Page 108 of Highland Queen

“Lewis, where has the thane asked for Lady Gruoch to be lodged?”

The man shifted. “He’s taken the chambers in the southern end of the castle. He…his lodgings—and hers—are there. Though I’ve also readied an adjoining room,” the man said, flicking an eye at me.

“Don’t worry, Lady Gruoch,” Morag said, taking my arm. “You are in Lochaber. Not a soul in this castle will speak a word about anything they see here.”

“No, Your Majesty, we certainly will not,” Lewis agreed.

“We are all loyal to this house. Lewis has been here longer than me. But don’t let our old bones worry you. There are plenty of young, strapping boys and girls about to get things done. And, of course, your Moray men. She has her own guard,” Morag told Lewis.

“Oh! Very good. I will make arrangements for their comfort.”

“Thank you,” I told the man.

“Come along, my lady,” Morag said, leading me upstairs. “Now, there is one thing you must know about Tor Castle.”

“What is that?”

“Despite all our love and loyalty, we have the worst cooks in the realm.”

“All things considered, that is terrible news,” I said, my hand resting on my stomach. I laughed.

Morag laughed. “Don’t worry, Lady Gruoch. Don’t worry. I’ll look after you as best I can. And I’ll send for my niece to help me.”

“You have a niece?”

She nodded. “Smart girl. She always wanted to come to the castle. She’ll help me look after you since Rhona and Tira were too lazy to come this far.”

“I think they missed their families.”

“They are lady’s maids, and their lady is with child. Well, no matter. Come along. I’ll have you settled in no time.”

Morag led me upstairs to the second floor. We followed a narrow hallway which led to yet another set of steps to the third floor.

“This is the family wing. The southern end has the best view of the river,” Morag told me.

She led me to a chamber at the end of the hall. She pushed open a wide door to reveal a beautifully bedecked room.

“Well, look at that,” she said, her hands on her hips. “It’s all new.”

“All new?”

“The bed, the linens, the rugs, the tapestries. This was the old thane’s chamber. Banquo closed it. But look at this place, like life has been breathed in once more,” she said then chuckled. “My thane is acting like a newly married man.”

Stepping inside, I turned around to look at the room. Red and blue silk drapes covered the bed. The room was made of fine furnishings, the tapestries on the walls depicting forest and farm scenes.

“Lovely,” I said, turning about.

“Why don’t you take a little rest, my lady? I doubt they expected you to be such a worker. I’ll see to it that you have a conference chamber ready,” Morag said then left me alone.

I went to the window. The room had a good view of the river. I could see the mountains and fields all around. Lochaber was beautiful. Wind blew in the open casement, carrying with it a warm summer breeze. I closed my eyes and let the wind caress my cheek.

“Well, my little one, what do you think of this place?” I whispered, setting my hand on my stomach.

The baby moved and kicked.

I laughed. “I agree.”

I left the chamber and explored the other rooms in the hallway. Beside our bedchamber, another room had been prepared. There were other chambers all along the hall, many of them recently refreshed. At the other end of the hallway, however, I found a second large bedchamber. This one looked out on the forest. The place had not been used of late, but I noticed there were ladies’ things—a spinning wheel, dresses, and a tray with a comb and mirror sitting at the bedside. I looked at the small ladies’ items, spotting a familiar comb amongst them. The adornment was made of ivory, a merwoman carved on it. It was Merna’s. This must have been the room she and Banquo had once shared.

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