Magnus and Sean slid one of the tables aside and I started building the poles for the net. There were four rackets and a tube full of birdies. Sean said, “Is it battledore and shuttlecock?”
I asked, “What the heck is that?”
Magnus said, “Aye, tis much the same, I played it in London with the cousins.”
He helped me raise the net, while a crowd gathered around to watch. It was embarrassing to build it with so many eyes watching me closely. I blew a stray hair off my forehead. Then Magnus and I took two rackets and the birdie to opposite sides of the net. “Remember how to play? I’ll go gentle while we figure it out.”
I served it over the net with a gentle lob and Magnus spiked it back. I missed, hilariously, unable to move quickly in my big dress. Magnus raised his brow and chuckled. That was basically how it went, I was beaten handily by Magnus and then Sean andLiam played, haltingly at first, but figuring it out, and Lizbeth played against Maggie for a couple of weak lobs.
All this time the gang of boys were watching, learning, studying. We all laughed and enjoyed it, any adult who wanted to give it a try could, then a racket was passed to one of the boys and they swarmed the court. The game became very competitive, scores were kept, and after a tentative couple of tries they were basically all playing the sport.
The musician began playing again, Magnus asked me if I wanted to dance, which I did, and so we went out to do a kind of waltz.
In his arms I asked, “Do you feel better about Lizbeth?”
“Aye, I think she needed tae hear the Earl’s thoughts on her, but och nae, I wish I could hae spared her hearing it. She is too bonny and wise, and far too loyal for anyone tae speak on her so harshly, I wanted tae kill him.”
“I was impressed you didn’t lose your temper.”
“Twas nae easy, mo reul-iuil. I had tae keep Lizbeth in the foreground of m’thought, she would hae been shamed if I had started a brawl in the Great Hall, though he would hae deserved it, hae ye ever seen a more vile man?”
“I truly haven’t, I’m pretty happy we have a raucous badminton game happening in his Great Hall. Maybe we will break something.” We both looked over and one of the boys was standing on a big wooden bench diving out over one of the other boys blocking his serve and wrestling him to the ground.
I giggled. “An adult is probably going to have to take the boys in hand.”
“Aye, and think of it, Kaitlyn, in a month we are goin’ tae hae some of these lads stayin’ with us.”
One of the lads was on the shoulders of another. I joked, “Och nae, we did not think it through.”
He laughed.
Then his eyes were on Lizbeth, standing to the side, watching the dance floor, a sad expression on her face. “Och nae, she is not goin’ tae go quietly.”
I said, “But she can’t stay here.”
“Tis true.”
We wandered over to stand beside her a few moments later. She didn’t say anything, just remained quiet.
Finally I said, “What are you thinking about, Lizbeth?”
“This Hall. Tis verra grand inna it? I think tis one of the nicest around, I hae only been tae a few halls in my life, but visitors tell me that in their travels they find this is one of the grandest.”
I said, “It is beautiful.”
“Tis the carvings, I think, but also…” Her voice broke. She pulled a handkerchief from a small bag at her waist and dabbed at her eyes.
Magnus said, “Sister, I am… I am verra sorry tae hae caused ye pain, I?—”
Our eyes drew up to the main doors of the Great Hall to see Lady Mairead entering, her new young handsome husband, Wilfred, on her arm.
Magnus said, “Och nae, tis m’mother, unexpected.”
CHAPTER 13
KAITLYN
LADY MAIREAD, UNANNOUNCED
