“You must retract it!”
Outside I heard a shriek from the hall that sounded like Mairead. Good. A distraction.
“No man speaks of my wife that way. Especially not the coward before me. You may sit in this castle and call yourself Earl, but history will know you for what you are — a cruel man who lined his purse with the blood of Glencoe and calls it honor!”
I was proud of that line. If I did get to produce my movie, that would go in the screenplay.
I crouched beside him, holding the dirk. I did not want to do it, did not want to… not at all, but had to, the role was not complete without it.
“I want you to apologize to my wife, now!”
I thrust that dirk right into his stomach.
“I have seen it,brother,the history books name you the Butcher of Glencoe.”
I thought,that too is a good line.
I stood, squirted some blood on my front, put some blood on his hands, a little on the carpet. A few spots on my shoes. Then I walked over to his chair, the table in front of it, and shoved it over.
The scene was staged.
CHAPTER 27
KAITLYN
DID WE SAVE LIZBETH?
It was difficult to hear what happened on the other side of that door, but one of the servants called out, “What do ye hear?”
Sean said, “The Earl is refusing to apologize!”
Lady Mairead had her ear pressed to the door.
Then, out of nowhere, she shrieked, and collapsed to the floor in a heap.
Magnus tried to stop her fall and got her gently to the ground. She began to bemoan the horror of having her husband fight with her brother over her honor, causing a distraction, covering whatever was happening inside.
The hall was chaotic as everyone joined in the distraction, Magnus saying, “Mother what happened tae ye?”
Sean crouched beside her, patting her hand.
I tried to see if we were getting away with it, were we? Everyone looked upset and frightened, Lizbeth looked like she was in shock. I thought she should be on the ground instead of Lady Mairead, but she had her eyes closed, her hands pressed together, praying silently, Liam holding her up.
Someone asked, “What is happening, will they duel?”
Fraoch had his ear pressed to the door. “I canna hear anything, everyone needs tae wheesht. Ye must all be more quiet, or I winna be able to tell what is happening and tis difficult tae relay it tae ye, if nae… Wheesht.” Obviously causing more distraction.
Hayley pulled some paper from her pocket, and fanned Lady Mairead’s face. “Give her air, give her air, people.” She placed two fingers on Mairead’s wrist.
I raised my brow. “You checking her pulse?”
“Yep, do I look like I know what I’m doing? I want something to do.”
Finally Lady Mairead pretended to wake up. “Why am I on the floor of my brother’s corridor?”
Sean said, “Mother, ye hae fainted, the concern for yer husband has be-stricken ye.”
“I am on the floor in front of the servants?”
