Page 42 of Highland Queen

Chapter 14

“My lady,” Tira chirped happily. “Lady—no, Queen—Gruoch. Best get out of bed.”

“Leave her be a while longer. Get me some kindling for the fire,” Rhona said.

“But the other lords and ladies are already at morning meal,” Tira protested.

“Let Lady Madelaine entertain them. If our lady is tired, let her sleep. She’s worked herself half to death.”

“But what will they say if she doesn’t come for morning meal?”

“That’s she’s odd and unfriendly.”

“Rhona!”

“I hardly think Lady Gruoch would mind such gossip,” Rhona said then added, “since she knows herself it’s true.”

Both of the maids chuckled lightly.

“But still,” Tira protested.

“Lay out her clothes. When she rises, you’ll have everything ready.”

“By all the gods, who could sleep with such noisome and gossiping maids anyway?” I complained from the bed.

At that, they both laughed.

“Now, see what you’ve done,” Rhona complained to Tira.

“Well, it’s time to get up anyway.”

“Right, otherwise I’ll seem odd and unfriendly,” I said.

Both of the maids stilled. For a moment, it seemed they were unsure if I had been offended or not.

I laughed. “I am odd and unfriendly. Rhona is right. There are only a handful of people in this world whose company I enjoy. I suppose that includes the two of you…most of the time.”

The maids chuckled.

Rising slowly, I began getting ready for the day. Once I had properly cleaned up, I dressed in the green gown Tira had selected. With a yawn, I headed toward the feasting hall.

As I neared the room, the scents of roasting meat and bread assailed my nostrils. I paused a moment when a wave of nausea swept over me.

“Queen Gruoch?” Magnus, one of my guards, said, offering his arm to steady me.

“I’m all right,” I reassured him. Pregnancy was such an odd thing. The kitchen smells made me feel both ill and famished at the same time. “I think I’m still tired.”

Magnus, a stout man with a red beard, smiled warmly but made no comment.

I arrived in the feasting hall to see, much to my great relief, that the number of people gathered there had slimmed down to half.

I went to the end of the table and took the empty seat between Madelaine and Macbeth.

“My Queen,” Macbeth said politely.

I forced myself not to sneer at him.

“Good morrow to you all,” I said. I gave Macbeth a passing glance.

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