He cleared his throat and wondered how they could rid themselves of Kat. He said low, The game I have in mind is best played by two Patrick, any game that two can play can be even more fun with three players, unless of course you are monkish by nature.

Hamiltons eyes widened in surprise. Christ, he knew the Howard daughters were exceeding sportive, but if he wasnt mistaken, they were both asking for a taste of his prick, and in the state Tina Kennedy had left him, he was ready for them. I just happen tae have a small cask of aqua vitae in my chamber that cries out to be tasted, he invited with a wink.

The rooms in Edinburgh Castle were cheerless to say the least, but this night, in Patrick Hamiltons bed, the trio couldnt have been more cozy. The three of them rolled about as the girls playfully disrobed their willing victim.

Patricks lust was such that he took Nan almost immediately, without preliminaries. When Kat saw how willing and able he was to perform, she pressed her nakedness to his humping back, crying, Dont be greedy, Nan! Save some for me.

As Patrick lay sprawled between them to catch his breath, they plied him with drink. He assessed Kat with heavy-lidded eyes. Her hair was a darker gold than her sisters, and her belly wasnt nearly so rounded. He decided he hadnt had such a fine piece in months.

Kat dipped her finger into the alcohol flavored with caraway and painted the head of Patricks cock. As it started to rise again, she dipped her head between his legs and licked him, giggling, Now I know why they call it liquor.

He groaned. Christ, was he dreaming, or had he died and gone to Heaven? My angels. He sighed softly, closing his eyes.

The two sisters exchanged meaningful looks across the bared body of the Earl of Arrans heir.

The moment Tina returned to the hall she was claimed by Lord Howard. She gave a little sigh of relief knowing she would be perfectly safe in his hands and allowed him to lead her off for a dance. At first she thought she was imagining it, but as his hands became more and more playful, she knew it was not her imagination.

He held her much too close as his hand caressed her bottom. Tina was loath to make another scene, so she said pointedly, There is Lady Howard. You must have the next dance with your wife.

He chuckled. My wife gives all her attention to the younger men, hoping to lure husbands for our six daughters. Younger men, however, do not have the skill and experience of a mature man. He bent toward her ear. We make much better lovers.

Howard was hot for the beautiful young redhead. He thought to follow the king and take a Kennedy lass for his mistress.

Tinas steps faltered. My Lord Howard, I promised to look after Meggie Campbell. I really must go.

He looked down at her with a most understanding and indulgent smile. What a fool I am. You are reluctant because you are still a little virgin, arent you?

Tina was shocked enough to blurt, Yes, I am!

He gave her a quick kiss upon the lips and whispered, Ill let you go this time. But when you have lost your little cherry, come back to your uncle Howard and let him teach you all the refinements.

This time Tina ran from the hall. There wasnt a man who lived and breathed who wasnt ruled by his prick!

Apparently Englishmen were as lecherous as Scots.

The next morning, Valentina, thinking there was safety in numbers, joined a merry group who decided to ride abroad. They wouldnt have much of a gallop in the grounds atop Castle Rock, but fresh air and exercise would be welcome after the dark chambers inside the ancient fortalice.

The king joined Tina and Janet Kennedy inside the long stables and insisted upon saddling the ladies horses himself. He ran an appreciative hand over Tinas damson-colored Barbary. Shes a rare beauty, he enthused. James had as keen an eye for a filly as he had for a woman.

Thank you, sire. Tina beamed.

He lifted her into the sidesaddle with his own hands, and Tina was quite breathless to be shown such gallantry by the king himself. He brought Janets mare from its box-stall, and Tina, eyeing her cousins fashionable riding clothes with envy, said, My habit is sadly out of style.

Janet lifted the hem of Tinas cream riding skirt and tore open the small slit all the way up the seam so that Tinas lacy black stockings and garters showed daringly. Voil!

Now you are up-to-the-minute.

Tina laughed down at her, knowing they were sisters under the skin. She raised her eyes as a tall figure approached. There you are, Patrick. I feared you would stay abed all morning. His Highness had to saddle my mare for me.

Patrick flushed and murmured a profuse apology. Tina walked her Barbary out into the pale sunshine of the castle courtyard to give the men space to saddle up the other horses. She had not ridden thirty yards when she came face to face with Ramsay Douglas.

He stared in disbelief when he saw the mare upon which he had set his heart being ridden by the spoiled Kennedy bitch. A red mist of rage almost blinded him.

He knew exactly how she had come to be in possession of his property. The fucking Gypsy had gone directly from the knife contest with him to steal his prize mare and bestow it upon his fancy piece. He snatched the bridle with a firm hand and ordered, Dismount!

The exotic fillys tail stood straight up, and she danced nervously sideways. Tina looked down into the murderous pewter eyes and raised her riding crop.

Rams lips curved downward as he saw her intent, and he wrenched the crop from her fingersbut not before it had reopened the gash upon his cheekbone.

