Free A Cruel Courtship by Candace Robb Page B

danger, whether such a terrible end is what shall come to pass and whether God is guiding me to do something to prevent it. What if I’m just not wise enough to understand what He is telling me?’
    ‘Time will show you, young Margaret. More I cannot say. God will show you the way.’
    Margaret felt close to tears and could not return the nun’s gentle smile.
    Bethag turned away for a moment in the direction of the outer courtyard which had come alive with the clatter of horses. ‘More travellers arriving?’ For once she sounded impatient.
    Margaret was glad to see the woman had emotions. ‘You must find visitors distracting. Webring news of the world outside, unfamiliar voices.’
    Bethag looked askance at Margaret. ‘Oh, my dear, distractions are something to celebrate here. We begin to gnaw on the slightest irritations when we have no variety. But I do fear that we might soon be crowded with exiles from the troubles.’ She smiled. ‘Though I should be delighted if you chose to bide here awhile.’
    How tempting that would be were Margaret not needed in Stirling, and not worried about Roger – though where he might be, how she might reach him, she did not know.
    ‘Do you ever fear your visions, Dame Bethag?’
    ‘Why should I fear a gift from God?’
    ‘Because you are suddenly swept up in such feeling, unable to temper it, completely in the hands of – God.’
    ‘That is ecstasy, young Margaret.’ Bethag had tears in her eyes. ‘You will see, in time.’
    ‘You were never frightened?’
    Bethag shook her head.
    Margaret despaired of learning anything from Bethag. Her attention returned to the sounds in the yard, and she grew curious about the new arrivals.
    ‘I must see – someone might have brought news of my husband.’
    ‘God go with you,’ said Bethag, bowing her head.
    Margaret almost stumbled over her skirts as sheflew from the cloister, suddenly convinced that she would have news of Roger. She arrived at the guest house in time to see James dismount. With him were several other men, but no one she knew. As she hurried forward, her eyes met James’s and she read relief in his countenance.
    ‘Dame Margaret.’ He made a formal bow for the sake of the others, ‘I looked for you in Perth.’
    It was not the friendliest of greetings. She wondered whether he’d received the messages she’d left him.
    ‘Tom was to tell you where we had gone.’
    ‘You mean the drunk I found sleeping in your bed? He said not a word.’ James looked both angry and disgusted.
    ‘Drunk? Tom? Curse him.’ How could he play them so false? ‘But I also left word with Gilbert Ruthven that I had come here.’
    ‘I have not seen him,’ James said under his breath. ‘I specifically asked you to remain quietly in Perth.’
    Margaret saw no point in arguing. ‘You truly found my servant drunk?’
    ‘I sent him off and closed up the house as best I could.’ James nodded to the other men who were watching him for instructions. ‘Those of you set to ride out soon, drink little ale, eh? The rest of you can sleep off what you drink, for we’ll wait until nightfall to depart.’
    ‘We are to leave so soon?’ Margaret said.
    ‘The English are moving more quickly than we had expected.’
    As the men moved past, Margaret noticed that one wore some of James’s clothes.
    ‘He is dressed as your double?’
    James gave a curt nod. ‘I am counting on his daylight departure to mislead anyone watching us.’ He glanced round. ‘I presume Dame Ada is also here?’
    ‘Yes.’ Margaret was put on guard by the abrupt change of subject.
    James took her by the elbow. ‘Where might we speak alone?’
    Her heart pounded; she was not yet accustomed to his touch. ‘What has happened?’
    ‘Let us walk in the garden.’ James steered her in the direction from which she had just come and hastened her towards a bench well out of earshot of the others.
    ‘What is it, Jamie?’
    He settled on the bench, but Margaret stood before him