Chapter 6

Torrential rains ruined the first day of the celebration and Daphne's morning ride. She was in a foul mood she did not want to waste any of her precious time inside she wanted to explore the rest of Scotland a place she had grown to love. She went to find her mother thinking they could spend some time together. It was early, and she did not think it proper to disturb Jamie.

To her surprise her mother's chamber was empty. She had to find something else to do, before her escort showed up and ruined her day. She decided an indoor picnic would be just the thing. She made her way down to the kitchen where the cook was surprised to see a guest of the king. She was even more surprised to find she wanted to use her kitchen to make a picnic lunch for a Duke. The woman did not have the heart to tell her Dukes like edible meals even if they were from young lasses. The more the cook watched Daphne's efforts she was pleasantly surprised the lass knew what she was doing, and they would have a fine picnic after spending four hours in the kitchen making food.

During her time in the kitchen she didn't think her absents would cause a stir, after all she had not left the castle. What she found when she arrived back upstairs to impress Jamie was chaos. Jamie and Victor were running around like gooses and the guard who was supposed to be watching her was in no better condition. She stood off to the side of the hallway watching the bloody fools. Jamie was the first one to see her and he marched over as if he were mad at her. But when he saw the shade of green of her eyes and the amusement they held he shook his head and smiled at her instead of yelling.

"I thought it was discussed there would be a guard with you at all times?"

"It is not my fault no one was about this morning when I came out of my room. What would you have me do go in search of a guard your grace?"

"I was going to look after I made you lunch."

She held up the picnic basket the cook had loaned her to carry the food.

"It is raining where pray tell could we have had a picnic?"

The smile spreading across her face told him he was doomed. She crooked her finger and had him come down to her level and whispered in his ear.

"Alone in your room your grace."

Jamie turned to the guard,

"Go tell his majesty she has been found and she is in my care."

Then Jamie started to lead Daphne to his room, but he met the obstacle called Victor. Victor did not have his usual humor about him. He had become quite serious. He spoke only so Jamie could hear him.

"If you take her into your room I will be expecting an invitation to a wedding. I will not let you dishonor her, she means as much to me as my sisters."

"You think me a cad, I would never dishonor Daphne, I am hopelessly in love my friend and I intend on making her my Duchess, so move out of my way or you will find a fist in your face."

Victor moved aside and stared down the hallway whistling. Vincent and Jeremy were going to be ecstatic the Duke was going to be a member of the family. They always treated him as such but now he would be, or he would die.

Daphne walked over to the rug near the fireplace and started to move the chairs, so they had space for their picnic. Then she laid out the food she had prepared. She made shepherd pie a loaf of warm bread, cheese. She had a mixture of fruits and a pie and sweet jam puffs. Then to top it off she had a bottle of wine.

"Were you planning on inviting the guard in to join us?"

She laughed,

"Do not be silly I was not sure if you ate breakfast and thought you could be hungry."

"I have to dine with the King for breakfast and dinner and most luncheons. You can attend also if you would like."

"Why did you not tell me you were the king's grandson?"

"It's not something I talk about he has never really been in my life except for occasions he feels a tinge of guilt and remembers I am out there. For some reason I became the sole child with benefits I guess you can say. He paid for my education, he sent me to your uncles and Jeremy's home during my school breaks. He is just there when he remembers."

"I'm sorry, He seems genuinely fond of you."

"Oh, he is but only for a brief time then he forgets and leaves me alone."

"Families are funny. In my family there are four of us but when I am with the Valentines I feel as if I have a large family. We have always been close. I want a large family someday since my family brings me such joy. What about you."

He did not answer her he leaned down and kissed her. She had placed her head on his lap. Her lips tasted like wine. He hungered for this young woman and he knew he was never going to let her go. He needed to talk to his grandfather before he asked her to marry him he would do that as soon as he could get an audience alone with him before the end of his visit. Jamie didn't want to wait any longer than they had to. If he could he would marry her today, but that would not do. He was expected to have a big wedding and he was sure her family would want one as well. Before the kiss could turn into something else there was a knock on the door.

"This better be good. Enter!"

Emily opened the door looking as if she were there to seduce the Duke. She was wearing something more appropriate for the bedroom at night, instead of in a busy castle during the early part of the day. She had a tempting smile on her face and was ready to saunter into the room when she saw Daphne laying with her head in the Dukes lap as if it was the most normal thing the two of them could be doing. She did not say anything but turned and ran out of the room leaving the door open.

"That is going to cost me. Oh well you're worth it."

He leaned down and kissed her again.

"What pray tell is that going to cost you?"

"I don't know but she did warn me she was going to try to make you marry her. And she yells at me every day she catches us together, which is quite a bit of time. Even if I did not enjoy spending every waking moment with you. I think I would do it just to spite the evil girl."

"I can have the king send her away, and you will never have to put up with her again."

"Oh, let her have her Scottish holiday she will get over you after she is gone?"

"What about you Luv would you get over me?"

"I am not sure you would miss me since I might decide to stay here in Scotland I have fallen in love."

She paused so he could tell her he loved her too. But when he said nothing she put the extra touch, so he did not know she had been hurt.

"In love with Scotland that is."

