“Brother, I came tae pay my respects, as a sister should.”
“Respects? Tis all?” He shrugged, “I see where Young Magnus gets his penuriousness.” He wiped his mouth with his linen napkin.
“Tis a concern that ye would ask, it makes ye seem impoverished. Hae ye been brought low, brother?”
“Nae, tis customary, though. Guests will come laden with gifts, even if they are unnecessary.”
“I believe my son gave ye some gold?”
“Twas a small amount! Gifts are also tae show respect and appreciation?—”
I said coldly, “Magnus also gave ye a can of sugar, twill suffice.”
Then I asked, “Will ye be coming down tae dine? I wanted tae hear about the news of the day.”
“Ye are a lady, it winna mean much tae ye, and I daena pay much attention tae else.”
“I prefer the political maneuverings, brother, ye ken this.”
He raised his brow. “Tis likely why nae one wanted tae marry ye. Ye must hae an opinion though tis not yer place.”
Wilfred spoke, looking slightly amused. “Iwanted to marry her.”
“How auld are ye, ye look a lad.”
“He is a duke, brother, show some respect.”
The Earl scoffed.
I said, “Speaking of the Act of Union, I haena been here much since it passed but?—”
He scowled and drummed his fingers looking out the window. “I dinna vote for it! Tae put Scotland intae the same government as the English is tae make it lesser, I refused.”
“Anne says?—”
“Queen Anne? When did ye speak tae Queen Anne?”
I waved a hand. “Ye ken, we are friendly, she is verra distraught over the death of the prince.”
“He died two years ago, now, I suppose Sophia will succeed her…”
I shook my head. “Doubtful, she is over eighty years auld. Take my word, twill be one of her nephews.”
He drummed his fingers more. “I wanted tae be involved, I would like tae go tae parliament, but?—”
“But again, ye dinna vote for the Union, why on earth would ye be invited tae parliament!”
His face turned sour and he dabbed at his mouth with the napkin again. He had started with courtesy, moved past the needling, insulting, and vexing parts of the conversation, and now his expression had turned dark and dangerous.
He threw down the napkin on the table. “If I am nae invited tae parliament, tis more likely yer doings as mine! Ye meet with the Queen, ye ought tae speak for yer family. But instead ye leave yer bastard brood here for me tae look after, with nary a thought for yer family name. Sean, the lout, canna lead a pig tae slop much less manage my guard, and Lizbeth, clinging tae my walls like moss, always underfoot, ever involved where she is nae wanted, and Magnus — och, pretending as if he were a king, with his foreign wife and his purse full of coins with his own visage on—” His eyes narrowed. “Hae ye seen the coins, sister? Yer son has put his visage upon them in full conceit! Ye hae bred a shameful lot, sister. Nae wonder ye stay away.”
I took a long deep breath while he spoke, focusing on the spittle coming from his thin lips.
“If ye are nae invited tae parliament twill be yer own doing.”
“I am a peer!”
“Aye, but brother, Glencoe still whispers yer name. Ye hear it, daena ye hear it?”
