Chapter 8
KAITLYN
Ihad two maids helping me ready our room and make the bed for us, as Magnus entered the room with a look.
“Oh no, how did it go?”
“Twas fine.” He ran a hand through his hair.
I sent the maids away and he sank to the edge of the bed with his elbows on his knees.
“It doesn’t really look fine, you look like something happened. Which, knowing your uncle, is normal. What did he say?”
“He insulted everyone and offended me deeply.”
I frowned.
He continued, “And I told him the family was leavin’.”
“Oh no, and what did he… he insulted everyone?”
“Aye, he is, as James would say, a piece of shite.”
I blew out air and sat on the bed beside him. I dropped my head to his shoulder.
He said, “Och, I came here tae hae a nice visit and he has gone and soured m’mood.”
I said, “Well, truth be told, you also came here to visit your childhood home before you cut the ties to it, it’s bound to be full of melancholy — your uncle being a jerk is bound to make cutting ties easier.”
He half chuckled. “Tis true.”
“Saying goodbye is going to be full of sour memories I think, it was probably a little fun to tell him you were leaving and not coming back.”
I felt him nod.
“I was angry when I said it… but I did enjoy it, I enjoyed tellin’ him that I was goin’ tae take Sean and Lizbeth away, but I tell ye, Kaitlyn, my younger self would hae enjoyed it more.
He is diminished in my mind now, it daena take away from his cruelty, och, he is cruel.
But now I see he is weak and auld and it takes the pleasure away from beatin’ him. ”
He took my hand in his and held it on his thigh. “I wish he were thirty years younger and I could hae called him out tae the courtyard and kicked his arse.”
“He would have deserved it.”
“Aye, and his treatment of Lady Mairead has always been unforgivable.”
“Whenever I am furious at her and think her unreasonable, it’s good to remember that though he wronged her she has spent her whole life dealing with it, suffering him, for her children’s sake.”
“We owe her a great deal, although she is also a verra difficult woman, and has caused a great deal of trouble.”
I laughed.
He squeezed my hand. “But I daena want tae think on it anymore, let’s go for a walk around the castle, I need tae clear m’head.”
“Sounds perfect.”