Red Tam said, “I heard he insulted Lady Mairead’s husband too.”
Wee Jean said, “I thought they were goin’ tae come tae blows, sire, Lady Mairead was near collapse, her husband near challenged him tae a duel.”
Sean scrubbed his hands up and down on his face, mutterin’, “Och nae…”
Kaitlyn set her spoon down slowly.
The noise of the hall had changed. Twas quieter now, the laughter gone, people speakin’ behind their hands, whisperin’.
Wee Jean said, “He accused her of… I canna say, sire, twas mortifying.”
Sean said, “Tell me what he accused her of.”
She whispered, “Whoring, sire. I was frightened for her, sire, I thought he might strike her.”
Sean looked over at me, I shook my head.
He asked, “Do ye ken where she is now?”
“I believe she is in her chamber now, sire.”
She left and Red Tam said, “Something else, Sean, I think ye ought tae ken…”
Sean said, “Out with it.”
“With m’apologies, sire, but the Earl did say ye were all bastards, is what I heard.”
“Thank you, that’s…” Sean then said, “Yer turn on the walls?”
“Aye, headed there now.”
“I would appreciate it if ye kept the talk tae a minimum, tis distressin’ for the ladies and causing an uproar.”
Red Tam stalked away and while our focus had been on him we hadn’t noticed Lizbeth had gone pale, and stood, her hands shaking. “Nae, nae, I must… tistime.”
Sean and I both rose. “Where are ye goin’, sister?”
She shook her head. “Nae, he canna, tis nae… acceptable... nae anymore...”
“Ye look as if ye will fall, are ye well, Lizbeth?”
“Nae, I am nae, but I need tae check on mother, dost ye ken..? Oh, I heard, her chamber, she is in her chamber, likely, I will go see… I need tae make certain this is made right.” Her eyes seemed unfocused as if she were goin’ tae faint.
Sean and I both had a hand on her elbows. “What is made right — where are ye goin’?”
“Just up, need tae address it.” Then she shook her head. Her eyes focused. She looked directly at Sean, “Tis fine, I am fine, Sean, I just need taedosomething.”
She patted my arm. “Daena worry on me, Young Magnus,” she peered intae my eyes. “I am alright. I am clear on what must be done.” She turned on her heels and left the Great Hall.
We all watched her go, Sean was shakin’ his head. Then he looked at me, “Should we go with her?”
“She dinna want us tae.”
Kaitlyn said, “She looked really upset, but seems to have gotten over it, she probably needed to lie down — maybe just console Lady Mairead.”
I nodded. “Aye, and we hae a more pressing issue, we need tae find Wilfred, he might try tae defend Lady Mairead’s honor.”
Kaitlyn grimaced. “Defend her honor? I doubt that, he’s just a pretty-boy actor. He’s not going to brawl.”
