The Guardian by Diana Knightley

Thirty - Magnus

James and Fraoch returned and James was incredulous. He stormed into m’office where I was speaking with Quentin, with Fraoch following.

“What the hell is goin’ on?”

I said, “We felt Madame Sophie needed tae be locked up while we ascertained her true purpose.”

“What the fuck, Mags, you’re saying… what? She’s a bad guy? That’s my wife! Who's she working for?”

“I hae nae idea.”

“Then how come you know she’s a bad guy?”

Quentin said, “It’s a hunch. Beaty figured it out.”

“Beaty? Beaty figured it out? You’re going to take her word for it? From here it seems like you got rid of me, sent me on an errand, and then locked up my wife. I won’t stand for it. You’re taking Beaty’s word over mine?”

Quentin squinted his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I? Beaty is from this century. She’s a woman. She knows enough to be able to trip someone up. She tripped her up. Sophie is not who she says she is.”

Beaty knocked on the door and then entered.

Quentin said, “Beaty, tell James what it was she said that made you realize it?”

“This morn, she recited a poem that has nae been written yet — Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Did ye teach it tae her?”

James said, “No, I didn’t. I totally forgot about it.”

I shook my head, “We canna mess about here, Master Cook. I ken she is yer wife, but tis nae secure tae hae someone under our roof when we daena ken her business. Ye ken we must keep the—”

James interrupted, “I know, we have to keep the kids safe. But this is my wife. Nine months, Magnus, and not one suspicion—”

Magnus said, “She never said anything tae give ye pause? How would she ken the poem?”

“I have no idea, I know she grew up in Edinburgh, I…”

I said, “Why are ye pausing?”

James groaned. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation, I just... she calls her family in Edinburgh her ‘guardians’. I didn’t think it was important.”

I nodded. “Now it seems too important tae hae overlooked it.”