“Aye, I drank whisky and then went tae speak tae Lizbeth and drank some wine tae slow down.”
“Sometimes, my love, the wine has a lot of alcohol in it.” She put her hand on my shoulder, “You’re damp.”
I dinna answer at first, my cheek pressed intae the pillow, verra drowsy. “Twas raining.”
She asked, “Lizbeth was up late?”
“I hae caused her tae hae a troubled mind.”
“Oh, and you spoke with her about it?”
“Aye. But tae nae avail, mo reul-iuil, I fear I hae broken her heart.”
She kissed m’shoulder.
I muttered, “But the dawn will come, twill be better then...” and we both fell asleep.
In the morn, when my eyes fluttered open, she was looking at me in the dim light of a day that would hold rain.
“Good morning, Magnus, you’ve got a surprise for me today?”
I chuckled. “Aye, but ye ken, Madame Campbell, it includes a ride in the rain.”
“I am so excited — what have you got cooked up? Wait, don’t tell me.”
“I winna tell ye, but I want ye tae keep one thing in mind, when I came up with the idea twas goin’ tae be much better.”
She laughed. “I won’t hold any of it against you.”
“First we must dress — wear yer boots — and then we will go down for breakfast.”
CHAPTER 20
MAGNUS
THE DUMBEST THING I HAE EVER PLANNED
Nearly everyone was gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast. The long trestle tables were already half-full when we arrived. Servants had laid the breakfast out along the high board: platters of oat bannocks and coarse brown bread, dishes of fresh butter and honey, a pot of porridge steaming beside bowls of cream, slices of cold smoked ham, wedges of Dunlop cheese, and a platter of boiled eggs still warm from the pot. A jug of small ale and buttermilk stood beside a bowl of soft strawberries and the first of the summer cherries, and someone had set out a crock of crowdie with a sprig of something green tucked alongside it.
We glanced up to see Lady Mairead enter the room. She approached us at the buffet table and Sean met us there as he was done with his meal.
Lady Mairead said, “Magnus, Sean has finished eating, and ye are only just now down for breakfast?”
I chuckled, “I was here before ye.”
“I am on my honeymoon, I get tae stay in bed.”
Sean said, “Och nae, we canna talk on it, mother, tis not seemly.”
“Ye ken, Sean, the way of the world, ye are married, ye understand how it goes?”
“I ken, I daena want tae hear m’mother speak on it, especially as she has married someone younger than her sons.”
She rolled her eyes. “Age is just a number, my Wilfrey agrees.”
I said, “While this might be true, he’s still verra young. Tis difficult tae get used tae.”
“Everyoneis younger than ye, Magnus. How auld are ye now? Ye hae passed me by the looks of it.”