His heart rose and crashed in a moment with her words. Had she meant she loved him? He knew she cared but she had not come to Scotland with the notion of getting married. But it was a plus she loved Scotland. He was going to have to talk to his grandfather tonight he needed her. Before he could tell her, he loved her the guard arrived who was to watch over her and was not leaving. Damn Emily for leaving the door open.

"I better go I have to bring the basket back to the kitchen."

She did the most unexpected thing she reached up and kissed him She had never initiated a kiss before. He quite liked her taking the initiative. Before he could tell her, she was walking off with her armed escort. He did not see her again until supper when her mother and her walked into the dining room He watched his grandfather's face lite up. He had to wonder what was between them, but if truth be told he really did not want to know. His grandfather was a gad about. He went from women to women as if woman were only there for the sake of pleasing him.

The king noticed Charlottes daughter was wearing Campbell clan colors. Had something happened between them for her to assume she would marry Jamie? Jamie thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen she was wearing a white dress with the train entirely in his clan colors of green and blue. Her hair was in curls starting from the top of her head draping down her back her hair was adorned simply with a plaid bow to match the train of her dress. That is how he wanted her to look when he made her his bride. He stood and walked over to escort her to her seat. When he reached her, he took her hand and kissed it.

"You are the most beautiful woman in all of Scotland."

"You like it then. I had a new wardrobe made for the month after you gave me permission to wear your colors. I hope you don't mind?

"I would have been disappointed if you had not seen fit to celebrate by wearing my colors."

He turned to Charlotte and took her hand and placed a kiss upon it too.

"Your, highness it is plain to see where your daughter gets her beauty."

He pulled out the chair for both women instead of letting the valet do it for them. From down the table they could hear Emily make a rude comment. The king heard it too, and called his guard over whispered in his ear, and then Emily was escorted out of the dining hall with her mother following. That night there was to be a ball to everyone's surprise the King insisted Charlotte sit next to him at the head of the room. She was going to fight him, but he reminded her his Queen had died and she was the highest-ranking female in attendance. She gave in and sat at his side. It was Jamie and Daphne who started the dance as the highest ranking since Victor seemed to be not in attendance. At the end of the night Jamie walked Daphne back to her room. There was a guard standing outside her door.

Jamie opened the door to her room for her, acting as if he was inspecting it. What he really wanted to do and what he had wanted to do all night was kiss her senseless. As way of making it seem official he talked to the guard who was outside the door.

"No one has entered this room tonight."

"Except for her lady's maid who brought her highness her chocolate?"

Daphne looked confused and that made Jamie nervous.

"What is it Luv?"

"I do not have a lady's maid Nanny insisted she would help me with my dressing, and she ordered me to not eat or drink anything she did not personally give me or you or my mother. Today's food I made myself, so I did not think it would be a problem, but I did not order the chocolate. I appreciated it all those nights at the castle before bed it was quite comforting."

Jamie turned to the guard.

"Who brought the chocolate for her highness?"

"I do not know your grace I did not get a glimpse of her face she was wearing a hood before she came down the hall there was a gust of wind and I just assumed she was wearing it to keep from the wind."

"Are you sure it was a woman?"

"Yes, your grace she was small of stature a little taller than her highness, but she had curves in all the right places your grace, so I am positive it was a woman."

"How long ago?"

"About an hour maybe a little more,"

Jamie helped Daphne into her room and he closed the door on the guards.

"I know there is something amiss I knew it the other day when I was violently ill, after I drank the Chocolate left for me at the inn?"

He held her at her shoulders making her look him in the eye.

"Daphne Luv, I need you to think who would want to hurt you?"

"Other than Emily, Olivia, and Lilly I do not know anyone, and they only want to hurt me because you spend time with me. I do not think they would act on that since women get jealous all the time and do not try to kill off their rivals."

He pulled her to him in an embrace and kissed the top of her head.

"Daphne you have no rivals you are the only one."

She pushed away from him, so she could look at his face. She had a big smile.

"Is that your way of telling me you Love me your grace?"

"Yes, Luv that is my way of saying I love you."

She threw her arms around Jamie and reached up and kissed him.

"I love you too."

She loved him his heart sored, now all he had to do was figure out who was trying to kill her and talk to his grandfather to get his blessing. Even if he did not think he should have to ask for it but being the recognized grandson of the king weather or not if he was legitimate it came with its own set of rules.

"I am so very glad you love me too. First, we must find out who is trying to hurt you. You need to think when the chocolate started coming and if anyone let on they were the ones bringing it."

"I remember the chocolate appeared after the first week when I made dinner for everyone and it came every night since."

"Here is a tough question for you. Was there a stock of chocolate in my larders?"

"Not that kind of chocolate you have coco powder for baking. This chocolate was like the finest candy melted in to the milk and it was sweet."

Jamie opened the door to talk the guard.

"She is not to leave this room until I come to get her. No one is to enter the room except for me, her mother, Nanny and her cousin Victor. If anyone else tries to get into this room shoot them on site."

Daphne laughed,

"I think shooting them is taking things to the extreme your grace. I think arrest would be sufficient."

It was his turn to laugh where she was concerned he did not think he was taking it to the extreme, but he conceded.

"Very well arrest them on sight do not take any excuses someone is trying to kill her highness and they will be caught and punished."

He turned his attention back to Daphne and smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"Get some sleep if the weather is good we have a long day ahead of us."