“A world with art and entertainment is a good world, Magnus, and a kingdom at peace should create culture. We are in agreement, ye will save Wilfrey, ye will produce his next movie. With this in mind, I know all will be well.” She smoothed down the front of her dress.
I nodded. “Aye, Lady Mairead, I will interrupt this desperate business tae think on Wilfred Weaver’s next movie.” I huffed. “For now we need tae get back tae the business at hand, we hae lives tae save.”
CHAPTER 30
LIZBETH
HORRIBLE THINGS WERE SAID
Liam had me by the elbow taking me down the corridor tae our chamber. He asked, “What were ye thinking?” Then said, “I ken, ye said ye werna thinking, tis true,” and then added, “Daena answer, Lizzie, we need tae speak privately.”
He opened our door, sent the servants away and directed me tae a chair. “Tell me.”
“I am sorry.”
“Tis not an explanation, I want an explanation. I hae worked too hard for the respect of the Earl tae hae ye sent tae the gallows for his death.”
My chin trembled, “I am sorry, will they send me tae the gallows?”
His eyes went wide, “They might, Lizzie! They could without needin’ tae even consider! Why did ye do it? Because he is cruel? Because ye dinna like what he said?”
I shook my head.
“Speak, Lizzie, he insulted yer mother? Yer brother? It happens all the time.”
He paced back and forth in front of me.
“I daena want tae say.”
He exhaled. “I need ye tae tell me, I canna square what ye did with the wife I hae before me.”
I frowned. “He said terrible things about ye, m’lord, I canna even recount them.”
He stopped. “Och nae... what did he say?”
I had my hands folded, pleading, “M’lord, I daena want tae say it, ye and I haena even spoken of it and...”
He backed up and sank intae a chair.
I said, “I canna say it.”
“What, Lizzie, tell me.”
“He told me what ye did at Glencoe.”
He took a deep breath and put his head in his hands. “Nae.”
“He said he was going tae hae ye brought up on charges for it, that he would hae ye prosecuted and see ye hung.”
He shook his head.
I said, “Ye never told me the full story, tis true?”
“Aye.” He nodded. “Tis true, he has been holdin’ it over m’head for years.”
“Now we are leaving he told me he dinna need tae protect ye anymore, that he would let ye hang for yer crimes.”
He wouldna look at me.
