Page 127 of Highland Queen

I looked at the young man. Aside from his eyes, which were a copy of Macbeth’s, he looked much like his mother, Elspeth.

I inhaled slowly and deeply, well aware that the other lords and ladies present were watching me.

I turned to Findelach. “It is good to meet you, Findelach,” I said. “How is your mother? Your grandfather?”

“They are both well, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice little more than a whisper. He was just a slip of a boy, a thin, nervous thing. His hands shook.

“Your mother is an excellent horsewoman. Does she still look after beasts?” I asked, my eyes flicking toward Macbeth.

“She farms now. She and my step-father have a place in the north.”

“Very good. I’m pleased to learn she’s well,” I said then looked down the table to find everyone staring at me, their eyes wide. “Cousin Bethoc,” I called. “How have you been? Can you believe this cold weather so late in the spring? I worried we would catch fever riding across the countryside in such uncertain weather.”

Bethoc gasped. “Oh, indeed, Gruoch, indeed,” she said, clapping her hands in excitement. “You know…” she began, and then she let loose.

The other lords and ladies exhaled. Giving Bethoc partial attention, they turned back to their meals—or one another—once more.

Exhaling, I sat back in my seat. I glanced sidelong at Madelaine.

She arched an eyebrow at me.

I lifted my goblet of wine and took a sip. When I did so, I found Findelach’s eyes on me. In them, I saw a desperate plea for forgiveness.

Raising my cup, I toasted the boy.

He exhaled deeply and returned the gesture, his hand trembling.

I turned to Macbeth who was gawking at the ceiling.

I followed his gaze. “What do you see?”

Macbeth tittered then leaned toward me. Having him so close made my skin crawl, but I held steady. “Angels,” he whispered.

“Ahh,” I replied then drank once more. “Of course.”

By all the gods, I hated being there, but from what I could see, I had arrived just in time to save everything from madness.

My son’s only rival sat across from me.

My husband saw angels.

And war was about to break out.

What better place was there for me to be?

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