Page 52 of Promises to Keep

I watched Lady Mairead’s eyes settle on Lochinvar, she was noting him, as if seeing him for the first time.

I glanced at Magnus, who met my eyes.

We all sat. The Earl, who had hastily rouged cheeks, tugged the corner of his wig to straighten it, and said, “Where hae ye been, Lady Mairead? It has been months since ye visited!”

She distractedly looked down at her skirts. “I believed ye tae be visitin’ Edinburgh, I was planning m’visit tae coordinate with yer travels.”

He, missing the point, said, “Well I was goin’ tae travel before the rain, so ye hae come at the perfect time tae visit with me. Ye hae brought yer husband?”

She raised her chin. “Ye ken I daena hae a husband. Three has beenplenty.”

“I might make arrangements for ye, I hae had a—”

“Nae.”

She turned her attention to Magnus. “And when did ye arrive?”

“Yesterday, we brought Lochinvar tae live here at the castle with Sean.”

“Good, good, that is wise.” Her eyes drifted to Lochinvar and rested there.

The Earl said, loudly, something he was prone to do because he was losing his hearing, but also bored because the conversation didn’t include him, “Tomorrow, Mairead, I will expect yer visit tae my offices. I would like tae tell ye about what I hae accomplished on the grounds. I hae made many improvements, though, as ye ken, we hae had many upsets in the long months since ye were last here.”

She said, “Of course, who is ‘we’ having the upsets?”

“The privy council, Scotland...” He took a deep breath, “All of it.”

She nodded and turned back to speaking to Magnus, but the Earl continued trying to draw her attention, “...because of it, we are nae needed so often in court.”

Lady Mairead said, “Brother, ye voted ‘no’ on the Acts of Union, ye canna expect tae be useful in determining the future of the Union!”

He didn’t seem to hear her. “...I meant tae go tae London, but I nae longer hae close connections.”

Lady Mairead looked at her fingernails, bored. “Surely ye can visit with my cousin at Ham House? Lord Campbell would be bound tae put ye up. Twould be for the betterment of the family tae hae ye in court in London. I am sure he would patronize ye.”

He waved the idea away. “Nae nae, I daena think I will be making the long trek any time soon, but John might go — he would nae feel the journey in his bones as I do and he, as my son, has the legal right tae represent me.”

Lady Mairead’s brow arched and she huffed, her eyes resting on her own sons, Sean and Magnus, as he spoke.

She tilted her chin up and said, “If ye need me tae arrange for yer comfort with my ample connections at court in London, just tell me. I was with Her Highness, Queen Anne, just recently.”

He flustered. “Och, I dinna ken ye were at court, Lady Mairead! I might hae sent my regards tae Her Highness.”

She shrugged, indifferent. “Tis fine, we had much tae speak on. Your name dinna come up, but if it had, I would hae assured her of yer high regard.”

He looked confused for a moment, ill-equipped to spar with his sister, then he said, “The hour has grown late, I must head tae m’room.” He heaved himself up from the chair and with his steward holding his arm, hobbled from the Great Hall.

There was silence as he went and then a collective exhale and then noise and discussion once he was gone.

Lady Mairead rolled her eyes. “Tis always about his life, and the small town politics of his lands and grounds, the interminable politicking over the nation of Scotland and unions and treaties and ‘who will be next in line for his title,’ and never, not once, a thought of my life and what my own family might be doing.”

She flicked an imagined piece of dust off her skirt.

Magnus said, “When you conquer your next kingdom ye can do it with him in mind.”

“Every conquering I haeeverdone has been tae shew him up, some might call it pettiness but it is the seat of my strength. Remind me tae send a message through tae Ham House that I would prefer they not be hospitable tae his son, John, he is the title holder, he ought tae...”

Her eyes settled on Lochinvar again. “Young Lochinvar is verra handsome, he has a fine jaw.”

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