Lochinvar said, “He was reasonably careful, but the men said they were carryin’ a message from the Earl of Breadalbane in Edinburgh.”
I said, “Were they messengers?”
“They claimed the Earl was ill, but why would he send strangers tae tell us? Liam regretted allowin’ them through the gate.”
Sean said, “Tis too late once the danger has been invited inside.”
“Aye, and they were lookin’ around in a way that — twas suspicious. Liam told me tae keep hidden, he thought they were looking for us.”
I said, “Och nae, I daena like the sound of it, ye think Arsegall sent them?”
“Aye, they were sent by Arsegall. We found out they were askin’ about us in the village afore they came tae the castle.”
Sean said, “I ought tae get back.”
I nodded. “We will send ye home, we can send ye home by the end of the day.”
He said, “Yet I am meetin’ with the quarry master tomorrow afternoon, I could go right after?”
“And ye will arrive on the same day, we are time travelers. We can do whatever ye want.”
Fraoch said, “Lochie, continue yer story.”
“Ash waited in the nursery, and after, when I returned her tae our chamber, she had all sorts of new ideas about our oath tae each other — she said we ought tae be officially married, she told me my family wouldna respect her without it, she said ye dinna respect me enough.”
I looked around tae see all of us shakin’ our heads in commiseration.
Fraoch said, “Och nae, what did the ladies say tae her?”
He looked sullen. “They told her she ought tae make me marry her afore we carried on — they dinna believe me on my thumb oath…”
Fraoch bit his lip tae keep from laughin’.
Lochinvar continued, “Twas an oath, but tae them twas not enough, they advised Ash tae banish me from her bed.”
Fraoch said, “Och nae, this is a tragedy. How long has it been since she has been denyin’ ye?”
“It has been days without… I believed I deserved some gratitude — daena ye agree? I rescued her! I ought tae hae some solace in a warm bed.” He was fully pouting.
I said, “Tis true, ye rescued yer wife, it would seem customary for yer wife tae offer ye gratitude. But, Lochinvar, therein is the rub.”
Lochinvar put his hand on his forehead and rubbed the spot between his brow. “She wasna my wife.”
“Aye,” I asked, “And ye hae been sleepin’ outside her door?”
“In the passage tae guard over her.”
Fraoch said, “Och nae, I hae been there before — tis a dark and desolate time, nae wonder ye are as ornery as a bear.”
“I had tae build her fire tae keep her warm! Tis nae sense in any of it!”
I said, “Finish puttin’ on yer boots, ye will be married afore God, then all of this will be behind ye.”
Fraoch said, “Aye, ye will hae yer wife, yer warm bed, and if ye satisfy her none of the women will be capable of advisin’ her against ye.”
“IfI satisfy her! What doesthatmean?”
“Tae be stern but kind, tae be funny yet strong, tae be a good provider and tae listen tae their endless conversations about things they care about, ye ken. Hayley tells me tis whatallladies want, and especially tae clean all around yer undercarriage, tis crucial in satisfyin’ her. Then when ladies in the nursery speak poorly on ye, she will say,” he raised his pitch tae sound like a woman, “‘Och nae, not a poor word on m’husband, he smells like an angel and has the temperament of a godly man, and he makes me laugh with his jokes about fishin’.’”
