The Gilded Crown (48 page)

Roderick nodded his agreement. ‘Are you going to leave Gabby here?'

‘I think that best. Though I know she has not complained, I fear Girda is finding our transient life quite taxing,' Simon replied. ‘She is not a young woman.'

‘But I am to go?' Catherine reinforced.

‘I doubt I could stop you,' Simon conceded as he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

They departed the following morning. Mist from the River Clyde was thick and heavy and swirled around them, penetrating Catherine's thickest cloak. She kissed Gabby's brow before handing him to Girda, trepidation consuming her heart, but Simon had assured her they would be no more than four days, time enough for Girda and Tiphanie to rest.

They followed the course of the river towards Kilpatrick and rested outside the village by the old Roman wall. Agnes had hardly spoken with Catherine, avoiding any eye contact during the journey. Catherine wondered whether Agnes was apprehensive about their upcoming visit to Dumbarton or angry with her for sharing all she had been told with Simon and Roderick.

Catherine removed several apples from the basket they had procured from the innkeeper at Govan and held one out to Agnes.

‘Thank you, but I am not feeling very hungry.'

‘I am sorry if I have upset you, but I felt I had to confide in Lord Wexford,' Catherine confessed.

‘I am not angry with you, Catherine. I am angry with myself. I am a stupid, selfish woman who should have acted as I knew was right.'

‘It was a long time ago. Many things have changed since then.'

‘Yes, not least myself,' Agnes admitted. ‘I have been a poor example to you.'

Catherine was filled with a sudden surge of pity for the older woman. ‘You may have made some poor judgments, but I can truly understand why you did. I, too, would do all I could to save my sibling.'

Agnes reached out and embraced Catherine. ‘You are a dear, sweet girl.'

‘And regardless of what you may think, you have been a wonderful chaperone and companion,' Catherine added, ‘and I will be forever grateful.'

Dumbarton Rock rose before them, visible across the lowlands as far as the Kilpatrick Hills, dominating the skyline. Roderick rode ahead, the carriage bumping along the track some distance behind him.

‘What are your plans once we arrive?' Agnes asked Simon as she steadied herself on the bench seat.

‘I am relying on you, Lady Dunbar, to gain us entry.'

‘I see. Perhaps I should spend some time constructing a decent lie!'

Simon looked back over his shoulder and caught Catherine's grimace. ‘Do what you must.'

‘You have taken great risks to return something that is of little interest to you, something which could have potentially made you a very rich man,' Agnes observed.

‘I am, by God's good grace, already wealthy and I would prefer to know the sword is secure at Dumbarton and not in the hands of either the French or the English. Too much could be made of its heritage, drawing men to war. I want no part of that.'

Agnes laughed. ‘So you do not trust your own kin?'

‘I do not trust anyone.'

‘A wise philosophy.'

‘Should the theft be revealed the reputation of my family, like yours, would be forever sullied. I am fortunate that I am able to correct the wrongdoing of my uncle.'

‘And I hope I may also do the same,' Agnes admitted.

‘Lady Dunbar! We were not expecting you.' The elderly Lord Cameron shuffled into the hall followed by two maids with trays of mulled wine, warm bannocks and bowls of steaming pottage.

‘I am sorry to impose, Dougal, but I am hoping you could offer my travelling companions and me some respite, just for a few days.' Agnes drew the older man closer and slipped her arm through his. ‘We are on our way to Glasgow but Lady Wexford is with child and has not been well.'

‘Oh course, of course.' Dougal blushed as he sidled away from Agnes. ‘But I will not be able to offer much comfort as I have only just arrived myself.'

‘Rest assured, Lord Cameron, we require little,' stated Simon. ‘We are simply grateful for your hospitality.'

‘That, I can provide, for we have rooms in abundance. But tell me, Agnes, how did you know I would be here?' Dougal asked.

‘A fortunate circumstance! I was told Dumbarton had a caretaker in residence. I was not expecting it to be you,' Agnes said.

‘Yes, well, normally it wouldn't be, but rumours reached my ears that several members of staff have been lining their pockets by allowing visitors to view our precious relics.'

