Chapter 35
HAYLEY
WE ARE ABOUT TAE HAE A MEETING
Jack stayed in the nursery and I found Fraoch walking along the upper corridor.
“Wow, my love, this has been a day.”
“Aye, it has moved verra fast from a surprise celebration in the woods tae a murder in the upper floors of the castle.” He shook his head.
“I grew up in a village, they oft hae deaths, but ye expect them, tis common tae lose yer elders and yer…” he exhaled, “bairns, and the wives in birthing the bairns… it happens more than anyone would like, and I think castles are the same. But deaths usually happen on the lower floors, m’bean ghlan, it can be common, ye ken, in a household of many people. ”
“People don’t die that often around me, I’ve only been to a couple of funerals, barely seen a dead body until… time travel started.”
“Tis because ye grew up in the glorious modern age and ye haena gone tae war. In our village it seemed we were always speaking about the death of a neighbor. Twas so ordinary, we barely noticed it, but this… the death of an Earl, this is likely tae be noticed.”
“Do you think um… Lizbeth will be in...?”
He whispered, “Nae, I think she will get away with it.”
“I wonder why she did it.”
“I ken why, Magnus told me, just now. He was concerned I would hear the reason and twould change m’mind on Liam.”
“On Liam, why would your opinion of Liam change?”
“Liam was involved in the massacre at Glencoe.”
“Oh... oh. Oh no. You’re a MacDonald.”
“Aye, it wasna my village, and I was born later, but it affected all of us deeply, we dinna like Campbells much.”
I thought it over and then said, “By involved, what do you mean?”
“I would prefer not tae say beyond he was a lad. He dinna hae much of a choice.”
I nodded. “So what do you think of Liam now?”
“He is still m’brother. My thinkin’ dinna change.”
“Because he is married to Magnus’s half-sister and you are Magnus’s half-brother?”
“Aye, tis enough, we are the same clan, I winna hold it against him.”
“This is one of the things I love about you, you’re good-natured and you forgive easily.”
He shrugged. “But daena think me weak — I can be lethal when I want tae be, but aye, I daena hold people’s pasts against them, tis better tae forgive or I wouldna hae any brothers at all.
Think of all the asinine things Magnus has done.
I hae tae take the high road and tell him twill be alright or Lochinvar — och, he is a trial, and Sean, and.
.. I would be verra lonely if I dinna forgive them their trespasses. ”
I put my head on his shoulder. “Is Wilfred in a lot of trouble?”
“Magnus seems certain we can keep him from the gallows…”
“What do you think though?”
“I think twill be difficult. Think of the story: the young Wilfrey has caused a great deal of trouble, tis always the young men, they hae heat inside of them that will flash intae rage or desire, tis difficult tae manage them, John will see this, twill be difficult tae persuade John tae spare him.”
“Why would he?
“For Lady Mairead? He daena like her much. Hanging Wilfrey would be easy justice, and wouldna cause him a bit of indecision nor regret.”
“Maybe she can strike a deal.”
He shrugged. “She is shrewd.”
“Did you have that heat inside of you back in your youth?”
“Aye, and Lochie, he has it too, tis why he irritates me so. I see m’self in him. I try tae quiet his flame by talking tae him about fishing, as much tae persuade him tae fish as tae bore him so much he will forget about causing trouble — the fire wants tae burn up our world.”
“I think, my love, that’s the first time I ever heard you call fishing ‘boring’.”
“Och, tis so boring, it goes without saying! But tis still the best thing tae do in the world. Both things are true.” He hugged me around my shoulders.
A pageboy rushed down the corridor. “Where ye goin’, lad?”
“A carriage has pulled through the gates, we believe it is Laird John!” He continued running off.
Fraoch said, “Well, we are about tae hae a meeting.”
I winced. “We have to be there?”
“Aye. If ye want tae ken what is goin’ on.”
We came to the end of the corridor and instead of turning right, turned left, headed toward the courtyard.
“Or, I could go anywhere else and you could just tell me after the fact.”
He jokingly winced. “Och nae, ye would send me by myself?”
“I bet money Katie is figuring out how not to go. If she isn’t there, I’m not going in.”
“Tis a deal, I will hae Sean and Liam there tae keep me company.”
“What about Magnus?”
“Og Maggy is goin’ tae be dealin’ with too much, he winna be good company at all. He is goin’ tae hae tae cover for his sister, be the mournin’ nephew of the Earl, the son of the sister of the earl, dismissed as always as a bastard, and the man whose stepfather just killed the Earl.”
“That sounds complicated.”
“Aye, tis, and his best move would be tae not go, tae leave, but he will take on the burden tae protect his sister, and tae try tae protect his mother—”
“Lady Mairead can totally take care of this.”
Fraoch shrugged, “Perhaps, but I think this is more than even she is capable of handling. And he will feel responsible for Wilfrey and especially Lizbeth.”
“Sounds like Magnus needs us to keep him company.”
“Aye, twould be selfless for us tae go join the meetin’.”
“Fine, I’m coming. For you and Magnus.”