Page 35 of Only a Breath Away

Lady Mairead said, “Nae, dear God, nae.”

Joe said, “Oh, my apologies, but anyway, so glad to have Campbells visiting, my new son-in-law is a Campbell, that was a happy turn of events. I’ve been researching the clan for years and now my daughter married into the family.” He stepped aside, held his dog by its collar, “Down, Howard!” and led us down the hall.

“I’mthrilledto have a descendant of the Earl in my house. After all that research I feel like I know him. It’s a little like having a celebrity in the house, I’m fan-girling.” He called to someone down the hall, “Lydia, we have guests! I’m taking them down to my office.”

To us he said, “Follow me,” and led us down a carpeted stair and through a big basement, into an office in the back corner. The office had a window on one side that was lawn level, and the yard sloped gently up and away to some woods.

His wife, Lydia, stuck her head through the door. She had spiky black hair, wore lots of earrings, and had dramatic, dark makeup like Joan Jett. “Hey, everyone, want something to drink?”

I asked for a soda for both of us. Lady Mairead, her eyes sweeping the room, said, “I would like tea, a bit of sugar.”

Fraoch gazed at a weapon on the wall. “Tis a fine sword.”

Joe said, “Yes, my son-in-law left it in my care, he said it once belonged to his father.” Joe pulled it off the wall and held it out for Fraoch to appraise. Fraoch held it in two hands, one on the hilt, one under the blade. Joe pointed at an engraving, “I haven’t been able to find any record of this crest though—”

Fraoch interrupted, “It’s Donnan’s crest.”

I nudged him, a reminder not to say anything else. “My husband thinks that’s a seal for the king of… um, we’ve been studying a... Donnan and… did I mention we’re historians? We don’t know where the crest is from, any who… yes, that’s a D might be for Donnan.”

Joe looked at me, then the sword, completely confused. “You know Donnan? That’s his name… but I didn’t mention it...”

Lady Mairead said, “This is all very confused, what on earth are ye talking on Madame Hayley?”

I muttered, “I literally have no idea.”

Lady Mairead said, “My apologies, Master Munro, we found ourselves overly interested in the crest, perhaps there is nae history of it. Tis likely Donnan had the crest made for himself.”

Joe said, “Like a novelty? I never thought about that before. It is a very nice broadsword — wait, do you know Donnan, personally?”

Lady Mairead said, “I hae known him.”

Joe said, “This is so interesting, a direct descendant of the Earl of Breadalbane also knows Donnan, Finch’s father? It’s a small world.”

“Scotland is a small country.”

“It’s part of the UK now and wanting—”

Lady Mairead gave him a withering look.

“Ah yes, my apologies, you’re a descendant of the Earl, you’re titled, you probably want an independent Scotland, correct?”

“I rarely speak of the politics of the present day.” Lady Mairead inspected the sword, I could have sworn she kept the point of the blade pointed at his chest while she did. “Ye arecertainDonnan gave it directly tae Finch Mac?”

“Oh yes, that’s what I was told, he passed it to him when Finch was about eight years old, I think—”

She asked, “Is Finch Mac here?”

He said, “No, he’s on tour. I spoke with him last night and told him that you were coming to see the artifacts. He wished he could be here to show you.”

I nudged Fraoch to take the sword from Lady Mairead. He eyed it down the blade. “Tis a verra good sword.”

Joe said, “You’ve worked with a sword before?”

“Aye, I’ve been known tae swing one.”

Joe leaned against his desk.

Lady Mairead said, “What other artifacts do ye hae?”

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