castle walls, closing his eyes in the warmth of the morning sun.
I stood with my hands on my hips facing him. “There is a lot, huh?”
“Aye, there is. Tell me of Lady Mairead’s visit.”
“I didn’t hear the storm, so it was sudden. She was at our house, at night — the kids were in bed. She seemed preoccupied. She said there was trouble brewing in your kingdom. She knew about the siege here.” I looked down at the ground, remembering how odd Lady Mairead had been. “She asked to see Isla and got emotional when she saw her.”
“Tis odd for her tae shew it.”
“Yes, I agree. I mean, if I had to describe her in one word it would be — overwhelmed. But I doubt she’s ever been overwhelmed in her life.”
“Did she disclose anythin’ of the trouble in m’kingdom?”
“No, just that there was trouble... And then she gave me a gift — a painting. It’s definitely a Picasso and guess what it’s of...?”
Magnus squinted his eyes, looking amused. “I canna imagine? One of the sad clowns?”
“No, it’s of her.”
Magnus laughed. “My mother has given ye a painting of herself, painted by the man-child Picasso, her lover? Och, she is diabolical. What does she intend ye tae do with it?”
“That’s what I wondered, but then I noticed a door in the back of the painting. It opens with my fingerprint, like your security doors in your kingdom. I guessed it was for sending her a message. Perhaps asking her for help.”
His brow drew down. “Ye could put a letter inside it?”
“Yes, that was my guess. The next night, I...”
His brow drew further down.
“Look, Magnus, I did something that might have been a mistake. I just need you to not look at me like that — like you’re about to get mad.”
“What dost ye mean, what did ye send tae her?”
“And remember, the next night was when Archie told me Bella spoke to him at the park... How do you think that happened?”
“I daena ken.” He rolled his hand. “Continue.”
“...so I was freaking out. Zach and Emma were too. We gathered the kids. We rushed around packing shoes and coats — like we were really freaking out, totally. I just want you to know, I was under duress.”
“I ken ye were. What did ye do, Kaitlyn?”
“There was a knocking on the door — who the hell was that? Like Bella? Was it Bella at our fucking house?”
He shrugged.
“You know what, Magnus, if that was fucking Bella at my house, if it was, you need to deal with that shit. No, strike that. You need to have dealt with it. How could she have been at our house?”
“She has a vessel.”
“Who gave her a fucking vessel? Did Lady Mairead give her a...? Shit.”
He looked even more confused.
“Before we escaped, I put the Johnne book in the back of the painting with a note that told her: we are in 1705 with you... I can’t remember how I worded it. At the time it made sense.”
“Why would ye give it tae her, Kaitlyn? Ye ken tis a verra important and dangerous book—”
I threw my hands up exasperated. “I don’t know why! I felt like giving her a peace offering.”
“She daena need a peace offering. She needed tae be told tae help us—”
“You made it sound like she was on our side, like she was safe!”
“She is still dangerous. I hae her under control but tis a verra guarded control.”
“Fuck.”
Lizbeth and Liam walked up the path from the direction of the village.
“How are ye, Kaitlyn? The bairn are in the nursery?”
“Yes, they’re with Emma.”
She looked from my face to Magnus’s. “Liam and I hae been visitin’ Young Laomann’s croft, he dinna bring his family tae the castle during the siege, so we were worried.”
Magnus asked, “Are they well?”
“Well enough and safe.”
Liam said, “Young Magnus, we also looked in on Auld Jimmy, he tells us Black Mac has beaten him?”
Magnus said, “Auld Jimmy beat Madame Beaty in front of her husband. Black Mac wanted tae return the beatin’, twas within his rights, as ye ken, but then Auld Jimmy tried tae stand and was too verra drunk. I believe he must hae fallen down.”
Lizbeth’s brow rose. “He fell down and did that tae his face?”
“Aye and he deserved it.”
Liam chuckled. “Aye, it sounds like he did.”
Magnus added, “We expect the scouts tae return with word at anytime.”
Liam nodded.
Lizbeth said, “Good, I will see ye inside.”
They left for the front gate, while we remained quiet from