Chapter 23
MAGNUS
WE ALL WANT AN APOLOGY
We were gathered in the Great Hall once more, havin’ a midday meal after everyone had dried off and changed clothes.
Kaitlyn had Jack in her arms, Isla was sitting in one of the big chairs.
Fraoch had placed glasses of go-go juice in front of everyone.
“Chef Zach sent them tae restore yer electrolytes.”
I tossed a bit of meat tae Haggis. “Why daena I get a go-go juice?”
“Ye dinna time travel this morning, so he dinna send ye one—”
I winked at Isla and said, “But I hae been gone so long, with nary any juice in forever, I think I ought tae get one as well.”
Isla giggled, drinking her juice.
Fraoch pretended tae be exasperated, “Ye just left Florida yesterday, ye haena had time tae need it!”
I pouted.
“Fine, I will give ye some, but only because ye are behavin’ like a big bairn.” He gave me a glass of juice.
Isla asked for more.
Archie stuffed his face with food, then ran off tae meet his cousins with Haggis bounding along behind him as if he were one of the lads.
I watched Archie fondly as he left, thinking about how Sean and I used tae tear from the Great Hall tae race around the castle looking for work or a sport or a mischief.
Sean laughed.
“What?”
“Ye are lookin’ at the lad as if ye hae a fond memory, and we were as likely tae get our arses whipped as we went around the corner than tae hae any fun at all.”
“Nae one ever whipped my arse.”
Fraoch laughed. “I hae heard many stories of it, Og Maggy!”
Sean said, “I had tae save ye more than once.”
I said, “Fine, ye did, but why are ye interruptin’ my fond memories with stories about m’arse getting whipped? And m’wife and my newborn son are sitting right here. Kaitlyn, ye need tae cover Jack’s ears, m’brother is talkin’ trash about me.”
“Because yer rememberin’ is full of untruths, ye hae tae be a realist, the halls are dark and the men are as likely tae curse ye as pass ye a beer.”
I scoffed.
Kaitlyn said, “Our boy just ran off, are you saying he’s in danger, Sean?”
“Beg yer pardon, Madame Kaitlyn, I was just havin’ fun, that lad, nae, he is watched over by my sons, just like I watched over Magnus, tis why he thinks all was well, because he’s the bairn of the family.”
Fraoch said, “The wee, verra wee bairn of the family.”
I said, “Och nae, ye are gangin’ up on me.”
Kaitlyn looked around, “Where is Lady Mairead?”
I said, “She’s likely meeting with the Earl, she is introducin’ Wilfred tae him.”
“I doubt the Earl is goin’ tae like the young, dashin’ Wilfrey much,” said Fraoch.
Magnus said, “Luckily she daena hae tae care what he thinks.”
Lizbeth said, “Yet she still does.”
Sean and Magnus both nodded. “Aye.”
Lizbeth was spooning honey ontae a bannock when her eyes went tae a crowd gathered near the walls.
I looked over.
She muttered, “Och nae, the servants are whispering.”
Two kitchen maids passed behind our table, their heads bent close together.
I overheard, “—in the Earl’s solar—”
I turned tae look over m’other shoulder. “—never heard Lady Mairead raise her voice like that—”
Sean looked up from tearing a piece of bread. “Och nae, did ye hear them?”
I said, “Aye, I heard.”
Lizbeth had gone still, her eyes shiftin’ around the room.
Across the Great Hall a pair of grooms paused near the hearth, speakin’ low. One of them glanced toward the stair that led tae the Earl’s chambers.
Even the steward at the high board had stopped pouring ale and was starin’ toward the stair.
Lizbeth leaned closer across the table. “Sean, go find out, something has happened.”
Sean frowned. “I will go talk tae Red Tam, he always kens the tidings. He tossed down his napkin, stood, and stalked over, not too far away, I was able tae catch bits. Red Tam said, “Aye, I heard she called him a disgrace—” He waved over a lass named Wee Jean.
