She asked, “Ye ken the story? Liam told ye?”
“Aye, years ago, once, I told him he needed tae put it from his mind but I ken he struggled with it.”
“Ye daena hold it against him?”
“Nae, ye canna see a man become near broken because of something he’s done, watch him night after night beg God tae hae mercy on him, and hold the deed against him. I am nae the judge, I am his brother.”
She said, “And how did ye hear it, Magnus?”
“I was young, I heard the older lads speak on it, and I knew he was at Glencoe. I hae since read the accounts, but honestly, Lizbeth, Liam is a good man and he was verra young... I hae a fixed opinion of him. I daena want tae hear anything bad about him — it inna necessary tae hear it.”
“Twas verra bad.”
“Dost ye forgive him?”
“Aye, I do.”
“Then that is good enough for me, I daena need tae hear any more of it.”
“But that is the trouble, the Earl said he was going to tell everyone and send him to the gallows.”
Sean frowned. “Tis why?”
She nodded.
Sean took a deep breath and exhaled. “Well, then, ye are faultless in my mind. Ye daena need tae worry about respect, if ye think on it, Lizbeth, I might respect ye more.”
“Tis true?”
Sean said, “Aye, ye rid our family of the scoundrel, kept our reputation, protected yer husband.”
“Ye daena hate me?”
I said, “Nae, never. But, we are nae out of the woods, not yet, our family could still fall.”
“I will do anything ye need me tae do, I will go tae the kingdom, I will be happy, I promise.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Let us worry about this, first, let’s save ye from accusation and keep Wilfrey from the gallows, then we will talk about the next.”
She asked, “Where are ye going now?”
“We are all going tae the solar, there is work tae be done.”
CHAPTER 34
KAITLYN
THE BUTCHER OF GLENCOE
Magnus and the men had moved the body to a board on his bed at the far end of the chamber. Throughout the room the furniture was draped with black cloth. I was relieved I didn’t have to see the body, but also felt sorry for Lizbeth, who was there at the bed, with other women gathered around, washing the body. They had warm bowls of water scented with herbs. There was a low murmuring as they worked.
The men were at the other end of the chamber, standing together, talking quietly, the whole room was dimmed, quiet, reverent after the murder scene earlier, vivid and frightening — this was a good change.
I nodded at Lizbeth, who looked normal, competent, like she was handling things.
Magnus asked me, quietly, “Are the bairns well?”
“Yes, Jack was still napping, Isla and Archie are busy, lots going on. Haggis is following at their heels. I promised I would be back in a bit, but I wanted to see what was going on here.”
