"Is there a problem?" Magnus asked her. "You looked vacant."

"I sensed something sinister about Darnley."

"Do not start mouthing your hocus-pocus," George warned, his voice an urgent whisper.

Magnus looked confused. "What is her 'hocus-pocus'?"

"My sister believes she has the Sight."

Avril could have throttled her brother. She did not want a husband who considered her peculiar.

Magnus smiled. "You must be joking."

"There is nothing amusing about the Sight," Avril said. "My gift feels like a curse."

Magnus leaned close to whisper in her ear, appearing like a lovestruck husband. "Forget about the Sight, wife, or we burn as witches."

"Good evening, Lords Gordon and Campbell."

Avril lifted her gaze to James Stewart, the Earl of Moray, the Queen's illegitimate half-brother. Dressed in black, the earl was almost as tall as Darnley. Stewart was a handsome man in spite of his pinched expression.

"I present my wife Avril," Magnus introduced them.

The Earl of Moray bowed over her hand before she could hide it behind her back. Again Avril suffered an uncanny awareness.

Fog swirled in her mind's eye and then dissipated ... Outlined in black, Moray held an infant and the crown of Scotland in his hand ... The fog rolled in again, blocking her view.

"Are you enjoying Edinburgh, Lady Campbell?"

"Actually, I prefer a simpler life in the Highlands."

James Stewart smiled at her. "Most young ladies would enjoy the excitement."

"I am not most young ladies." Avril gave him her sweetest smile. "Too much excitement can kill almost as easily as a dagger."

The earl inclined his head. "Campbell, you are the most fortunate of men to have wed a woman without ambition." And then he moved on.

Avril watched the Earl of Moray walk away. Then she blessed herself by making the sign of the cross.

Her brother smiled. He was accustomed to her eccentricities.

"What are you doing?" Magnus demanded.

"Keeping Old Clootie at bay." Avril glanced around. "Moray begrudges Mary her crown."

"Heed my sister's opinions of people," George advised her husband. "She inherited the knack of seeing into people's hearts."

"Too bad she can't see into their minds," Magnus said, and then looked at her. "I urge discretion, wife. The survival of the Campbells and the Gordons depend on that."

"I don't want anyone else touching me." Avril doubted she could remain sane if all the courtiers hid sinister hearts.

An older gentleman approached them. With him walked a voluptuous, dark-haired woman.

"Avril, meet William and Fiona Seton, the Earl and Countess of Melrose," Magnus said.

Melrose started to bow over her hand but couldn't find it. Avril had hidden her hands within the folds of her gown.

"I mean no offence, my lord, but"

"My wife dislikes being touched," Magnus finished.

The Earl of Melrose raised his brows. "I hope you can handle that, Campbell."

The Countess of Melrose gave Avril a feline smile. "Your wife is a lovely child, Magnus. We wish you well."

Avril narrowed her gaze on the woman. Fiona Seton had been her husband's lover, and she didn't need the Sight to tell her so. The woman reeked of rose perfume.

And then Queen Mary walked into the reception room, capturing Avril's attention, With the queen were her ladies, including her life-long friends, the four Marys.

Regal and graceful, Queen Mary was unusually tall, auburn-haired and beautiful. She was everything Avril had ever imagined and then some.

With her ladies at her sides, Queen Mary sat in a chair on a raised dais. The queen motioned Magnus and George forward.

"Your Majesty, I present my wife, Avril Gordon," Magnus said.

Avril executed a deep curtsey, her head bowed but her gaze on the queen.

"Arise, Lady Campbell," Queen Mary bade her, "My dearest George, your sister looks nothing like you."

"Alas, Your Majesty, this woman is an imposter," George joked, his smile infectious. "The fairies stole my true sister and left this changeling in her place."

Queen Mary giggled, and Avril blushed. The other courtiers laughed at her brother's success entertaining the queen.

"What say you to that, Lady Campbell?"

"His teasing tormented my entire life," Avril answered. "Unfortunately for my brother, my husband is duty bound to protect me and will surely give George a thrashing later."

The queen laughed and clapped her hands, enjoying the brother's and sister's barbs. Everyone laughed when the queen laughed.

"Your name means April in French," Mary told her.

"I was born on the first day of April," Avril said, "and my mother named me Avril Mairi in Your Majesty's honour."

