Chapter 37
KAITLYN
THE MEETING WITH THE EARL’S SON...
The Great Chamber looked a lot like a conference room. It was not often used, as there were other places, the Great Hall, the Gallery, the Earl’s solar, and private sitting areas, to converse. This room had been closed for a while — so it was cold and stuffy.
One of the servants was hurriedly starting a fire in the hearth and another was running a cloth over the chairs to dust them.
We gathered around a long oak table.
Sean and Magnus leaned against it.
Fraoch paced. “Tis not a good sign that he inna here.”
Sean said, “Aye, makin’ us wait inna respectful, but he is in charge now.”
Hayley and I stood at one end of the table, near Lizbeth. She asked if we wanted a chair.
I said, “No, I’m going to stand.”
She went back to sitting, staring at her hands folded before her on the table, well practiced at waiting quietly.
Hayley and I were antsy and having a hard time figuring out what to do with ourselves.
This was the most important family meeting I’d ever been in.
Fraoch said, “Och, Og Maggy, ye promised me a fine walk in the woods, a pleasant surprise for yer wife and a merry party celebratin’ the love of m’friends, and instead I am involved in a family scandal and it winna stop raining.”
Magnus said, “The rain has stopped.”
“Och, has it?”
Fraoch went tae the window. “Finally, maybe now we can forget this messy business and go hae our pleasant day in the woods.”
Magnus said, “That would be nice…” He chuckled. “I am tryin’ tae be romantic.”
Hayley asked, “Lizbeth, how are you?”
She raised her chin. “I am well, Madame Hayley, and grateful for your concern.”
“I’m glad you are well, is Liam coming?”
“I was… with the body when John arrived tae pay respects. I left tae come here and give him some solitude. Liam remained there tae escort him down.”
Lady Mairead looked at her watch. “There is plenty of time tae pay his respects, there inna a reason in the world tae keep us waiting. Wilfrey is neglected in the dungeon; we need a hearing.”
Magnus said, “Mother, ye need tae take a deep breath, ye canna go intae this irritated, ye are goin’ tae need tae watch yer tone with him.”
“Aye, I ken, but still, he will take his time tae make us uncomfortable, tis his way. And tis cold in here, we ought tae build the fire higher, the damp is chilling us through. John is slow and—”
The door creaked open, interrupting her mid-tirade, a page stepped in and bowed, deeply, followed by John and Henrietta. Their faces were stern, haughty and irritated.
Behind them was the big man we had seen in the courtyard, a little dark, a lot like a shadow, he entered without meeting anyone’s eyes.
I glanced at Magnus, his eyes leveled on the stranger.
I heard Fraoch ask, “Ye recognize him?”
“Nae.”
John and Henrietta were dressed in the style of Edinburgh court, he was wearing a wig, his coat and breeches were fine, a puff of lace at his throat, her dress was elegant, with a high thick lace collar.
The man with them was dressed like a Highlander, old fashioned, my skin crawled.
Hayley whispered, “Time traveler?”
I shrugged. “Hard to tell. But why would John be with a time traveler?”
The man looked trained in battle and was well-armed with a sword and gun, both historic. No watch. Old shoes. He didn’t have anything on him that indicated time travel, but somehow my mind suspected it might be true.
Magnus had his eyes set on him. Watching, shifting, edging closer.
Liam entered behind them, he came to stand beside Sean, shaking his head.
I took it to mean, this is not good.
All the men shifted, and straightened, hands on their weapons.
None of this was good.
Lizbeth, Lady Mairead, John, and Henrietta all took seats.
Hayley and I remained standing, which I was regretting, but also didn’t want to bring any attention to myself by taking a chair. Magnus and Fraoch, Sean, and Liam were standing. The dude who came with John planted his feet and glowered.
John said, “While we discuss this business I want everyone tae place their swords near the door.”
The men all looked at each other.
Sean said, “Nae, ye canna disarm us, for what purpose?”
“We are having a family discussion—”
“Ye trust yer family — daena ye trust yer family?”
He stalked over to the table and tapped on the surface. “Draw yer swords and place them here.”
Sean, Magnus, and Fraoch looked at each other, a look of fury, then relented. They drew their swords, and placed them in a stack.
Fraoch said, “What of this fella with ye, he daena hae tae?”
“He is my guard.” He sat down in a chair with his back overly straight, the posture of a bureaucrat. The tension in the room was rising.
Magnus returned to his position, but seemed to be mentally calculating the distance to his sword.
Lady Mairead said, “John, I want tae give ye my deepest condolences, yer father’s death has been a shock tae us all, and we are gathered here on this mournful day with the most fervent desire that he rest in peace.”
He nodded. “Aye, it has been verra sudden and has shaken me. Can ye explain what happened?”
Sean said, “The Earl was—”
“Nae, I want tae hear it from my aunt.”
Lady Mairead said, “He insulted me gravely. He also insulted Lizbeth, he behaved cruelly—”
He repeated, interrupted, “Insulted you gravely. Insulted Lizbeth cruelly.”
His wife, Henrietta, shook her head slowly, as if skeptical.
Lady Mairead continued, “My husband challenged him about it, demanding an apology. As is his right. The Earl attacked him with a blade.”
“Your husband challenged my elderly father, as is his right…”
The man behind him leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.
