Chapter 9

Nanny woke Daphne up early they would be traveling to Holyrood Palace this morning where they would be spending the day celebrating the Highland games. This was a day Daphne had been looking forward to the games, music, dancing and the merchants she was told would be there. She was planning on buying more things for her family. Nanny put her in a country dress black velvet over corset without boning, so she was free to enjoy her day. The skirt was Jamie's clan colors and long with a shawl made from the plaid. The skirt was also freeing she was not bogged down with cumbersome petty coats, and it was above the ankle, so she would be able to do the traditional dances she had learned.

Jamie stood waiting for her when she left her room his eyes never left her face. She seemed to be glowing and her hair had been placed in a long loose braid and adorned with mountain avens found only in Scotland. She was breath taking and all his. Well when he was finally able to ask her to be his she would be all his but he was never going to share her with anyone. Only he would be the one to possess her body and soul. He shook the thought from his head and greeted her with an innocent kiss to the cheek.

"My lady, how do you fair this morning?"

She curtsied.

"I am well your grace and I am looking forward to experiencing the highland games with you."

She gave Jamie a wickedly seductive smile,

"I like you in your tartan your grace, you are exceptionally handsome today."

He bowed to her and put his arm out for her to take. They took a carriage to Holyrood Palace the second carriage behind the king. Charlotte rode with the king she was wearing a dress Daphne did not recognize from her wardrobe she must have had it made recently without Daphne's knowledge. Not that Daphne had been spending much time with her mother. She wanted to spend as much time taking in the sights of Scotland with Jamie before she had to leave for England in twelve short days. Jamie was surprised when he saw Lady Halverson in royal Stewart plaids only to be worn with the permission of the king. He leaned over and whispered to Daphne so the guard who was with them could not hear.

"What is between your mother and the king?"

"I do not know for sure but there is something. I have gleamed from what I have heard they met at my grandfather's home at New Cross when she was just fifteen but what became of that meeting I have no idea. I also have the impression my mother used to work for the home office. I am not positive but the conversation between them at the first dinner makes me think so. Remember when I stated I did not think my mother particularly cleaver the king said.

"Are you still playing the charade of a brainless lass. Charlotte shame on you, you are one of the most intelligent women who ever served the crown."

Then my mother told him.

"It served me well your majesty as you well know. I never thought to change people's opinion of me. Andrew always knew but I did not care if anyone else knew."

It just sounds so cloak and dagger I am surprised, my mother spent most of my life being the butt of people's jokes. I remember last year at Tory's Week of Love party and my aunt picked a secret name that started with a V and Tory made a comment about it and my mother piped in with a silly comment about had she not noticed my aunt loved V names. Then getting her to pick a secret identity was painful to say the least. I just never knew anyone considered my mother clever or intelligent. Loving and sweet yes brilliant no."

The rest of their ride to Holyrood Palace was spent pondering what was between the king and Charlotte. Upon arrival to the levee they were to start the festivities and all thought of Charlotte and the king were forgotten. To greet the king there was a pipe band to serenade him with the folk song Auld Lang Syne. Jamie helped Daphne out of the carriage and they were starting to walk towards the king and Charlotte when they overheard Lord and Lady Hamilton-Dalrymple conversation.

"I think the kings tartan is a tad too short. I dare say it shows to much if I were to be asked."

Lady Hamilton-Dalrymple laughed a loud boisterous laugh.

"My dear since he is to be among us for so short a time, the more we see of him the better."

The couple walked off laughing at the lady's humor. Jamie and Daphne both laughed at the woman's wit they both agreed since it had been almost two centuries since a British monarch had set foot on Scottish soil. They joined the king and Charlotte and walked with them as the king greeted the men at arms and the piping bands. Once the music stopped the King took his stand on the highest mound, so he stood above the rest. He was going to give them a speech to start the games off.

"Thank you all for the warm and generous greeting. I am delighted to be here in Scotland with you today, sharing the beauty of the country and the passion of its people. Let us

spend the day celebrating and making merry."

