My eyes swept the room looking for things tae mock. I wasna a bit jealous of his solar: in the future kingdom, mine was much more luxurious, full of art and antiquities. His was dim and dreary. I ran my fingertips across a small table and noted ash dust.
Since I had left here, whenever I returned and was summoned tae pay my respects, I had kept a mental list of the ways I was winning against him.
My rooms smelled of a mix of bergamot and cedar. My rooms were dusted regularly. Nae one would ever need tae complain.
His eyes sharpened and his face settled into a sly, mocking smile.
“Mairead, I would rise, but ye see ye hae interrupted m’breakfast.”
“Tis fine, I wouldna expect ye tae. I would like tae present my husband, Wilfred, Your Grace.”
“Ye hae taken a husband, good, twas long past time for ye tae behave like a lady. He has a title?” He narrowed his eyes.
“He does: he is the Duke of Stirling.”
He frowned. “I hae never heard of this, tis on the peerage?”
“The peerage in Magnus’s kingdom.”
He looked confused, but then waved a hand near his ear. “I wasna expecting company, I might hae dressed.” He reached up under his cap and scratched.
He looked unkempt and vulgar.
I kept my face passive. “Tis naething, Brother. Tis simply an introduction tae a new member of the family — ye look well, better than I hae seen ye the last few visits... what brings ye tae Balloch?”
He said, “With most of the government moved tae London I found Edinburgh less compelling so I came tae the country.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “I want for something tae do... This is why I dinna vote for the union.”
“And is why ye dinna get a seat in parliament.”
He scowled.
“...But the air hereisverra fine, it might be boring, but at least ye will be healthy... unless, ye ken, there is a mildew that has been recently found tae afflict the brain, twill cause a greatdeal of suffering, ye must make certain that it daena affect ye, tis most common near the lochs.”
“Och nae, I hadna heard…” His eyes drew tae the window. “Balloch is verra near a loch.”
“Aye, I am surprised ye arna concerned about it, but now I see ye dinna ken… as long as ye daena stay here long, ye will be fine.”
“How long is yer visit for?” The fire in the grate popped softly, the only warmth in the room but too far away tae cut the chill. I wished I had brought a wrap — there wouldna be this chill in my own quarters; my thermostat would see tae it.
“I am nae certain. I just arrived, but ye ought not worry on me, I hae youthful vigor, tis the elderly and infirm we must be concerned with. Where is yer wife?”
He fiddled with his spoon. “She remained in Edinburgh, she prefers our apartments there.”
“I haena seen them, are they fine? I am surprised ye daena spend more time there.”
“They arna large enough, I find them wanting.”
I nodded. “But Mary is nae much for luxury, so she must nae mind much.”
His forehead scrunched, he asked, “So what is yer reason for returning, Mairead, yer son is here as well, he paid but a pittance, tis surprising he wasna more forthcoming after all I hae done.”
“All ye hae done…?”
“Aye, the housing of yer family while ye are off,” he sneered, “with yer copulating.”
From the corner of my eye I saw Wilfrey’s eyes go wide.
Beyond him, the servants looked shocked.
