Wilfred said, “Lizbeth, has yer mother told ye the truth of what he did?”
Lady Mairead clamped her mouth shut, then opened it, “Daena tell her, tis too…” she glanced around the room. “Tis shameful, people might hear.”
Lizbeth said, “I suspect we all know by now, the whispers hae often seemed verra loud.”
Sean nodded.
Wilfred said, “You suspect? I think if you trulyknew, you would not speak this disrespectfully to your mother.”
Lizbeth looked shocked.
Magnus said, “Wilfred, ye canna speak tae Lizbeth like this.”
Lady Mairead said, “Everyone, wheesht.”
Everyone sipped in an uncomfortable silence from their glasses.
I looked around. Lizbeth looked on the verge of tears, she sank against the back of her chair.
Magnus was distressed.
Lady Mairead looked furious.
Sean was shocked, fiddling with the handle of his sword, his eyes sweeping around the room like he wanted to run.
Liam drank quietly, his eyes resting on his wife.
Maggie had a tear at the edge of her eye.
Wilfred had his brow cocked, his gaze coldly on Lady Mairead. Then he said, simply, “Permission to speak, my love.”
Lady Mairead huffed. “Why? We need quiet so I daena kill anyone.”
“Permission to speak, please.”
“Fine, granted.”
He said, “Lady Lizbeth, my apologies for speaking to you so harshly before, it was not my place. I see you are under distress and I beg forgiveness for having caused more.”
“Thank you, Wilfred, tis forgiven. I am nae prone tae exclamations and I feel verra dreadful at my own behavior.”
He nodded and his eyes went back to Lady Mairead.
Then he said, “I married your mother understanding the conflicts and the meaningful commitment I would be making. She is beautiful, the mother of a king, and also has children, grown, with their own lives. Lizbeth, Sean, Magnus, I know I am an outsider, but I am newly your stepfather?—”
Magnus scoffed.
Wilfred continued, “And most importantly I am deeply devoted to your mother. I will do anything she asks of me, butsometimes I must speak up for her as well, so I feel I must tell you something.”
Lady Mairead leveled her eyes. “Ye are going tae tell my story without my consent?”
“Yes, I am playing the protective husband role, how is it going so far?”
“Ye are verra good, though insufferable.” She turned her head and sipped from her wine glass. But didn’t make him stop as if she wanted it known.
He said, “When Lady Mairead was young?—”
Lady Mairead said, “Ye must keep yer voice down, Wilfrey, and if ye insist, perhaps ye ought tae tell Lizbeth this story elsewhere. There is a sitting area in the gallery, the rest of us might keep dancing.”