"How nauseatingly sweet," murmured a female voice.

"Fiona," she heard the Earl of Melrose caution.

Avril felt interested gazes on her back. Some wished her well, others emanated unspoken hostility.

"What an exquisite necklace," Mary complimented her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Avril raised a hand to touch her necklace. "My husband is a generous man, but this ring" she held her hand out "comes with a marvellous legend."

The queen beckoned her forward. "I would hear this story."

"A guardian spirit lives inside this six-pointed star ruby,'' Avril said, stepping closer. "If danger approaches, the ruby warns me by darkening to pigeon's blood red."

"I could use one of those," Mary murmured.

"No one could ever wish you harm, Your Majesty." Avril told her. "Your devoted subjects waited years for your return and rejoiced at your homecoming."

Avril hoped her words proved true, but Darnley's smile hid deceit. Even worse, the queen's own half-brother coveted the crown.

"Do you golf, Lady Campbell?"

"Yes, I do golf."

"You must golf with me and my ladies tomorrow."

"Your invitation honours me."

"The gentlemen will serve as caddys," Lord Darnley said, advancing on the dais. "I would be honoured to carry your golf bag, Your Majesty."

Queen Mary dismissed Avril at Darnley's approach. Magnus was there to escort her away.

"Well done, wife."

"We must speak privately," Avril whispered.

Magnus ushered into the corridor. "We can speak outside."

Leaving the palace, they strolled away as if taking the air. "Enemies surround the queen," Avril said. "Those whom she loves and trusts will prove disloyal."

"Do not repeat that."

The topic was treason, endangering their queen. That required action, not discretion.

"We must warn her."

"Would you endanger the Campbells and the Gordons?" Magnus countered. "I will send you to Argyll if you persist."

Avril arched a copper brow at him. "Then you can resume your affair with Fiona Seton. Do not bother denying it. Your doublet reeked of rose perfume."

Magnus held his open hands out. "I danced with the lady, nothing more."

"Fiona Seton is no lady."

"True."

"Mary must not marry Darnley." Avril said, her tone urgent. "Someone must discourage that romance."

"You will do or say nothing," Magnus ordered her. "Darnley is short on brains and long on ambition but a harmless, affable blockhead."

"Darnley is not harmless and will bring Mary toppling down."

"You met the man once," Magnus argued. "How do you know?"

"I know because ..." Avril lifted her small nose into the air. "Sometimes I know what others do not."

"Hocus-pocus?" Magnus planted a kiss on her lips. "What does the future hold for our clans?"

"The Campbells and the Gordons will survive the storm," Avril answered, "but Mary will not survive the Darnley problem."

Her husband ran a hand down his face and sighed in obvious frustration. "What is the Darnley problem?"

"Only God knows everything, husband."

"How well do you golf?"

Inspecting herself in the pier glass, Avril adjusted the forest green hat that matched her gown and jacket. Then she faced her husband.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Mary excels at golf," Magnus said. "She wants to win against a good golfer."

"Trust me husband." Avril stepped closer, so close their bodies touched, and inhaled his clean scent. "You smell like mountain heather."

"I love your lilac scent."

"More than rose perfume?"

"Rose perfume stinks like the English." Magnus lifted her golf bag and slung it over his shoulder. "We cannot keep Mary waiting."

Magnus and Avril arrived at Holyrood Park ahead of the queen. A golf course had been landscaped in the park. Tin cups sat in small holes placed strategically at measured distances, and flags marked the cups.

Closing her eyes, Avril inhaled deeply. The world smelled green. Singing birds provided nature's music accompanied by the sensuous swish of wind caressing trees. Overhead, the sun shone in a clear blue sky. Nary a cloud marred its oceanic perfection.

Queen Mary and her entourage arrived, including both players and spectators. The Countesses of Melrose and Moray planned to golf while the four Marys, never far from their royal namesake, would watch the game.

Darnley carried the queen's golf bag, and James Stewart carried his wife's. Surprisingly, George Gordon carried Fiona Seton's.

"What are you doing here, brother?"

George rolled his eyes. "Melrose enlisted me to caddy for his wife."

Queen Mary teed off first. The ball landed on the green, not far from the first hole. All the spectators clapped for the queen.

"Good shot, Your Majesty." Avril knew the queen's height gave her a strength advantage.