The Steps to the Empty Throne

“Saving your lordship’s presence,” he said, diffidently, “you do! That was what I was to tell Sir Nicholas, look you. That now he must act in the name of the Earl of Carrick. Meantime. There is none other of earl’s rank. My lord Earl of Surrey is at York, they say. Until he appoints other, you command, lord. With … with the advice and direction of Master Benstead and Sir Nicholas Segrave, to be sure.

I was to say that, mind you …”

Robert Bruce’s bark of laughter drowned the rest.

“I command?

God save us-The Earl of Carrick commands now, for King Edward, in the SouthWest! Here’s a jest, by all that’s holy!”

“In name, lord. Under direction. Master Benstead was strong on that. You are to gain this castle of Douglas with all speed, and then march for Lanark. Guided by Sir Nicholas. Seek to join with the Lanark force that went to Ayr, to hold the rebels. Threaten Lanark together, but await further orders from Master Benstead .”

“Orders? To Edward’s commander?”

The Welshman coughed.

“Instructions, lord. Guidance. Counsel-call it what you will. I am a rough man, lord. No doubt I word it ill. But I was sent, in truth, to Sir Nicholas. He it was was to speak with you …”

“You speak full clearly, my friend! And to the point. Never fear.

And I thank you for it. Is … is that all?”

“Yes, lord. Have I your permission to go? I must still seek Sir Nicholas.”

“He will be back at Lochmaben before you are. A shorter road than you

came. But go if you will. Tell Master Benstead that I have his

message. And his… guidance! Now, I must speak with this woman

…”

As the courier went back towards the others. Bruce, his head in a whirl, faced the gatehouse. Somehow, he must have time to think. All was now changed. In the light of it all, so much called for decision. Instant decision. He must have a little time … “Lady,” he called.

“My regrets that I have kept you waiting. I have important tidings. Of the utmost importance. To us all You likewise. But not such as I may shout out to all the world I I must speak with you. Privily. It is essential.”

“Very well, my lord,” she answered.

“Have I your word, as an earl of Scotland, that you will only speak?

Will make no move to take or harm me?”

“You have. On my oath.”

“Then the drawbridge will be lowered. Part-lowered. So that I may walk out on it. None of your people to come near, my lord.

Only you. It is understood? And you must wait a little.”

He nodded. The longer he might wait, the better. Had ever a man so much to decide in so short a time? Here was a crossroads in his life. Which road he took now might determine all his future.

Sending back his impromptu standard-bearer, Robert Bruce commenced to pace up and down the bank of the moat.

He scarcely heard, presently, the clanking of the portcullis chains or the creaking of the timbering as the massive drawbridge began to come down. His mind, his judgement, his emotions, his whole character and personality, were involved in a turmoil of debate, of contradiction, of conjecture, as never before And yet, somehow, behind it all, the decision was already made.

With the bridge lowered to within some ten feet of its base, so that it formed only a moderate incline, armed men appeared from the gatehouse arch. And out from among them walked two persons—a woman and a boy.

The Lady of Douglas was younger than Bruce had expected;

in her early thirties probably, slightly built but most evidently pregnant, not handsome but not ill favoured, with a proud and confident look. The boy was no more than twelve years old, well built, sturdy, dark, almost swarthy indeed. He held the woman’s hand, and held his head high as they paced out on the echoing timbers.

They came to the lip of the bridge, and so stood, looking down at Bruce.

“Well, my lord-what have you to say?” Lady Douglas asked. And, as an afterthought, “This is James Douglas, my husband’s heir.”

“My sorrow, lady, that we should meet in such case.” Bruce was frowning blackly, not at her or the boy but in concentration—however it might seem to them.

“Do you know where Sir William Douglas is?”

“If I did, think you I would tell you, sir?”

“I think he may be none so far away. If I agreed to take you to him, would you come with me, madam?”

“Take me …? To him?” She stared down at him.

“Do you think to mock me now, young man …?”

“Not so. Why should I mock you? I do not know for sure, but I think that Sir William may be with the other rebels. Who were in Galloway. His former good-brother, James the Steward, and the Bishop of Galloway.”

“Rebels, sir? These are no rebels. How may they be rebels, who rise, in their own land and in the name or their own king, against a foreign tyrant?”

“Aye—it may be so. At any rate, these, I have just learned, are now near to Ayr. Thirty miles, no more. Will you come with me to Ayr, lady?”

“With you? You? To Ayr? But… but…”

“My lord,” the boy said tensely but strongly, “if you jest with us now, you are no true knight! This, this lady is in no state for that. For any true knight to make fool of. Did King Edward of England send you to her for that?”

It was bravely said. This boy could not be the Lady Eleanor’s son. He must be the child of the first marriage. He was, therefore, nephew of James the Steward-named after him, no doubt.

Bruce inclined his head.

“King Edward sent me here to take this lady, and you, to his officers,” he told the boy carefully.

“But now, I find, I am his chief est officer in these parts I And I have come to think that it might be best to take you to Ayr.”

“Why?” the woman demanded.

“Or do you seek to trick us?

Use us as hostages? Before my husband …!”

“No. Give you into your husband’s keeping, rather.”

“I do not understand. You are Edward’s man. My husband is Edward’s enemy. What mean you …?”

I am my own man, lady-not Edward’s. Bruce supported Edward against the usurper Baliol, yes. But Baliol is no longer here. Nor indeed is Edward! Both across the sea. And Bruce is no Puppet to be jerked this way and that…”

”You mean, my lord, that you change sides?”

He frowned.

“Say that I must choose, in this pass, to do what is best. Wisest. For all. The SouthWest is aflame, it seems. And Ross and Argyll too, they say. How much else, God knows.

Hazelrig is dead, at Lanark. All is changed. From when I was sent to take you …”

“Then why not go away, sir? Leave us in peace?” the young James Douglas broke in.

“You would not long thank me for that! Segrave and more English will be back, you may be sure. Douglas Castle would have but a brief respite. And then you would be in more unhappy state. You saw the style of Segrave!”

“So you would go to my husband, and these others, at Ayr?

Taking us as, as … as sureties? Not hostages but tokens?

Tokens, my lord. That they may accept you as honest!” Eleanor Douglas was considering him shrewdly.

“I think that I perceive it. They are more like to trust you, if you do not come empty handed I Bruce, who was Edward’s man!”

“You are less than gracious, madam.” That was stiff.

“Perhaps.” There was a few seconds’ pause. She shook her head, in a welter of indecision.

“Can I trust you, then?”

“Would you rather that I handed you to the English? Or left you to withstand their fury here?”

She sighed.

“No. Since I cannot long hold this house against a host. I will come with you. Your reasons for taking me to my husband may be ignoble, sir—but it may best serve my need meantime. I will come with you.”

Bruce had flushed a little and knew it, but hoped that it might not be apparent in the half-light.