The roar of the crowed filled the air and a shot rang out signaling the official start of the highland games. Jamie and Daphne decided to go off on their own with her guard of course to spend the day enjoying the celebration. First, they went to watch the pipping competition and were joined by Olivia and Emily which immediately put Jamie and the guard on alert.

"Good Day your grace."

They ignored Daphne and continued to talk with Jamie. He didn't want to be rude, but he wasn't positive one of them had not tried to kill Daphne and he would not stand for anyone hurting her. He nodded but said nothing hoping they would go away. To his dismay they sat down and joined them for the piping contest. Daphne who refused to think the girls would try to harm her for the attention he paid to her was pleasant to them and did not even question the snub they had dealt her when they did not greet her. After an hour Jamie wanted to leave it was time for the Caber toss. Daphne was excited she had never seen a Caber toss and did not want to miss any of it. Jamie was relieved when both Emily and Olivia decided not to join them.

Because of their station a retainer to the king brought over chairs for the two of them to watch the Caber toss comfortably. He even put up an umbrella to keep the sun off them. As the first athlete entered the field Jamie explained what they would be doing.

"The caber pole is usually made from a Larch tree and is typically over 19 feet tall and they can weigh up to 175 pounds."

"That is astonishing. I am still confused about what a caber is?"

Jamie laughed at her confusion he was going to enjoy teaching her Gaelic he was sure because of her love of Scotland she would like to learn its native language.

"The term caber comes from the Gaelic word cabar, which refers to a wooden beam."

"Why not just call it a wooden beam toss?"

"Now what fun would that be for me if I did not get to hear the words of my country on your tongue."

She playfully slapped at him.

"You are a beast your grace. Now tell me does the man who is tossing the Caber have a special name in the words of your country?"

He laughed again it struck him not for the first time that until Daphne entered his life he had not ever laughed so much in its entirety.

"He is just called the tosser. No fancy names."

It was Daphne's turn to laugh at the humor that passed between them. Once the tosser's were finished the king's retainer brought over lunch for the two of them to eat while they waited for the next event to start which was the hammer throw. Jamie explained the hammer throw to Daphne leaving out an important detail. He laughed to himself waiting to see Daphne's reaction to the hammer they would be throwing. When the first hammer thrower walked out to take his place the confused look on Daphne's face made Jamie laugh.

Daphne was confused when the hammer thrower did not come out on the field with a hammer but a round metal ball attached to the end of a stick the length of about 4 feet. He waited until she asked the humor welling up inside of him at her anticipated question.

"Jamie did you say this was a hammer throw?"

"Yes, Luv I did say it was a hammer throw."

"I know I am not very knowledgeable about tools not having worked with them before, but I am sure what he is throwing is not a hammer."

He laughed at watching her thought process.

"Jamie, you Scots are a strange bunch of people."

He laughed he could not wait till the athletes for the Maide-leisg came out on the field. If she thought Hammer throwing was strange she was going to find Maide-leisg was just as strange. He did not have long to wait the players entered the field and unlike the other events there were a group of people who took the field. He watched her since her reaction would be more exciting than the competition. Daphne watched as the contestants paired off and sat down in the grass. They arranged themselves to where the bottom of each competitors' feet was together. Then they were given a stick they would each hold on too. When the pistol sounded each of the men tried to pull the other off the ground. Daphne tried to look prudish as if she were upset by what she was witnessing. In truth she was quite enjoying the competitions.

"Jamie?"

"Yes, Luv."

"What does Maide-leisg mean?"

He laughed calling attention to the couple.

"In English Luv?"

"If you please."

"Lazy Stick."

She tried to be stoic, but she could not help but crack a smile.

"Very strange people indeed."

When they were finished watching the field events they went back to the tent and found the king and Charlotte having supper.

"Are you having fun dear?"

Charlotte asked Daphne. No answer was required Daphne's smile said it all.

"Mother did you know the Scottish people complete in very silly games. For example, a hammer throw is not a hammer throw but a ball and handle throw. Everything seems to be topsy turvey."

