"Lord Robert?"

Robert turned. "Aye?"

"The Lady Catherine is here."

Robert's eyes lit up with pleasure. "Show her to the library." He rose to his feet. "Friends, if you'll excuse me…"

Katie studied the massive shelves filled with books. She ran her finger lightly over the titles when suddenly, hands went around her waist and she was spun around.

"It's been too long." And Robert kissed her fiercely.

Katie's arms slid around his neck. "I agree," she murmured against his lips.

"Where have you been?"

"Busy."

"I don't want to know."

"You'll hear soon enough." Katie kissed him once more then stepped back. "I have to go to England."

"You just arrived."

"I must go. I can only stay one night here. Then on the morrow, I must start for England."

"I'll let you go on one condition."

"What is the condition before I agree?"

"You'll stop back by here on your way home."

Katie's blue eyes sparkled. "Convince me I should."

Robert grinned. "With pleasure."

By late next afternoon, Katie was once more within the palace walls.

Isabelle entered the small room where she was and shut the door behind her. "You routed Lord Bottoms."

"Aye," Katie said calmly. "What does the King say?"

"He's furious. The Prince said you and your brother are no more than bandits."

Katie laughed.

"Longshanks has gone to France to press his rights there and he's left my husband in charge." Isabelle sat next to her. "They say your brother killed over thirty men to avenge the death of his woman."

"Aye. They killed Marion," Katie said quietly.

"I'm sorry for him."

"I've been to see Robert."

"Robert?"

"Robert the Bruce."

"Ah." Isabelle's eyes twinkled. "How long did you say?"

Katie's face went red but she answered. "Two weeks. And I was there last night."

Isabelle squealed with delight and clasped her hands together. "Tell me, is he handsome?"

"Very."

"Is he good in bed?" Isabelle whispered.

"Very."

Isabelle sighed wistfully.

"Cheer up, highness." Katie's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps your husband will come to Scotland and I can make a widow of you."

"Oh, that I should be so lucky."

Robert unlocked a small door high in a small tower on his castle. He entered the room and placed a lit candle at the center of a small table in the room. "Father?"

An old man, disfigured grotesquely by leprous, shuffled forward into the light.

"Father. A rebellion has begun."

"Under whom?" asked his father.

"A man named William Wallace. And his sister, Katie."

"Are they nobles?"

"They are more like commoners."

"Commoners? So no one leads Scotland."

"These Wallaces…They fight with passion," said Bruce.

"And they are very clever. They inspire men. They have courage. So does a dog. But you must understand this: Edward Longshanks is the most ruthless king ever to sit on the throne of England, and none of us, and nothing of Scotland, will survive unless we are as ruthless, more ruthless, than he."

Bruce started to say something but then stopped. He rose heavily and went slowly to the door.

"Press your case to the nobles. They will choose who rules Scotland."

Robert turned and gave his father a long look. Then he left.