I pushed back in my chair, listening.
Sean asked, “He was furious?”
Wee Jean said, “Aye, sire, he was verra angry, she accused him of the murderin’ of the MacDonalds, ye ken,” she whispered, but not quietly enough, more out of reverence than volume, “of Glencoe.”
Sean grimaced and glanced over at me.
I nodded, bitin’ my lip.
Red Tam said, “I heard he insulted Lady Mairead’s husband too.”
Wee Jean said, “I thought they were goin’ tae come tae blows, sire, Lady Mairead was near collapse, her husband near challenged him tae a duel.”
Sean scrubbed his hands up and down on his face, mutterin’, “Och nae…”
Kaitlyn set her spoon down slowly.
The noise of the hall had changed. Twas quieter now, the laughter gone, people speakin’ behind their hands, whisperin’.
Wee Jean said, “He accused her of… I canna say, sire, twas mortifying.”
Sean said, “Tell me what he accused her of.”
She whispered, “Whoring, sire. I was frightened for her, sire, I thought he might strike her.”
Sean looked over at me, I shook my head.
He asked, “Do ye ken where she is now?”
“I believe she is in her chamber now, sire.”
She left and Red Tam said, “Something else, Sean, I think ye ought tae ken…”
Sean said, “Out with it.”
“With m’apologies, sire, but the Earl did say ye were all bastards, is what I heard.”
“Thank you, that’s…” Sean then said, “Yer turn on the walls?”
“Aye, headed there now.”
“I would appreciate it if ye kept the talk tae a minimum, tis distressin’ for the ladies and causing an uproar.”
Red Tam stalked away and while our focus had been on him we hadn’t noticed Lizbeth had gone pale, and stood, her hands shaking. “Nae, nae, I must… tis time.”
Sean and I both rose. “Where are ye goin’, sister?”
She shook her head. “Nae, he canna, tis nae… acceptable... nae anymore...”
“Ye look as if ye will fall, are ye well, Lizbeth?”
“Nae, I am nae, but I need tae check on mother, dost ye ken..? Oh, I heard, her chamber, she is in her chamber, likely, I will go see… I need tae make certain this is made right.” Her eyes seemed unfocused as if she were goin’ tae faint.
Sean and I both had a hand on her elbows. “What is made right — where are ye goin’?”
“Just up, need tae address it.” Then she shook her head. Her eyes focused. She looked directly at Sean, “Tis fine, I am fine, Sean, I just need tae do something.”
She patted my arm. “Daena worry on me, Young Magnus,” she peered intae my eyes. “I am alright. I am clear on what must be done.” She turned on her heels and left the Great Hall.
We all watched her go, Sean was shakin’ his head. Then he looked at me, “Should we go with her?”
“She dinna want us tae.”
Kaitlyn said, “She looked really upset, but seems to have gotten over it, she probably needed to lie down — maybe just console Lady Mairead.”
I nodded. “Aye, and we hae a more pressing issue, we need tae find Wilfred, he might try tae defend Lady Mairead’s honor.”
Kaitlyn grimaced. “Defend her honor? I doubt that, he’s just a pretty-boy actor. He’s not going to brawl.”
I said, “That auld man just called Wilfrey’s wife a whore in front of him. If he has any stones he will be wantin’ a brawl, I daena see how he can let that pass without at least demandin’ an apology. Dost ye think he can handle himself in a duel, dost we need tae intervene?”
Sean said, “I daena want tae intervene, but Wilfred deserves an apology. I want one as well, ye need one, Lizbeth deserves a groveling begging for forgiveness. I hae half a mind tae join with Wilfred. I hae been called a bastard.”
I groaned. “Growin’ up, I was called it everyday, as though some thought if I wasna reminded I would forget. In yer case tis nae true, ye ought tae let that one go. I daena mind; tis true in my case, and so the only people insulted are our sister and our mother.”
“Och, more the reason, I want tae kill him.”
“Get in line.”