Chapter 11
KAITLYN
THE GREAT HALL FOR DINNER
It took Magnus a quarter of the time to dress. He put on a deep midnight-blue wool coat that I loved. I told him, “Now that’s my favorite color.”
The coat was tailored with cuffs turned back to reveal silver-threaded embroidery of thistles and vines along the edges, matching my dress.
Beneath it, a crisp white linen shirt with a simple lace jabot at the throat, tucked into breeches of fine black wool that tucked into polished knee-high boots of soft Spanish leather.
A broad leather belt cinched his waist, holding a sheathed dirk on his right side.
Over one shoulder hung the family plaid in the Breadalbane colors: dark greens and blues shot through with thin lines of red and gold.
I helped him fasten it at the shoulder with a heavy silver brooch. His hair was tied back neatly with a black ribbon, though a few strands had already escaped to frame his face. I grinned. “God, as soon as you’re in breeches I want to take them off you.”
“Do ye now?”
“I do, you know I do.”
“Aye, ye say it all the time.”
“Man, you’re hot in them, the kilt is great, but the breeches…” I fanned myself.
He chuckled and escorted me to down to dinner
I tightened my grip on Magnus’s arm as we stepped through the doorway into the Great Hall. The room was warm and inviting, already teeming with dinner guests. A fire crackled in the hearth.
Torches blazed along the walls, their flames dancing on the elaborately carved ceiling, and throwing long, flickering shadows across the stone floor.
The long oak table stretched down the center, laid with white linen cloth.
Candelabras were in the center and pewter plates gleamed at every place; horn spoons and steel-bladed knives lay neatly beside them.
Those places at the high end of the table were also set with forks.
Goblets of chased silver stood in a row above the plates.
At the high end, the Earl’s carved chair waited empty, high backed chairs to the right and left would be for Magnus and Sean as his wife and son weren’t here.
My place was beside Magnus. Maggie was to sit beside Sean, then Lizbeth and Liam. Benches lined the sides for the rest: guards, retainers, a handful of local lairds and their wives who had ridden in for the occasion. A few of the household folk who ranked high enough had been asked to dine.
The aromas hit me — roast venison, onions, cloves, fresh-baked bread, and the sharp tang of ale.
My stomach growled. In all the boxes I had brought, I had forgotten snacks for our room.
I was famished. Servants moved between the tables, setting out platters of smoked fish, cheeses, and bowls of stewed plums.
Sean entered the room and came up, quick nod of his head.
Magnus said, “See the settings?”
“Aye, ye must sit at the right hand of the Earl.”
Magnus said, “After I spoke tae him today, I am surprised he dinna leave the chairs empty just tae spite me.”
Sean groaned, “What did ye say tae him?”
Just then Liam and Lizbeth entered; he looked timid and concerned about her. She was giving instructions to the servants, directing a last tray of oatcakes toward the end of the table, her face pale and composed, beautiful, her dress in a lush deep brown, with gold details.
She raised her chin as they both approached.
Magnus said, “Good evening, Liam, Lizbeth. How are ye?”
They nodded and said they were well.
Sean said, “Young Magnus was about to tell me about his conversation with the Earl today, he has upset him apparently, he is surprised the Earl haena requested empty chairs beside him at dinner.”
“I told him ye and Lizbeth and Liam were leaving.”
Lizbeth raised her chin even higher and glanced around the room without comment.
Sean asked, “What did he say when ye told him?”
Magnus raised his eyes to Lizbeth’s face. “He said ye would be missed, that ye hae been verra necessary around here.”
Sean said, “That’s good, he gets our worth.”
Lizbeth raised her brow and huffed.
Magnus asked, “What are ye thinking, Lizbeth?”
“I think ye are nae telling the truth.”
Magnus chuckled. “Ye always did ken m’manner.”
“I do, I ken when ye are telling a tale.”
“Well, what the Earl and I discussed is between us — I winna share it. But he is told, he kens ye will be leavin’ soon.”
Magnus looked at his watch. “Where is he, by the way?”
She said, “I will go ask a page tae see tae him.”
In the corner near the musicians’ gallery, a lone fiddler tuned his instrument, then drew a slow, testing note. I said, “Good, this will lighten the mood.” I glanced over at Lizbeth sending a servant back to the kitchen, Liam standing just behind her.
Sean said, “Aye, he is our best musician.”
Magnus said, “Twill be verra fine music though twill nae be as good as the Food Fighters.”
I chuckled.
“And aye, we will need good music tae get us through this meal, all our patiences will be tested, we will want our moods lifted.”
Sean said, “Ye are speakin’ on Lizbeth? She will be good, she is just havin’ trouble with thinkin’ on what her future holds.”
“That is why I brought presents.”
