Chapter 22 #2
He raised his brow. “Tis likely why nae one wanted tae marry ye. Ye must hae an opinion though tis not yer place.”
Wilfred spoke, looking slightly amused. “I wanted to marry her.”
“How auld are ye, ye look a lad.”
“He is a duke, brother, show some respect.”
The Earl scoffed.
I said, “Speaking of the Act of Union, I haena been here much since it passed but—”
He scowled and drummed his fingers looking out the window. “I dinna vote for it! Tae put Scotland intae the same government as the English is tae make it lesser, I refused.”
“Anne says—”
“Queen Anne? When did ye speak tae Queen Anne?”
I waved a hand. “Ye ken, we are friendly, she is verra distraught over the death of the prince.”
“He died two years ago, now, I suppose Sophia will succeed her…”
I shook my head. “Doubtful, she is over eighty years auld. Take my word, twill be one of her nephews.”
He drummed his fingers more. “I wanted tae be involved, I would like tae go tae parliament, but—”
“But again, ye dinna vote for the Union, why on earth would ye be invited tae parliament!”
His face turned sour and he dabbed at his mouth with the napkin again. He had started with courtesy, moved past the needling, insulting, and vexing parts of the conversation, and now his expression had turned dark and dangerous.
He threw down the napkin on the table. “If I am nae invited tae parliament, tis more likely yer doings as mine! Ye meet with the Queen, ye ought tae speak for yer family. But instead ye leave yer bastard brood here for me tae look after, with nary a thought for yer family name. Sean, the lout, canna lead a pig tae slop much less manage my guard, and Lizbeth, clinging tae my walls like moss, always underfoot, ever involved where she is nae wanted, and Magnus — och, pretending as if he were a king, with his foreign wife and his purse full of coins with his own visage on—” His eyes narrowed.
“Hae ye seen the coins, sister? Yer son has put his visage upon them in full conceit! Ye hae bred a shameful lot, sister. Nae wonder ye stay away.”
I took a long deep breath while he spoke, focusing on the spittle coming from his thin lips.
“If ye are nae invited tae parliament twill be yer own doing.”
“I am a peer!”
“Aye, but brother, Glencoe still whispers yer name. Ye hear it, daena ye hear it?”
His eyes flitted tae Wilfrey.
I followed his eyes, noting Wilfrey’s face had gone pale, and the servants behind him were listening to every word.
So I made sure my voice was loud enough.
“Ye hae the MacDonalds’ blood on yer hands — I ken what ye did, I ken ye signed the orders, pocketed the riches, and left the snow red with the blood of those—”
“Ye ken I hae been cleared of it, I was imprisoned in Edinburgh for—”
“I ken ye were imprisoned, who dost ye think got ye out?”
“King William! He vouched for me!”
“Who dost ye think vouched for ye tae King William?”
The Earl’s smile faded, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Tis nae true.”
“Tis! I did it for our family name. For the family name of my sons and daughter, whilst ye hae brought naething but disgrace.”
“Glencoe was a necessity. The MacDonalds were rebels, oath-breakers. I did what was needed for the clan — for us. And ye canna claim tae be the one looking out for the family name, ye were once whoring around with—”
Wilfred cleared his throat. “Oh no, sire, you did not just say that, that is way out of bounds!”
The Earl looked shocked, but said, “She is a whore, tis true.”
Wilfred said, “I have a mind to call you outside old man.”
I said, under my breath, “Wilfrey, careful, we daena need a brawl…”
The Earl said, “I am ordering him out of my solar!”
I said, “But we were—”
“He must leave or I will have him whipped and sent tae the dungeons!”
I said, “Och nae.”
Wilfrey said, “It is alright, Mairead, I will go to the hall.”
He walked to the door.
“I see he has less manners and sense than even that fool lover of yers. What was his name? Ah, yes — Fionn, the farmer, with dreams high above his station.”
My fury had risen, dangerously, I hated his face, I hated the hair growing from his ears. I hated the way he dabbed at his lips with the napkin and adjusted the spoon on his table in front of it. I was infuriated that he had not offered me a chair.
“I did ye a favor, Mairead, put him down before he dragged ye intae the muck. And that husband I found ye—”
“Ye watch yerself, brother! Ye married me tae a philistine and allowed him tae beat me nearly senseless in yer own castle! Ye heard my cries!”
He sneered. “He gave ye those bairns ye dote on.”
“Ye had Fionn killed. Ye married me tae a monster. And now ye insult my children and my new husband—”
My nails dug intae my palms with clenching my fists.
He leaned forward, spittle flecking his lips. “Everyone out tae the hall!”
The servants rushed out behind Wilfred.
I was honestly frightened.
His voice was steady, loud, and threatening.
“I will insult anyone I want tae insult, this is my castle, my lands. The title of Earl of Breadalbane is mine. The Campbells of Glenorchy are my bloodline. Yer brats are not welcome here anymore, they are side branches — twigs tae be snapped off. I want them out of here by the end of the week. Ye think ye can show yerself in my solar, and disrespect me? Ye are still the foolish girl, grown tae be a whore! Ye are lucky I hae saved ye from yer own impetuous nature.”
I did my best tae catch my breath, but though I dinna want him tae see me weak, I had my hand clutched at the fabric binding my middle, at my gut, where it felt as if I had been punched.
I straightened, raised my chin, and said, “Saved me? Ye daena ken how many times I hae intervened on yer behalf, ye forget that ye are a lowly Earl and I am yer better, the mother of a King.”
He bellowed, “Out!”
I turned on my heel for the door, it was still cracked, the shadow of Wilfrey just beyond it.
I shoved through the door intae his arms, seeing a small crowd of servants disperse when I emerged from the room.
“Are you alright, Mairead? I have never met such an insufferably cruel man.”
“What am I going tae do?”
“I do not know, I am new around here, but with all the murderous impulses in your family, I cannot believe someone has not killed him.”
“Wheesht, the walls have ears!” I quickly looked up and down the corridor as he supported me tae my chamber.
Then I said, quietly, “I hae oft dreamed of it, but alas, he has been too important. We try not tae assassinate important people on principle, but oh how sometimes I wish I wasna bound by principles.”