TAM. This is the worst kind, they say, you don’t know it but it’s already in the air around you. You breathe it in at breakfast, you’re in heaven before you get your dinner. Folk just drop and die where they’re walking.

PHEMY. Stop it. You’re frightening me.

TAM exits.

ANNABELLA. It may never come as far as Stirling. It’ll depend on the wind.

PHEMY. You’ve seen this before.

ANNABELLA. Three times.

I don’t think it’s too early for a wee drink, do you?

PHEMY. Aye… go on then.

They exit.

The Garden, Day

JOHN is coaching JAMIE in fighting. MARGARET watches.

JOHN. Practise that, you know what you’re about now.

JAMIE. Thanks.

MARGARET. Go and get fed, Jamie. Tell them I’ll eat later.

JAMIE exits. MARGARET moves closer to JOHN.

Thank you.

JOHN. Nae bother. I enjoyed it. He’s good.

MARGARET. I can see he learns everything he should but he needs this. He really needs this.

JOHN. Course he does. He’ll be King one day, eh?

If you like… I could bring some men from my place to be with him, train with him, look out for him, you know? He’s maybe ready for that kind of company.

MARGARET. A guard of his own?

JOHN. Aye.

MARGARET. Yes.

Yes.

You’re probably right.

JOHN. If the King has no objection.

MARGARET. I doubt he’ll ever know.

They’re close together now.

He knows very little of what we do.

PHEMY enters, flustered.

PHEMY. Margaret, the King’s at the gate, he’s come today.

MARGARET. Oh.

JOHN. Then I’ll be on my road. But I’ll see you soon?

MARGARET. Yes.

Yes, I’d be happy to see you.

She watches him exit, then follows.

The Hall at Stirling, Same Day

JAMES is waiting, MARGARET enters.

MARGARET. Is Ross with you?

JAMES. I expect so, someone usually packs him whether I want them to or not.

That bastard from the Privy Council hasn’t even sent me the papers.

MARGARET. Really?

JAMES. No.

They never sent me a thing.

MARGARET (floundering). No… he… I… no.

JAMES. What?

MARGARET. Nothing.

He… I have the papers. They’re ready for you.

She offers them. He’s studying her.

JAMES. You look different.

Have you changed your hair?

MARGARET. No.

JAMES. You’ve got a lovely colour in your face.

MARGARET. Thank you.

JAMES. All flushed with the excitement of doing your sums, eh? So Lord John was here already, was he?

MARGARET. Yes.

JAMES. Yes, I know he was. What a dull morning you must have had.

Well, never mind.

I’ve brought you something. A birthday present.

MARGARET. But that’s months away.

JAMES. But I won’t see you, will I? And I want to be here when you see this.

JAMES is pulling on a covered mirror.

MARGARET. Where’s Cochrane?

JAMES (casual). Oh, he’s dead.

MARGARET. What!?