“I ken, such as now. We are out of our time, missin’ our family, alone, but also in good company: a royal, a lively court, a strong guard, a warm bed awaitin’ us at the end of the long day of ‘keepin’ pace.’”
She laughed. “You’re right, it is fun, and I’m going to drink so much whisky tonight, you’ll wonder if—”
I pulled a bottle from my bag, uncorked it, and passed it tae her. “Whisky for ye, Lady Campbell. Perhaps Master Allie is right, twill be more fun if we are wobbly on our horses.”
“Why thank ye sir, that’s an appropriate condition for a vacation, onward to Key West!”
Fifty-six - Kaitlyn
The plan was that our party would be accommodated on noble estates along the way, and our first accommodation was to be Linlithgow Palace. This was one of Mary of Guise’s favorite palaces, and the household lavishly welcomed us. There were feasts and on the final night poetry readings and a concert too. It was like being in a celebrity entourage sixteenth century style, just as exhausting and twice as smelly.
But I really liked Mary of Guise. She was pretty, smart, vivacious, and so tall it was a little like hanging out with a fashion model. The second day, we met to sit together in one of the gardens surrounded by summer scents and the bright colors of the blooming herbs. Bees buzzed around.
I was wearing my blue dress. She was wearing a black dress accented with sparkling jewels, not quite matching the season, but sort of like wearing Prada to the countryside — she was so elegant she made it work. I wished I was wearing Prada too.
She smiled. “I have a gift for you, Lady Kaitlyn.” She passed me a box wrapped in fabric, with a wide damask bow.
“Thank you, that is... I wasn’t expecting a gift, thank you. Should I open it now?”
“Yes, it is something for you, in the fashion of France.”
So I untied the bow and opened the box. Inside were two sets of beautiful gown sleeves. My gowns had places at the shoulder to lace in new sleeves, but I didn’t have any extras yet. One of these sets was black velvet with jewels along the edges and the other set draped long at the wrists, accented with golden fabric. “They’re beautiful! Thank you so much, your highness.”
“You’re welcome. I feel an affection for you, Lady Kaitlyn. You are a foreigner here, but you are resigned to calling it home. As I am. As my daughter feels towards her new home in France. Sometimes I see you have a sadness within you and I wanted to give you something beautiful to take your mind from your worries.”
I clutched the box. “Thank you, this really means so much.”
We both looked out over the garden. She said, “Did I tell you, Lady Kaitlyn, that this is where my Mary was born?” She pointed up at the windows of a corner room. “This is my favorite castle, but whenever I visit I am filled with sadness. Three of my sons died very young. Two passed from this earth on the same day. I believe it was because of the nursemaid’s failings. Have I told you this before?”
I winced at the idea, having briefly been a nursemaid myself, but said, “No, you never told me that. I am so sorry for your loss.”
“I also am separated from my son, Francis. I had to leave him when he was but three years old to come here to be married.”
“That must have been so devastating.” I took a deep breath, not easy in so many tight layers. “I am separated from my children too. My son is three years old. And my daughter is very young.”
She nodded. “Ah, you have a daughter, I understand now. It is our daughters who pull our hearts with worry. My own Mary, who was separated from me to marry the Dauphin of France... she is there and I am here.” She shook her head sadly. “Ah, Lady Kaitlyn, you have never mentioned it before, but now I see — this explains your sadness.”
I nodded. “And it explains yours.”
“It is a difficulty for us, to have our children in the care of others. Why did you have to leave them, did duty call you away?”
I said, “A little, sort of like that. I didn’t want to leave them, that’s for sure, but I had to, and now it will be a long time before I’m to return home, if at all.”
“I have oft wondered on your sadness, I am glad to understand it now. I do not know if the sleeves will help much, but at least you will be beautiful through it.”
After that conversation we grew even closer. She sought me out and confided in me and drew me into her inner circle.
I loved being her friend, it gave me something to do. Within her circle of ladies-in-waiting, I gained a whole new friend group. We talked about life in France and England, about political intrigues and courtly gossip, kings and queens and princes, a lot about princes. And when life in the entourage got too tiring, I would steal away to meet Magnus at the towering fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and then we would go for long walks, or hide away in our room for a while.
The feasts throughout the week were grand. So much food. Games and activities throughout the day kept us very busy. I totally understood why Mary of Guise called this the most princely of palaces. We felt lavishly, excessively, royal.
On the last night, after the feast, and a little too much wine, Mary of Guise said, “I have this lovely ribbon for a prize, so now we need a game!” She paused to look around the table and her eyes settled on me. “Lady Kaitlyn, I give you one minute, can you get your husband to declare his love to you—“
I jumped to my feet with a laugh. “Game on!”
Mary of Guise laughed. “I barely finished!”
“Doesn’t matter!” I called over my shoulder as I strode across to Magnus’s table.
The women behind me counted, “...five, six, seven...”
His eyes glinted when he saw me, suspecting I was up to something. “Ye hae a wide smile?”
“There is a game afoot, my love, you will need to take a knee.”
“...fifteen, sixteen, seventeen...”
“A knee? Am I liable tae win a prize for it?”
My eyes went wide, aware that they had counted to the twenties now. “I’ll win that beautiful ribbon, you’ll win whatever you want. The best kinds of prizes.”
“...twenty-nine, thirty...”
I put out my hand.
He dropped from his seat to his knee, took my hand in both of his, looked up at me as if he wanted to devour me, and kissed my knuckle. “Mo reul-iuil, tha gaol gam ort.” He grinned up at me. “Tis good enough for your purposes?”
“My knees went a little weak, so yes, but maybe in English too.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” I helped him up because he was a little wobbly from the partying. And then I curtsied to Mary of Guise’s table while Magnus bowed.
All the ladies applauded enthusiastically as Mary of Guise passed me the ribbon. “Well done, Lady Kaitlyn! Well under a minute!”
I hiccuped and tied the ribbon around Magnus’s neck with a big jaunty bow to the side.
And the night went on like that — fun, game after game, musicians playing, all of us dancing, and a few of us drunkenly singing. Until late at night Magnus and I stumbled up to our room.
I collapsed onto the bed. And Magnus collapsed beside me. He said, “Ye were laughin’, I hae missed hearin’ ye laugh.”