burning frustration which threatened to overcome him.

Duncan shook his head. He stepped in front of Fleance and put a hand on his shoulder. Lowering his voice, he spoke. ‘You are too believing in the faithfulness of mankind, my friend. What woman would endure what you have put her through and still remain true?’

Duncan’s words shot through his bruised heart like a hot poker. ‘No!’

Fleance cried and shoved Duncan away from him. The king fell, knocking his face against the corner of a chair. Horrified, Fleance fell to his knees. ‘I’m sorry. I . . .’ he stammered. ‘Please forgive me.’

Duncan touched his hand to his mouth, looked at the blood on his fingers and then back at Fleance. ‘I didn’t see that coming.’ Mortified, Fleance stood, waiting to see what Duncan would do next. The new king sighed. ‘I’ve not seen this temper in you before.’

‘Duncan,’ Fleance began.

Duncan studied him a moment. ‘You are as a brother to me, Fleance. I am on your side,’ he said quietly. He touched his fingers to his lips again and pressed against the small split. He motioned to a chair. ‘Sit,’ he commanded.

Fleance dropped into the chair and put his head in his hands. Why had he allowed his feelings to get so out of control? Duncan relied on him. How could he strike the king? He was no better than Bree in a tantrum. ‘Why does it have to be so hard to find happiness and contentment?’ he said. He looked up at Duncan. ‘Why, if I do the right thing and honour God in all my ways, am I not to
have th
e one thing my heart desires above all?’

‘You yourself told me that the path of true love is never smooth,’ Duncan said as he pulled up a stool and sat in front of Fleance. ‘How long has it been since you saw her, Fleance?

He thought for a bit. ‘The day of your father’s coronation feast.’

‘Fleance, that was months ago.’ His blue eyes bored into Fleance. ‘I think you are making much of a remembered passion.’ Fleance shook his head. ‘Listen to me. I understand what it is to love someone and not be able to have them. But, Fleance, after time, the feelings dim and can be replaced with new loves, new hopes.’

Fleance’s stomach churned. ‘It’s just,’ he said through a tight jaw, ‘that all my happiness is bound up in memories of being with her. No one makes me laugh like her. No one makes me feel like I can do anything like her.’ He returned Duncan’s gaze. ‘It’s hard to give that up, Duncan. I have been holding on to her for so long . . .’

Duncan looked down at his hands and his tongue ran over the cut on his lip. ‘She is like your father – now a ghost which plagues you. You have to turn away from the past and look to what the future has.’

‘I can’t,’ he cried. ‘I need her to understand that it was not my doing that I could not get to her.’

‘Fleance, you are a general in my army. You have made a promise to me. I need to believe that I can trust you completely. You must put Rosie aside and focus on our plans.’

Fleance swallowed and breathed deeply. ‘I will honour you as I have pledged so long as you permit me to find her after all this is done.’

A look of resignation came over the king’s face. ‘I would have you happy, my friend.’ He stood up. ‘I have believed all this time that you have found a measure of happiness and contentment in
our
family.’ Duncan stared at him. Fleance sensed there was more to say. Duncan let out his breath, and then spoke. ‘I have to tell you that I believe my sister is in love with you.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Fleance whispered.

‘I would be most approving of your union,’ Duncan
continued
as if he hadn’t heard Fleance. ‘Your king asks you to consider Rachel.’

Fleance nodded. He could do no less. ‘As you will, your
Majesty
.’

Rosie

This was not the journey Rosie had expected to be making. It had been months since she set out for England, expecting to return within a few weeks with the oak for her father. Instead, it was early spring and she was going back to Scotland with Keavy.

She looked down at the girl who was watching the gulls swoop and swirl around the ship’s large sails. ‘Are you well, Keavy?’ Rosie asked.

Keavy smiled up at her. ‘This is grand, Rosie. My first boat ride. But,’ she said, a sorrowful look passing over her face, ‘I do wish Ma could have come.’

Rosie put her arm around the child. ‘I know you do but it would have been too much for her.’ What she knew in her heart, though, was that Miri did not expect to live much longer, the cough having taken most of her life force. What might have happened, Rosie thought, had I not gone to the Alnwick Inn and heard the news? What might have become of Keavy?

Rosie kept her arm around the bairn. Fate, she mused. The stars took Flea from her and now they were leading her back to him whether she wanted to or not.

It was Lairie at the inn in Alnwick who’d given her the news that Miri was ill of the cough and alone, with Magness off who knew where. A day was all Rosie had needed to arrange her da’s business and then she and Rebecca were away to nurse Miri.

Miri was dying. Rosie had seen it at a glance. Even so, she’d dropped to her knees, taken Miri’s hand and said, ‘’I’ll stay with you till you’re well again.’

But Miri, between the coughing spasms that wracked her, had asked something much harder of her. ‘You’ll have heard about Flea? Important he is now. He’ll care for my Keavy. Take her to him, Rosie, at least until Magness returns, and I’ll die easy.’

