Page 158 of Long Live the King

“Aye, tis verra wise.”

“I can’t take credit for it, it’s a quote from someone...”

We lay there for a few minutes and then he said, very close to my ear, “Iamreal.”

“I know you are, Lochie, I’m sorry I said it. I didn’t mean it.”

I turned and he kissed me on the corner of my mouth. But then twisting hurt my shoulder. I went back to lying on my side and his arm went back around me, his hand right in front of my mouth. I kissed his thumb.

I said, “So this is what we are going to do, time travel together?”

He said, “Aye. Twill be a good life, Ash, although twill be dangerous, I winna lie?—”

“I don’t mind a little danger, but if we can go anywhere, in any time, m’laird, we ought to make sure there are better mattresses.”

He kissed me right behind my ear. “I will take ye everywhere in the world, tae every time. I will give ye a soft bed whenever I can, I will be a lord of time and ye will be m’lady.”

I giggled, “The Lady Ash of Lochie’s Soft Bed.”

He said, his voice low and rumbling, “Aye.”

And then I slowly fell asleep.

CHAPTER 68 - ASGALL

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 2, 1912

Iswept my arm across my desk sending papers flying toward Bernard. We were in the office, at Asgall Holdings.

“Explain it!”

“She was removed from the brewery.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Ye assured me this plan was goin’ tae work, this was yer idea, we followed yer execution.”

He shifted and squirmed.

I leaned on the desk, enjoying the sight. Then smiled. “You like it here, Bernard, it’s comfy in the twentieth century? You like Manhattan and the parties?”

He nodded.

I took a last long drag from a cigarette and blew smoke toward his face. I jabbed the cigarette out in the ash tray. “I am glad ye hae been enjoyin’ yerself — I hae been building my empire, but Bernard...? He is havin’ fun in Manhattan.” I smiled widely, malevolently. “Good for ye.”

I pulled out m’pack and pulled another cigarette out, lit it and took another drag, watching him thinking of all the ways I could kill him. “I really shouldna smoke, it makes it verra difficult taego back tae the past without them. I ought tae quit — how did Magnus find out where we hid her?”

“I am not certain, sire.”

“Until we kidnapped her, he had nae idea I existed. I was safe and my plans were unimpeded. Twas a good thing, was it not?”

He nodded, “A good thing, yes sire.”

“Then how did he find out about me?” I took another drag of the cigarette, and punctuated the air as I spoke. “You came up with a plan. You arranged its execution. And you allowed Magnus to discover where we were holding her. Ash escaped, Magnus now knows about me, years of effort, destroyed.”

I watched him glance around the room as if looking for an escape route.

“What am I supposed tae do now — daena answer it, ye see that ye must die for it, tis treasonous.”

“If you give me a moment to formulate a new plan, I will advise your next?—”

---