I did my best tae catch my breath, but though I dinna want him tae see me weak, I had my hand clutched at the fabric binding my middle, at my gut, where it felt as if I had been punched. I straightened, raised my chin, and said, “Saved me? Ye daena ken how many times I hae intervened on yer behalf, ye forget that ye are a lowly Earl and I am yer better, the mother of a King.”
He bellowed, “Out!”
I turned on my heel for the door, it was still cracked, the shadow of Wilfrey just beyond it.
I shoved through the door intae his arms, seeing a small crowd of servants disperse when I emerged from the room.
“Are you alright, Mairead? I have never met such an insufferably cruel man.”
“What am I going tae do?”
“I do not know, I am new around here, but with all the murderous impulses in your family, I cannot believe someone has not killed him.”
“Wheesht, the walls have ears!” I quickly looked up and down the corridor as he supported me tae my chamber.
Then I said, quietly, “I hae oft dreamed of it, but alas, he has been too important. We try not tae assassinate important people on principle, but oh howsometimesI wish I wasna bound by principles.”
CHAPTER 23
MAGNUS
WE ALL WANT AN APOLOGY
We were gathered in the Great Hall once more, havin’ a midday meal after everyone had dried off and changed clothes. Kaitlyn had Jack in her arms, Isla was sitting in one of the big chairs. Fraoch had placed glasses of go-go juice in front of everyone. “Chef Zach sent them tae restore yer electrolytes.”
I tossed a bit of meat tae Haggis. “Why daena I get a go-go juice?”
“Ye dinna time travel this morning, so he dinna send ye one?—”
I winked at Isla and said, “But I hae been gone so long, with nary any juice in forever, I think I ought tae get one as well.”
Isla giggled, drinking her juice.
Fraoch pretended tae be exasperated, “Ye just left Florida yesterday, ye haena had time tae need it!”
I pouted.
“Fine, I will give ye some, but only because ye are behavin’ like a big bairn.” He gave me a glass of juice.
Isla asked for more.
Archie stuffed his face with food, then ran off tae meet his cousins with Haggis bounding along behind him as if he were one of the lads.
I watched Archie fondly as he left, thinking about how Sean and I used tae tear from the Great Hall tae race around the castle looking for work or a sport or a mischief.
Sean laughed.
“What?”
“Ye are lookin’ at the lad as if ye hae a fond memory, and we were as likely tae get our arses whipped as we went around the corner than tae hae any fun at all.”
“Nae one ever whipped my arse.”
Fraoch laughed. “I hae heard many stories of it, Og Maggy!”
Sean said, “I had tae save ye more than once.”
I said, “Fine, ye did, but why are ye interruptin’ my fond memories with stories about m’arse getting whipped? And m’wife and my newborn son are sitting right here. Kaitlyn, ye need tae cover Jack’s ears, m’brother is talkin’ trash about me.”
