“At once, my lady,” Albert replied with a bow from the waist.
“And, Albert, I do not have to tell you to remain silent,” Rosamund murmured.
“You do not, my lady,” came the quiet response.
“And no one is to tell Maybel or Edmund that I have been here and gone, Albert. You will see to it, I know.”
“Of course, my lady.” Albert hurried off.
“You have not told Maybel of your condition, of course,” Rosamund said. “Do not until I tell you that you may. And when Logan comes, which he surely will before I am back from Otterly, you will tell him nothing. I will speak to him myself. He will not be pleased with you at all, Elizabeth. It is better that I am here when you disclose the nature of your need.”
“You don’t have to ride to Otterly to fetch my uncle, Mama, nor send him and Logan north to deal with the master of Grayhaven,” Elizabeth said. “I will not have Baen MacColl for a proper husband, and that is that.” She reached for her goblet and drank deeply from it.
“This matter is not one for any discussion between us, Elizabeth. You are with child by this Scot, and you will marry him. It makes no matter that you are angry, or that you feel betrayed. You will do what is best for Friarsgate because you are its lady, and because you are my daughter. You know your duty, Elizabeth. When I became aware of your passion for this land and your abilities to care for it I gave it to you. Do not disappoint me now by behaving in a thoroughly childish way.”
“If he really loved me he wouldn’t have left me,” Elizabeth muttered.
“Perhaps that is so,” Rosamund agreed, “but on the other hand, perhaps he was torn between the two people he loved best, and confused as to what to do. So he chose what was most familiar to him. The fact that his loyalty is so strong bodes well for you. He did not strike me as a man to avoid his duty. This situation has convinced me that neither of you has a great deal of common sense. And why didn’t you simply come to me, my daughter, and ask me to arrange this marriage in the first place?”
“I am not a child, Mama,” Elizabeth said.
“In matters such as this you certainly are,” Rosamund snapped. “It makes no difference that you are the lady of Friarsgate. Any marriage you contract must be arranged by me.” A steaming dish was placed before her. Rosamund looked up with a smile. “Thank you, Albert,” she said, giving him a smile.
“I have spoken with Jane, my lady, and your captain will join you shortly,” he responded. “Is there anything else I can do to serve you?”
“You have been most helpful, Albert,” Rosamund told him, and then turned back to her meal. She had just finished when the captain of her clansmen came into the hall. “Ah, Jock, here you are. I want half of your men to escort me to Otterly tomorrow. Pick those you want to go, and the rest will remain here to await the laird’s coming,” she said.
“Just half, m’lady?” he questioned her.
“The countryside between here and Otterly is as safe as any, and it is winter. As we must remain overnight I do not want to burden Lord Cambridge too greatly with our care and feeding,” Rosamund said with a small smile.
The captain nodded. “Very good, m’lady. What time will you want to depart?”
“Just at dawn. ’Tis a long day’s ride over the hills, but we should be able to reach Otterly by sunset,” Rosamund told him.
He bowed, and was gone.
“Are you angry at me, Mama?” Elizabeth asked.
“Come and let us sit by the fire,” Rosamund suggested, and the left the high board. “Nay, I am not angry with you, sweeting. But you have rather put the cart before the horse now, haven’t you? You must love him very much.”
“I love him not at all!” Elizabeth declared.
Rosamund laughed softly. “You always were a bad liar, Bessie,” she said. “Do not fear. We will negotiate a marriage contract that will allow him nothing but what you would willingly give him. If he loves you as I suspect, it will mean nothing to him, and he will sign it. His father may be a bit difficult to convince, but I think Logan and Tom will manage the master of Grayhaven between them quite nicely.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. “Baen is certain to understand, but I wonder if his proud old Highlander of a father will.”
“In the end,” Rosamund said wisely, “he will consider the advantages his son will gain by marrying you. You have said Lord Hay loves Baen. Then he will let him go, Elizabeth. If only you had consulted me on this we would have had it settled by now.”
“I thought he would stay,” Elizabeth said sadly.
Rosamund reached out and, taking her youngest daughter’s hand in hers, said quietly, “I know he must regain your trust, my child, but do not make it too difficult for him. Just enough so that he will not lose his respect for you.” She patted the hand in hers. “He is a most bonny laddie, Elizabeth. Is he big all over?”
“Mama!” Elizabeth blushed. Then she said, “Aye.”
Rosamund smiled. “You will be outrageously happy once you come to terms with each other.” Then, standing, she said, “I’m off to bed, daughter. I have a long, cold ride ahead of me tomorrow.” She bent and kissed Elizabeth on her forehead. “Good night.”
Elizabeth sat by her fire for several more long minutes. Then, standing, she got up and went down to the kitchens. A serving wench was scrubbing the large wooden table while another finished a pot in the stone sink. “Where is Cook?” she asked.