John nodded and took his time before asking, “Why inna yer husband here?”
Sean said, “He is in the dungeon, sire, awaiting a fair hearing with ye.”
“Dungeon, good good. Awaiting a fair hearing.”
He stared off into space.
Henrietta said, “It must be verra nice indeed tae be able tae expect a ‘fair hearing’ after his doings here this day. John, daena ye agree? Tis insolence, I think.”
Lady Mairead kept her focus on John. “Sire, he is my husband, therefore yer uncle. I hae told him ye hae a judicious temperament. This is not insolence, I believe his expectation is fair.”
Magnus said, his voice low and gruff, “I believe ye ken everyone in this chamber, John, but I haena been introduced tae yer man…?”
The man said, “Birk.”
Fraoch said, “Tis yer name or a sound ye are makin’?”
Hayley pulled on my sleeve and emitted a little, oh God, sounding like she used to when one of our friends acted out in class.
Fraoch was met with stony silence.
He shrugged. “I haena heard the name before.”
I barely heard Magnus say under his breath, “I hae heard it.”
Fraoch asked, “Where?”
“I will tell ye later.”
Henrietta put a hand over her mouth and said something to her husband I couldn’t hear. It seemed like she was telling John what to do.
Lady Mairead said, “I will answer any questions ye hae, John, we again want again tae state that we are feeling a great deal of grief about the loss of the head of our family tae this—”
While she spoke Henrietta kept her eyes hard on Lizbeth, causing her to shift under her gaze.
I did not like it.
At all.
John interrupted again, “Ye are verra full of grief about the… head of our family… tae this… what are we calling it?”
Lady Mairead looked perturbed. “State of affairs.”
“Not murder?”
She said simply, “Twas not murder, twas a duel for my honor.”
He exhaled. “A duel for Lady Mairead’s honor.”
Damn, he was a jerk, I didn’t like any of them.
Henrietta scoffed.
John raised his eyes to Sean, “As the head of the Earl’s guard where were ye during this altercation?”
“In the hall.”
“The head of his guard was in the hall while he was ‘dueling’ in his solar.”
Sean nodded. “He demanded all of us leave.”
John raised his brow. “Twas his fault that he was unprotected?”
Lady Mairead said, “This was all unforeseen, sire, and verra tragic, but we are family and I ken ye want a peaceful resolution that will be beneficial tae our good name.”
“Aye, the family name must be respected. We daena want anything tae besmirch it.”
His wife whispered in his ear.
The man, Birk, leaned in, listening, then patted John’s shoulder and straightened again.
Magnus and Fraoch met eyes, Sean and Liam met eyes, Lady Mairead looked at Magnus. It really felt like something was about to happen — I started to get freaked out.
John turned to Lizbeth, “Yer uncle insulted ye?”
“Aye, sire, he accused me of always being where I wasna wanted.”
A laugh escaped from Henrietta. She glanced over her shoulder at Birk, and a look passed between them that struck me as almost conspiratorial.
Hayley gripped my arm tight.
Henrietta said, “The castle is whispering about you, Lizbeth.”
“Oh?” Lizbeth’s face flushed. I thought she might faint.
Sean’s brow furrowed. “What did they say?”
Henrietta smiled. “They say she has been invited tae live under the good graces of her brother, but she daena want tae go, she would prefer living here with us. Under our good graces.”
She laughed. “Tis funny, inna it funny, John? Birk, daena ye find it funny?”
Birk grunted.
Magnus’s eyes shifted from face to face.
John said, as if none of us could hear them, “My father was right about everything.”
“True, true.” Then she said, “Continue, Lizbeth, what happened next?”
“He called Sean and Magnus bastards, and called my mother a…” She whispered, “Whore.”
Henrietta laughed. “My my.”
Lizbeth raised her chin, she and Lady Mairead with the same look on their faces. “He did this in front of the servants, sire, the household heard, and the insult tae Lady Mairead was given in front of her husband, Lord Wilfrey.”
John huffed.
Magnus glared and shifted his feet.
Henrietta whispered to John again.
He smiled. “I agree with ye, Lady Mairead, we are family and this business is best put behind us, we daena want any disgraces, we hae had plenty of that.”
Lady Mairead nodded.
He looked at his fingers, drumming on the table. “Now, with the death of the Earl, we will be finally rid of the Glencoe tragedy as well.”
Lady Mairead said, “May he Rest in Peace, and aye, twill be good tae not hae that tragedy attached tae our name anymore.”
“Aye,” then he said, “The way we see it, this is what happened today—”
Magnus said, “And by we, ye mean?”
“Lady Glenorchy and I…”
Magnus narrowed his eyes at Birk, who kept his eyes directed upon the distant wall, covered in a tapestry, as if he couldn’t tell that the men of the room were all glaring at him.
“John, this is family business,” Magnus said, “This stranger should wait in the passage—”
Birk said, “Why are ye saying who will stay and who must go?”
Magnus leveled his eyes. “I am the Duke of Awe, and nephew of the Earl of Breadalbane, and…” He huffed, stopped short from saying king. “Who are ye?”
“Birk Donald.”
Fraoch sneered. “Cousin.”
John said, “Nae. Birk will remain here.”
A malevolent grin spread on Birk’s face.