He frowned. “Best not tae think on it, someone must go out in the rain, but not me, nae ye, we are the King and Queen of Riaghalbane, we get tae remain dry.”
“Except this morning.”
“Aye, the king’s folly.”
I said, “Man, this is a long day, and now John is coming?”
“Aye, he will be here any minute now, likely he already kens what has happened, I am sure a messenger was sent.”
I winced. “A messenger in this rain?”
“When I was young, I often spent time doin’ chores in the rain, tis a thing someone must do. Messages must be carried, wood must be brought in, horses must be tended.”
“Well, I’m gladwedon’t have to do it, that was enough wet today. And I suppose it’s good that John will know about his father already… But it’s not too late to leave, right?”
He shook his head. “We canna, we must be here tae help Wilfrey.”
“But we could spring him from the dungeon and just go and never come back. By the way, Lizbeth told me why, it was because she was protecting Liam.”
“Aye, I spoke tae her, she told me as well. The Earl threatened Liam. Did she tell ye what twas?”
I shook my head. “No, she said it was a secret.”
“Aye, it involves Glencoe.”
“Oh. Ohno.” My eyes went wide. “You know what it is?”
He nodded. “All of us do, but we daena speak on it. We were all young when it happened. I was the youngest, Liam was the only one barely old enough tae go with the men. We daena speak on it because we ken it could hae happened tae any of us if we had been auld enough tae be told tae ride with the soldiers.”
“And the Earl threatened Liam with it?”
Magnus sneered. “The Earl escaped the gallows but was willing tae threaten tae send other men there for the same actions.”
“And the Earl also told her she could not come back, ever. That’s not the whole reason, but still part of it. She got mad and then she did it.”
“Dost ye ken who gave her the poison?”
“She knew where Lady Mairead had some hidden.”
Our footsteps echoed as we walked down the hall, his heavy, mine lighter and quicker to keep up. “But, ultimately, she really doesn’t want to leave.”
He was really quiet, then finally said, “I ken. I am goin’ tae try tae come up with a better idea. Just give me some time — now we hae tae keep Wilfred from the gallows, that must come first.”
“Do you think you can?”
He shook his head. “I daena ken, twill all depend on John.”
We walked in silence, then I said, “It would be really good if we could keep both Lizbeth and Wilfred from trouble.”
He said, “Wheesht, mo ghràidh, the walls hae ears.”
CHAPTER 35
HAYLEY
WE ARE ABOUT TAE HAE A MEETING
Jack stayed in the nursery and I found Fraoch walking along the upper corridor.