Dougal eased himself into the large wooden chair positioned directly in front of the fire.

‘I thought it prudent to return and sort matters out.'

‘I imagine the King would be none too happy to learn his goods and chattels were being handled by the sullied mass.' Roderick smiled. ‘Imagine if anything had gone missing!'

‘God's bones, lad! I'd be strung up and left out for the wolves and crows.'

‘Why you, Lord Cameron?' asked Catherine. ‘Surely they would punish the culprit responsible?'

‘Dumbarton is
my
responsibility and though I am meant to permanently reside here, I prefer my home in the highlands, but it seems I may have been away too long.'

‘And all is in order?' Simon enquired as he helped himself to the freshly-baked bread.

‘Aye, well, that has yet to be determined. I intend to undertake a thorough check in the morn.'

‘Perhaps Lord Wexford could assist you,' suggested Agnes as she filled Dougal's tankard.

Seizing the opportunity, Simon stepped forward. ‘I'd be honoured to do so, particularly as you have generously welcomed us under difficult circumstances.'

‘Well, lad, I can't say your help would not be appreciated. As you can see, I am an old man and I am none too keen on clambering up all those steps.' Dougal waved his feeble arm over his head. ‘And let me tell you, there are many, many stairs!'

‘This is a most surreptitious outcome,' Agnes observed, smiling broadly at Simon as she sat down beside Dougal.

‘Aye, I cannot believe my good fortune,' the old man added.

‘Nor I, Lord Cameron, nor I,' Simon agreed.

Simon and Roderick broke their fast with Lord Cameron the following morning. The table was covered with manuscripts, some containing neat lines of script, whilst others provided small images with detailed descriptions.

‘In the room above the long hall you will find two painted reliquaries, one containing a finger bone from Saint Margaret and the other, a fragment of the wooden crucifix worn by Saint Peter. In the connecting hallway there be should two timber crusade chests filled with numerous garments.'

Simon listened intently as Lord Cameron read down the list of one discoloured scroll.

‘At the top of the round keep is a locked room. It contains several illuminations, a bejewelled cup and a large plain sword.'

Roderick nodded imperceptibly to his brother.

‘Perhaps we should start there and work our way down,' Simon suggested.

‘Aye, that makes sense.' Dougal removed a large ring of keys from his belt. ‘You will need these.'

Roderick swallowed the remainder in his goblet. ‘And a further jug of ale,' he jested as he and Simon walked confidently from the great hall.

They crossed the inner bailey and retraced their steps to the apartments they had been offered as accommodation. Simon winked at Catherine as he entered the room they shared. She immediately drew back the coverlet on the bed to reveal the wrapped sword. He bent and kissed her as he lifted the heavy weapon then returned to Roderick, who was keeping watch in the outer corridor.

The two men quickly made their way up the three levels of the round tower and unlocked the heavy oak door. Roderick threw back the lid on the long timber box and lifted out a sword. Simon unwrapped William Wallace's ‘Lady' and held it up against the replacement.

The two swords, much like the brothers, shared similar characteristics but, upon close inspection, were as different as a goat to a cow.

‘How do we know if we are replacing the fake or stealing the genuine?' Roderick asked.

‘We don't,' Simon replied. ‘So I suggest we leave both.'

‘Are you sure?'

‘Absolutely.' Simon grinned as he placed the swords side-by-side in the wooden chest. ‘Problem solved,' he added as he held out his open palms. ‘Now, best check those relics.'

‘I cannot believe our luck.' Catherine declared as she joined Agnes in the hall. ‘God is certainly smiling upon us.'

‘We have been most fortunate,' agreed Agnes. ‘It would have been far more difficult to complete your task without Lord Cameron's presence.'

‘By this time tomorrow we will be back in Govan and then on our way to Cambridge.'

‘I will miss you,' Agnes admitted as she took Catherine's hand.

‘And I, you, but you will write to me?' Catherine asked.

‘Of course, my dear, of course.'

‘Are we interrupting?' Dougal, supported by Simon, entered the hall with Roderick sauntering behind.