Magnus said, “Good, ye can see what I am dealin’ with. M’soldiers arna keeping the mission quiet.”
I asked, “Did you tell them…?”
“Aye, I told the bairns that we are goin’ out of town for the night, dinna I tell ye, Archie and Isla?”
Archie said, “Yep, Da told me.”
Isla kept her hands over her mouth and nodded her head.
I said, “Archie, I want you to know that there is nothing to worry about, we will be right back.”
“I know.” He put out a fist to fist bump mine. I laughed. “Okay, so everyone is just going to take this in stride?”
Jack sucked his fingers.
Archie and Isla nodded.
I said, “Good, my love, look at us, going on a vacation.”
He said, “That we are.”
Every time I walked into a room it felt like people were talking secretly, whispering and shutting up when they saw me.
I narrowed my eyes at Magnus. “What are you up to?”
He shrugged. “What?”
“Everyone is whispering!”
The corner of his mouth went up. “Dost ye think everyone is talking on ye, that is a lot of self-importance.”
“Ugh, you’re being an arse.”
He grinned. “Am I? It sounds as if ye are bein’ overly suspicious, hae ye considered ye might be imaginin’ things?”
I huffed. “I’m packing my stuff. What clothes do I need for… whatever you’re planning?”
“I think ye need all the regular stuff.”
“Such a man-answer, you are no help… you said we will have horses? We are going on a horse ride… I imagine we will have dinner, maybe a couple of nice feasts? I’m also guessing there will be some days spent helping Lizbeth work… But also some visiting?”
“Aye, it all sounds right.”
“So that’s going to be seven dresses.”
“Och nae, I was thinkin’ one!”
“Magnus, I will need at least seven dresses for that much, luckily I have them, and I will tell you this, if I get there and find out that I need an eighth dress for whatever you’re planning I will be very grumpy.”
He chuckled. “If ye hae a fine dress, an ordinary dress, and a ridin’ dress, ye will hae what ye need.”
I joked. “Seven dresses it is.”
The day was busy, we packed and loaded and stacked and ran out more than once for things we had forgotten. It was exciting and as the day progressed I felt kind of bad for making everyone help us plan and prepare for a vacation they wouldn’t be going on. So I found myself inviting them to come.
Lochinvar and Ash said they were going to stay in case anyone needed them.
James said he and Sophie and Junior needed some down time.
