“Send Maxwell, tell him he can use the drones, I would like tae ken where they are — I want her back. She inna worth anything, but I daena like tae be tricked.”
I stamped out that cigarette in the ashtray and lit another, getting more excited about my plans. “Lady Mairead is of course at Riaghalbane? I do appreciate how well that device I bought from Johnne Cambell works, I never used it before, I stop vessels, direct them off course. Tis wonderful for creatin’ mayhem.”
“Divide and conquer.”
“More like draw and quarter. If Lady Mairead canna find her son and her grandchildren... twill be verra entertainin’ tae watch her suffer.”
I watched him nodding, sweating on the furniture. I scowled. “Ye ken, Jim, ye ought tae go now, this has been enough.”
He faltered for a moment, then started tae gather his papers?—
“Leave them.”
He stood. “You will leave in the morning?”
I leaned back in my chair. “Aye, but ye canna stay, besides ye hae work tae do.”
He said, “Um... with the wolves howling and...” His eyes searched the darkness. “Hear it? There are more now.”
“I hear it, they likely want a weasel for their meal, ye ought tae leave before they smell yer fear.”
He bowed awkwardly, and rushed from the room.
CHAPTER 3 - KAITLYN
THE KING AND QUEEN’S CHAMBER - STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 16, 1291
Iwoke up and patted beside me, the bed was empty. I raised my head to see one of my lady’s maids, uncomfortably near, waiting for me to rise so she could wash and dress me.How long had she been in the room?
This whole process would be complicated without Magnus here to translate when necessary.
I shoved the heavy bedding aside, and climbed from the bed.
The maid bobbed her head and set about pulling my chemise off and washing me with a rag from a basin of water. She kept her eyes averted and submissive and was too shy to try to communicate with me.
Another two maids entered and helped the first to dress me in a clean chemise in a pale linen color that went down to my ankles. Then they covered it with a tunic-style dress in a deep royal blue. The dress had long sleeves with an interior fur lining. It was warm and toasty in the drafty castle.
My hair was brushed back and twisted in a piece of ribbon. Then a pale white cloth was placed over it, held down with a gold crown with a red garnet stone in the center.
A rust red cloak, with a fine embroidered edge was placed on my shoulders, and fastened at my neck with a golden brooch.The garnets in the crown and my brooch both matched the one in my wedding band.
It was all heavy. The look was beautiful. I felt dignified, and incredibly royal.
It was a lot to wake up to. My days of going down to breakfast in my yoga pants were apparently over.
Jack woke up fussing in the other room. He had perfect timing, I was basically dressed.
I rushed in, trying to soothe. “Hey little guy.” I picked him up and grimaced. Ugh, he was ripe. We had brought diapers, but not many and there would need to be more, and yes, potty training needed to happen — stat.
I looked around, finding the box of my stuff in the corner. I ripped open the top and was interrupted by a lady’s maid who wanted to do it for me, but of course had never seen a diaper before. She watched me change him on his bed. I showed her how.
Then, holding him in my arms, I sat in an armchair and the lady’s maid pulled on my socks and leather ankle boots. These boots didn’t match the time period, but they were unobtrusive enough. She tied the laces.
I stood up and said to Jack, “There, we look perfect.”
Jack, who had fussed through most of it, grinned.
I said, “I am glad, Mr Jackie-poo, that you have a happy personality, because when we run out of diapers, things are going to get dire around here. You will need to be extra charming.”
