He did not, though it pained him to admit that he was saddened by her refusal. He had hoped the birth of their twins would help her to forget the border lord. On August 15, Patrick Leslie left Glenkirk bound for London.
On September 15 the Countess of Glenkirk received an invitation from George Gordon, the powerful Earl of Huntley, to visit him and his wife at Huntley Castle. Gossip had it that Bothwell was in the north. If he was, then Cat knew he would be with the Gordons. On September 17 the Countess of Glenkirk left her castle for Huntley.
Chapter 35
THE truce between James Stewart and Francis Stewart-Hepburn had not worked out. Though the king had signed an agreement on August 14, 1593, to pardon his noble cousin and his equally noble supporters, and to restore all their estates, titles, and honors, he was soon tempted to go back on his word. On September 8, a convention of parliament was held at Stirling, and James attempted to modify the promises he had made in August. On September 22, the king forbade his cousin and his supporters to come within ten miles of him unless summoned by James himself. Should they disobey, the charge against them would be high treason. Maitland's power had not waned.
The royal gauntlet thrown down, it was picked up by Bothwell and armed friends. They assembled outside Linlithgow in early October while the king was in residence. On October 22, Bothwell was called before the high council to answer to the charge of high treason. Refusing to attend the proceedings, he was denounced.
All was quiet for several months, and then in the spring of 1594 James called twice for a levy of forces to bring his cousin to the king's justice. Suddenly Bothwell appeared with a powerful force outside of Leith. He had come, he said, to fight the Spaniards, whose imminent landing was rumored. His real purpose was to make a show of strength, in hope of bringing his royal cousin to terms.
James advanced towards Leith from Edinburgh while Bothwell retreated in leisure towards Dalkeith, as though he were not being pursued at all. James was forced to go back to Edinburgh, having lost yet another encounter with his cousin. The border lord then slipped over the border into England, where he remained, quietly, until Queen Elizabeth was forced to acknowledge his presence and eject him.
Francis Hepburn now had two choices. He could deliver himself up to James, or he could join with the northern earls. Sensing that exile was near, he went north so he could see Cat before leaving his homeland. There was no one else left he cared to see. Hercules had been caught and hanged in the previous bitter February. Margaret Douglas and his children behaved as if he did not exist. Only Cat Leslie remained. Would she see
No one had told Cat so, but she knew intuitively that he waited at Huntley for her. Gathering her daughters about her, she told them she would be gone for a while. "But I'll be back, my little loves," she promised, "and then I'll nae leave ye again."
When Amanda and Morag had run off to play, Bess, now twelve, asked quietly, "Is Lord Bothwell at Huntley, mother?"
Cat's first reaction was to tell her daughter it was none of her business. But then she looked again at Bess, who hovered between childhood and womanhood, and thought better of it. The countess put an arm about her eldest daughter. "Yes," she said. "I believe that Lord Bothwell is at Huntley. Dinna be angry, Bess. Yer father gave me his permission to see Francis. Someday ye'll love a man. Perhaps then, Bess, ye'll understand yer mother."
"I shall ne'er love any man but my true, wedded lord, mother."
Cat laughed softly and squeezed her daughter gently. "How wonderful to be so young, and so positive, my darling. I hope that in my absence ye will help yer grandmother, and watch over yer sisters and the twins."
Bess Leslie looked at her mother for a moment, and then she clung to her. "Ye'll nae go away wi Lord Bothwell? Ye will come home? Ye'll nae leave us forever?"
"No, my child. I will be back." A lump rose in her throat. "I will come back to ye, Bessie luv. Dinna fear."
Before Cat left Glenkirk, Margaret Leslie took her daughter-in-law aside. "My son did a cruel and terrible thing to ye, Catriona. Go-say your final goodbyes to Francis Hepburn. Take whatever time ye need. But when ye return to Glenkirk, ye must again be a good wife to Patrick. He has been punished enough."
Now the beautiful Countess of Glenkirk rode eagerly across the hills that separated her home from Huntley. Ellen had wanted to come with her, saying that her niece had not the experience to accompany her mistress to a great house. Cat had cajoled her into staying with Bess, saying the young girl needed Ellen more than she did. The truth was that the countess did not want her old servant intruding on her reunion with Lord Bothwell. Susan was young and unsure enough to be discreet.
At last the towers of Huntley Castle came into view, and Cat's heart began pounding. Conall rode up beside her. "I dinna suppose ye'll want us to stay," he said disapprovingly.
."No," she answered him. "I dinna need Leslie protection in the house of the Gordons. My grandmother was a Gordon."
" 'Twas nae the Gordons I was thinking ye needed protection from, madame."
She smiled at him. "I dinna need any protection from my Lord Bothwell, Conall. Rather, he may need it from me."
Conall laughed despite himself. He had long ago given up hope of understanding his nobles. It only confused him to try.
They clattered into the courtyard of Huntley, where George Gordon and his lovely French wife, Henriette, awaited them. Having dismounted, Cat greeted them warmly, but her eyes were restlessly sweeping the courtyard. Lord Gordon laughed. "He got here about two hours ago, Cat, and insisted on having a bath. I doubt if he is ready to receive ye yet."
But suddenly she saw him at the top of the staircase. For a moment they gazed at one another, spellbound. Cat took a few steps forward, but then her legs refused to cooperate further, and began to give way beneath her. He was at her side in seconds, catching her up in his strong arms, his deep-blue eyes devouring her. Her arms went around his neck as he bent and found her mouth. Everything-the courtyard, the horses, the servants, the Gordons-melted away as they abandoned themselves to each other. Hungrily, eagerly, their lips demanded more and yet more.
It was Henriette Gordon who broke the spell by turning to her husband and saying, "But George! You did not tell me that Lady Leslie and Lord Bothwell knew each other. I have given them apartments at opposite ends of the castle."
Francis Hepburn broke away from Cat, and both of them burst into laughter. "Oh, George," teased the Countess of Glenkirk, "how could ye hae overlooked even such a small detail?"
Huntley looked rueful. Bothwell gently put Cat down on her feet. "Can ye stand now, my darling?" he asked.
"Aye, Francis. 'Tis all right now."
The border lord turned to his pretty hostess and, taking her plump little hand, smiled down at her. "Which of the two apartments is the larger, Riette?"
"Lady Leslie's. I thought-with a woman's clothes and things-she would need the large suite." The Countess of Huntley was flustered by the turn of events.
"Will ye then," said Lord Bothwell with grave courtesy, "please hae my things moved in with Lady Leslie's? We shall, after all, be needing only one bed." He turned to his host. "George, ye will excuse us now until the evening meal. My lady and I hae been parted for over a year. I know ye understand." Putting an arm about Cat's waist, he led her up the stairs and into the castle.
Henriette Gordon faced her amused husband with outrage. Laughing, he led her into their home, and when he had told her the tragic story of Bothwell and Cat, the pretty Countess of Huntley was on the verge of tears. "Oh, George! Les pauvres! James Stewart- Il est un cochon!" she cried indignantly. And from that moment, she was their ally.