"Do not let Fiona Seton bother you," the Countess of Moray said. "The only woman who escapes that witch's sharp tongue is the queen."

"If we could trick Fiona into sniping at the queen" Avril slashed a finger across her throat "we need never listen to Fiona Seton again."

The Countess of Moray smiled. "One simple action solves a nagging annoyance."

"Lady Campbell?" Avril recognized Darnley's voice before she turned around. "May I have a word?"

"Which word would you like, my lord?"

The Countess of Moray nodded at Darnley. "I will leave you to your conversation."

Darnley watched the countess walk away and then asked, "Are you practising witchcraft?"

"Do not speak nonsense," Avril said, her tone contemptuous. "Witches exist only in small minds like yours."

"You should speak with respect to the man who may marry the queen," Darnley warned her.

The man was an idiot. A snivelling idiot. A dangerous snivelling idiot.

"My husband will be wondering where I've gone," Avril said. "What do you want?"

"I want to know what you were doing this morning."

Avril looked him straight in the eye. "What were you doing this morning?"

Her question caught him off-guard, colouring his face crimson. A smidgen of respect entered his eyes when he realized bullying her would not work.

"Mary likes you," Darnley said. "Singing my praises to the queen would help me forget what I saw."

The man had lost his wits if he expected her to believe that. In the unlucky event he did marry the queen, Darnley would silence Avril by using fair means or foul.

"What do you say, Lady Campbell?"

"I'm sorry," Avril answered, "but I never lie or make deals with the devil." She showed him her back and walked away.

Lost in thought, Avril bumped into the queen's half-brother. The Earl of Moray grasped her arms to prevent her falling.

"I apologise, my lord."

"The fault belongs to me."

His touch disturbed her, but she sensed something else. Moray's machinations would fail if the queen did not marry Darnley.

"Do you adhere to the new kirk?" she asked him.

The Earl of Moray's smile did not reach his eyes. "From where did this question come?"

Avril gave him an ambiguous smile. "Mere curiosity."

"Walk with me, Lady Campbell." James Stewart smiled and offered his arm.

Avril inclined her head. She was silent for a long moment, the wolves at court worrying her. She needed to save the queen from an unwise decision, and she needed to do that without condemning herself, the Campbells, and the Gordons.

"You have unusual eyes," the earl remarked.

"I inherited my father's blue and my mother's green," Avril said, "Do my eyes trouble you?"

"Disturbing me takes more than blue and green eyes," Moray answered. "Which kirk do you prefer?"

"I prefer whatever my husband prefers," Avril answered, "and my husband places his faith in political expediency."

"If Queen Mary joined the new kirk," Moray asked, "would Campbell follow?"

"I cannot speak for my husband," Avril answered. "Personally, I don't give a fig about churches. God hears everyone's prayers and knows what lies in our secret hearts."

"Well said, Lady Campbell, but do not let Reverend John Knox hear that."

"The reverend fears women," Avril said, "which is the reason he dislikes them. I pray that man burns in hell."

"How indiscreet to say so," Moray remarked, the hint of a smile on his lips. "Have you met Reverend Knox?'

"I never met Old Clootie," Avril answered, "but I know the devil is evil."

His lips twitched. "You believe Reverend Knox is evil?"

Avril slid her gaze across the hall and caught her husband's pointed look. "Campbell is warning me to discretion, but do not allow Queen Mary to marry Darnley."

Moray gave her an interested stare. "Why do you say that?"

Avril wished she'd kept her mouth shut. On the other hand, preventing marriage to Darnley would keep both the queen and her safe.

"My woman's intuition tells me Darnley is not what he appears," Avril glanced towards the dais. "The queen will regret marrying him. Darnley's brain is no bigger than a rooster's testicle."

"I like you, Lady Campbell," Moray said, smiling, "and I admire your loyalty to my sister. Take my advice. Return to Argyll and give your husband a dozen children."

"Is that a warning or threat?"

"I would never wish you harm," Moray assured her. "Politics is dangerous business, and you are too kind-hearted."

"What about the queen?"

The Earl of Moray slid his gaze to the dais. "My sister cannot escape her destiny." He offered his arm. "Shall we join the others?"

Magnus and George were conversing with Queen Mary and Darnley. With them were the Earl and Countess of Melrose.

"I hope your ankle has recovered," Avril said to the countess.

