He was surely becoming a seer where she was concerned. William took her hand and walked toward a long building adjoining the tower. They entered and walked along a hallwayleading to a hall twice the size of her father’s. With the enormous hearth at the far end, leading to it was the longest table she’d ever seen. Truly this could rival the king’s!
“Welcome to our home,” he said to her as he drew her to a woman seated at the head with two younger lads seated on either side.
“William!” the boys exclaimed and ran to him throwing their arms around him.
Agnes stepped to the side and smiled at the sight. It was telling when a man was so free with his affections with siblings. He would make a good father. She hadn’t thought about how many children she wanted eventually, but as she watched the elder brother return their embrace, she was convinced more would be merrier.
When the lady approached, William said, “Mother, I would like you to meet my wife, Lady Agnes lately Sinclair, now the Countess of Montrose. Agnes, may I introduce my mother, the Dowager Countess of Montrose.”
The lady turned to Agnes with a warm smile that did not quite reach her eyes. There was a melancholy about the woman that made one want to wrap their arms around her and take all her pain away.
“It is lovely to meet you, my lady,” she said. Her voice was kind. Agnes liked her immediately.
“It is my pleasure to meet you, my lady, and may I please ask you to call me Agnes.”
His mother nodded and smiled at her again. “I am pleased to hear that, and you may call me Mother if it pleases you.”
“It does indeed.”
“I am pleased with her,” she said to William as she embraced him.
The tender way he held his mother made Agnes’s heart swell. There was so much she could tell from this brief exchange with his family, and it gave her great comfort.
“And what about us?” one of the boys asked.
“And these are my two impish brothers, Geoffrey and Glenn.” As he said their names he scruffed their hair. The boys pulled away from him only to scruff one another’s hair.
“Settle down,” his mother said.
The boys listened to their mother, which was refreshing to see. “She’s pretty,” Geoffrey whispered loudly to Glenn who merely stared at her. Agnes liked them already.
“Now,” his mother said, “I am sure by the state of you both you are in need of sustenance. We will get you fed first, and then off to rest. I will keep the meal light this evening, but after that we must plan your nuptial festivities.”
“I thank you, mother. We are in need of all that, but we must hold fast on any festivities. There is a reason why we hastened here from Agnes’s home.”
“What is it?” she asked as her brows drew tight together.
“There is so much to tell you, I hardly know where to begin,” he said. William moved past her to take a seat at the table motioning for Agnes to join him.
“Boys! Go tell the cook to bring food and drink.”
As they scurried off to do as they were bid, William’s mother took her seat and waited. Servants came to clear the table and before long platters of bread, cold meat, and cheese were placed before them. Agnes helped herself and savored every bite while William left out no detail about their time in Stirling, Agnes’s uncle, their journey to her home, and the return. His mother listened intently with no interruptions.
“And now we are safely here until we can be sure the threat is no longer a concern. I will speak to our men and secure allentrances, but we must be strict with the boys as they will not be permitted to leave the grounds.”
“Were you aware of the threat before you left here for Stirling?” his mother asked.
“Nay. But I learned of it as soon as I arrived. Fin escorted me directly to the king and he divulged his intelligence.”
That meant he was aware of her uncle’s involvement before she arrived at Stirling. But that would mean—
Agnes felt sick to her stomach. Was their entire meeting a set up? Was he attentive to her because he thought she was a part of the rebel Highlanders? Agnes pushed back her chair and made to stand. She needed some air all of a sudden. Her chest constricted like she was unable to breathe. As soon as she stood, the room spun and she toppled to the floor.
When she woke sometime later, she was on a bed with a coverlet over her. William’s mother was by her side quietly working on her needlepoint.
“You gave us quite the fright, lass,” she said. “I think I know what troubles you.”
How could she possibly know?
