Chapter 13 #2
Sean said, “The talk of trees is becomin’ tiresome, we understand, Magnus, ye want tae see the forest for the memory of it, but hae ye consider that tis going tae rain?”
Magnus said, “Tis?”
“Aye, tis goin’ tae shower all day.”
I chewed my lip. “I guess we ought not go?”
“Nae,” he exhaled, “we will still go, I brought raincoats.”
I heard Lizbeth say, humph, under her breath.
Magnus looked around me. “What is yer meanin’?”
“Ye arna caring much on what yer wife wants, ye are unfeeling toward it. I believed it was worthy of notice.”
Magnus looked around, then back at her. “Tis what ye think of me, unfeelin’? I am tryin’ tae be romantic!”
Lady Mairead said, “Dragging a lady out intae the rain is unlikely tae be romantic, but perhaps Kaitlyn will like it, she haena been much of a lady in her past.”
I sighed, wishing Hayley were here to roll her eyes.
I decided to side with Magnus. “I don’t mind a little rain, we will go like Magnus planned, he has a surprise and I’m not going to miss out on it because of a little weather.”
Magnus said, “Thank ye, mo reul-iuil.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I thought this would be a different kind of visit.”
It seemed awkward so I casually asked, “We know, or rather don’t know because it’s a surprise, why we are here, Lady Mairead, but why did you come?”
She said, “I came tae clear out my rooms. I hae priceless artifacts and valuables hidden all over this castle. And I am unsure when I will return, if ever.”
I heard another noise from Lizbeth, she picked up her glass and sipped.
Magnus said, “Ye will be back, ye will be able tae visit, tis not as if we are forcin’ ye tae—”
Lizbeth loudly scoffed.
Lady Mairead said, “What, Lizbeth, speak it out, daena prevaricate.”
“Of course Young Magnus will force us, tis his way.”
Magnus looked shocked. I looked back and forth between them.
Magnus said, “This is a high charge, Lizbeth, what cause hae I given ye?”
“Ye are dragging me from my home.”
Magnus said, “Och nae.”
“Ye are a king and can do anything ye want and we must all scrape our knees tae do what ye command.”
Liam said, “Lizzie, calm yerself.”
She grew hotter. “Tis true! Everyone else daena care, ye are unfeelin’ about this place, Magnus, this is not yer home.
Sean, ye think as long as ye hae walls ye will be safe!
Liam, ye believe that as long as I keep yer home ye will be comfortable!
Ye men daena think on the memories it holds for me, for Maggie.
The life we hae built here! Lady Mairead thinks I can just ask for whatever I want and I will be content, but ye are wrong.
I hae been living in this castle my whole life, I hae items stored away for my future, my lost bairn is laid in the churchyard! ”
I interrupted her tirade mostly because it was upsetting to see her this upset, “Lizbeth, you’ll be able to visit, we come all the time.”
“My own mother has come tae take all of her valuables away! Tis unfeeling! I was a mere girl and she was gone but I knew she would always return because of the riches she had hidden in the walls. And now the walls are tae be emptied, cold and barren? There is tae be not one trace of Lady Mairead, here? Lizbeth will be forgotten!”
Lady Mairead said, “I dinna come back for the riches, I came back for my son and daughter!”
Lizbeth said, “Tis fine tae say that now, but ye ken ye stayed away much longer than a mother would who wanted tae see her family.”
“But tae see ye I had tae see my brother and…” Lady Mairead’s voice trailed off.
Lizbeth said, “He has always been a difficult, I ken, but—”
Wilfred said, “Lizbeth, has yer mother told ye the truth of what he did?”
Lady Mairead clamped her mouth shut, then opened it, “Daena tell her, tis too…” she glanced around the room. “Tis shameful, people might hear.”
Lizbeth said, “I suspect we all know by now, the whispers hae often seemed verra loud.”
Sean nodded.
Wilfred said, “You suspect? I think if you truly knew, you would not speak this disrespectfully to your mother.”
Lizbeth looked shocked.
Magnus said, “Wilfred, ye canna speak tae Lizbeth like this.”
Lady Mairead said, “Everyone, wheesht.”
Everyone sipped in an uncomfortable silence from their glasses.
I looked around. Lizbeth looked on the verge of tears, she sank against the back of her chair.
Magnus was distressed.
Lady Mairead looked furious.
Sean was shocked, fiddling with the handle of his sword, his eyes sweeping around the room like he wanted to run.
Liam drank quietly, his eyes resting on his wife.
Maggie had a tear at the edge of her eye.
Wilfred had his brow cocked, his gaze coldly on Lady Mairead. Then he said, simply, “Permission to speak, my love.”
Lady Mairead huffed. “Why? We need quiet so I daena kill anyone.”
“Permission to speak, please.”
“Fine, granted.”
He said, “Lady Lizbeth, my apologies for speaking to you so harshly before, it was not my place. I see you are under distress and I beg forgiveness for having caused more.”
“Thank you, Wilfred, tis forgiven. I am nae prone tae exclamations and I feel verra dreadful at my own behavior.”
He nodded and his eyes went back to Lady Mairead.
Then he said, “I married your mother understanding the conflicts and the meaningful commitment I would be making. She is beautiful, the mother of a king, and also has children, grown, with their own lives. Lizbeth, Sean, Magnus, I know I am an outsider, but I am newly your stepfather—”
Magnus scoffed.
Wilfred continued, “And most importantly I am deeply devoted to your mother. I will do anything she asks of me, but sometimes I must speak up for her as well, so I feel I must tell you something.”
Lady Mairead leveled her eyes. “Ye are going tae tell my story without my consent?”
“Yes, I am playing the protective husband role, how is it going so far?”
“Ye are verra good, though insufferable.” She turned her head and sipped from her wine glass. But didn’t make him stop as if she wanted it known.
He said, “When Lady Mairead was young—”
Lady Mairead said, “Ye must keep yer voice down, Wilfrey, and if ye insist, perhaps ye ought tae tell Lizbeth this story elsewhere. There is a sitting area in the gallery, the rest of us might keep dancing.”
Sean said, “Nae, I want tae hear it. I think I ken, but I ought tae hear it direct from—”
Magnus said, “Tis nae direct, tis comin’ from Lady Mairead’s husband, yer stepfather.”
“He’s yer stepfather as well.”
Lady Mairead pushed her plate away. “All must pick up their glasses and we will go sit in the gallery, this conversation has grown tiresome with hushed voices, I would like tae yell at ye, given the opportunity.”
She stood, her head held regally, Wilfred jumped from his seat and rushed around to pull out her chair and offered her his arm. They swept from the room and we all looked at each other.
Magnus said, “Och nae, I daena want tae hear it but I think I hae tae.”
I said, “I don’t think she wants to tell you, but I think she feels like you have to know. Wilfred seems determined.”
We grabbed our glasses to carry with us. Sean put a bottle of wine under his arm. He paused, then reached farther down the table for another. “We’re going to need it for this conversation.”
Lizbeth’s face was pale. Liam gave her his arm and patted her hand on his elbow as he took the lead to follow Lady Mairead into the gallery, Lizbeth looking too shocked to know what to do.