"I feel much better today," Fiona said. "I dare say, I won't be dancing for a few days, and I do adore partnering your husband."

Avril slid her gaze to her husband and then her brother. George looked as if he'd sucked a lemon. She knew he was waiting for her to strike back.

"My husband does move incredibly well," Avril said, her expression pleasant.

"I can vouch for that." Fiona gave her a decidedly feline smile. "Your eye colour is quite unusual. Have you ever been accused of witchcraft?"

Everyone, including the queen, laughed at such a ridiculous notion. Avril wondered if Darnley had begun spreading rumours.

"Have you been accused of witchcraft?" Avril countered. "Your tongue cuts like an evil old crone's."

Fiona paled at the insult. An awkward cloud of silence hovered over the group.

Avril refused to look at her husband or her brother. She had no wish to see their expressions of disapproval.

A footman, his hair the palest blond, arrived at that moment to serve them wine. Avril stared at the young man's hair and then looked at Darnley, who was smirking at her.

"If you were my wife," Darnley said, "I would poison your wine."

Avril gave him an insincere smile. "If I was your wife, I would drink it."

The Earl of Moray shouted with laughter. "Lady Campbell, you will never bore your husband."

"Your Majesty, please excuse my wife's lapse in manners."

Avril rounded on Magnus, ready for battle. But she remained silent, heeding the warning in his gaze.

"I apologise for my sister," George Gordon added.

"Charles provoked Avril," Mary said. "It was a poor joke but no harm intended."

The danger had merely been delayed. Protecting herself from Darnley, Avril placed her palm against her midsection. "The babe rules my tongue."

"You should not have golfed in your condition," Queen Mary said. "I had no idea."

Magnus put his arm around her. "We decided to wait before sharing our good news."

"It's early days yet," Avril said, leaning against her husband.

"Too early, if you ask me."

"Nobody asked you, Darnley," the Earl of Moray said. "I know from personal experience that babes upset their mothers from the moment of conception."

"With your permission, I will take my wife home," Magnus said, "before the babe insults someone else."

"I understand." Queen Mary looked at Avril, saying, "I envy your good news."

"Your day will come, Your Majesty. Until then, I will name my daughter in your honour."

And they left the reception hall.

Avril cast a sidelong glance at her husband, who stared straight ahead. Only a blind woman could miss his tight-lipped anger.

"Magnus?"

"Do not speak."

Magnus marched her like a recalcitrant child into Campbell Mansion and up the stairs to their bedchamber. "Sit in front of the hearth," he ordered, pausing to lock the door.

Avril felt a momentary panic. "Why are you doing that?"

"Do not play the henwit," Magnus said, walking towards her. "I'm not planning to beat common sense into you." He dropped into the chair beside hers. "Tell me everything."

"What do you mean?"

"Damn it, wife." Magnus banged his fist on the arm of the chair. "Darnley is sniping at you, Moray is defending you, and you are announcing a non-existent pregnancy."

"I know the situation looks bad," Avril said, "but enemies surround the queen."

"I want facts, not hocus-pocus."

"Do not play the unconscious brick," Avril said. "Even you should feel the negative undercurrents swirling around court."

"Begin at the beginning," Magnus said, reaching for her hand. "Include facts along with your intuition."

"Darnley is morally corrupt," Avril said, "and Moray's soul is darker than the inside of a grave."

"You mentioned that Moray covets the crown," Magnus said, "but he can never claim it because of his birth."

"Even bastards harbour ambitions, more than properly-born men."

"I agree. Please continue."

"Marriage to Darnley will ruin Mary," Avril said, "and marriage to another gentleman will neutralize Moray."

Avril did not want to tell her husband that she'd jeopardized them by worshipping outside but if he was going to handle the situation, he needed to know the whole truth.

"When I awakened early this morning, I was happy about marrying a magnificent man but worried about the queen's future," Avril told him. "I decided to consult the Goddess."

Magnus looked flabbergasted. "Whom did you consult?"

"The Great Mother Goddess protects her children," Avril answered.

Her husband was staring at her as if she'd grown another head. "What are you?"

"Like my mother before me, I follow the Old Ways."

"Sweet Jesus, you're a pagan?"

His attitude did not sit well with Avril. "Pagans do not slaughter each other," she defended herself. "Only squabbling kirks encourage murder."