The Winter Sea

She was still wearing Moray’s gloves. She drew them off reluctantly, but by the time she’d turned to give them back he had already gone halfway across the yard, the black cape fastened to his shoulders swinging evenly in rhythm with his soldier’s stride. Sophia tore her gaze from him and, folding the worn leather of both gauntlets in her hand, she turned back, meaning to ask Rory if he knew what ship was now approaching Slains. But he had left her, too, and now had nearly reached the stable door, with both the horses safe in hand.

Standing in the yard there by herself she felt a moment’s panic, and it spurred her on to lift her skirts and run, as reckless as a child, toward the great door through which Moray had just passed.

Inside, the sudden dimness left her blind, and she collided with the figure of a man. It was not Moray.

‘Cousin,’ said the Earl of Erroll, in his pleasant voice. ‘Where would you seek to go in such a hurry?’

‘Do forgive me,’ said Sophia, with the hand that held the gloves behind her back. ‘There is a ship…’

‘The Royal William, aye. I am just come to find you, as it happens, since my mother does inform me that the captain of this ship does take an interest in your welfare, and will surely wish to see you in attendance with the family when he comes ashore.’ His smile was kind, and teasing as a brother’s. ‘Do you wish to change your gown?’

She smoothed the fabric with her free hand, conscious of the dust from riding, but her fingers, when they reached her waist, recalled the warmth of Moray’s hand upon that place, and suddenly she did not wish to change her gown just yet, as though by doing so she stood to lose the memory of his touch. ‘I thank you, no,’ she said, and clenched her hidden hand more firmly round the leather gloves she held.

‘Then come.’ The earl held out his arm. ‘We will await your Captain Gordon in the drawing room.’

The countess joined them there some minutes later. ‘Mr Moray,’ she announced, ‘agrees to keep to his own chamber till we know that Captain Gordon comes alone.’

‘’Tis wise,’ her son agreed. ‘Though I am not so sure that even Captain Gordon should be introduced. Are you?’

‘He is a friend.’

‘Five hundred pounds is yet five hundred pounds,’ the earl reminded her. ‘And lesser men have turned for lesser fortunes.’

‘Thomas Gordon is no traitor.’

‘Then, as always, I must bow to your good judgment.’ With his hands laced at his back, he crossed to stand beside the window, looking out toward the ship now anchored off the shore. ‘I see the Royal William does no longer fly the white cross of Saint Andrew on the blue field as its flag.’

His mother came to look. ‘What flag is that?’

‘The flag of the new Union, with the crosses of St Andrew and St George combined,’ her son replied, his voice hard-edged with bitterness. ‘Which means that our Scots navy is no more.’

‘Ah, well.’ His mother sighed. ‘’Twas only the three ships.’

‘Aye, but those three ships were our own,’ he said, ‘and now they, too, are lost to us. I wonder if our friend the Duke of Hamilton appreciates the price that has been paid that he may keep his lands in Lancashire.’

Sophia, while they talked, had been deciding what she ought to do with Moray’s gloves, still clutched within her hand. She did not think the countess or the earl would take exception to the fact that she’d been riding with the man, but they might question why she was now in possession of his personal accessories. Not seeing any place where she could easily conceal the gloves, she sat, and tucked them safely underneath her on the chair.

She was still sitting there when Captain Gordon was announced.

He strode into the room with all the swagger she remembered, handsome in his long blue coat with the gold braid and polished buttons gleaming bright against the fabric. Greeting first the countess, then the earl, he came across to take Sophia’s hand and raise it to his lips as he bowed low before her, smiling with great charm. ‘And Mistress Paterson, I trust you have recovered from your late attempt at horse-racing?’

‘I have, sir, thank you.’

‘I am glad to hear it.’

As he straightened and released her hand, the earl asked bluntly, ‘Do you come alone?’

‘Aye. Captain Hamilton is yet some hours behind me.’

‘Then,’ the countess said, ‘you will have time to dine with us, I hope.’

‘I should be honored.’ Looking at her levelly, he said, ‘I was informed that you might have another visitor.’

‘We do.’

‘I came as soon as I was able.’ Before saying more, he glanced towards Sophia, and the earl, observing this, remarked, ‘You may feel free to speak when Mistress Paterson is with us, as you’d speak were we alone. She has our confidence, and trust.’ And with these words the earl moved forward so he stood beside Sophia’s chair, with one hand resting on it as a mark of his endorsement. ‘Colonel Hooke arrived some days ago, and is now gone to make a progress through the country, treating with our well-affected nobles. But he has left with us another, who, should you desire it, will be able to acquaint you with the mind of our young king.’

Captain Gordon frowned. ‘Who is this person?’

From the doorway, Moray’s voice said calmly, ‘I believe he speaks of me.’ Then, to the countess, ‘Ye’ll forgive me, but I did see clearly from my chamber window that the captain came ashore alone.’