A Year & a Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

before she caught a glimpse of her brother, Lynx, accompanied by another man. When they climbed up on the dais, Thomas went to attend Lynx.
    The squire immediately returned for Marjory and led her to the dais.
    "There is room with us, Jory; John dines with the king tonight."
    "Damn, I've been waiting all day to see Edward ..." her voice faltered to a stop as her eyes fell on the man at her brother's side. Splendor of God, here is a man worth looking at, she thought. He was not quite as tall as Lynx, few men were, but the spectacular breadth of his shoulders more than made up for it. Suddenly, Jory's eyes widened as she recognized the darkly handsome Bruce.
    "Robert! Is it truly you? Why, I haven't seen you in years. The last time was at the ceremony where your father passed over the earldom of Carrick to you."
    Robert Bruce grinned down at her. "You were a child of seventeen and even then beauteous enough to play hell with the hearts of all the Bruce brothers."
    "All except you. As I recall you were a wild devil who teased me unmercifully."
    "I was no exception, Jory." His dark eyes smoldered as they feasted on her delicate beauty.
    She laughed up at him. "You are still teasing me unmercifully and I warrant you are still a wild devil."
27
    Jory was amused when Lynx chose to sit between them and knew her brother had noticed the sparks igniting between her and Robert Bruce.
    "I'm sorry you've had no opportunity to speak with the king, Jory. Your journey was a waste of time," Lynx declared.
    She glanced at Robert, making amoue with her mouth. "Not completely." Then she added, "There is always tomorrow."
    Lynx shook his head. "The king and the entire army leave for Scotland on the morrow."
    The teasing light left her eyes. "Is it war?" she asked solemnly. When Lynx nodded, her eyes sought Robert's. "For whom do you fight, my lord?"
    "I fight for Robert Bruce," he said quite frankly.
    "He stands with us," Lynx confirmed.
    "At least for now," Bruce qualified. "I have every intention of smashing my enemy Comyn and taking back my lands in Annandale and Carrick. I welcome Edward's aid," he said with natural arrogance.
    "You are Governor of Carlisle Castle; the king expects you to keep it secure," Lynx reminded him.
    "I'll return there for the present, but when the real fighting starts, I'll be in the thick of it. I have enough brothers to keep Carlisle secure."
    Jory's face lit up. "I am being banished to my family's castle at Wigton, my lord, which you know lies not far from Carlisle. Will you give me safe escort?" Though she knew perfectly well both her uncle and her brother would provide her with de Warenne knights for her security, she fancied the protection of this powerful Scots earl.
    Bruce's mouth curved sensually. "It will be my pleasure."
    "Don't be too sure, Robert," Lynx warned. "She is a willful little jade with a penchant for creating havoc."
    "I'll keep her in hand," Robert Bruce promised.
    Marjory went weak at the thought.
28
    VlRUllXlrt ntHLLI
    *
Later that night, Jory paced her chamber trying to find a solution to her problem. She was as
    tenacious as a terrier and refused to be thwarted when she was this close to her goal. She needed to have a private conversation with the king tonight, and could think of only one place where this might be possible: in his bedchamber. Jory brushed her hair until it fell about her shoulders like a cloak of silk, then she put on lip salve and rubbed a drop of perfumed oil in the cleft between her breasts. Then she draped a veil over her head, concealing her face as well as her telltale hair, and picked up a tray of sweetmeats.
    She made her way through the castle to the king's privy chambers. Due to the advanced hour, Newcastle had settled down for the night and the only people she encountered were servants. Jory climbed the steps of the tower that Edward occupied, knowing she would be challenged by a guard at the king's door. When she saw the king's gentleman stationed outside his