They both clung to her, and Bess began to weep. "Nay, hinny," scolded Cat, gently stroking her daughter's hair. "If the new bride is sad, the king may find me out. Be strong, my daughter, and help me win this battle that I fight wi Jamie. He must not suspect that any of ye knew."

Bess mastered herself. "The others?" she asked.

"I'll speak wi them, but nae the bairns. I know 'tis a great burden I put on ye, but please, Bess, and ye also, Jemmie, look after them for me. Later, when it is safe, ye may all come to visit wi me. But now I must travel quickly. Ye understand that?"

They nodded, and she kissed them each in turn. Leading them to the door, she saw them out. Later on that day she stood on the top step of the castle's main entrance, waving gaily and calling loudly for all ears to hear, "I will see ye in the spring, my dears! Gie my loving regards to his majesty!" She stayed there waving until they were out of sight before retiring to her tower to weep in private.

The following day would see her two younger sons, fourteen-year-old Colin and twelve-and-a-half-year-old Robert, on their way. Colin was going to the University of Aberdeen, and Robert back to his duties as a page with the Earl of Rothes’ household. That night she drew her four older children about her and told them that she would be leaving Glenkirk, and why. She had worried about disappearing from their lives without explanation and had decided that telling them was worth the risk. Her judgment was vindicated when her nine-year-old daughter, Morag, said quietly, "I am glad ye go, mother. I dinna like the king." Ten-year-old Amanda nodded in agreement. "Aye, Dinna worry for us, mother. Besides, ye've seen to our futures rather well. I shall enjoy being Countess of Sithean."

Cat couldn't help but laugh. "Yer such a practical little puss," she told her daughter.

"When?" asked Robbie.

"Soon."

Colin began to chuckle.

"What is so funny?" his mother asked him.

"I'm sorry I'm nae still wi Rothes," said the boy-man. "I'd enjoy seeing Cousin James' face-the sanctimonious lecher!"

"Thank God yer not wi Rothes!" said Cat. "Ye'd gie me away for sure." But she laughed. "Conall said almost the same thing," she told them, and the girls and Robbie joined in the mirth.

The following morning the boys were gone, and for the next few days Cat was dejected. She spent a good deal of time in the nursery playing with her three babies. Then one evening she appeared unexpected in her mother-in-law's bedchamber. Meg understood instantly. Wordlessly, she rose and hugged Cat to her.

"So soon?”

Cat nodded. "‘Tis dark of the moon, and there is no better time for me to go unnoticed. If I stay any longer I will nae be able to go, Meg. It tears at me even now!"

"Then God go wi ye, my daughter."

"Oh, Meg! Ye were always closer to me than my own mother. I shall miss ye so much! Try to explain to my parents, Meg."

"I will, my dear. Dinna think too harshly of yer mother. She has always lived in her own sensuous little world where the only other occupant was yer father. I will make her understand. And who knows-when yer safe, we may even come visiting!"

"My bairns… ye'll be sure to look after them, Meg?"

"Aye."

"And ye’ll nae let them forget me until I can send for them?"

"Nay, love. Now go, Catriona! Go before ye make a foolish and emotional decision." Gently Meg kissed Cat's cheek and pushed her from her chambers.

For a moment Cat stood in the cold, dark corridor. I’ll nae see this again, she thought, and the tears flowed down her cheeks. My God! If anyone sees me I'll be hard put to explain.

Fiercely she wiped the wetness from her cheeks and ran through the back passages of the castle to her own apartments. The servants-with the exceptions of Susan and her young sister, May-had all been sent to bed.

"Is everything done?" Cat asked Susan.

"Yes, my lady. Conall and his men hae seen to it He said we were to leave as soon as ye returned." She hustled Cat into the bedchamber, where she had a steaming tub waiting. " 'Tis the last yer apt to get for a while."

Cat smiled weakly. "Did ye pack everything I told ye? And ye hae my jewel cases?"

"Aye to both questions. If the king's men come looking they'll find most of yer clothes still here awaiting yer return. Ah, what fun 'twill be to buy ye new clothes in France!"

The heaviness was beginning to lift from Cat's shoulders. "Ye and May shall have some new clothes too," she promised.

Within the hour she was dressed and ready. Then Susan, who stood behind her, unexpectedly fastened about Cat's neck the lion pendant given her by Lord Bothwell. "I thought ye should be reminded of what yer going to, my lady, nae what yer leaving."

Cat smiled, suddenly happy. "Susan, I didna think ye could understand the wrench this is for me. I thank ye, Susan, for helping me through a hard, hard time. Yer a good friend to me, and I willna forget it."

Catching up her fur-lined cloak, she walked to the fireplace and pressed the carving that opened the door to the secret passageway. "Be sure the door is shut tight behind ye, girls," she said, and taking a candle she stepped into the corridor.

Minutes later they exited at the foot of the west tower, where Conall waited with three horses. Cat swung herself onto Iolaire's back while Susan and May rode pillion. With Conall leading the way, they rode out from Glenkirk unseen by the watch. On a hill high above the castle they were joined by a party of men so large that Cat was taken aback.

"Christ!" she swore. "How many are there, Conall?"

"Fifty. I couldna hae ye chasing all over Europe wi just half a dozen men to protect ye. Ye can afford it." And raising his arm he signaled the start of their journey.

"Wait!” she commanded. Turning Iolaire, she looked back down onto Glenkirk, looming dark against a darker sky. For a moment she hesitated, torn with one final doubt. Leave Glenkirk? Leave her bairns? Leave Scotland? Leave nearly all she held dear? And then she saw James' sensuous face before her, and she heard his voice, low and insinuating, saying, "… and ye will do to me what ye did this night…" Yanking her horse about, Cat shouted, "Forward!" and galloped away.

