“You’ve asked naught of us before, Maude,” the queen mused. “You might have asked for a boon many months ago.”
Maude understood the queen meant Maude should have asked for help with Madeline and the others. She appreciated the offer, but she didn’t regret her choice. She prayed she wouldn’t regret this one either.
“Uncle Robert,” she began. She used the title the Sutherland and Sinclair children grew up calling the king, one that felt familiar and comfortable. “My request is that you would join Aunt Elizabeth in her solar tomorrow afternoon.”
“That isn’t much of a boon, lass,” the king mused.
“That isn’t the boon, or at least it isn’t all of it. I’d ask that you have Laird MacLeod accompany you.”
“Kieran MacLeod?” The king wondered aloud.
“She’s grown fond of him since he arrived. They’ve developed a tendre for each other, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the lad doesn’t ask your permission to marry our Maude,” the queen attempted to hide her smile, making the corners of her lips twitch. “I suspect Hamish has already given his blessing. At least he will soon if he hasn’t. The lad was practically sitting on the lass’s lap this eve. And I feared for a moment that Allan Maxwell’s life would end on the floor of our Great Hall.”
It shouldn’t have surprised Maude that the queen had seen so much and deduced most of the situation.
“Maxwell?” The king looked between the two women.
“Lord Maxwell attempted to force me off the dance floor and onto the terrace.”
“What?” The king’s hand slammed down on the table and made the platters and chalices rattle. People looked toward them, seeing the king’s ruddy complexion flush even brighter. He scanned the crowd, searching for the culprit.
“Kieran, that is, Laird MacLeod, resolved the issue. Lord Maxwell won’t approach me again.”
“That’s a polite way, Maude, to explain how your young mon nearly ripped Allan Maxwell’s arm from his body. And you looked to have crushed his fingers.”
“I’d hoped that went unnoticed, Aunt Elizabeth,” Maude murmured.
“It did, lass,” the queen reassured her. “The better view of those before us is why the dais is raised. We would observe those present to better prepare and protect ourselves.”
The king reached out and patted Maude’s hand. “I’m happy to fulfill your request. You, your brother and sister, and cousins never ask aught of us despite being family. The few times one of you is in need or wishes for something, your queen and I do our best to oblige. None of you have ever tried to take advantage of or exploit your position as our godchildren. I miss hearing the pack of you call me uncle. It seems too long ago.”
“Ye wouldnae have a piece of treacle for me in yer pocket would ye, Uncle Wobber?” Maude grinned and the king’s chuckle morphed into a hearty laugh that once more drew attention. The queen’s laughter was more circumspect and daintier, but just as merry.
“As it would happen, lass,” The king reached to a platter further down the table. “I don’t have it in my pocket, but I have it here.” He passed her the sweets from which she nabbed a piece. She was about to reach for another but pulled her hand away.
“Take one for your lad. And one for your sister, too. She has a sweet tooth the same as yours.” The queen nodded. “And you may as well take one for Hamish, since that’s who you inherited it from.”
“Thank you.” Maude paused and her smile faltered. It was one of many times when she wished she could return to her childhood. She would have kissed her godparents on the cheek and received one in turn. The king tapped his cheek just above his beard. She pressed a quick kiss and beamed when he offered her one.
“You won’t be skipping me, lassie.” The queen proffered her cheek, on which Maude dropped a kiss. The queen returned it and squeezed her hand. “I hope you’ll be happy with him, Maude. You deserve the very best, and I suspect Kieran MacLeod is a mon who will spend his life making you know how special you are.”
Maude’s eagerness was infectious, and Blair embraced her sister when Maude presented the treacle to her. Kieran kissed her hand, stroking his thumb over her palm when she offered him the sweet. Hamish grinned and kissed the crown of her head. It had been many years since Maude felt so loved and happy.
Chapter Thirteen
Kieran waited at the doors of the royal chapel as the members of the royal court socialized while they left morning Mass. He was impatient to speak with Maude, and didn’t understand why people about to sit together to break their fast needed to linger in the narthex. Seated by rank and clan significance, the MacLeods and Sutherlands sat further forward, with the Sutherlands sitting directly behind the royal couple. This trapped Kieran and Maude and forced them to wait until the congregation filtered out. He looked over his shoulder several times, offering Maude a secret smile. She returned it, but kept her eyes down. The other ladies-in-waiting surrounded her, jostling one another as they squeezed up the aisle. When he reached the door, he greeted the priest and received his blessing before pressing his way through the crowd to stand near the wall. It wasn’t long before Maude exited with Blair and Arabella chattering alongside her. She caught sight of Kieran, and her cheeks flushed. The evening meal had been exhausting for her, but she relived the moments when she sat with and danced with Kieran. Images of them dancing at their wedding feast had swirled around her mind and through each of her dreams that night. Maude looked forward to breaking her fast, then going for a stroll with Kieran at her side. Her father invited Kieran to sit with their family for the morning meal, and Maude was eager to make her way to their table. As she walked past Kieran, Lairds Gordan and Grant, who were once more at court, stopped to speak with him. She watched as he shook his head and glanced at her, but his face tightened as he looked at Laird Grant and nodded. Maude saw regret in his expression, and she realized he would not be joining them for the meal. She prayed that he’d still join her in the gardens.
Maude felt more comfortable sitting with her clan members during meals, and ate until she was full rather than leaving the table still hungry. She gathered her cloak and said goodbye to her father as he prepared to head to the lists. She spotted Kieran still engrossed in conversation with the two lairds who waylaid him after Mass. She sighed, but straightened her spin and lifted her chin. She wouldn’t allow her disappointment to show. As she glided past Kieran’s table with the other ladies, Maude watched Kieran stand while Laird Gordan talked to him. He shook his head at something the Grant said and stepped over the bench. Both men called after him, but he stalked across the gathering hall with a singular purpose.
Kieran wasn’t interested in listening to the two lairds ramble on about crops and herds. He agreed that they were important topics, but they weren’t in line with his plans for the day. He stepped next to Maude and slid her arm around his and placed her hand on his forearm.
“Good morning, lass.”
“Good morning, Kier.” Maude cast her gaze over her shoulder and saw the two lairds watching Kieran depart. “Should you have left that conversation so abruptly?”
“Mayhap not, but they shouldn’t have demanded a conversation so abruptly. A conversation aboot coos and crop rotation.”
“Was that what they wanted to talk aboot?”
