Chapter 14 #2
“Aye, because I understand all of this, Mother, I ken yer life has been hard. And ours has been difficult because we are yer children with all the whispers and gossip it entailed, but all the story tells me is ye hae always wanted tae leave, there is nae love lost between ye and Balloch, but tis not the same for me, for me this is my home, tis all I hae ever known. It daena assuage my feelings, ye are telling me we are tae take everything and leave for good and I think my heart will break, ye are going tae force me from my home. But I daena want tae, I daena want tae go!”
Lady Mairead said, “Lizbeth!”
Lizbeth huffed.
Lady Mairead said, “Ye ken the reason ye are leaving here has nought tae do with me, tis because yer place here is uncertain. Ye must think of yer children, I sacrificed a great deal, ye can do it as well!”
There was a long angry silence, then Lizbeth gathered herself and said, coldly, “My apologies for losing my temper. I will try tae be more dutiful. None of this is what I hae asked for. I am being forced tae leave against my will. I winna rejoice in it. I will do what I am told, but now I want tae be left alone with my grief.”
She rose from her chair. “May I be excused, Your Majesty?”
Magnus’s eyes went wide. “Who are ye speakin’ tae, Lizbeth?”
“The king.”
Magnus said, “Och nae, Lizbeth, ye are bein’ unreasonable. Ye arna tae call me by a title, ye used tae wipe m’arse when I was a bairn.”
She said, “I am not that much older than ye. I daena think I ever…”
“Ye ken what I mean.”
“Ye also, Young Magnus, ken exactly what I mean.”
Magnus sadly nodded. “I just daena ken what else tae do, Lizbeth, yer sons need a place of their own. This is a truth that ye must accept.”
She straightened her back. “I understand. I am going tae do what must be done. But ye must stop haranguing me about it.”
Magnus said, “Aye, Lady Lizbeth.”
She laughed, sadly. “Och, ye daena need tae use a title with me.” She rested her hand on his arm.
He said, “Yer heart is truly goin’ tae break?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I will do my best.”
She turned on her heel and left the room.
Liam said, “She will be apologetic in the morn, Lady Mairead, this is difficult for her, she is fearful and… Magnus, she will be beggin’ yer forgiveness.”
Magnus said, “Lizbeth daena need tae beg my forgiveness, she has it, always.”
Liam bowed his head to the room. “I will go see tae her.” He rushed away to catch up.
Lady Mairead watched the door as they passed through it. “I expected her tae hae a more courageous spirit. She dinna get this tearfulness and emotionality from me. It must hae been her father who passed down that trait.”
Sean said, “Twas her real father or another one of yer men?”
Lady Mairead said, “I am looking at ye Sean wondering if I ought tae laugh at the joke or take yer head, which would ye prefer?”
He chuckled. “I guess I would rather ye laugh.”
“Then laugh, I will. Ye can tease me all ye want about the life I hae lived, and the men I hae loved, but I will tell ye, Sean, I daena regret much at all, Fionn brought forth my first son, Lord Lowden gave me Lizbeth, King Donnan gave me Magnus…” a smile flirted with the side of her mouth. “Would ye like me tae keep going, son?”
Sean tugged at his collar. “Och nae, mother, there is more?”
“Aye, many more, there were Godfrey and Picasso, they dinna give me children, but pleasure and many paintings of my form. I was Picasso’s muse, ye ken, and there were a few men in New York, some I hae long forgotten their names, and then there was Hammond… and finally Wilfred.”
He raised his glass. “Pleased to have made the list in the company of great men. A few scoundrels.”
“...and maybe a few more men I am forgetting.”
Sean groaned. “Och this is scandalous.”
She shrugged. “It has been a rich life, son, ye can tease me all ye want about my men, but I warn ye, every time ye tease me I will recount the list. Tis up tae ye how many times ye want tae hear it.”
“Fairly warned, I winna mention it again.” He hooked his hands on his sword belt. “I daena ken if ye set Lizbeth’s mind at ease.”
Magnus was watching the door where she had left. “…are we makin’ the right decision?”
Lady Mairead’s eyes went wide. “Of course we are! They canna remain here the poorer relations tae the Earl, we canna abide it. And ye ken this, Magnus, ye are indecisive just because yer sister spoke harshly tae ye, och, ye are a king, ye should tell her not tae speak tae ye so and tell her tae pack up.”
Magnus nodded, chewing his lip. “Ye ken I canna speak tae her harshly.”
Sean said, “Tis Lizbeth, none of us can.” He added, “I suppose the dancin’ is over. We are down tae the last nights of dancing in the Great Hall.”
Magnus grunted. “We can dance in my kingdom.”
“Ye ken tis not the same.”
Lady Mairead leaned back on the seat. “My mood has been poorly used, I dinna yell at anyone but the night is still young.”
Sean raised his brow. “Ye daena call that yellin’?”
“If ye are questioning me, and haena run from the room in shame, then I haena truly yelled at ye. Tis right, Wilfrey?”
Wilfred patted the back of her hand. “I do not believe you have ever yelled at me, you are ever sunshine and sweetness.”
She batted his arm. “And nae one believes ye.”
He exhaled. “I was promised I could stage a Hall Play, I brought a trunk of costumes, makeup, props.”
“Not one person in this castle is in the mood tae put on a play.”
He exhaled. “Perhaps tomorrow night, I have a script, it will be fun…”
Magnus said, “Kaitlyn, want tae go up tae our chamber?”
I nodded and took his arm and left.