Page 126 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Kaitlyn began passing out towels from our gear so we could clean off.

Lady Mairead took one. “I daena hae tae answer tae ye, Sean. I am Lady Mairead, the Queen Mother, and I can do as I wish.”

“Just one minute ago ye were mournin’ me, now ye daena want my opinion in it?” He stood, took a towel and wiped mud from his clothes. “Wilfrey Weaver, I am Sean, mother’s first born, youngest son of Arran Campbell, Earl of Lowden.”

Wilfred shook his hand. “I know it matters little what I think, but I am very relieved you are well, Sean. Mairead was desperately worried about you.”

“Thank ye, I am glad it all turned out, would everyone like tae go tae the castle?”

We loaded all the bairns up in the cart, hitched behind the horses. Sean said, “Magnus, I see ye dinna bring any supplies.”

I said, “What dost ye think of these three boxes?”

“Ye thought I had passed through the gates of heaven and all ye brought was three boxes? Och nae, I am insulted. Tis verra small compared tae what ye usually bring.”

I said, “We came in a hurry, I wanted tae see ye, I might be changin’ m’mind on how much I wanted tae see ye.”

Sean said, “I am seen, now ye can see Lizbeth.”

Lady Mairead said, as she primly walked along the path tae the castle, “Is the Earl here?”

“Nae. We hae Balloch all tae ourselves.”

She said, “Tis a shame, I was lookin’ forward tae telling him of my impending marriage tae the young handsome rich man who adores me.”

Wilfred said, “This is true.”

CHAPTER 56 - MAGNUS

THE PATH TO BALLOCH CASTLE - 1710

On our walk I pulled up beside Wilfred and then Sean joined and the three of us walked apart from everyone else.

“What are yer intentions with m’mother beyond marriage, Wilfred?”

“Your Majesty, I am simply?—”

“Ye daena hae tae call me that, ye can call me Magnus.”

He grimaced. “It does not sound right, but I will try.”

Sean said, “And ye can call me Laird Sean the Majestic.”

Wilfred said, “I suppose you want an explanation.”

We both said, “Aye.”

He said, as we walked along the path, “When I was given the award earlier in the year, I was fortunate to have Mairead attend me to the ceremony. At the time, I was bringing top dollar to the box office earnings, in demand. But I have ruined my career with um… an unfortunate affair.”

“With whom?”

“The director’s wife.”

I nodded.

Sean asked, “The director, who is the director?”

“The man in charge of the movie.”

---