Chapter 14

When Daphne woke up the skies were dark, and the rain was pouring down. All she could think about was snuggling up next to the fire with a warm glass of chocolate. Unfortunately, that would not be the case, no matter how bad the weather got her and her mother, Jamie and Victor all had to be a part of the grand procession from Holyrood to the Edinburgh castle. She wore a dove gray dress with a ribbon at her waist in Jamie's plaid, and she took her dark gray cloak that was lined in matching plaid. When she looked at herself in the mirror she appreciated what she saw, but what struck her the most was she must have known she would marry Jamie she had everything trimmed with his plaids. She couldn't help laughing to herself. It was a good thing she liked his colors. She met her guard and to her surprise Jamie in the hallway waiting for her.

They climbed into the carriage that awaited them, to drive them to Holyrood where they would be accompanied on their journey by the people and the clans of Scotland on their way to the castle. When Victor and the guard did not join Daphne and Jamie in the carriage Daphne seemed surprised.

"Why is Victor not riding with us to the castle?"

"We all have our duties to perform his is to protect the King."

Daphne sat back and tried to enjoy the sound of the rain hitting the top of the carriage. She was not sure if Jamie had been given the information about their wedding, but she decided to find out after all he needed to be there for it benefit the two of them.

"Your grandfather has asked me to allow the wedding to be at Westminster Abbey on September twenty second. I took the liberty of telling him that would be find. I hope it was alright I accepted his proposal?"

She could tell he seemed surprised.

"Why the Abbey?"

"I believe it has to do with your great grandfather. The date he set was the day of his coronation if I remember my history correctly he was coronated at the Abbey. I think he has a lot of regrets and this is a way of making them right. I am not sure since my parents were both good and kind to me. It is my guess he is making up for what he could not give his children."

Jamie started to laugh this morning summons made sense now. When Jamie met with his grandfather this morning, he handed him a very delicate ring with rubies encrusted the ring with a center ruby surrounded by small pearls. He said he was never able to use it and he wanted Jamie too. The old man seemed to be getting soft in his old age. He pulled out the ring from his pocket.

"My grandfather gave this to me this morning I did not understand until now. It is to be your engagement ring."

Jamie had a bemused look on his face. The carriage was big enough with it bumping along it might be quite awkward, but it seemed the right time to purpose. He got down on one knee and took Daphne hands and held them.

"I can think of better ways to do this, but I think now would be the perfect time we have no one to birddog us. Daphne, I knew from the moment you rolled down the hill at Inveraray Castle you were the only woman for me. Your passion has filled the void I did not even know I had until I met you. I want you to be my Duchess and stay with me for all my days grow old with me and live a life filled with love and laughter. What say you Lady Halverson will you consent to be my bride?"

Tears were streaming down Daphne's face those were the sweetest words she had ever heard.

"I will be honored to be your wife to live a life full of laughter and love, and to share the passion only you ignite in me. I love you James Campbell for eternity."

He got up off the floor of the carriage and sat next to Daphne and kissed her. At first it was a gentle kiss one to seal the engagement, but when Daphne ran her tongue over his lips a fire consumed him, and the kisses became more. Just as he was reaching to caress her breast the carriage stopped and there was a knock on the door. They had arrived at Edinburg Castle. They climbed out of the carriage to find the king and Charlotte making their way onto the battlement in the rain. The woman Victor had slept with a Miss was standing waiting to greet the king. Both Jamie and Daphne noticed Lilly and Emily were both up there waiting as well. Victor took his place near the king and his aunt. Daphne and Jamie arrived soon after to the roar of a cheering crowd. The king raised his hat in the air for silence.

"Huzzas"

Cheers went up throughout the crowd.

"Good God! What a fine site. I have no conception there was such a fine scene in the world. And to find it in my own dominions and the people are as beautiful and as extraordinary as the scene, and rain? I feel no rain. Never mind, I must cheer the people."

