James Douglas, she simply wanted to forget how lustful he made her feel.
“Have you a chill?” he asked, his voice far too soothing as he carried her beyond the rocks to the white sand.
“Nay.” She averted her gaze to keep from delving further under his spell. “You may put me down now.”
“If that is your wish.”
In a heartbeat, she was on her feet. “Where do we go from here?”
“We wait until the birlinn has sailed out of sight,” James whispered, then waved to the fisherman. “Thank you, friend.”
“Look!” Harris dashed to Ailish and held up a large clam shell. “It has the sound of the sea if you hold it against your ear.”
She took the shell and pretended to be surprised when she heard the rush. “That is astonishing!”
It didn’t take long for the boat to sail away and, once it did, Sir Arthur Campbell and Sir Robert Boyd marched out of one of the four openings of the cave. At least Ailish counted four. They looked like archways sculpted by the sea. Not uniform like arches along a cloister, but similar enough to appear to be carved by the same hand.
“Douglas?” asked Boyd, his hand on his hilt as he neared.
James marched toward the men while Ailish followed. “We’ve come with news of grave import. Is the king still here?”
“Aye.” Arthur’s gaze slid her way before he took her hand, bowed, and kissed it. “M’lady, may I say how nice it is to see your lovely face.”
“We’ve no time for pleasantries,” growled James, stepping between them. “We must gain an audience with His Grace at once.”
Boyd gave Ailish a polite bow, then waved them toward the caves. “Follow me.”
“Come, Harris,” she said, beckoning her brother who was using his shell to dig in the sand.
“I want to find a chest of treasure.”
She snapped her fingers. “Something tells me you’ll have a chance to continue your search later.”
Ailish fell in step with Sir Arthur who had danced with her at the coronation. “I’m surprised not to see His Grace on the shore. Is he unwell?”
“We retreat into the caves if a ship is spotted,” said Sir Robert.
“Ah, yes. I should have thought.”
The king stepped into the light just as they reached the arches. “Lady Ailish Maxwell and Sir James? I see you found the young earl, did you not?”
“We did. But I bring unsettling news—” James placed his hands on Harris’ shoulders. “His Lordship overheard his captor, none other than Sir Henry Percy, speak of their plans to sack Kildrummy and take Her Grace and Lady Marjorie prisoner.”
“My God.” The king gripped his fist over his chest as he glanced aside. “They know?”
“Aye, Your Grace,” said Harris. “And they’re waiting on the arrival of a siege engine they call the Warwulf.”
Though the news was terribly grim, Ailish stood a bit taller. Her brother would soon be turning ten years of age and already he’d proven himself invaluable to the king.
Robert mussed the lad’s hair as a dark shadow crossed his face. “Have you any idea how soon they will march?”
James shook his head. “Nay—only that they are assembling their army at Lochmaben.”
Harris glanced between them, a smudge of sand on his cheek. “And Sir Henry intended to collect conscripts on the journey northward.”
“I have three hundred men ready to take up arms,” said James.
“Good.” The Bruce’s gaze swept across the stoic faces of his knights. “We’ll need to make haste.”
“But I saw no ships,” said James. “How will we reach the mainland?”
“I’ve a birlinn hiding within.” The king ran his fingers through his beard. “Tell me, why did you bring Lady Ailish and Caerlaverock bearing such grave news?”
“I had no choice, Your Grace.” James explained about the fruitless journey to Carlisle and how they ended up at Fail Monastery, as well as Harris’ rescue from Lochmaben.
“My lady’s maid and sister, Florrie, are still at Lincluden Priory,” Ailish added. “They might be captured at any given moment.”
“I see,” said the king.
James shifted his fists to his hips. “Since the nunnery has been compromised, I need a safe haven for Her Ladyship and her kin. Of course, a monastery full of monks is no place for a lady.”
“No.” Robert looked northward as if preoccupied with a great many woes. “M’lady, I am certain the chieftain of MacSween will be able to accommodate you and your siblings at Lochranza Castle on the northern tip of this isle. I’ll send a cohort to fetch your sister and your maid straightaway.”
Ailish curtseyed. It would be