an escort to Lincluden Priory? I was told they’d be waiting here beneath this oak. Ah…an important woman?”
Coira thrust her fists onto her hips. “Och, so a pair of women dressed as nuns cannot possibly be important? Well, I’ll have ye know—”
“Enough,” Ailish said, chopping her hand through the air, glaring at the maid and willing her to hold her tongue. “We are indeed traveling to the priory,” she explained before her knees buckled.
Please not this man!
Slowly, she raised her chin, allowing her gaze to meander up to his face. As sure as she was standing, James Douglas stared down at her with a pair of piercing black eyes—eyes so dark, they were almost the color of obsidian. And the severe slash of his eyebrows demanded she take heed. By the saints, she could not help but do so. The man was even more braw up close than he’d been standing guard upon Moot Hill last eve.
His presence alone was that of power, of unquestioned strength.
“You will be our escort?” she asked, her voice losing confidence with every word.
“A nun?” He stepped back and gaped as if she were vermin. Then he shook his head and looked to the heavens. “Forgive me, Sister. Were you expecting another?”
Ailish clapped her fingers to her cheeks, positive she’d turned as red as scarlet flax petals. Of all the men at the coronation, James Douglas was the absolute last she expected to be assigned to protect her on the journey home. “Nay. I had only assumed a knight such as you would have far better things to do than accompany me and my…” She stopped herself from uttering “lady’s maid”. He obviously believed her to be a nun. Perhaps it was best if he continued to do so. “…ah…me and Sister Coira.”
Sir Douglas narrowed his eyes and stroked his fingers down his thick black beard. “Were you not at the coronation?”
Ailish stood a bit taller. “I was there, of course.”
“Hmm, I do recall. And you were sitting with Sister Coira during the feast as well.”
“Perhaps I was.”
“Interesting. I did not realize that novices were permitted to dance or wear fine gowns or attend coronations without their heads covered.”
Blast him. What hadn’t he noticed last night? “I assure you, my attendance at the coronation and feast thereafter was of grave import.”
He pursed his lips. “So says the king.”
Ailish nodded as if she were the most important woman in Scone this day. “So says the king.”
“Forgive me.” He bowed. “I am Sir James Douglas at your service. His Grace, himself, asked me to escort you safely to Lincluden, and I intend to see you behind her walls with haste.”
She searched behind the man for his retinue. “Only you?”
A wee storm brewed in Sir James’ black eyes. “Perhaps the Bruce felt two nuns traveling with a knight would look less conspicuous than two nuns accompanied by an army,” he replied with a sardonic air with no hint of a smile. “Pray tell, what do I call you aside from Sister?”
“Ailish.”
“Very well.” Sir James examined the mule. “This fella’s fine for carrying your effects, but where might your horses be?”
She squared her shoulders. If she possessed nothing else, she most certainly had Maxwell dignity pulsing through her blood. If this man intended to spend the next few days traveling with them, she’d best start acting like she knew what she was about. “Sister Coira and I share the priory’s mule.”
“I beg your pardon, but that old neddy will not be able to keep pace.”
Coira smoothed her fingers down the mule’s neck. “He managed to carry us here. He mightn’t be fast, but he’s steady.”
“Agreed, unless you have another horse you’d prefer us to ride,” said Ailish, hoping he did have an alternative. It would be ever so nice to ride a real horse for a change. At one time, she’d been quite accomplished in a saddle.
Sir James frowned and, though Ailish couldn’t be certain, he may have colored a bit. “I’m afraid I haven’t at the moment.”
She bent down to give Coira a leg-up. “Very well.”
“What are you doing?” asked the knight.
“Helping my m—I mean Sister Coira mount.”
“Not on my watch.” Sir James handed her the reins of his enormous warhorse and laced his fingers together. “Come, we haven’t all day.”
Waggling her shoulders, Coira patted Ailish’s cheek, then placed her boot in his makeshift step. “Thank you, sir.”
James glanced to Ailish. “Now you.”
Rather than blatantly obey, she returned his reins. “I thought I’d start the journey by walking.”
“Walk?