The crowd cheered even louder Charlotte smiled he was not used to this type of greeting. George' was not the most love king in England's history. She was glad the Scottish people had accepted him. Just when she finished her thought out of the corner of her eye she saw a glint of metal in the direction of Lilly and Alice. Charlotte stepped between the woman and the king and instead of them stabbing the king Charlotte was wounded. The king noticed immediately and swooped her up and carried her back to his carriage. Jamie and Daphne were rushed along and pushed into the carriage with them. Victor along with the other agents were making the arrest of Lilly and Alice Primrose aka Adel Dubois and Léonette Andre' and they also arrested Miss Bruis whose husband was the law in the area.

Charlotte was pale, and she could see the concerned look on all their faces.

"I will be alright it missed an artery. I just need to rest that is all."

When they arrived back at Dalkeith House it was the king who carried her into the manor. Calling for his physician. Daphne stayed by her mothers' side not sure what was happening. As they were entering Charlotte's room Victor arrived. Other than his father he had never lost anyone he was close to him he was not ready to lose his aunt. They all waited outside of the room except for Daphne and the king while the doctor did his job. The doctor did his work silently and his silence was making both Daphne and the King nervous. If Daphne did not know better, she would swear the king was crying.

Charlotte was going to be fine there was only a little nick, but she had lost a lot of blood. He stitched her up and he turned to her visitors.

"She will be fine I gave her something to sleep, so that is why she is sleeping. It was only a minor cut and will be able to get out of bed tomorrow."

Daphne went to sit by the bed she was not going to leave her mothers side no matter what. The Doctor left and told those waiting in the hallway her prognosis they came into hold the vigil waiting for Charlotte to wake up. When she finally woke up Charlotte opened her eyes to being stared at.

"Why all the gloomy looks I will be fine. To be honest I am quite hungry I missed my morning meal and now I can tell the hour is late. I would like all of you to go eat as well. I will survive and be here when you all get back."

They all left the room except for the king who was going to stay with her until her meal came. He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his.

"Why?"

Charlotte started to laugh but it hurt so she stopped.

"Because it was what my heart told me to do. I love Andrew, but you were my first love, there is something special about that all on its own."

Before anymore could be said her food arrived and he left her to eat in peace. Daphne finished her meal quickly and then went to sit with her mother. When she entered she was not sure if her mother would be awake, to her surprise not only was she awake but she was sitting up at a lap desk writing a letter.

"Is it a letter to father?"

"Yes, I thought he should know what happened even though its minor I have never kept anything from him I will not start now."

Daphne sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at her mother. She figured her news about her and Jamie would cheer her up and it was something good she could tell her father in the letter.

"Jamie asked me to be his wife today before we got to the battlement."

She showed her the ring Jamie had given her saying the king wanted her to have it as her engagement ring. The far off look on Charlottes face told Daphne that this was not just any ring it was the ring the king had given to her when he purposed marriage when she was fifteen years old. She started to take the ring off, but Charlotte's words stopped her.

"That is the sweetest thing he could have done, given you the ring he had made special for me. Let me tell you what the meaning of the ring is. You see the rubies represent the color of my hair but if you count there are seven rubies on either side and one large ruby in the center. Those represent my age; the small pearls represented the twelve reasons he said he fell in love with me."

Both Charlotte and Daphne were weeping.

"I do not keep secrets from your father but let's keep this between the two of us."

Daphne nodded and then Victor and Jamie knocked and ended the moment between mother and daughter. Jamie and Victor had news about what was happening to Adel Dubois, Léonette Andre' and Miss Bruis.

"They will be taken back to London to face charges of treason and attempted murder on royal persons. The bad news is neither Adel Dubois, or Léonette Andre' admit to trying to kill Daphne, so we still don't know which of the girls is after her."

Charlotte turned to Victor and Jamie and smiled.

"Victor Faith Valentine you will do everything you can to find those young ladies who want to hurt your cousin. Jamie you love her so make sure to keep her safe. Now all of you leave I need to rest. So, I will be ready on the marrow for all the festivities."

As Victor and Jamie were walking out Jamie leaned over and whispered in a sarcastic tone.

"Faith is your middle name?

Victor gave him a sour look and growled. "Drop it."