The Border Lord's Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

dawn, mistress," he told her.
    "With Your Majesty‘s permission," Ellen said quietly, "I will go and do what needs be done."
    She curtsied again at the king‘s nod of dismissal, and hurried from James Stewart‘s privy chamber.
    "She is a sensible and practical girl," Margaret Stewart remarked when Ellen had gone. "She will travel well. I shall miss her, for few among my charges possess her good traits and her intelligence."
    "My aunt means Ellen reads well, and discusses her books with her," the king responded with a small smile.
    "Why has she been here?" the laird of Duffdour wanted to know. "I would have thought a lass like that would have married several years back."
    The king briefly explained Ellen‘s plight. "That is why it is so important that she be returned home safely to marry her betrothed," he said. "The MacDonald is loyal to those who are faithful to him. If this MacArthur piper of his wants Lochearn for his son, and by marrying Ellen he can gain it, the lord of the isles will help his man. But the old laird has chosen his successor and made his own plans. Lochearn is his, and he has a right to choose his granddaughter‘s husband and dispose of his lands in the way he wants. Get the lass home as quickly as you can, Duncan."
    "Are you sure you can keep her going a secret?" the laird of Duffdour asked.
    "Ellen MacArthur isn‘t important; nor is she well-known here at court. The only people who might be interested in her departure would be those the MacDonald has here spying for him.
    Ellen will say nothing to anyone of her going. My aunt will leave here on the morrow with a party of her ladies to prepare Falklands for my arrival. By the time we reach Falklands in another week or so, anyone watching for Ellen MacArthur, and not finding her, will have no time to send to the MacDonald," the king told his friend.
    The laird nodded. "I‘ll travel as quickly as she can," he promised.
    "She rides well," Margaret Stewart said. "She‘s no pampered lass. But ‘tis fortunate her servant is too ill right now to travel, for poor Peigi and horses do not mix well at all. When she can travel, we will send her in a cart. Ellen can manage without her old servant, but how well Peigi can manage without her is another matter." She chuckled.
    And indeed, Peigi was not pleased to learn her mistress would depart on the morrow without her.
    "Ye canna go wi‘out me. It isn‘t decent," she complained.
    "You cannot travel now, Peigi," Ellen said. "When you are fit again the princess has said she will send you home. There is no time now to pack all my garments. I intend taking next to nothing in my saddlebag. And we will ride hard to reach Lochearn as quickly as possible. You know how you hate riding. I‘m sure the princess will see that you come north in a cart with all my possessions." She sat on the edge of the bed next to Peigi and patted her hand comfortingly.
    "I willna see ye wed," Peigi said, starting to weep.
    "There is no help for it," Ellen answered her. "Grandsire is failing, Father Birk writes, and he would see me wed before he dies. I‘m almost eighteen now, and it is past time I had a husband. I just want you to get well again."
    Peigi sneezed several times. Then she admitted, "As much as it distresses me, I really am nae able to accompany ye, my chick. Now tell me who will escort ye."
    "The king has chosen a border lord of his acquaintance who has just arrived at court. His name is Duncan Armstrong, and he is the laird of Duffdour. He‘s very big, and very handsome," Ellen said with a small smile. "I suspect I will be safe with him."
    "Young, then, he is?" Peigi noted.
    "Not so young," Ellen replied.
    "That‘s better, then," Peigi said. "A respectful older gentleman. My mind is more at ease knowing that. I wouldna want ye in danger of seduction by some stranger."
    Ellen laughed. "He is handsome, but he did not appear to be foolish," she said. "And I am certain that the king would not put my safety into the hands