“You might get so excited to go home that you forget me. I wouldn’t blame you, I am a huge pain in the ass. I’m kind of surprised we’ve lasted this long.”
He chuckled and raised his brow. “Aye, the lady is surprised I am still her husband? Alas, it has been a good marriage but I hae decided tae forget her and return tae Florida without her...” His horse stamped to the left. “But if I did, Madame Campbell, who would shew me how tae fly in an airplane tae Scotland? Ye hae promised tae shew me.”
“God, I think any number of women would be happy to show you, but please don’t.”
“I winna. I hae promised God. We are stuck tae each other. Though I am verra excited tae be goin’ home. I winna forget tae take ye with me.”
“I’m afraid we’re going to jinx it. We’re touchdown celebrating without knowing what the storm actually means.”
He grinned. “Kaitlyn Campbell, ye are usually the one with the hope, and I am usually the one with m’heart full of worry, but I can see ten different ways tae get home from here.”
“Ten?”
“Aye, perhaps tis because I am on the horse.” He shaded his eyes and looked out over the woods. “Aye, ten different ways.” He added, “Check that the transmitter is set. I will return verra soon.”
I was led upstairs to Mary of Guise’s quarters. She hadn’t expected me but was bored, so was happy to see me. She offered me a chair and told me all about a letter she had received from France. She had wanted one from her daughter, but instead this was from an advisor, sent to discuss affairs of state, so she was disappointed, but also reading and rereading trying to understand every detail of what it meant.
She translated it for me, and then wanted my opinion. “Does not it seem, Lady Campbell, that it must mean she is not well? That he puts it like this?”
“It might mean she is well though too, there are two meanings to the word, as you yourself just said.”
I was anxious and excited, and too distracted for this kind of conversation: complex, foreign, trivial. I had to be patient. I had to wait for Magnus without letting it be known. Without jumping around excitedly. Without running the fuck out of here and headed into the woods. There was a storm!
Eighty-four - Kaitlyn
An hour later, they were announced, “Lord Campbell and the Lady Mairead.”
My heart soared, not because she was here, but because: Oh my God, someone was here!
Mary of Guise asked me, “Who is Lady Mairead?”
“My mother-in-law.” We both stood to receive them.
In Magnus’s expression I could see he was thrilled. He introduced the two women. We stood idly by while Lady Mairead and Mary of Guise spoke niceties to each other. I noticed Magnus’s foot tapping — we were so ready to get the hell out of here.
But it took forever to quit the conversation once started — Lady Mairead expertly steered the conversation, sounding almost pleasant. Breaking out a great deal of French. She was indifferent to anything but Mary, the queen mother, but I watched her — her eyes flitted from painting, to tapestry, to sculpture. Sizing up the room, pricing the antiquities, measuring the rugs.
I wondered, if I had the patience, if it might be fun to watch, to see how long before she procured some art to take home. But I had no patience, I just wanted Isla, Archie, home, food.
Finally, Magnus said, “Your Majesty, Lady Mairead has come tae call us away. We are expected tae be gone for some time.”
Marie of Guise was terribly sad and held both my hands in hers. “Will you be able to see your children, Lady Kaitlyn?”
I nodded. “I will, I am so excited.”
“Good. I will miss your company, but it is a solace that you will no longer be separated from your children. May God protect you as you travel home to them, Lady Kaitlyn.”
“Thank you, your highness.”
Magnus said, “I hae taken leave from Lord Châtellerault just this morn, but he winna ken that I will be gone long. Would ye explain my departure, your highness? Tis a circumstance most dire. Would ye offer him my apologies for leaving his company without word?”
A smile spread across her face, “I will certainly pass along your message, Lord Magnus, but as it means I will know something he does not, I might hold on to it for