"Is that so dear? I bet it is much more exciting than throwing a hammer I am sure."

Jamie and Daphne sat down to eat with the king and his company where dinner was served. As they were eating Lilly and Alice walked into the tent. Apparently, the king liked tempting fate. Victor walked in behind them he looked like he had been following them all day. He sat down next to Jamie and gave him a mischievous smile.

"Did you know women are the most impractical beings to ever walk the earth. I have spent the day bird dogging those two and I can tell you they did not rest for one minute nor did they take in any of the games."

"Did they meet up with anyone?"

"That is the strangest part they did not talk to another living sole. They just walked today nothing else."

Jamie pondered the information.

"Could they know you are following them and are trying to get you off their scent? Or could it be we have it wrong and they are the real Alice and Lilly Primrose?"

"I am pretty sure we have the right of it them being the French spy's, but what they are up to I cannot for the life of me figure out."

"Perhaps I should invite them to go to the dance with Daphne and me? Maybe together we can watch them and see if they are up to something."

"I would appreciate that old man."

Jamie got up from the table and went to address the mother and daughter pair.

"Ladies I was wondering if you would care to join my party this evening for the dancing, beautiful ladies such as yourself should experience the music and festivities of the land. And truly it would be a shame if you did not grace the people of Scotland with your beauty."

That night the six of them spent the evening dancing to the music of the highlands. Jamie and Victor made sure to dance with all three ladies and when Olivia and Emily joined them they danced with them also. Daphne was not too happy about the arrangement, neither man was paying attention to her. Victor saw her pouting and knew Jamie or even he might be in for a taste of her temper. He decided to placate his cousin.

"Daph, did you know you are the most beautiful girl here?"

"And did you know you are not a very good liar cousin dear?"

He stumbled backwards with his hands over his heart.

"You wound me Daph, I was only saying with all the young man are thinking."

"Victor if you do not leave me alone. I swear I will tell Tory about you being an agent of the crown. Do you know what she would do if she found out you were keeping secrets from her?"

Victor laughed a belly splitting laugh. Of course, he knew full well what Tory would do if she found out he was working for the crown and didn't tell her. That is why when he took the job he told them up front he never kept secrets from Tory and he didn't think it would be a good idea for him to try.

"She already knows Daph you will have to come up with something better to threaten me with."

She hmphed and walked over to the refreshment table leaving Victor in good humor. Daphne encountered Olivia who seemed to be in a foul mood even though she had gotten what she wanted. Stomped over and confronted Daphne. When Olivia started in on her, Daphne could not help roll her eyes, could this dance get any worse?

"You think you are so special, but he will not give you another thought after we are all gone at the end of the month. You will be in the same situation the rest of us are in. Just because he has allowed you to wear his plaid does not mean he is in love with you and will get on bended knee to keep you with him."

The words hurt but Daphne tried to keep the look of hurt off her face and out of her voice she was not sure she was as successful as she wanted to be.

"I told you when we first arrived in Scotland I was not looking for a husband. I was here to have fun and experience all this trip had to offer. That is all I am doing. If His Grace decides he cannot live without me that will be a bonus but that was never my goal to find a husband."

Daphne was about to walk off when Emily and Lilly joined them. They now were all surrounding Daphne which made her guard a little uncomfortable. He had been informed they thought one of the girls was the one who was hurting the princess. He waited only a fraction of a moment to move but it was too late the princess was down on the floor and he had no idea what had happened. He moved all the people away and scooped her up and tried to find the prince and the duke, but both were on the dance floor. He pushed all the refreshments off the table and laid her down. When Jamie and Victor heard the breaking of glass their attention was drawn to the refreshment area. It was then they saw Daphne and the guard. They rushed over to help her, but she seemed to be under a powerful sleep sedative.

