Page 50 of Long Live the King

She said, “What do you think is your best quality?”

He grinned, “My winning personality and my tushie.” He wiggled his butt, which was hilarious on such a tall, gangly guy.

I laughed, “So knees, huh? Are we women really so single minded?”

Most of the men in the room said, “Aye.” Except Fraoch who said, “Nae, ye are verra complicated, but we can wheesht yer mind and direct yer thoughts with a glimpse of knee, tis not meant tae offend, tis true, right m’bean ghlan?”

“So true, no offense taken, the same can be said of you guys.”

I said, “You can be directed and calmed with a glimpse of the flesh of a bosom peeking over a bodice.”

Magnus joked, “Aye, tis why the men of earlier centuries are so calm and wise.” We all laughed.

I said, “So you will go into the Palace and give her a glimpse of your knee and the sight of your shoulders in uniform and then what?”

Zach said, “Then he tells her he’s been called away on urgent, important, dangerous business for Magnus, he’s crucial and he must go now, he wished he didn’t need to go, he would stay with her, but he must, because duty calls and the fate of the world rests in the balance.”

Emma said, “Oh babe, you should write romance! But I totally get the idea now, he flashes his knee. She swoons. She says she is counting the days until he returns. He says, ‘IfI return,’ because it is so dangerous and she swoons again, but says, ‘Thank you for keeping us all safe.’ He says, ‘I do it for the bairns.’ Make sure your voice is very low, Lochie. She swoons yet again?—”

Zach said, “I think she might have a blood sugar issue. Better give that girl a cookie.”

Lochie said, “I will carry some in m’pocket.”

We all laughed again.

I said, “But Emma is right, this is a very good plan. She will rethink the whole conversation you had last night under this new information, you’re a soldier, you have urgent duties. Shewill admire that. She will probably think she was overreacting. I know that’s what I would think.”

“Ye think twill work?”

“I think it’s likely to, it can’t hurt. She might not be interested in seeing you again, butthenyou can go move to your sixteenth century hovel.”

Zach said, “Or find a different girl.”

“I like Mistress Ash, I could live m’life making her smile. I hae tae try tae win her.”

I said, “Then this seems like your best shot.”

Lochie said, “So, tis time tae get dressed?”

Fraoch said, “Og Lochie, tis afore we hae even eaten our breakfast! Ye canna put on a uniform now, ye will hae it mussed afore the evening.”

Lochie said, “I could just not move, stand verra still in the middle of the room.”

Fraoch groaned. “We canna hae another full day of Lochie waitin’ tae speak tae the maiden, he needs a chore. If he is idle he will drive me tae distraction.”

Magnus said, “The horse stables need tendin’, then ye hae liftin’ tae do. Ye were goin’ tae work on yer shoulders tae day.” He raised his coffee mug. “And muckin’ the stables was goin’ tae by my chore, but I will give it over so that Fraoch inna driven tae distraction.”

Fraoch said, from his seat on the floor, a baby boy sitting on each arm. “Then I will do this today, winna I boys? Wanna go tae the beach?” Fraoch stood and left the kitchen carrying babies, leading all the children down the walkway toward the beach.

Emma asked, “Have any of them eaten yet?”

Zach said, “Nope, not yet, there will be melt-downs in twenty minutes.”

Emma grabbed a bagel with a smear of cream cheese. “Then this is the perfect time to go, who’s ready to go see the new baby? He comes home today!”

CHAPTER 18 - KAITLYN

We were so excited for the new baby by the time James and Sophie came through the front door — they were nervous, exhausted, and beaming with happiness.

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