Page 121 of Long Live the King

Or this was all true.

CHAPTER 48 - LOCHINVAR

MANHATTAN, NOVEMBER 7, 1912

Ihad jumped and m’body ached, terribly. I blinked, my eyes adjusting, twas night. I looked right and left. Lady Mairead was already sitting up. “Ye are finally goin’ tae rise?”

“Ye dinna give me a gold thread, everything aches.”

“Ye arna a bairn, daena act like one, we must get up, there are beasts around.”

I brushed off m’shoulders and back from the dirt.

She said, “As tis night, we will need a hotel.”

“Och nae, Lady Mairead, I canna, ye daena understand — we must act, I canna sleep, I canna rest, it has already been long hours since I found out she was taken away. I am tryin’ tae be reasonable, tae be a grown man who does sensible things, but I canna be reasonable on it anymore.”

She looked at me long. Then she nodded. “I understand, Lochinvar, aye, I understand. We will go directly tae the address tae investigate.”

“Thank ye, Lady Mairead.”

“Ye are welcome.”

I stood and put out a hand tae help her up. “If ye daena mind me askin’, what did I say that made ye soften tae m’cause?”

She raised her chin, the way she often did, lookin’ much like her granddaughter, Isla. “Ye might nae believe it, Lochinvar, but I hae a soft place in m’heart for young men and the objects of their devotion. I was once such an object, and the young man would hae done anything for me, tae keep me safe. Ye remind me a bit of him, so I find myself inclined tae help.”

I nodded and hefted our bags tae m’shoulders. “What happened tae him?”

She was quiet as we trudged across the grassy field tae the path. “He lost his life, long before he could rescue me from my fate.”

I nodded then asked, “But would ye hae wanted a different life?”

We came tae the road outside the gates of the park and I walked beside her down the sidewalk.

“Nae, I suppose not, my son is a king, I hae founded a museum, I hae had my likeness painted by artists in many centuries. I hae been adored by one of the great geniuses of the twentieth century. It has been a grand life. But I do sometimes wonder if the simple life I had been promised when I was but a lass of sixteen might hae been the better.”

I chuckled. “Tis difficult tae imagine the formidable Lady Mairead content with a simple life.”

She said, “Ye ken, Lochinvar, tae be formidable inna always the best measure of a life, nor tae be threatening, or tae demand and wield power — I see my son and his wife whom he adores, and his family close around him. He has been fortunate tae hae both power and a family who admires him.”

“He has been fortunate tae hae ye in his corner.”

“Aye, tis my fate tae protect my son and his throne. I try not tae dwell on the other paths I might hae taken.”

She added, “We are headed down that street, the address ought tae be on the left side. It looks tae be about nine at night, we will see if someone is occupying the premises.”

I asked, “Are ye armed?”

“Of course. A handgun and two blades.”

I chuckled again.

We crossed the intersection and made our way down the street and came tae a tall stone stair leading tae a front door.

“Och, here is the place, there is the sign beside the door.” Twas a card with the words ‘Asgall Holdings’ in a small brass frame.

She said, “Remain here, watch for trouble. I will ring the bell.”

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