Page 90 of Wild Hearts

Close to midnight, Mrs. Hall was waiting for him as he climbed to his bedchamber. "Yer lordship, can I be plain wi' ye?"

"When have you ever been anything but?" he commented dryly.

"She's exhausted and upset." She pointed to the bedchamber. "If you want her to carry this child to term, she needs less shouting matches and more rest. Somebody is going to have to take better care of her." She fixed him with a flinty eye.

He had been about to go in to Tabrizia and lay the law down about her keeping secrets from him. But now his conscience pricked him. He made a face at her. "Mrs. Hall, you are an old horror," and she nodded with satisfaction as Paris went off to another chamber for the night.

July saw Bothwell and a troop of horses clatter into the courtyard at Cockburnspath. Paris made much of them, treating-them with a special courtesy. He was pleased Bothwell had come to him this time, instead of sending for him. Paris took him into his study, but he could sense Bothwell's air of triumph.

"Through your considerable gifts of diplomacy, you were able to obtain Huntly's signature on the peace bond. Am I right?"

Bothwell grinned. "He signed willingly-- nay, eagerly, I think I may truthfully say. My guess is Jamie has something on him." Bothwell flourished the document and laid it before Paris. "Now all that remains is your signature, milord."

Paris sighed unhappily. "Ah, if only it were that simple, Francis."

"What do you mean?" asked Bothwell sharply.

"How can I enter into an honorable agreement with men who have no honor?"

"What is it, Rogue? Speak plain, man."

Paris hesitated just the right length of time. It was a tricky business to gull Bothwell. "This is confidential, you understand? If the gossips get wind of it, she'll be ruined. My sister was raped by Adam Gordon. I've her signed affidavits of the ravishment. I'm considering sending them to the King."

"The King? said Bothwell uneasily.

Paris pressed forward with his fabrication. "I suppose I'll have to tell ye all. The King is looking for young Scottish heiresses to marry to his favored English nobles. I promised him Alexandria."

"I see," said Bothwell, thinking quickly. "Need anyone know, man? Send her to Court, and who will be the wiser?"

"In her highly visible condition, I can send her nowhere!" stated Paris flatly.

Bothwell whistled. Marriage was the answer, but he did not dare suggest that Rogue Cockburn marry his sister to a Gordon. Not without sweetening the pot a little. "Let me get back to Huntly and our negotiations. I think some sort of compensation is in order."

Paris spread his hands. "That's not half of it, Francis. Rape seems to be a habit with that clan. John Gordon threatened to rape my wife unless she canceled debts totaling twenty-four thousand pounds. Fortunately, in her innocence she only signed copies. I have the original documents safe, but you can plainly see there is a large sum involved here. Of course, Francis, I cannot expect you to act the go-between without making it worth your while."

Bothwell smiled his appreciation, and once Bothwell's party had departed, Paris felt inordinately pleased with himself. Tabrizia was not.

She had listened to Alexander all morning whilst she had plied her needle to a baby's nightgown. It was his usual plea for her to persuade Paris to let him go to the university in Edinburgh. He pressed, "I'd appreciate it if you would kindly speak to him soon, Tab. The university year begins in September, you understand."

Alexandria eased herself into a chair beside Tabrizia and begged earnestly, "I want you to find out exactly what went on between Paris and Bothwell. I just know he will use that damned paper I signed against me somehow."

Paris overheard the last of this conversation as he neared the solarium, and it angered him. Then he was surprised to hear Tabrizia speak with a raised voice to them. "Damnit, I am sick and tired of this continual badgering. You both know very well that Paris is no puppet to have his strings pulled.. He sees through my blandishments every time, and then I am the one to feel the lash of his temper. Alexandria, I suggest if you wish to know anything from Paris, you ask him yourself. Alex; I suggest the same to you. If you wish to go to the university, be man enough to ask him yourself. If there is something 'I wish from Paris, you may be sure I will be woman enough to ask him for it."

A wonderful, warm feeling spread through Paris as he overheard her words. At dinner she found a small note, tucked beside her plate:

My own Tabrizia, the first woman whom I have ever loved and whom I love to distraction. Forgive me?

P.

Her eyes immediately sought him across the great length of the table, and they might have been alone for all the notice they took of anyone else. As the meal drew to a close, he lifted an eyebrow to her, and she smiled a secret little smile. "Paris, let's go up to the solarium, I want to talk."

"Can't we talk in bed?" he whispered.

"No. Your attention wanders, and the next thing I know, I have completely forgotten what it was I wanted to say."

He grinned, took her hand and led her up to the solarium.

"You didn't sign the peace bond, did you?" she asked him reproachfully. "Paris, you have no idea what it is like for me when you go on a raid. Oh, I don't mean when you roam your borders lifting a few sheep; I mean, when you ride out against a feuding clan. I die a thousand deaths; the waiting is unbearable. Even when you return, I know it isn't over. A raid leads surely to retaliation, then another raid and on and on without end."

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