Chapter 33
MAGNUS
OUR FAMILY COULD STILL FALL
Lizbeth approached wearing a shawl with her ring of keys in her hand. “Might I speak tae ye, Magnus?”
“Of course, but...” I turned and led her down the corridor. “We must be private and cautious.”
“Ye ken what I am going tae say?”
“I suspect, ye are goin’ tae offer an explanation.”
I opened the door tae a storeroom as Sean was passing by, “Ye goin’ tae talk? Can I come as well?”
She said, “I was going tae seek ye out next, twill save me the trouble.”
Sean scoffed. “Tis a fine thing tae say, I am goin’ tae cause ye the trouble?”
She raised her chin and went intae the room. I made certain nae one was in the corridor and we all stepped inside and closed the door.
Sean said, “Explanation please.”
“I am so sorry, my brothers, I ken I hae caused a real problem and—”
Sean said, “We hae a dead man in the solar and a stepfather in the dungeon, tis far more than a ‘problem’.”
I said, “Och nae, Lizbeth, I am worried about ye, are ye well?”
Her chin trembled. “I daena ken what happened tae me, I hae been overwrought.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “I ken, I haena ever seen ye in this state, ye are frightening me.”
“I am so sorry.”
Why did ye do it?”
Sean said, “If ye had such darkness in yer heart ye should hae spoken tae us, we are yer brothers, we would hae talked ye from it.”
I nodded. “Or done it for ye.”
“Ye would hae done it for me?”
“I would do anything for ye. Ye ken it.”
“I couldna really think, tis hard tae describe, I was so angry my vision went crimson.”
Sean nodded. “I hae that happen, but usually tis on a battlefield, with m’life threatened, ye were insulted? Tis what happened? The Earl has insulted us before...”
“Nae, it wasna that.”
I said, “Twas because I wanted ye tae come tae the kingdom? Did I cause it, Lizbeth?”
“Nae, Magnus, ye dinna cause it...” She trembled before us.
Sean said, “Sister, ye are behavin’ as if ye are frightened of us, I am yer brother. Magnus and I would protect ye with our lives.”
She looked down at her hands wringing in front of her skirts. “I am frightened, I fear I hae lost yer respect.”
I said, “Och nae, tis impossible.”
Sean said, “I was upset when I saw ye come from the solar, but I just wanted tae keep ye safe, ye hae always been the one tae boss me around, I am nae used tae seeing ye undone.”
“He threatened Liam.”
Sean said, “Liam, for what?”
I nodded. “Och, I see.”
Sean looked from Lizbeth tae me. “Ye see what? What did Liam do?”
I frowned. “I think she means Glencoe.”
Sean’s eyes went wide. “That evil man would bring up Glencoe? But he was responsible, Liam was just a lad, one of many men, och nae.”
She asked, “Ye ken the story? Liam told ye?”
“Aye, years ago, once, I told him he needed tae put it from his mind but I ken he struggled with it.”
“Ye daena hold it against him?”
“Nae, ye canna see a man become near broken because of something he’s done, watch him night after night beg God tae hae mercy on him, and hold the deed against him. I am nae the judge, I am his brother.”
She said, “And how did ye hear it, Magnus?”
“I was young, I heard the older lads speak on it, and I knew he was at Glencoe. I hae since read the accounts, but honestly, Lizbeth, Liam is a good man and he was verra young... I hae a fixed opinion of him. I daena want tae hear anything bad about him — it inna necessary tae hear it.”
“Twas verra bad.”
“Dost ye forgive him?”
“Aye, I do.”
“Then that is good enough for me, I daena need tae hear any more of it.”
“But that is the trouble, the Earl said he was going to tell everyone and send him to the gallows.”
Sean frowned. “Tis why?”
She nodded.
Sean took a deep breath and exhaled. “Well, then, ye are faultless in my mind. Ye daena need tae worry about respect, if ye think on it, Lizbeth, I might respect ye more.”
“Tis true?”
Sean said, “Aye, ye rid our family of the scoundrel, kept our reputation, protected yer husband.”
“Ye daena hate me?”
I said, “Nae, never. But, we are nae out of the woods, not yet, our family could still fall.”
“I will do anything ye need me tae do, I will go tae the kingdom, I will be happy, I promise.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Let us worry about this, first, let’s save ye from accusation and keep Wilfrey from the gallows, then we will talk about the next.”
She asked, “Where are ye going now?”
“We are all going tae the solar, there is work tae be done.”