Take your filthy hands off my Indigo, Hotspur! she ordered icily.

Your Indigo? he repeated incredulously, his eyes raking her shamefully displayed legs and garters. This horse is mine, stolen from me by your Gypsy lover! He flung the riding crop from his hand and reached up to drag her from the saddle.

The riding crop hit Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis, across the chest, and he confronted Douglas with exploding rage. Ye reiving borderer! I knew it was ye lifted ma horses, ye thievin whoreson! I suspected ye from the first, and now heres the proof the king needed.

James Stewart, Janet Kennedy, and Patrick Hamilton emerged from the stables to overhear the quarrel.

Valentina stood between the two men, who were ready to murder each other. When Ram Douglas pushed her aside, Patrick Hamilton sprang forward, drawing his rapier. Douglas swung around, instantly unsheathing his sword before he saw the king.

The Earl of Cassillis snatched up the bridle of the excited filly, which was now rolling her large eyes in a frenzied panic. Yer Grace, here is the very special mare I intended as a gift before the thieving Douglas lifted her from under my nose.

James Stewart was furious at his brawling, uncivilized nobles. He glared at the savage Douglas and Hamilton until they sheathed their weapons. He refused to bandy words with them before the ladiesin fact, he did not trust himself to even speak with them at the moment. But deal with them he would. He took the lovely animal and gentled it with a firm hand and a soft voice. Then he stepped forward and placed the reins into Tinas hand.

Lady Valentina, please accept my gift to you. None other could grace the lovely creature as well as you, my dear.

He turned to Janet. Ladies, please take your ride. I have some pressing business.

The ladies hastily departed, and the king turned upon his heel and walked briskly back to the castle. The three remaining males stood in the courtyard, their blood high, screaming for release, yet impotent to do anything about it.

Within the hour Douglas and Hamilton were curtly told to gather their moss-troopers and depart for the Border Wardens Court. Both knew they had earned their monarchs wrath and would need to do a creditable job when they met up with their English counterparts. They had not yet been punished for their raiding and knew it would hang over their heads until they returned from the Wardens Court in a week or two.

That night Rob Kennedy sat up in bed enjoying the view. Ada removed the modest gray gown of a tiring woman to reveal her daring scarlet petticoat and corset.

Robs eyes kindled. Come here, lass, he begged thickly.

Ada came to the bedside, allowing him to unfasten her laces so that her voluptuous breasts spilled into his big hands. He groaned with pleasure as her dark brown hair fell across his barrel-chest, and she bent forward to give him a generous kiss.

Ada felt no guilt at the adultery. Elizabeth would have been devastated if shed suspected, but Ada knew the sex act was a duty for her mistress, a duty that she avoided altogether these days.

Rob marveled at the differences of women. Ada was the same age as his wife, had never been pampered or indulged in her life as a servant, yet she was more exciting to a man in her plain gray gown than any courtesan. At his age he was no longer driven by lust, and his arousals happened only occasionally in a months time, but Ada made him as horny as a rutting stag.

He couldnt get her out of her scarlet underclothes fast enough, but she playfully slapped his clumsy hands away, lest he tear the fabric in his haste, and finished undressing herself. She did it slowly, sensually, exposing a shoulder, a thigh, the curve of her back, so that by the time her breasts and bum cheeks were bared, he knew only that he had to have her beneath him while he plunged. He labored and groaned, his breath heaving, his face reddening alarmingly.

Rob, are you all right, love? she asked softly.

He grunted his delight, sweat breaking out across his brow and chest.

Her fingers brushed his temples, and she said softly, Let me on topyoure going at it too hard.

He plunged a few more times, realized she was probably right, and rolled over onto his back. Ada clung to his great body so that she rolled with him, then lay still to allow him to catch his breath. Then she knelt above him and continued the plunging motion hed begun. Ada built to orgasm quickly and allowed him to see and hear how much pleasure he was giving her.

She was wise enough to realize how it thrilled the male to know he could give an aroused female deep satisfaction. Within a minute of her own writhing vocal climax, Rob Kennedy spilled himself profusely.

She rested in the curve of his arm, both of them grateful for what they had shared.

Lass, he said hoarsely, I wish we could stay fer a month, but its no to be.

This is our last night?

Aye. I did ma duty by informin James about the English attackin ma ship, so theres no need tae tarry. He paused, then confided, Cassillis practically ordered me home. The kings enraged over these clan feuds, and our chief seems tae think our Tina inflames the men tae violence.

I think its best we go. The king has a weakness for redheads, and in truth it does her reputation no good to be in the company of Janet.

Dear God, her mother would run mad if she knew, Rob said helplessly.

Well, she wont know, so stop your worrying. Tina has more good sense than to breathe the name Janet Kennedy to her mother.

Rob pushed away thoughts of Elizabeth as he filled his hands and his eyes with Adas generous globes.

