Page 59 of Promises to Keep

The Earl was in his chambers — I imagined the scene, the young men stifling their laughter at his high wig, his rouged cheeks, and his silly manners. I saw the entourage pass by, the men displaying haughty airs and the lead man, Arran, with a sneer on his face.

Lady Mairead waited in her own office and after the Earl received the group they were ushered into her room. Lizbeth and I were sent for and sat beside Lady Mairead while she made the guests stand, and after introductions, grilled her step-grandson. “How is your father, is he keeping the lands well?”

“Aye, Lady Mairead, m’lord has added tae the north, in a treaty with Munro.”

“Good, good.”

Then the future Earl of Lowden crossed the room, dragged a chair over and sat down across from Lady Mairead and allowed his legs to splay, looking very pleased with himself.

Her brow raised.

They spoke pleasantries but it was clear they had become adversaries, tension grew in the room.

Then Arran took his leave and he and his entourage went down to the Great Hall. I jokingly said, “Phew.”

Lady Mairead looked at me with her eyes narrowed, then said, “Aye, ye are correct, twas a relief tae hae them leave. Och, tae be a man with a title tae give ye a pretense tae superiority.”

I joked, “Oh to have the entitlement of a titled young man.”

“He will be here for the rest of the day down in the Great Hall, which means, until the men return, we will be the hostesses. I might bow out as much as possible, his smug face reminds me of his grandfather, and it is causing my head tae ache.”

Lizbeth rose. “Of course, mother, we will go downstairs — ye should rest, join us if ye are able.”

We rose and I followed Lizbeth downstairs.

CHAPTER 31 - KAITLYN

In the Great Hall, Arran and his company had shoved the table to the wall and moved the chairs in a half circle facing the table, as if it were a stage. One of his men was standing on the table, and looked very drunk. Lizbeth said, “Och nae, if the Earl sees this, twill be...”

Arran grabbed her hand and pulled her to a chair then rushed back to grab my hand and pulled me to sit beside him. His brow went up, his fine wig floated like a white cloud above his dark hair. He had his shirt untied and open at his chest. The bottom of his shirt was mostly untucked from his pants — he passed me an ale.

“Oh no, I—”

“Nae! Drink!”

I took a sip, because he scared me and I didn’t dare say no.

He sank back in his chair, his legs splayed again, a look on his face that tried to be seductive, but was actually very sinister. He was facing me, not the table where his friend was reciting poetry, which was disconcerting. His friend, I noted, was not as good at poetry as Lochinvar.

Arran’s eyes were leveled on my face.

I flushed and he found it amusing.

He hooked a foot around the leg of my chair and dragged me closer, my chair scraping across the floor.

Lizbeth said, “She’s married!”

He laughed, “I ken, she is verra beautiful though—” He sipped from a whisky glass. “Your accent is interesting, where are ye from?”

“I’m from the New World.” It had been a long time since I broke out that old excuse.

“Intriguing, very intriguing.” He leaned forward on his knees and peered up at my face. “It sounds like ye must be verra adventurous.”

“My husband, Magnus Campbell, the Earl’s nephew, and I do have very many adventures.”

He sneered and leaned back, a darkness clouding his face. “I am nae interested in yer husband, Magnus, relation to the Earl.” He huffed. “It is disinteresting tae talk of husbands, that is not the way of the day, Madame Kaitlyn. We are glorious men and women of the aristocracy, are we not? We like our pleasures…” He leaned forward placing a hand on my chin. I tried to pull away, but he grasped and held it firmly, scaring the hell out of me. “Ye hae a fine cheek, and it has a high color as if ye are vulnerable — ye are a pleasure, I imagine.” His eyes locked on mine, dangerously close.

Lizbeth said, “Unhand her! Or I will go for the guards.”

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