The Disorderly Knights Read Online Free PDF

for the Scottish Crown he had made a number of friends, of whom Nicholas Durand, Chevalier de Villegagnon, was one. And at thirty-eight a brilliant exponent of arms and a knight of the great fighting and religious Order of St John, the Chevalier de Villegagnon had absolutely no use for common sense himself, but respected it in the laity.
    Of such a militant lord of the Church, Sybilla was in no awe, but even Tom, least clairvoyant of men, noted that today she was having a little trouble covering her tracks. After two disingenuous guesses about Lymond’s present whereabouts the Dowager finally gave way to subdued laughter and said, ‘I’m sorry, Tom. But I think he and Will are at Hough Isa’s.’
    ‘Auhaizace?’ said the Chevalier phonetically, in some confusion.
    ‘It’s a woman’s daft name,’ said Tom Erskine. ‘She has a wee croft just out of Roxburgh.’
    The Chevalier, topping Sybilla’s largest chair, grinned unexpectedly. ‘We may be under vows, my lady, but we are not unworldly. Isa: I know of her. Not all the ladies residing round Roxburgh and Lauder and even Ferniehurst have been reluctant prizes in the England forays. When the Roxburgh garrison emerges for a raid, there are a few houses in the district where they are made Very welcome; is that not so? And this Isa’s cottage is one?’
    ‘That’s right,’ said Tom Erskine, removing his gaze reluctantly from Sybilla’s face. ‘They used to allow the country folk into the castle with eggs and meat and suchlike, until Hume Castle was taken by a trick of that sort, and now they let the men in only as far as the forecourt, and ban the women altogether. But not before they and the English garrison had become … acquainted. What’s Francisdoing there?’ asked the Master of Erskine bluntly. M. de Villegagnon’s eyebrows shot up.
    ‘ Well ,’ said Sybilla, taking her time. ‘I’m very much afraid he’s chastising the English. You see, if any Englishman serving in Roxburgh actually felt homesick to the point of desertion, a friendly face and a roof nearby would be the first thing he’d want. So—’
    ‘So Isa and her friends are helping English soldiers to desert?’
    ‘They don’t help them,’ said Sybilla with dainty precision. ‘They merely encourage the disaffection of their clients, and provide good advice and shelter to those who desert. Surprising numbers have gone, you know. Astonishing numbers, in fact.’
    ‘With Francis behind the friendly ladies, I’m not surprised,’ said Tom Erskine.
    ‘And with Will Scott there as well, you can imagine,’ said Sybilla calmly, ‘that not all the English visiting Hough Isa survive the experience. They are not, to do them justice, all desperate to desert.’
    ‘But when they do not come back, their fellow soldiers think they have. A most ingenious game,’ said the Chevalier de Villegagnon. ‘But not one which may continue for ever?’
    ‘That’s why Francis has gone,’ the Dowager admitted. ‘He thinks the English have begun to realize what is happening. Would you like him to call on you, Chevalier? He will return no doubt before long. He will find you at Leith?’
    ‘Ah, but no,’ said Nicholas Durand, Chevalier de Villegagnon, rising to his abnormal height and lifting his bonnet and cloak. ‘I must meet him before then—I think at Hough Isa’s.’
*
    But it was Sir William Scott they met first, with a score of Kincurd men at Bonjedward, trotting cheerfully through green Teviotdale rehashing his last quarrel with Grizel. ‘Use that word to the bairn’s face and I’ll clout ye!’ Grizel Beaton had shouted.
    There was no child—yet. He had said as much. ‘Is there not!’ had cried his bride. ‘Is there not, Will Scott! And if it comes this night, what will I tell it, and its faither getting its kin in a bawdy-house?’
    ‘Christ, I told ye why I had to go to Hough Isa’s!’ yelled Will Scott, his neck as red as his hair.
    ‘Yes, you did,’ agreed his lady. ‘A