They would be sailing from Rattray Head, where Bothwell had left from so long ago. Since the Gallant James had disappeared with Patrick Leslie, the Leslie's new flagship, New Venture, would be taking Cat to France. Cat thought the name most appropriate.

They rode through the night, stopping twice to rest the horses. At dawn they made camp in the ruins of Huntley Castle. The ride in the cold night air had given Cat an enormous appetite, and she happily accepted a small rabbit broiled on a stick which was brought to her by one of the men. Susan supplied a loaf of bread, a cup, and a flask filled with sweet wine. Cat shared these offerings with her two servants and happily stuffed herself. Full at last, she wrapped herself in her heavy cloak and went to sleep by a small fire kindled in what was now a freestanding fireplace.

When she awoke it was midafternoon, and the camp was quiet. Susan and May were sleeping near her. She lay for a few minutes, drowsy and warm within the safety of her cloak, then slept again. When she woke in late afternoon the camp was abustle with the activities of cooking. Several lambs were turning over the cook fires, and on a large flat stone boasting a smaller fire beneath it rested a number of fresh-baked loaves. Well away from the heat stood several unopened casks of ale.

"Conall! To me!"

"Madame?"

"Where did all of this come from?"

"My lord of Huntley told his people to be on the lookout for ye and to see we were well fed and cared for while on Gordon lands."

Her face softened. "Why, bless George for that," she said. Then, "There's nae too much ale, is there? I dinna want the men too drunk to ride. We've a long night ahead of us, and we must reach Rattray before dawn."

"Just enough to keep them happy, my lady. There's a small cask of wine for ye too. Dinna forget to refill yer flask for tonight."

She nodded, and accepted the tin plate Susan handed her. It held thin, juicy slices of meat, early green cress, and hot bread dripping butter and honey. The cup was filled with rich malmsey, and put at her side on the ground. Again Cat stuffed herself. Afterwards, as the men ate, she stood and addressed them. "Conall has told ye of my journey. If any of ye have changed yer minds about going, now is the time to say so, and to return to Glenkirk. If ye go back, I only ask that ye remain silent as to my whereabouts." Silence greeted her words, and looking out at the Glenkirk men she felt quick tears prick her eyelids. Fighting to control herself, she said simply, "Thank ye. Thank ye all."

They were ahorse within the hour, and rode through most of the dark night. She could smell the sea long before they reached the coast, its salt tang growing stronger with every passing mile. They arrived at the rendezvous well before their deadline, and Conall signaled towards the sea with a lantern which he had managed somehow to stow in his bulging saddlebags. From the darkness came an answering light.

He drew forward a familiar-looking young man. "My son, Andrew," he announced gruffly.

Cat raised an eyebrow. "Dinna tell me, Conall. Ye couldna find the time to wed wi his mother, but a Leslie always recognizes bis own. Am I correct?"

"Aye, madame," he drawled, and she laughed. "Andrew and ten of the men will sail on the New Venture wi ye," he said. "I'll go wi the others and the horses on the Anne la Reine from Peterhead."

"Will ye be long behind us?" Cat asked nervously. "I dinna like landing in France wi so few men."

"We'll be ahead of ye. The Anne la Reine is lighter and a bit faster than the New Venture. Yer coach, horses, coachmen, and grooms left three days ago, and will be waiting for ye. Dinna fret, lass. I'll be waiting for ye."

She smiled warmly at him. "All right, Conall." Then she turned her smile on the young man. "Well, Andrew More-Leslie, not enough pretty girls to keep ye home at Glenkirk?"

"Too many, my lady-and an equal number of angry fathers."

Cat laughed. "Yell do, lad!"

They descended to the beach to meet the longboat. It slid up onto the sand and the sailors scrambled out to pull it safely onto the beach. For a moment Cat flew back in time, remembering when she had stood before on this wet and windy beach. It had been a bit less than three years ago, and she had ridden with the Earl of Bothwell to bid him goodbye as he began his exile. She had thought never to see him again. Now she stood on this very beach ready to begin her own self-imposed exile.

An officer detached himself from his men and bowed over her hand. "First Officer Malcolm More-Leslie at yer service, my lady. I am Hugh's son."

"Yer Susan and May's older brother?"

"Aye, madame."

"Is not the captain a More-Leslie?"

"Sandy. Alan's boy."

"Good God, Conall, I certainly sail well protected by the family!"

"He would have wanted it that way," Conall muttered fiercely.

Cat put out a hand and patted the older man's arm. "Ye wanted to go wi him, eh, Conall?"

"Aye! But he'd nae hae it. 'Stay home, Conall,' he said. 'Who else can I trust to look after her?' "

"Christ, man! Dinna tell me this now at the moment of my departure!"

"Madame, if I dinna think he'd approve of this road ye take, I'd nae be here. But I am, and while 'tis in my hands, I'll keep ye safe." And then he blushed beet-red as she stood on tiptoes and soundly kissed his cheek.

"God go wi ye, Conall," she said, and joined Susan and May, who were already in the boat. Without further ado the small boat was on its way through the darkness to the New Venture. Then she was being swung up and out over the water, and when she opened her eyes again she was on the deck being greeted by the captain.

"I've put ye and yer lasses in my own cabin, my lady. Ye'll be more comfortable there," he said.

"Thank ye, cousin," she said, bringing a flush of pleasure to his ruddy face. He'd heard about Cat Leslie, and what a fine woman she was. Her acknowledgment of their relationship-however tenuous that relationship was-pleased him. Too, it brought him extra stature in the eyes of his men. "Will ye take yer main meal wi me and my officers?" he asked.