“Hello,” she said, climbing out and accepting the towelling cloth he held out for her. “This is a pleasant surprise. What brings you down here?”
“The King is due soon. This might be our last bit for time together for a while.”
“That bad, huh?”
He sat down on the grass, tossing a stone out into the water. It vanished from sight, ripples spreading slowly outward as she joined him. A moment later her hand was in his.
“I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to solve this. The taxes would be a lot for a clan in good health and we’re already struggling to get back on our feet. I dinnae ken what we’re supposed to do.”
“You’ll think of something.”
Caroline splashed over and climbed out, smiling at both of them. “Are we going up to get ready for the King coming?”
“I suppose we should,” Eddard replied, getting to his feet.
“Don’t worry,” Morag said, squeezing his shoulder. “If the universe could bring us together, it can help you with this.”
“I hope so.”
They walked together, Eddard thinking what a strange family they had become. He and Morag were a couple for all intents and purposes. They were not wed but he intended to resolve that fairly shortly.
The clan had accepted Caroline as their daughter without asking any questions. He liked it that way. What was he supposed to tell anyone who asked?
Dinnae worry, she’s from the future but you get used to her. They might not have burned witches for a few decades but old traditions died hard sometimes.
To his surprise the King was there when they returned to the castle. Outside his retinue were still making their way through the gate. “What’s going on?” Morag asked.
“He must have got here early,” Eddard replied. “Come on, we’ll go in through the sally port.”
He took them around the side of the walls to the tiny doorway in the far north corner, hidden behind two huge oak tree trunks. They squeezed inside, Eddard warning the guard in the corridor that it was him. The guard relaxed at once. “I almost had my sword in you. Why are you coming in this way?”
“Have you seen the main gate?”
“Not from in here.”
Eddard headed down the corridor, calling back over his shoulder. “The King’s arrived.”
The King was nowhere to be seen, his horse being led to the stable. Deep in conversation with the Laird, a man with a crown upon his head paid no attention to the arrival of Eddard. “You,” Eddard said as the man turned around. “You’re not the King. You’re…”
“Forbes MacCallister is my traveling name,” the man replied, holding out a hand toward him. “William the rest of the time. And I ken your name of course.”
“Your Majesty,” Eddard said, inclining his head. Beside him Morag and Caroline curtseyed. “I had no idea.”
“Which is the point of having a traveling name. Stand up, no man who saves a clan and the King’s taxes in one day bows to anyone. And you must be Morag.” He turned to kiss her hand. “I have heard much of the woman who tamed this man’s heart and who is this child?”
“Caroline, your Majesty. Our daughter.”
“Good day, Caroline. Now can we get inside and get some drinks in us? It has been a long hard ride.”
Once they were in the great hall, it seemed as if the stores were not empty. Eddard looked at the food being served to the King and his retinue. He made a quick calculation. This one meal would use up a week’s ration for the clan. He hoped it was worth it.
“I ken what you’re thinking,” Eddard whispered in Cam’s ear. “We must make a good impression if we are to ask him to reduce our taxes.”
The Laird began talking to the King about taxes. Eddard could just hear what was being said over the noise of the meal. “If you could just lower them a little, I would be most grateful, your Majesty.”
“Later,” William replied, waving him into silence. “I have something to say first.”
He drained his tankard and stood up, thumping the table for silence. “I wish it to be known that Clan MacGregor is forevermore a noble clan.”
