She would not let the dark in again.
“There is only one conclusion I can come to with such a request. The king, while making decisions like these as part of his role, must understand how difficult this is for us.”
“I believe he surely does, Agnes,” William said quietly as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
She placed her hand on his and smiled at him with all the love in her heart. She had no room left for evil. And she knew her place as a countess, a soon-to-be mother, and as a wife. At some point she would tell this story, together with William, to their children. She would have to look them in the face and be proud of the words she chose so carefully now.
Agnes was finally, after all this time, at peace.
“I do not believe any one person in this room possesses the authority to claim the life of another. The king has only been bestowed that right by the grace of God. You will write to his majesty and inform him that the duty to decide sentencing and the fate of Elspeth and Connor Munroe, and John Sinclair rests with him. We shall remain loyal servants to Their Majesties and respect this and future decisions he makes per his station as our sovereign.”
She waited for debate. For one of them to disagree with her inherent belief that this decision had no place at this table and in either of their hands. It would forever connect them to this business and for her sake and the sake of all of them, she wanted to move on from this darkness.
William wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tight. “I have never been prouder of you or any other person in my life,” he said.
And that right there was how she would tell the conclusion of their incredible tale.
*
Sealing the missive,he passed it to Neville who nodded and slipped it inside his tunic.
“Is this truly over?” William asked him.
“I believe it is,” Neville said. “You have married the strongest woman in all of Scotland. You know that, aye?”
“I do.”
William might have eventually come to that conclusion but was impressed with the clarity of mind displayed by his wife. Even his mother had no other opinion once Agnes had spoken her piece. And she was right. They did not have the right to make that choice, nor should they be burdened with the decision.
His newfound respect for his wife also extended to his king who, apart from a small council of aides, made these decisions alone, and he would not wish that for all the power in the world. Perhaps the grand balls the king threw were a way to temper the enormity of running a kingdom and facing impossible decisions like this every day.
William left his solar in search of his wife. When he found her, he reached for her hand.
“Come with me.”
He led her to the gates of the castle. “Open them,” he ordered the guards.
When the deed was done, he turned to Agnes. “They shall remain that way from now on.”
She looked at the gates and back to him, beaming. Drawing a deep breath, she said, “William, I am so very grateful for you. For what we will build here together.”
William placed a hand on her round belly. He couldn’t get enough of touching her, as if that act helped his own mind convince him all this was real. The bairn kicked, which William could only describe as a delightful sensation!
“He approves!”
“He?”
“You do not think ’tis a he?”
“I do not,” she said and pinched his hand.
“What makes you think so?”
He didn’t mind. He’d have a hundred wee lassies if they could.
“What do you think the king will decide?” she asked quietly.
“I confess, I do not know. I suspect he grappled with that himself which might be why he sought our counsel.”
