Page 50 of Wild Hearts

Tabrizia awoke with a start. She could hear loud noises and men's voices coming from the next bedchamber. Her hand covered her mouth in alarm as she recognized that one of the voices belonged to Paris Cockburn. For a moment, she didn't know what to do, then decided if she stayed very quiet, they would never know there was anyone in the next room. She heard the unmistakable clink of bottles and glasses, and then she heard the other man say, "I heard a disturbing rumor while I was up in the Highlands, that John Gordon and his father Huntly have advised the King to garrison English soldiers here in Scotland."

"Christ, I'll not believe it even of Huntly. Scotland would be no more than an occupied country!"

"Well, my own gut feeling tells me, it's true. I say we should hit him and hit him hard," said Douglas, "not just the southerly edges of his land but right up at Huntly Castle itself."

"As well as that, perhaps we should try to get the King's ear, to dissuade him from such a thing. English soldiers in Scotland would not keep the peace; it would only serve to stir the clans until there was outright war."

Tabrizia closed her eyes. All men-ever spoke of was war and raids and bloodshed. She heard them refill their glasses over and over, and heard their voices become slurred and gradually grow louder. They began to laugh until it threatened to shake the rafters and she could hear every shocking word they uttered.

"Had a visit from Bothwell a while back," Paris mentioned.

"Didn't his mistress die while I was away?" asked Douglas.

"Aye, and therein lies a tale. Ye remember how he would have killed any man who took a second glance in her direction? When he invited us to pay our last respects— men only, by the way— what do you suppose we found?"

"Nothing Bothwell did would shock me." Douglas laughed.

"That's what I thought! But he had her laid out on an altar draped with black satin, black candles and all— stark naked."

"Well, I'll be damned! No wonder there's gossip about him being a Satanist. Didn't he mind other men looking at her?"

"Showing us all what we'd missed. Her blond hair fell like a curtain to the floor, and her skin' was like white velvet. There wasn't a man in the room who didn't get excited just looking at her."

"Christ, I'm hard just listening to ye." Douglas laughed.

It was after two o'clock in the morning. Tabrizia was getting angrier by the minute at the drunken shenanigans that were keeping her from sleep. She sat up and lit the candles in the candelabra.

"A cock swollen with unsatisfied lust is too bloody painful for me to put up with all night. Do ye suppose ye could get us a couple of your serving wenches, Paris?"

Tabrizia had heard enough. She took one of the pistols Magnus had given her from its case and threw open the adjoining chamber door. The two men sprawling before the fire were taken completely by surprise. Brandishing the heavy candlestick in one hand and the pistol in the other, she flew into the room in her frilled white night rail, her red hair flowing about her like crackling flames:

"Out, pig!" she shouted at Paris. "Out, pig's friend!" she ordered the Black Douglas.

Paris gaped. "What are you doing here?"

"It's my house, in case you'd forgotten, and since I won't sleep under the same roof as trash, I'm putting you out."

"I'd like to see you," he challenged, slightly swaying on his feet.

She took aim about a foot above his head, cocked the pistol and pulled the trigger without hesitation. The resulting explosion reverberated through the whole house and did considerable damage to the wall behind him. Surprised, Paris gave her a mocking bow. "Come, James, I know a place where the reception will be warmer."

The two men found themselves out on the street, laughing uproariously.

"I don't know why were laughing. She's put us out in the rain in the middle of the night," James pointed out.

Paris grinned. "Wasn't she magnificent? She needs a good beating and a good bedding, and someday I'm going to give her both!"

CHAPTER 11

Magnus was on the verge of ordering Tabrizia to Tantallon when she capitulated and got Mrs. Hall to pack all her lovely new clothes for her. The only condition she made was that Stephen Galbraith accompany them so they could finish the work they had begun.

Magnus closeted himself with Margaret, making it clear that he expected his companion to step down from the prominent, highly visible position she had held, to a more discreet, behind-the-scenes role. Tabrizia's heart swelled with compassion whenever she came face-to-face with the dark beauty. Magnus made no secret of his plans to find Tabrizia a husband. The subject came up again and again in their discussions. Tabrizia was more amenable to the idea since she had discovered the right match would give her some of the freedom she desired, so she came to an understanding with her father that a match would only be made if her future husband was someone they both totally agreed upon.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" asked Magnus, already suspicious.

"I'm not sure. What do you think of Stephen?" she asked tentatively. She was not prepared for her father's reaction. He almost went berserk. "A clerk? You want to wed a clerk? Your mother must be weeping in heaven! By Christ, I didn't do right by her, but I'll do right by our child if it's the last thing I do. Aye, and it might be! I get a misery in my chest so great sometimes that stabs into my heart, and I'll see you settled before aught befalls me!'

"Must you work yourself into a fit every time I speak? I'm not in love with Stephen, so calm down. It's just that we like each other, and we'd probably deal well together."

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