Jamie picked her up and carried her out while calling out for his carriage and for someone to get her mother. He needed to get her to Nanny since this had to be a poison what could have caused her to drop so fast. The king and Charlotte rushed out of the dining tent guards all around them. The two carriages were brought to meet them, and they were off to Dalkeith House where Nanny could help her. The ride was the longest ride either Jamie or Victor had ever taken. Daphne was breathing but it was getting shallower by the minute. They tried to wake her up nothing they tried worked when her breathing seemed to slow almost to the point of death Jamie who had seen this type of thing before began breathe into her mouth he would breath for her until they could reach nanny.

When they reached Dalkeith House neither Jamie or Victor waited for the carriage to stop they were out and rushing up to find Nanny. Nanny was waiting in Daphne's room to help her undress she never expected the young girl to be in stress. Jamie laid her on the bed still breathing for her. Victor was the one who explained what happened. Nanny had to assume by the symptoms someone gave her a dose of Curare there were things she knew to do she just hoped she was not too late for them to work.

"I need a tub of Ice water and a bottle of rum, and I need it now. Jamie you keep her breathing until we can get her into the tub."

Jamie didn't have to be told twice he kept on with his breathing treatment until the water arrived and he placed her in it. When he saw Nanny open the bottle of rum he was hoping it was for him, but he found out Nanny planned to pour it down Daphne's throat. While she was ministering to Daphne she explained what she was doing hoping to relieve some of the tension in the room.

"The Natives of South America used this technique to help those of the tribe survive effects of curare. Since they used the poison to hunt if an animal needed to be saved they would submerse the affected animal in water and gave them large amounts of rum. This helps maintain respiration until they were able to breath on their own. Let us hope this works for humans as well."

By the time the King and Charlotte rushed through the door Daphne was breathing on her own, lying in bed smiling at Nanny, Jamie, Victor and her guard. Nanny decided she needed to have everyone, but Charlotte leave the room, so she could examine the girl to see how the poison was administered. Since it was a poison used on the tip of a weapon she was thinking there must be a puncture wound it had been delivered into her system. It was Charlotte who questioned Daphne it was time for her to put her thinking cap back on and not play so dumb.

"Which of the girls do you think did this to you? Was one of them particularly close to you close enough to inject you with poison?"

"All of them were surrounding me, I remember I felt a prick to my arm. I suddenly felt warm and then everything was black. I do not remember anything else that happened until I woke up in ice water spitting out the foul taste of the rum you had given me."

Before she could say more, she needed to throw up, the rum was making her head spin. Once she relieved herself of more of the rum, she started to feel a bit better and started to nod off to sleep. Nanny and Charlotte both sat in chairs next to the bed pondering who would want to hurt Daphne. Then Charlotte got an idea and went to talk to the guard who was still standing outside the door along with Jamie, Victor and the king. Nanny and Charlotte had forgotten about them.

"Come in gentlemen, I have questions to ask so I can ascertain who tried to kill my daughter."

The king could not help but notice Charlotte looked haggard and exhausted. He did not tell her this he waited for her to speak the one thing he had learned in the past was when she was explaining or reporting you listened then asked questions. She turned her attention to the guard who most likely had the best view of what happened than the others.

"I need to know where all the girls were standing during their exchange? It is vital to know so I can figure out who is trying to kill my daughter."

"Well your highness, the princess was in the middle and the lady Lilly was on her left side closes to me. The Lady Olivia was in front of her and Lady Emily was on her right side. There was a wall to her back and they had her cornered."

"Thank you. You have helped a lot. I now know Lilly did not try to poison Daphne, the puncture mark was on her right side. Depending on how close Olivia was she could have done it, but most assuredly Emily was in the perfect position to do it."

She turned back to the guard.

"Did either Olivia or Emily seem to strike out at her?"

"No, your highness, none of the girls appeared to touch her person. The only thing I can think of was the two who you feel were the possible culprits were closer to her than Lady Lilly was and so it would be impossible to tell who had hurt her."

The king looked at Charlotte and saw the gears turning in her head, she was back in form she had been a good operative back in her hay day. He was confident this would be solved soon, and the culprit would be caught and punished before his visit ended and they returned to England.