I dinna want tae harm Agnie Macleod, I had nae reason tae wish harm upon her, I had won everything I had ever wanted, and had the strength of m’son tae guard me, a long line of children and grandchildren after us.
And a kingdom.
What did she have?
Two dead sons.
Och, she was going tae be trouble.
A car slid up tae the curb out front. I raised my chin, and waited for my butler tae answer the call. Then I met Cornelius in the entryway.
“Mairead! You are ravishing!”
I smoothed my hair, “Thank ye, Cornelius, ye are verra fine yerself. Would ye like a drink afore we go?”
“No, Mairead, I would like to show you off, we ought to be there to do it.”
He put his hand on the small of my back and led me to the car, opening the door for me, and then climbing in the driver’s seat. Twas all verra elegant, but then he drove like a madman tae the party, the vehicle bouncing and careening terribly. I wished desperately for a properly chauffeured limo, but he assured me he loved the freedom of his own automobile.
We pulled up in front of the museum. I had been quite shaken, and having been stuck in traffic, with a thick cloud of smoke settled around the car, covered in a bit of grime.
I pulled a compact from my purse, powdered my nose, reapplied lipstick, smoothed down my hair, and straightened the rhinestone comb. I made sure the diamond necklace was centered.
He asked, “Have you had a good week, Mairead? You have been too busy to see your poor Cornie.”
“Ye ken, I was occupied with Abby and Flora, busy organizing the details of this party.”
He scowled as he looked out of the window. “You say it with such assurance, but I am certain you have been with your lovers.”
I huffed. “I hae been planning a party. Ye daena hae tae be jealous, I am nae seeing anyone—”
“What of your General?”
I pursed my lips. “I shouldna hae told ye of him.”
“You did it to keep me at the beckoning of your whims.”
I took his hand. “Dear Cornie, ye must stop the jealousy. Tis unbecoming. We are here in New York, and ye are my only... my one and only.”
He kissed my gloved hand.
“You have not taken a lover here in Manhattan? I wonder sometimes if I am passing him on the street. I do not believe I could bear it.”
“I am growing bored of the questions, Cornie, I haena taken another lover, not in this whole glorious decade.”
“Good, and I will keep you to myself the following decade as well. I will persuade you to live here always, Mairead. There is nowhere in the world as grand and luxurious, no finer city than New York.”
I said, “True, though Paris is verra fine.”
He laughed. “Paris? With the artists? No, not Paris, it has one Eiffel tower, it cannot even compete with New York.” He passed our keys to the valet and came around tae open the door for me. On the sidewalk I straightened my gown.
He gave me his arm as we climbed the steps to the museum, walked through the main doors, and followed the sound of the music through tae the party tents in the sculpture gardens. There were large tables set up with a buffet and smaller tables for dinner seating, and a dance floor in front of the band. The doors were open tae the galleries, so that we could view the new exhibits and the grand collection.
The lights twinkled. Fragrant perfume floated on the night air mingling with the scents from the flowerbeds. The men were all more handsome than usual in their tuxedos, the women glorious in their gowns.
“We ought tae hae a drink.” Cornelius raised his hand as a waiter walked by carrying a tray of drinks.
Passing me a glass, he asked, “Do you see Abby and John?“
