Free The Thistle and the Rose by Jean Plaidy

Scotland their Queen. Then began the royal tour. From Edinburgh to Linlithgow and from Linlithgow to Stirling, to Falkland, Perth, Aberdeen and Elgin. Each night they would come to rest in some mansion, convent or abbey where there would be dancing, music, card-playing or religious ceremonies.
    One of the greatest difficulties was the transport of Margaret's wardrobe, for the purpose of which special carters had to be employed.
    “Do you need so much?” asked James gently.
    “Indeed I do,” Margaret firmly told him.
    Many would have been exasperated; not so James. He merely shrugged tolerant shoulders and the carters were engaged.
    By Christmas they were back in Holyrood Palace where Margaret threw herself into arrangements for Christmas festivities with all her youthful enthusiasm. Holyrood should see festivities such as it had never seen before. There should be pageantry and dancing such as she and Henry had often longed for during the Christmas celebrations which had taken place in their father's Court. It was wonderful to escape from that miserly caution which had been a part of her early life. Margaret was determined to have gaiety, no matter what the cost. Harpers and luters, fiddlers and pipers, trumpeters and dancers filled the state apartments with their music.
    And when the Christmas feasting was over, there was the New Year.
    James's present to his wife on the first day of the New Year was a heavy ducat of gold weighing an ounce, with two sapphire rings; and the second day of the New Year he gave her two crosses studded with pearls.
    To Margaret's chagrin the New Year festivities were brought to an abrupt end by the death of James's brother, the Duke of Ross; and when the burial ceremonies were over, James told his bride that he must leave her for a while. She must understand that as King he had certain duties to his country. He would write to herand she must write to him, but for a few weeks they must be parted.
    Margaret embraced him tearfully and implored him not to stay long from her side. He assured her that he would return as soon as it was possible for him to do so. The first of the King's absences had begun.
    During the periods when he was absent from his Queen, James sent her letters and gifts. He deplored the fact that they could not be together, and Margaret occupied herself in hunting and archery and sometimes in the woods she would run races with her attendants. The days passed pleasantly enough but she yearned for James.
    When he returned he was as affectionate and charming as ever, but during a visit to Stirling Castle, Margaret made a discovery.
    James was always eager to go to Stirling, and she had said to him: “I believe this to be the favorite of all your palaces, and this surprises me since you spent so much of your childhood there. So your memories cannot be unhappy ones.”
    “Do I love Stirling best?” he mused. “I wonder. At this time I do. Next week I may love Linlithgow or Holyrood House or the castle of Edinburgh. I fear I am a fickle man.”
    “As long as your fickleness is only for your castles I care not,” laughed Margaret.
    She did not notice that he looked momentarily melancholy.
    The next day she saw a little girl in the hall of the castle. The child was beautiful and in the charge of a highborn lady. Margaret called the little girl to her and asked who she was.
    Her lady guardian seemed confused and said that she was lodged in the castle temporarily.
    “My name is Margaret,” the child told the Queen.
    “Margaret! How strange. So is mine.”
    “You are Margaret too! What else? I am the Lady Margaret Stuart.”
    “That is a name which arouses my interest,” answered the Queen.
    “She is such a prattler, I fear, Your Grace,” said her guardian. “And, I fear, a little spoiled.”
    “I am not,” answered the child. “My father says I am not.”
    “And who is your father, my child?”
    “My father is the King,” was the disconcerting answer.
    Margaret knitted