The musician began to play, the melody filling the room. It was the perfect volume, didn’t drown conversation, but filled the silences, turning the whole hall festive.
We stood in small knots, talking in low voices, waiting for the Earl. Magnus exhaled, his eyes flicked toward the door.
The hall waited. No one sat until the Earl descended. It was custom, respect, ritual. My stomach growled.
To distract myself from my hunger I asked, “How are you feeling, Lizbeth?”
She said, “I daena mean tae be rude, Kaitlyn, but I feel as if I need everyone tae stop askin’ how I feel.”
I said, “Whelp, yes, point taken.”
She nodded, her eyes scanning the room. “I will go meet the page at the door.”
She bustled off.
Magnus watched her go. “Och, I haena ever seen her in this state.”
I said, “She’s kind of snippy, she’s not usually like that, at least not to me.”
He asked, from his expression only half-joking, “What if I just grabbed her up right now and just took her tae the kingdom? What does James call it, ‘better tae ask forgiveness than permission’?”
Sean said, “Och nae, Young Magnus, this is our sister, nae good comes of forcin’ her tae do anything she daena want tae do.”
I said, “A kidnapping is not going to set her mind at ease, and you’d have to do it to Liam too. And Sean.”
Sean said, “I would like tae see ye try tae grab me, Young Magnus, and take me without my agreement. Ye might be bigger and a king, but daena forget I am more skilled at combat.”
Magnus said, “Ye believe ye are more skilled at combat than Magnus the First?”
“I know it, Young Magnus, tis a truth, I was born a few years afore ye, I hae had a head start. But… ye ken,” he smiled, “let us not discover the truth by trial, just accept tis true, and allow me tae believe it without argument.”
Magnus chuckled. “Aye, fine, ye hae the wisdom of an auld man and therefore ye would be able tae beat me in combat, I winna test it by grabbin’ ye and Lizbeth up and draggin’ ye away.
I am nae a brute, and I truly just want what is best for ye.
” His eyes traveled to Lizbeth with Liam standing beside her.
“But she is tormenting poor Liam, he would probably help me cart ye both off just for the peace of it.”
I laughed. “Well, we’re not going to do that, we’re going to be sensible—”
Finally, Lizbeth returned, Liam in tow.
“The Earl has said he will be down in a few minutes.”
Sean wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Och nae, the hunger is causin’ me tae drool.”
It was another twenty minutes of waiting before the Earl entered, walking slowly, flanked by four guards. He had his high wig on. Rouge on his cheeks. The lace at his throat, his shoes with jewels on the buckles. He was wearing breeches, but he did not look hot in them, that was a relief.
The music stopped, we all quieted.
He didn’t speak to any of us, but went directly to his chair, and sat down, regally. He pulled a cloth napkin up and spread it in his lap, looking at the empty plate as if irritated it hadn’t been filled yet.
That move triggered action and the servants rushed about delivering his food. We broke our circles and beelined for our chairs to sit down. Suddenly it was noisy as the music started, the plates and spoons and bowls clattered, and people conversed about serving and the meal.
Finally, the Earl looked up and around. He said, loudly, “Why am I seated beside the bastard sons of my wayward sister? Everyone must move up the table.”
Magnus grunted. “Because we are yer nephews and I am a guest worthy of yer respect.”
He raised his brow and sighed. “I suppose the dinner company will hae tae do,” and began to eat.
Magnus looked straight ahead at Sean, blinking. His jaw clenched. Then he stood, shoving his chair behind him. “First, we will say grace.”
The Earl’s fork and knife clattered to his plate.
Magnus said, “Sire, would ye like me tae say it, or would ye prefer tae lead us?”
The Earl waved a dismissive hand before folding them together, his elbows planted on the table, and his wig drooping forward like it might slide off entirely. He closed his eyes, though one lid twitched open just enough to watch the room.
I whispered under my breath, “Quickly please, famished.”
Magnus drew a slow breath and straightened.
“Lord, we thank ye for this bounty spread before us, and for the shelter of the Great Hall. We thank ye for the hands that hunted the deer, tilled the earth, and turned the spit this day, and I would be remiss if I dinna thank the loch and the fishermen for the fish. We thank ye for our family gathered here. Grant us wisdom tae see what is truly ours tae hold, grace tae let go when needed, and courage tae embark on voyages tae come. Bless this food tae our strength, and our strength to Thy service. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.”
A ragged chorus of “Amen” rose around the table, a few mumbling it half a beat behind. The Earl gave a curt nod, and picked up his fork again without a word.
Magnus sat slowly, the chair scraping into place.
For a heartbeat the hall held its breath, the Earl began to eat.
Then the fiddler struck up a lively tune, and like awakening from a trance, voices rose in conversation, spoons clinked against bowls, and servants bustled about, seeing to our drinks.