Part 15 (1/2)
”How romantic.”
”Did you cry?”
”Nay.” Meredith lifted her chin, nearly overwhelmed by these outspoken women.
”I would not give Brice Campbell the pleasure of seeing me cry.”
”Oh, how wonderful.” Queen Mary clapped her hands and urged the others to silence.
”That would infuriate a man like Brice. Now you must tell us everything that happened to you since your momentous meeting with Brice Campbell.”
”Aye. Momentous.” Meredith described her abduction, the tedious journey to the Highlands, and her attempt to kill Brice in his bed.
During the entire narrative the queen's eyes glittered with a feverish light, as though she were living each incident in her mind.
”Brice Campbell is the strongest man I have ever met,” the queen said with a trace of awe.
”It is known throughout Scotland that there are few men who can best him in a fight or a duel. I have heard many a man declare that he would wish to have Brice on his side in a battle.
And yet you dared to attack him.”
”In his own bed,” Mary Fleming said with a knowing wink.
”I was desperate to return to my own people. Majesty. In my place, would you not have done the same?”
The queen nodded her head.
”How did you get into his room while he slept?”
Meredith looked away, too ashamed to meet the queen's eyes.
”I was being held prisoner in his room.”
The queen turned toward her friend, Mary Fleming, who was watching in silence.
”What say you, Flem?”
”Pray, continue with the tale,” Mary Fleming said without much enthusiasm. She seemed distracted. While Meredith proceeded to struggle through the story of her abduction, Fleming studied the queen and then allowed her gaze to scan the young woman seated beside her.
Suddenly she blurted,
”What a remarkable similarity.”
”What are you babbling about, Flem?” The queen arched one brow in a regal manner.
”You and Meredith MacAlpin bear a strong resemblance. You could be sisters.”
Meredith felt herself flus.h.i.+ng as the others began to study her with great interest.
The queen stood and walked a few paces, then turned and watched the others.