The Guardian by Diana Knightley

Twelve - Magnus

That night Madame Sophie asked if we wanted tae meet upon the walls tae look through her telescope.

We met there after dark, with drinks in hand, gathered around her telescope set upon a stand. Kaitlyn said, “Fun! It’s like a cocktail party I went to once back in...” She glanced at Sophie and finished, “back home.”

Sophie adjusted the scope and then declared it ready. She said tae the bairns, “Ye will see the moon!”

One at a time, each bairn looked through the scope and for the cousins twas verra remarkable what they were seeing, but for Archie and Ben, twas verra commonplace. They came tae where Kaitlyn and I were leaned upon the wall drinkin’ a dram of whisky, and Archie muttered, “Seen better on Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Kaitlyn whispered, “Shh, Archie, we aren’t to talk about that, plus, this is good for you to see. Madame Sophie has been studying with her telescope for a long time against great constraints, she was almost charged with witchcraft for it. You must honor her courage, even though you have seen more in your life.”

I said, “I agree, how about ye both go thank her for allowin’ ye tae look through the scope?”

The boys ran off.

Kaitlyn drank a shot of whisky down and hiccuped. “This is going to be tricky, raising a son who knows more than most. How will we keep him from being cocky?”

I drank m’own shot and chuckled. “Och nae, he will be good and humble like his father, the greatest king Riaghalbane ever kent.” I took her by the hand and drew her toward the telescope for our turn lookin’ at the skies.

Kaitlyn played her part well, I kent she had seen the stars and moon verra close before, much better than this telescope, but she marveled at the sight and said, “Magnus! Look!”

I pressed my eye tae the end. “Och, tis beautiful,” I waved up, “Hello little man!”

Madame Sophie laughed. “A little man, on the moon?”

“Aye, I hope someday. Can ye imagine it, Madame Sophie, if man could see a way tae sail there in a ship?”

She had her hands on her hips looking up at the sky. “So far! But it is a wonderful thing tae imagine!”

Lizbeth came up. “Madame Sophie, I am verra glad tae see your telescope set up. I hae been looking forward tae having ye shew me the face of the moon. Of course, Liam disagrees with me on it, he thinks there might be a mischief tae see it, but he has said I may, and I do look forward tae it.”

“I promise nae mischief, Madame Lizbeth, tae look through the telescope is verra wondrous. Tis nae magic, or mystery. Ye might tell Master Liam that tae map the skies is important for navigation, even the church has agreed on the importance of it. Or so m’late husband has told me.” She showed Lizbeth where to look and took a moment to describe what she was seeing.

Lizbeth said, “Och, tis wonderful. Can ye remind me the name of yer late husband?”

“I was married tae John Milne, had ye heard of him?”

Lizbeth asked, while her eye was pressed to the eyepiece, “I do believe I heard of him when I was last in Edinburgh.”

Sophie nodded. “He was well known at the university. His findings were celebrated.”

Lizbeth cocked her head. “Yet ye were left without money or land?”

Sophie exhaled. “Aye, he was important and learned, yet lived a humble life, and has left me without a living.”

Lizbeth shook her head. “Och, then ye will need a husband verra fast.” She sighed and straightened. “Was he a good husband?”

Sophie laughed. “He was nae kind or good, but made up for it by being always with his telescopes and nae botherin’ me much. I assisted him while he was studyin’, but then he left me tae study on m’own.”

Lizbeth said, “If he must be unkind, ye came up with a verra good arrangement for yerself.”

Sophie said, “And please daena think poorly of me for this, but some nights I was able tae overhear his dinner conversations. There were many lively discussions with other men of science. I only listened because I had naught else tae do.”

Lizbeth patted the back of her hand. “It sounds as if ye made the most of yer situation. A learned husband, who is unkind, is a troublesome thing. There are many a woman who must listen at doors tae understand the meaning of their world. I would never hold it against ye.”

Sophie nodded.

Lizbeth looked through the telescope again and then stood up and sighed, looking up at the stars with her naked eye. “So John Milne kent of the universe, but was nae wise enough tae provide for his widow? Tis a shame the men who gain learning, daena ken tae take care of their household. Tis why I like my Liam, he daena pretend tae be learned. He lives tae be in service tae his family: his brothers, his wife, his bairns, his nephews. Now this is a man I prefer over a learned, but destitute and unkind man.”

* * *

The followin’ day, I was in m’office, reading through a contract for flour, when James walked in followed by Quentin.

“A word, Magnus?”

My brow drew down. “What means this serious look?”

James said, “I have decided to marry Madame Sophie.”

I laughed. “Och I believed ye were telling me bad news. But this... Master Cook, ye...” I shook my head. “Has Quentin told ye about the way of the widows? Ye arna forced tae marry them, ye ken? Ye may negotiate a favorable outcome for yerself, with some precautions, and ye daena need tae worry on it much.”

“I don’t think so, I sat with her most of last night. She was left with nothing. She has nowhere to live, no one to take care of her. She’s really smart, it’s dangerous for her and I could change her life in a second, just by deciding to. I’ve made up my mind, I want to marry her.”

“Och.” I looked at Quentin. “What dost ye think?”

“I think he’s lost his mind, I think the lack of modern women has caused him to get confused all up in his head. I think it’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.”

James moaned. “I’m standing right here. You should say that shit behind my back like a good friend. I won’t let you disparage her character.”

“I’m not saying anything about her — she seems nice enough. You’ve known her for how long? Like three days?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but I asked her and she said yes. I talked to Sean about it—”

I chuckled. “What did Sean say?”

“He said he kent she would be a good match. He said she was a fine girl, demure and godly. He said a bunch of shit about how she would obey me properly. Don’t tell Kaitlyn, she would throw a fit. And he said you should welcome the match.”

Quentin said, “He also said you were too old to have never been married.”

“Yes, he called into question my age, and my mental stability, but he was all for it other than that.”

I said, “I daena believe Kaitlyn trusts Sean in matters of the heart.”

“Well, I know what I want and it’s Madame Sophie.”

I shook my head. “Och, it looks as if I canna talk ye from it. There is no dowry. Ye daena expect anything from her?”

“No, but that’s okay, I don’t need it.”

“I suppose it will be okay for a while, as we are going tae be living here for a time, but daena ye think she will be surprised if ye are time traveling around? Are ye nae worried she will be confused that ye are from a different time?”

He shrugged. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. Quentin did it with Beaty, she hasn’t been any trouble.”

I chuckled. “Och, Madame Beaty has been a terrible amount of trouble, though I daena think Quentin would change anything about it.”

“Exactly, that’s what I’m saying, it’ll be worth it.”