KAITLYN
REMEMBER YER PROMISE
Fraoch said, “I am goin’ tae sit as well, I was goin’ tae stand and be a quiet observer, but I will sit at the table, I ken ye will agree, ye need someone impartial tae help this discussion.”
John said, “Fraoch, ye can sit, but ye canna join our discussion, this is family business.”
“But I am Og Maggy’s brother! We hae the same father!”
John said, “Everyone kens that Magnus is a bastard. Ye winna need tae be part of the discussion, nae one even needs Magnus tae be here.”
He continued, “I can send everyone tae the gallows — Sean, Lady Mairead, Wilfred. If I thought about it, I could make the case tae send Lizbeth and Liam as well, I am certain they conspired. If I ask enough questions, I will likely learn a great deal.”
He sat down and leaned back in his chair.
Henrietta put her hand in front of her mouth and whispered to him at length.
He nodded. “Lady Glenorchy believes that Lizbeth might hae planned the whole thing.”
Lizbeth looked down at her hands, her cheeks deepening in red.
Fraoch said, “Daena be ridiculous, she daena hae a schemin’ bone in her body, she is faultless in all things.”
Lizbeth raised her chin.
Fraoch continued, “John, ye ken, ye need tae negotiate with Og Maggy, he has plenty of wealth, he wants what is best for the family.”
Magnus swiped at the cut on his cheek with his sleeve. “I want tae make this right, John, let us make ye an offer.”
John said, “Who is us, all of ye?”
Lady Mairead said, “Ihae an offer. As the matriarch of the family, I would like tae make it.”
“Fine, speak up.”
Lady Mairead reached for her leather folder and opened it on the table in front of her. “I had this prepared some time ago, twas for my brother, but I changed my mind.” She flipped through papers, hurriedly tapping the edges to put them in order. “I hae a contact in London and at my request she has granted the Earl a seat in the House of Lords. If ye will drop yer charge against Wilfred, I will…”
John leaned forward.
She turned the paper around. “Give ye the seat in parliament. This is the letter,” she tapped it, “See, tis almost done. Now that the First Earl of Breadalbane has passed, twill beyerseat.”
“Yer contact is Queen Anne? This is her signature?”
“Aye.”
He looked the letter over, nodding appreciatively. “This is her seal?”
She said, “Ye can see that tis all but done.”
“I will be seated by the end of the year?” He put it in front of him and folded his hands on it, as if daring her to try and take it back.
“Aye, I will make certain of it, in exchange for allowing Wilfrey tae go.”
She raised her chin. Lizbeth patted the back of her hand.
He said, “In exchange for dropping charges against Sean and yerself, aye, twill be a good deal, but I am sure ye can see that the charges against Wilfrey will need tae remain.”
“I daena see that at all. Ye ken tis not… What else do ye want?”
