The Guardian by Diana Knightley
Sixty-nine - Kaitlyn
Magnus ordered drinks to be served and we all took places in the sitting room, Zach on the edge of a couch, some sitting on straight back dining chairs, two perched on a chaise. The rest of us on couches and chairs.
Lady Mairead asked, “How did Sophie ken how tae find ye? How did she ken tae meet ye?”
James said, “After her husband died she had nowhere to go, she was accused of witchcraft—”
“Och nae, men can be such barbarians.”
James continued, “Then she received an anonymous letter telling her to seek out Magnus’s family.”
Lady Mairead threw out her arms incredulously, sloshing a bit of wine from her glass in her excitement. “And ye just took her in, James? Ye married a woman with nae lineage, without question?”
James said, “We had plenty of questions. She came from a good family in Edinburgh. Later, any doubts we had, she answered them. She is not caught up in any of this, she is a widow, that’s it.”
Magnus sighed. “Since we are at a loss how tae find Master James’s wife, do ye hae any ideas? I feel as if ye hae heard of her...?”
I thought Lady Mairead’s eyes would pop from her head. “Ye want me tae help ye find a woman I hae warned ye might be a danger? I hae heard everything now.”
Magnus asked, “Master James, if Lady Mairead has information do ye require it?”
“I do, I intend to go looking for Sophie first thing tomorrow, but I don’t know where to look. It would be very helpful. I would be very grateful for any information, anything.”
Magnus said, “Master James and Madame Sophie were married in front of God and the church. He made a vow and means tae honor it. If she comes from a competing lineage tae my own, he can deal with that later, for now he must find her.”
“Ye are only this relaxed because she is a woman and ye think her harmless, ye are a big brute and ye daena consider any woman tae be a match for ye, but I assure ye tis nae true. She might hae connections that are verra dangerous. Ye must be more cautious.”
“Kaitlyn said a similar thing tae me back at Kilchurn, a warning nae tae trust her just because she is a woman.”
I groaned, not at all happy with all the comparisons to my mother-in-law. I really was going to need to rethink my whole vibe.
Magnus asked, “Dost ye hae a list, Lady Mairead, of all the bairns of Donnan and Reyes—”
“And Roderick and Samuel and yer cousin, Callum? Aye, I hae a list of most of the bairns. Uilliam Paterson, a second cousin, Scot Hepburn, and Aodh Menzies. Fraoch and his brother Domnall are on my list as well as Ormr, Fraoch’s half-brother, and Ian the Troublesome”
“How come I dinna ken of yet another brother of Fraoch? Fraoch did ye ken?”
“Nae, tis new.”
Magnus continued, “And how come I haena heard of a cousin named Ian the Troublesome? I feel these are things I ought tae ken. How come I am only hearing of most of these men now?”
“First, I hae only now been working on the list, but also, why would I hae tae tell ye anything at all? Ye hae been addin’ tae yer family without asking my opinion on it.”
“I hae just undergone a surgery, and hae a new outlook; I will be more cautious in m’dealings, if ye will be as well. In return I would like ye tae give us all ye ken about the whereabouts of Madame Sophie.”
“Will ye promise me ye winna go yerself, Magnus? There are men who desire tae beat ye at any cost. Ye canna just walk in and ask if they ken where Madame Sophie is.”
James said, “She has been kidnapped, I don't need anyone to go with me. Wherever she is I’ll go get her.”
She paused, her eyes on James for a moment. He was pensive, chewing his lip, waiting for her next thought. “I daena ken for sure, but... I hae heard of Sophie Milne. I believe she is from the future. I canna say for sure, as I winna go, on principle, tis the future, past what I am comfortable seeing.”
She took a sip of her wine. “Did I tell ye that Agnie MacLeod has a grand house in the 20th century, in New York, Magnus? Tis infuriatin’ because tis my favorite place, and I bought a home there, and she has nae business buying a house on the—”
Magnus said, “Lady Mairead, I believe ye are off topic.”
