Page 60 of Wild Hearts

Two hours later, Paris encountered John Gordon and did the unpardonable. A spark was inevitably ignited the split second they ran into each other. Paris knew in any encounter between two people, one emerges dominant, one submits, the crucial difference made by fear. He vented his spleen by drawing his knife and dirking Gordon in the shoulder. The moment the King heard of the incident, and the news traveled like wildfire, he banished Cockburn from Court.

The juicy tidbit was upon every lip, so it was only a matter of hours before Tabrizia learned of it. She heaved a sigh of relief. Now she would not be jumping out of her skin at shadows, nor constantly looking over her shoulder for that tall, menacing figure.

When she opened her door that night to the familiar, low knock, she was surprised to see Patrick Stewart himself. She held the door wide to admit him, and he slipped in quietly. He took her hands, then drew her to him for a long kiss. He murmured against her hair, "I know I cannot stay long, but I want you to meet me tomorrow at your father's house. We cannot talk here; walls have ears."

She scanned his face anxiously. "Is aught amiss?"

He shrugged and gave her a confident smile. "Yes and no. Tell him to have the marriage contracts ready."

"Thank you for the beautiful material, milord," she whispered.

He kissed her eyes. "I cannot wait to see you in it."

The next day, when she went to her father's house, she announced, "Did you know that the King has banished Paris from Court?"

"Yes, and a good thing, too, I say. The lad is so reckless, there is nothing he will not dare, no risk he will not run. For his own sake I am glad he is gone. It was a miracle he did not commit murder under the King's nose."

When the Earl of Orkney arrived, and after he had drunk down his customary raw whisky, he carefully read the marriage contracts and studied every word. He did not sign them but asked if he might take them with him to examine again.

Tabrizia spoke up, "Something is troubling you, milord. Will you not share it with me?"

"You know the Court thrives on gossip, and since I have heard the rumors, no doubt they will be reaching your ears, too. I have been warned the King is considering laying charges against me."

She gasped. "What charges, milord?'

He hesitated, then went on bitterly, "He claims he has received complaints of oppressions, extortions and rapes in my kingdom."

She went pale. "What will happen?"

He shrugged, "If the charges are laid, I will be incarcerated in the Tower until they are disproven."

"You must get away from Court before that happens," said Magnus decisively.

"My thoughts exactly." Stewart smiled.

"I am ready to leave, milord, whenever you are," offered Tabrizia, crushing down the doubts that were beginning to surface.

"We can be married in the chapel at Denmark House. I have already spoken to the chaplain. I will come for you in the next few days. Spend a while with your father and say your farewells."

She made an obedient curtsy, and her heavy lashes swept down to cover the uncertainty in her eyes. Now that the time was almost upon her, she was unsure.

Paris Cockburn was ready to weigh anchor on the Sea Witch, ready to welcome the open sea to rid his nostrils of the stench of the Court. He belonged in Scotland, and that was where he was bound. As he stood on deck in the late afternoon beneath a leaden sky, a messenger was dispatched to him from a ship that had just arrived. He took the sealed packet below to his cabin, noting the writing of his sister Damascus. He broke the seal and scanned the fine writing. He took the paper over to the cabin's porthole to shed more light .upon the delicate script.

My dear brother Paris,

It is with great sadness that I give you the tragic news of your wife's death. Mrs.Sinclair and Margaret did everything they could, but it was too late. Please return as soon as you are able.

Damascus.

Under her writing, Shannon had added a few sentences in her bold hand.

Paris,

By the time you return, Anne will be buried. I suspect Margaret and her mother of foul play, but since they may have rid us all of a burden, perhaps we should not examine it too closely.

Shannon.

Alexandria had scribbled a couple of words at the bottom, which he could not make out. He folded the letter carefully and slipped it inside his doublet. The news had taken him totally off guard. He wasn't hypocrite enough to feel sorrow at the loss; nevertheless, he sighed for what might have been under different circumstances.

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