In the royal bed James Stewart breathed the name over and over. He adored women in general and worshipped this one in particular. Janet, Janet, he crooned, entwining his fingers in the luxuriant red hair spread across the satin embroidered pillows. Though he was forty, he had the body of an athlete. He rode every day, as often as he couldboth horses and women. He had a preference for red hair that was almost a fetish, an obsession. He gazed at the burning bush at the apex of her thighs and lowered his mouth to it reverently.

James, she whispered, I think Im carrying your child.

He lifted his head and gazed at her with joy. Jan, thats marvelous! He loved all his children. Hell be a little redhead like the two of us. He kissed the round curve of her belly reverently.

Your hair is auburn, a far more beautiful shade than mine, she protested.

Not to me, sweet, he murmured against her flaming mons, lost in her womans scent.

She too was delighted at the prospect of the child. He would keep her in luxury for the rest of her life, as he did all the women who had borne him children. His council didnt object to his mistresses and bastardseach new one reconfirmed that he was not tainted by his fathers depraved and degenerate homosexuality. Sodomy could not be stomached by the rough, masculine Scots.

Later, as they lay on the floor before the fire, where their last bout of coupling had landed them, James absently stroked her hair.

Whats troubling you? she questioned as she fingered his roughened skin made by his chain of remorse. No body hair grew in a wide circle about his middle.

The English, he replied. Nay, if Im truthful, its my Scots Clan feuds only if we are united and stand together can we keep England at bay. The clans have been at their favorite pastime, cattle raiding, again.

The Campbells and the Hamiltons? she asked.

He nodded and bit her ear playfully, And you damned Kennedys are as bad as any, if not worse.

Ha! What about Douglas? she demanded.

The king shook his head. Young Hotspur would raid just for the pleasure of harassing the bloody Hamiltons. Not bad enough we have a running feud between Hamilton and Douglasfeuds have almost erupted between Campbell, Kennedy, and Douglas. I told Campbell tae get his daughter wed tae Donal Kennedy as soon as may be and ordered him tae sign a bond of friendship. I agreed tae have the wedding at Stirling Why not a marriage bond between my cousin Robs daughter and Douglas? Janet asked.

It wouldnt be the first marriage between Clan Kennedy and Clan Douglas, he said, remembering.

It shouldnt have gone wrong. It was a good match, Janet said.

It was a perfect match, James agreed. Both their great- grandfathers married daughters of King Robert III.

Damn, Id love tae see an alliance between Kennedy and Douglas. Id also like a bond between Hamilton and Douglas, but both houses have only sons.

I have the solution! Rob Kennedy has two daughters.

Marry one to Hamilton, the other to Douglas, then theyll all be united. Order them to do it, and order them all to sign a bond of friendship The king smiled. Ah Jan, ye make it sound so simple.

Order this and order that. Black Ram Douglas wouldnt be best pleased tae be ordered tae take a wife.

Hes past thirty, its time he had an heir! she pointed out.

Over time, chuckled James. Hes one of my finest young warriors, Jan. Im counting on him tae use his vessels tae harry the English if their ships keep up their piracy. I dinna want him pissed off at me for ordering him tae wed.

She moved sensuously against him and lifted her mouth to his. Sire, you are not nearly devious enough His shaft raised its head and stretched itself like an animal awakening from a nap. Call in your earls and tell them to put an end to the feuds, or youll be forced to hang a few of your lords. Cassillis will soon give Rob Kennedy his orders. I admit you might have to bang your fist on the table to make Angus know you mean business, but I dont think even Ramsay Douglas would dare defy his chief.

She was right, James admitted. To say Archibald Douglas was frighteningly arrogant was an understatementhe was insufferable. As the king covered Janets silken body, he wondered once again why Angus had allowed this delectable woman to slip through his fingers.

Chapter 13.

James Stewart decided this time that there was safety in numbers. He summoned three of his earls Cassillis, Arran, and Angusto a private meeting and assumed a cold, implacable attitude. Though the Hamilton and Douglas clans were sworn enemies, Arran and Angus never let it interfere with their civility toward each other. As chiefs, they were above petty feuds and left the quarreling to their clans.

The king looked at each in turn and finally said with a note of contempt, Are ye growing too old tae control yer clans?

They were on the defensive immediatelyexactly where he wanted them. He proceeded with a blistering denunciation upon their abilities to put an end to the raids. I want ye, nay I demand that ye eradicate these raids! They are an evil to which you turn a blind eye, but Im warning ye for the last time, I will no longer tolerate fighting, burning, and taking booty among ourselves.

James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, tried to point out that there would be feuds as long as two Scots remained alive in the realm, but the king crashed his fist down upon the oak table. Silence! Must I need spell out

chapter and verse the various means at yer disposal?.

His voice was raised in anger, which was unusual for the even-tempered monarch. Bonds must be signed.

Then if the bonds are broken, hanging is justified!