She dug around in her pocket for a small book, opened it, and flipped pages, occasionally licking her fingers to keep them from sticking. “My point is I must always ken what Agnie MacLeod is up tae. I heard the name Sophie in connection with Agnie’s son, Domnall. He had been livin’ in a castle, Dunscaith, on Isle of Skye, a guest of Ormr. Really tis a rock with the ocean all around — who in their right mind would ever build a house there?”
Magnus said, “All of us here hae been livin’ in a castle on an island in the middle of a loch.”
“Tis naething the same. Ormr’s castle is built upon a rock in the sea, with a bridge tae cross tae get tae the walls. Tis battered by waves. Tis as if he is a savage instead of a civilized lord.”
I asked, “This Ormr... is it the same Ormr you listed as Fraoch’s half-brother, someone who might challenge Magnus for the throne?”
Lady Mairead said, “Aye, the cousins are conspirin’.”
James asked, “Why would Sophie be there?”
“I daena ken. If ye think on it, twould be a good, private place tae keep someone hidden.” She tapped a handwritten entry in the book. “Right here, the year 1589. That is what I heard from an informant I hae on the inside. If it were me I would go in June, but daena let the season fool ye, ye ought tae take a jacket. Ye might find your wife there, but I canna promise it.”
“All right, thank you, Lady Mairead.”
“Ye are welcome.”
She paused. “If ye hae a chance though, Master James, if ye see Domnall or his mother it would be a great service tae me if ye would kill them. I hae nae had a straight shot at Agnie MacLeod or I would hae done it years ago. I should hae done it from the verra first time I kent of her.” She took a long drink of wine and then waved the glass asking for more.
Hayley said, “Um, no, or Fraoch would not be here.”
Lady Mairead exhaled. “True, and he did a service tae me with the Trailblazer, he and Quentin.” A playful smile spread across her face as she looked at Fraoch. “I should hae killed yer mother after ye were born.”
Fraoch laughed.
Magnus said, “Och, ye are diabolical, Lady Mairead.”
Fraoch shook his head. “Nae Magnus, she is sensible. Since I daena ken my mother, I will nae mind yer anger with her. I daena ken what she has done tae ye tae make ye hate her so, but I am glad tae be on yer side, and relieved ye daena want me dead.”
Magnus said, “Fraoch also saved my life.”
Lady Mairead said tipsily, “Then he is doubly safe from my murderous rampages.” She laughed happily and took General Hammond’s hand.
Magnus’s eyes went wide at the sight. Quentin tried to stifle a laugh.
Fraoch asked, “What did Agnie MacLeod do tae ye that made ye hate her so?”
“She has always wanted what belonged tae me. I had another son besides ye and Sean, ye ken?” She turned to Magnus.
Magnus looked shocked. “Nae I never kent it.”
“Aye, I had another.”
“How come I am only hearin’ of him now?”
She shrugged. “Tis mine tae ken, nae yours. I daena talk of him, ever. He was about fourteen years younger than ye, Magnus, how auld are ye now?”
“I daena ken,” Magnus chuckled and drank a shot of whisky. “About six hundred years.”
Lady Mairead laughed and took another sip of wine. “Twould make me eight hundred years auld, I winna allow it.”
“What happened tae him?”
“I tried tae hide him, but he was killed... twas heartbreaking. He was too young tae protect himself.” She shook her head. “He would nae hae been in line for the throne. His father was a lowly artist, so I should hae been capable of hidin’ him. He should nae hae been at risk.”
Magnus asked, “Do ye remember when the men killed Abigall?”
Lady Mairead said simply, “Aye. I think on it often.”
He asked, “Do ye think Lizbeth and Sean are in danger?”
“I hae kept verra separate from them, indifferent, in order tae keep them safe, and it has worked. Ye on the other hand...”
“I ken tis true, I hae lived a life of borrowed days.”
I was sitting beside him and put my head on his shoulder.