Free Unicorn Rampant by Nigel Tranter Page B

The three tousled heads above, two fair and one dark, had shut eyes.
    John considered—and it was a prospect worth considering. This was interesting. He had rather assumed that Steenie's tastes would be otherwise. The vision before him, in consequence, far from shocking him, rather enhanced the favourite in his eyes. They all looked so peacefully replete— it was a pity to disturb them. But a royal command was just that. He coughed loudly.
    This producing no results, he went forward to lean over the bed and shake Buckingham's bare shoulder. The young woman directly below him—they were both youthful, obviously—opened her eyes, yawned and smiled up at him, making no attempt to cover herself.
    "My lord," he said. "Rouse yourself."
    The other girl awoke and reacted differently, starring to giggle and make a great to-do of wrapping the blanket round her exposed upper parts—which had the effect of dragging it right off the female at the opposite side, revealing all her plump nakedness—which sent both off into fits of laughter.
    This at last woke Steenie, who peered about him owlishly.
    The uncovered lady indicated cheerfully that there was just room for John on the bed alongside her, it being, like herself, of generous dimensions. Expressing his appreciation but regrets, he concentrated on the central figure, who was now sitting up and frowning.
    "You, Stewart!" the Earl said. "What is this? How . . . how dare you . . . ?"
    "His Majesty's express command, my lord. To find you and bring you after him, with all speed."
    "This is not to be borne! I am not some scullion, to be ordered thus—and by such as you! Leave me, sir!"
    "I fear not, my lord. I must obey the King's commands, not yours. He was entirely specific. I am to bring you after him to Linlithgow. He and his train have already started out. He is much concerned for you ..."
    "You say that they have already set off? For this place? What hour is it?"
    "Late enough if we are to win to Linlithgow by midday."
    "A plague on it—and on you! This is insupportable!" The other looked around him. "Where are we?"
    "In a Mistress Broun's house-of-convenience in the Candlemaker Row. See you, my lord—I will leave you and your, h'm, friends, whilst you dress. Come down at your earliest and we shall return to Holyrood."
    "I'll thank you to watch how you speak me, Stewart. I am the Earl of Buckingham and will not be used so—and by some bastard of Lennox's. I. . ."
    John turned on his heel for the door, slammed it behind him and stamped down the stairs.
    He sent the major-domo to fetch his horse from the Cowgate house.
    Actually George Villiers was down, dressed and scowling, sooner than might have been expected in the circumstances. What arrangements he had made with the ladies John did not enquire—although Mistress Broun indicated that two silver merks would be appropriate payment for entertainment provided. The humiliated and sore-headed client had to admit that he had no money on his person meantime and so must borrow from Stewart.
    His humiliation was further emphasised when presently Purves turned up with John's horse, and the Earl found that he had to mount and ride pillion behind his escort—that, or else walk alongside all the way back to Holyrood, which in the present state of his head was contra-indicated. So, in a heavy silence, the two young men trotted down the Cowgate to the palace.
    There was considerable delay thereafter, Villiers taking an unconscionable time—no doubt deliberately—about his preparations for the journey, John fretting, although telling himself that it was all no real concern of his. It was almost mid-forenoon before they finally set off westwards.
    Linlithgow lay half-way to Stirling, in the rolling West Lothian country-side. Villiers rode fast now, on his magnificent grey—although, not knowing the roads, he was dependent on John for frequent directions. They went by the Waters of Leith and Almond to Kirkliston and Niddry Seton. There