I chewed my lip. “I guess we ought not go?”
“Nae,” he exhaled, “we will still go, I brought raincoats.”
I heard Lizbeth say, humph, under her breath.
Magnus looked around me. “What is yer meanin’?”
“Ye arna caring much on what yer wife wants, ye are unfeeling toward it. I believed it was worthy of notice.”
Magnus looked around, then back at her. “Tis what ye think of me, unfeelin’? I am tryin’ tae be romantic!”
Lady Mairead said, “Dragging a lady out intae the rain is unlikely tae be romantic, but perhaps Kaitlyn will like it, she haena been much of a lady in her past.”
I sighed, wishing Hayley were here to roll her eyes.
I decided to side with Magnus. “I don’t mind a little rain, we will go like Magnus planned, he has a surprise and I’m not going to miss out on it because of a little weather.”
Magnus said, “Thank ye, mo reul-iuil.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I thought this would be a different kind of visit.”
It seemed awkward so I casually asked, “We know, or rather don’t know because it’s a surprise, whyweare here, Lady Mairead, but why did you come?”
She said, “I came tae clear out my rooms. I hae priceless artifacts and valuables hidden all over this castle. And I am unsure when I will return, if ever.”
I heard another noise from Lizbeth, she picked up her glass and sipped.
Magnus said, “Ye will be back, ye will be able tae visit, tis not as if we are forcin’ ye tae?—”
Lizbeth loudly scoffed.
Lady Mairead said, “What, Lizbeth, speak it out, daena prevaricate.”
“Of course Young Magnus will force us, tis his way.”
Magnus looked shocked. I looked back and forth between them.
Magnus said, “This is a high charge, Lizbeth, what cause hae I given ye?”
“Ye are dragging me from myhome.”
Magnus said, “Och nae.”
“Ye are a king and can do anything ye want and we must all scrape our knees tae do what ye command.”
Liam said, “Lizzie, calm yerself.”
She grew hotter. “Tis true! Everyone else daena care, ye are unfeelin’ about this place, Magnus, this is not yer home. Sean, ye think as long as ye hae walls ye will be safe! Liam, ye believe that as long as I keep yer home ye will be comfortable! Ye men daenathink on the memories it holds for me, for Maggie. The life we hae built here! Lady Mairead thinks I can just ask for whatever I want and I will be content, but ye are wrong. I hae been living in this castle my whole life, I hae items stored away for my future, my lost bairn is laid in the churchyard!”
I interrupted her tirade mostly because it was upsetting to see her this upset, “Lizbeth, you’ll be able to visit, we come all the time.”
“My own mother has come tae take all of her valuables away! Tis unfeeling! I was a mere girl and she was gone but I knew she would always return because of the riches she had hidden in the walls. And now the walls are tae be emptied, cold and barren? There is tae be not one trace of Lady Mairead, here? Lizbeth will be forgotten!”
Lady Mairead said, “I dinna come back for the riches, I came back for my son and daughter!”
Lizbeth said, “Tis fine tae say that now, but ye ken ye stayed away much longer than a mother would who wanted tae see her family.”
“But tae see ye I had tae see my brother and…” Lady Mairead’s voice trailed off.
Lizbeth said, “He has always been a difficult, I ken, but?—”
