We bustled down the stairs to get our horses. “Is Isla okay? Is Archie?”
Lady Mairead said, “Aye, they are thriving.”
Then we were out the gates and down the lane to the woods. Magnus led the horses while we walked.
Lady Mairead asked, “You could leave these horses here?”
“Nae, I hae grown accustomed tae him, I canna leave him, and Kaitlyn learned tae ride her. We must add tae our stable.”
“If you ask me tis ridiculous tae keep horses in Florida.”
He inhaled and let out a low breath. “Until a few moments ago we were tae live out all of our days in sixteenth century Scotland. I canna think straight on this. I am takin’ m’horses.”
As we closed in on the trees on the south side of Holyroodhouse, he said, “What took ye so long?”
She shrugged. “Ye told me I had a year, I meant tae use the time.”
Magnus’s face turned furious. “‘Twas nae fair tae do tae us, I will make ye pay for it.”
She walked primly, her head held high, and huffed loudly. “Ye hae threatened me before. I daena think ye should threaten me now when I am in the middle of a rescue of ye.” She added, “Ye are m’son and ye arna tae be threatenin’ me.”
“I am not only yer son, first of all I am yer king.” He stopped still in the road. “Ye must get down on yer knees.”
“What dost ye mean?”
“I command ye tae get down on yer knees and beg for my forgiveness, I am yer king.”
I took a step back, to get out of their way. I honestly wondered if a fight might break out. But then, surprising the hell out of me, Lady Mairead pulled her skirt up a bit and demurely lowered down onto her knees in the dirt. Her head bowed, she said, “Your highness, I beg ye tae forgive me.”
Magnus stood staring down at the bowed head of his mother. “Give me one reason why I shouldna hae ye brought up on charges for this. Ye would leave me in the past, tae teach me a lesson?”
“Nae.”
“Ye hae just said twas done on purpose. Were ye lyin’ tae the king?”
“Nae, I—”
“I am yer king, hae ye grown used tae believin’ I am tae obey ye? Dost ye think ye are above me?”
“Nae, I believe ye are above me, my king.”
“Explain what has happened, what took ye so long?”
“Tae come this far has been verra difficult. I had tae make a bargain with some verra bad people, I hae brought danger tae the kingdom. I hae risked your bairn’s safety and security, all tae gain the machine. I just — I couldna manage it afore this.”
Magnus stood in silence making her wait before he would speak, then he said, “Ye may rise.”
She stood, brushing off the front of her skirts. “Thank ye.”
“There is danger to the kingdom?”
“Aye, I will tell ye of it when ye come.”
“I am tae come on the same date?”
“Aye, until then make sure tae hae good security around the bairn. I told Quentin already, he kens.”
Magnus nodded.
She pulled a vessel from a bag hanging from her waist. She twisted the ends. “The date you must go to is November 24.”
I said, “Yay!” and clapped my hands.
There was a gleam in her eye when she said, “The year 2021.”
I blinked, “Wait, what?”
She raised her brow.
“I don’t understand, that’s a whole year! Why do we have to wait a year? We can go back any time, right?”
“Nae.” She pulled another vessel from her bag. “Ye canna, Kaitlyn. Fraoch and Quentin were in grave danger tae make yer rescue happen. Ye canna loop back before the time it was accomplished. Ye ken this. Ye canna.” She held both vessels in her hands.
I gulped. “But it’s been a whole year! Without Isla!”
She continued, “Chef Zach and Emma hae welcomed another bairn. Ye canna loop back. Ye canna take a chance on the bairn’s life.”
“But—”
“Daena argue with me, Kaitlyn!” She gestured with a vessel. “Twas verra difficult tae accomplish. Ye owe all of us a debt of gratitude for bothering tae rescue ye at all.”
Magnus said, “Lady Mairead ye lower yer tone. I demand more respect when ye are speakin’ tae Kaitlyn.” He shook his head. “Ye hae dropped tae yer knee and convinced me of yer fealty, but if ye continue tae harangue the queen I will hae ye