Rebecca and Rosie tried for a month to nurse their old friend back to health. But Miri was right, she was dying.

So here they were, Rebecca returning to Perth and the business of the inn while Keavy and Rosie were on their way to Flea. Fle
a –
friend of the new King Duncan, and a general in his army. She sighed. Little wonder the stars were against their union.

What cruel mischief was it that pushed her to Perth and then on to Glamis to seek out one whom she had loved more than anything else in the world? The one who had broken his word, her trust and her heart.

All Rosie told Keavy was that she must return to Scotland and it would be fun to have Keavy’s company. The bairn had been excited the whole trip, her enthusiasm and energy the only thing keeping Rosie from utter despair.

At Perth, they returned to the inn and Da was exceedingly pleased to see her. ‘I never thought I’d regret any of my decisions, lass, but seeing your lovely face again shows me I should not have sent you away, especially as you’ve been so delayed.’

‘I’ll get wee Keavy here settled for the night and then I must speak with you,’ Rosie said after kissing her father on the cheek. ‘Come along, bairn. You will like your room.’

The small compartments were freezing and Rosie set about making a fire. ‘You can sleep in those clothes for it’s too cold. I’ll bring you a warming stone from the kitchen.’

She watched as Keavy climbed into the cot and burrowed down among the piles of blankets, only her face poking out. Rosie was back quickly and pleased to feel the room had begun to lose some of its chill. She placed the stone near Keavy’s feet. ‘Do you want me to leave the light?’ Keavy nodded. ‘I will come back soon. Try to sleep. It’s been a long day for you and tomorrow we have an adventure.’

Keavy’s eyes widened. ‘Tell me,’ she demanded.

Rosie smiled. ‘’Tis a surprise. And I wager you won’t be able to guess.’ She tucked Keavy in some more. ‘Sweet dreams.’ Then she walked back to where her father was wiping down tables after the last of the patrons had gone.

‘What news, daughter?’ he said, easing his large belly under one of the tables as he sat down.

‘Magness has gone. Miri believes he has joined those who will go to battle. Miri is being tended by the village but I fear, Da, she has not long to live. I am to Glamis, in the morning,’ she said,
staring
hard at her father. ‘Miri has asked me to take the child to Flea.’ She watched her father’s face cloud over. ‘He has the means t
o ta
ke good care of her and I know he will.’

‘What do you really know of him, Rosie?’ Dougal growled. ‘He’s as unreliable as the weather.’

‘I’ll take my chances for I know he loves her as his sister.’

‘It’ll end in tears, mark my word. For you and the bairn.’
Puffing
, he arose. ‘But you can take the wagon and two of the hands, for the roads are rough.’

‘Thank you,’ she said and took herself off to bed, climbing in beside the sleeping child and cuddling into her for warmth.

The next morning, Dougal loaded up the wagon with barrels of ale and gave instructions for delivery to two abbeys with the rest for the castle. Though Rosie felt subdued, Keavy chattered excitedly and bombarded her with endless questions making the first part of their journey go quicker. The men unloaded the two barrels at the first abbey and, at the second while the barrels were being taken inside, Rosie and Keavy had a bite to eat.

But by late afternoon, Rosie was cold and exhausted both from Keavy’s persistent questions and the fear which began to nag at her. She glanced at Keavy. What if Da were right? What if Flea refused them? What would become of Keavy then?

The cold, post-winter sun was almost down when the wagon came upon the long road to Glamis. Through the trees, they could see the lights of the castle. ‘What is that?’ Keavy asked breathlessly.

‘That, my child, is the king’s castle.’

Keavy’s eyes widened. ‘Really? Are we going to see the king?’

Rosie shrugged. ‘I can’t say for sure but maybe.’

The child hugged herself. ‘Is there a princess in the castle too?’

Rosie smiled. ‘Aye, two of them. One is about your age.’

‘We can be friends then,’ Keavy stated matter-of-factly.

Rosie said nothing but stared ahead, trying hard to ignore the sense of foreboding which pressed all around her.

It was dark by the time the wagon pulled up outside the entrance to the kitchen.

‘Stay here and keep well wrapped up,’ Rosie told Keavy. She climbed down, straightened her skirts and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. A soldier stood outside the main door and, with butterflies in her stomach, Rosie approached him.

‘I am here to see Flea. Fleance, son of Banquo,’ she said her voice shaking.

The soldier opened the door and motioned for her to enter. In the grand entranceway, she was approached by a servant.

‘I wish to speak with Fleance,’ she said a little more bravely.

‘You’re in luck, young lady,’ he answered, glancing quickly over her humble clothing. ‘The royal party are just coming down for
dinner
. He should be with you shortly.’

At that moment a door opened and noise and laughter quickly filled the entranceway.

Rosie dragged her gaze to the top of the staircase and her heart almost stopped.

There was Flea, looking more handsome than she had dared remember, walking arm in arm with another equally handsome
couple
. Both were fair, the man tall and with a serious air, the woman about her own age, long blonde hair framing a beautiful face.