visitors, who in their different
ways seemed to discompose her almost equally. One was burly, almost
gross, of late middle years, untidy, dressed in shabby finery, a
coarse-featured, red-faced, noisy man with little pig-like eyes that
were very shrewd - John Leslie, sixth Earl of Rothes, and strangely
enough, the most popular man in Scotland. The other was tall, thin,
dark and soberly dignified, with sternly ascetic features, fine eyes
and an expression of harshly restrained intensity, clad all in black.
Montrose
had met Rothes only once before, when hft was still a student at St
Andrews; but the older man greeted him like a friend, a crony, of
long standing, punching his shoulder, belabouring his back, and
spluttering couthy assertions of admiration, esteem, affection. James
Graham, a fastidious man, sought not to allow his distaste to show.
'Laddie,
laddie - you're braw, right braw! Fair magnificent, indeed!
Guidsakes - you've come on! Here's John Leslie's hand. A right swack
man's come back to your bed, lassie! You'll ken the differ, I'll be
bound? Hey?' Rothes almost always affected the broadest Doric.
Montrose
extricated himself with difficulty from the other's salutations, at
the same time seeking to come to the rescue of his flushing wife. I am
the more fortunate, my lord,' he said. 'The better for being home. I
hope I see your lordship well?'
'You
seeanauld done runt, by God!' the burly man roared. 'Ask my wife!
But, och - no' so done yet that the sight o' this weel-favoured quean
doesna raise the man in me, by the powers! I was just by way o'
telling hersel' the same . .
'Hm.
No doubt, my lord. And this .. ?' Montrose turned to the other man.
â Ooh,
aye - this is nane other than the Reverend Henderson. Maister
Alexander Henderson himsel'. Minister oâ Leuchars, in my county
o' Fife. A scholar, see you - and a tower o' strength in the Kirk
today. He's desirous o' a bit word in your lug, James. As am I.'
'I
have heard of Master Henderson - and only heard good,' Montrose said,
holding out his hand. 'You honour my house, sir.'
The
minister bowed stiffly, his eyes searching, but said nothing. The
younger man felt that he was being weighed and assessed.
â You
will not have eaten ? Your horses were still steaming in my yard. No
doubt my wife has bidden you bide the night with us?'
'Hech,
eye. Mind you, I'd have accepted her bonnie hospitality even sharper
had I heard frae her that you werena coming hame this night! But a
man must sup his gruel as it's ladled out. Aye, we'll bide.'
'My
lady Montrose has been entirely kind. And very patient. I am
grateful,' Henderson said, and his voice was unexpectedly rich and
vibrant.
Magdalen
hurried from the hall.
Later,
the three men sat before a log fire in the small upper chamber which
Montrose had set aside as a study and lined with books, parchments
and documents which he had collected and sent home during his
years on the Continent - a collection which obviously much interested
Alexander Henderson at least. A large flagon of wine occupied a small
table beside them, and Rothes was working his way steadily through
it, though the other two only sipped their liquor. The older earl's
bawdy stories and outrageous and scurrilous anecdotes had been
non-stop throughout the preceding meal, and still went on - his host
and fellow guest bearing with them as best they might, the former
with a civility in which patience was evident, the latter with a sort
of steely impassivity.
Then,
quite abruptly, Rothes changed his tune, and the little darting eyes
he turned on Montrose were gimlet-sharp and in no way clouded with
wine.
'How
stand you with the man Charles Stewart?' he demanded starkly.
The
younger man stroked long fingers over mouth and tiny pointed beard,
taking his time to answer that barked question. 'I am a loyal
subject of His Grace,' he said, at length.
'Aye
- nae doubt!' That was a snort. 'So are we all - while we value our
heads. Balmerino
proved the
ways seemed to discompose her almost equally. One was burly, almost
gross, of late middle years, untidy, dressed in shabby finery, a
coarse-featured, red-faced, noisy man with little pig-like eyes that
were very shrewd - John Leslie, sixth Earl of Rothes, and strangely
enough, the most popular man in Scotland. The other was tall, thin,
dark and soberly dignified, with sternly ascetic features, fine eyes
and an expression of harshly restrained intensity, clad all in black.
Montrose
had met Rothes only once before, when hft was still a student at St
Andrews; but the older man greeted him like a friend, a crony, of
long standing, punching his shoulder, belabouring his back, and
spluttering couthy assertions of admiration, esteem, affection. James
Graham, a fastidious man, sought not to allow his distaste to show.
'Laddie,
laddie - you're braw, right braw! Fair magnificent, indeed!
Guidsakes - you've come on! Here's John Leslie's hand. A right swack
man's come back to your bed, lassie! You'll ken the differ, I'll be
bound? Hey?' Rothes almost always affected the broadest Doric.
Montrose
extricated himself with difficulty from the other's salutations, at
the same time seeking to come to the rescue of his flushing wife. I am
the more fortunate, my lord,' he said. 'The better for being home. I
hope I see your lordship well?'
'You
seeanauld done runt, by God!' the burly man roared. 'Ask my wife!
But, och - no' so done yet that the sight o' this weel-favoured quean
doesna raise the man in me, by the powers! I was just by way o'
telling hersel' the same . .
'Hm.
No doubt, my lord. And this .. ?' Montrose turned to the other man.
â Ooh,
aye - this is nane other than the Reverend Henderson. Maister
Alexander Henderson himsel'. Minister oâ Leuchars, in my county
o' Fife. A scholar, see you - and a tower o' strength in the Kirk
today. He's desirous o' a bit word in your lug, James. As am I.'
'I
have heard of Master Henderson - and only heard good,' Montrose said,
holding out his hand. 'You honour my house, sir.'
The
minister bowed stiffly, his eyes searching, but said nothing. The
younger man felt that he was being weighed and assessed.
â You
will not have eaten ? Your horses were still steaming in my yard. No
doubt my wife has bidden you bide the night with us?'
'Hech,
eye. Mind you, I'd have accepted her bonnie hospitality even sharper
had I heard frae her that you werena coming hame this night! But a
man must sup his gruel as it's ladled out. Aye, we'll bide.'
'My
lady Montrose has been entirely kind. And very patient. I am
grateful,' Henderson said, and his voice was unexpectedly rich and
vibrant.
Magdalen
hurried from the hall.
Later,
the three men sat before a log fire in the small upper chamber which
Montrose had set aside as a study and lined with books, parchments
and documents which he had collected and sent home during his
years on the Continent - a collection which obviously much interested
Alexander Henderson at least. A large flagon of wine occupied a small
table beside them, and Rothes was working his way steadily through
it, though the other two only sipped their liquor. The older earl's
bawdy stories and outrageous and scurrilous anecdotes had been
non-stop throughout the preceding meal, and still went on - his host
and fellow guest bearing with them as best they might, the former
with a civility in which patience was evident, the latter with a sort
of steely impassivity.
Then,
quite abruptly, Rothes changed his tune, and the little darting eyes
he turned on Montrose were gimlet-sharp and in no way clouded with
wine.
'How
stand you with the man Charles Stewart?' he demanded starkly.
The
younger man stroked long fingers over mouth and tiny pointed beard,
taking his time to answer that barked question. 'I am a loyal
subject of His Grace,' he said, at length.
'Aye
- nae doubt!' That was a snort. 'So are we all - while we value our
heads. Balmerino
proved the
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