I nodded. “I will explain it, make sure she understands.”
“I love ye. I wanted this tae be a different sort of visit.”
“Me too, this is… this is not good.”
Sean rushed into the passage behind us. Magnus put a hand on his shoulders. “Are ye well, Sean?”
“Och nae, Magnus, Lizbeth is… what did shedo?”
“I ken, ye daena hae tae say, ye ought not speak it aloud.”
He nodded.
Magnus peered into his eyes. “Can ye focus?”
“What was she thinking?”
“I canna say, but I need ye tae control yer wits and come back tae the task at hand. Dost ye want Lizbeth tae survive this?”
“Aye.”
“She haena ever asked us tae help her, she is always helpin’ us, inna she?”
Sean nodded.
“So this is our trial, will we step up and take the cause for her?”
“Aye. I will.”
“What dost ye need tae do now?”
“I will go tae the solar and help guard the body.”
“Good, brother, tis the perfect thing for ye tae do. I will come with ye.”
He kissed me and squeezed my hand. “Come tae the solar after ye meet with Lizbeth.”
Lady Mairead approached. “Magnus, can I speak tae ye?”
CHAPTER 29
MAGNUS
FOR THE FIRST TIME M’MOTHER GROVELS
Isent Sean ahead and followed m’mother up the steps tae the courtyard and down tae a store room.
“Ye looking for a private place tae speak, we can go tae my chamber?”
She was ahead of me, after going up the three small steps, she put a hand on the wall and faltered. “I daena think I can make it, I am trembling, Magnus.” She turned and looked up in my eyes. I had never seen her look so frightened.
She clutched the front of my coat. “What will happen tae us?”
Then she sank down ontae her knees, giving me a shock tae hae her groveling afore me. “Mother!”
She folded her hands and beseeched, “Your Highness, please, I humbly ask that ye save his life, Wilfrey inna much, but he is all I hae, he loves me, Magnus, please daena let him hang. I winna survive it.”
I put my hand on the side of her face. “Ye speak as if yer heart will break, Mother.”
