Page 131 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Sean nodded, he was looking intently at the bottle of Coke he was drinking.

Magnus took a long sip of his Dr Pepper then said, “As long as we are discussing our futures, Lady Mairead, ye hae been complaining of loneliness?—”

She said, “I am rattling around in that castle all alone!” She looked pointedly at her daughter, then added, “And the help is not performing their tasks, Magnus. They daena listen.”

He said, “Ye can go on the journey ye hae been wantin’ tae take. I haena given ye a good break in a while. I hae been just showing up for meetings and quickly leavin’. I will cease it. Kaitlyn and I will take over the runnin’ of Riaghalbane for a time.”

Lady Mairead said, “This is verra kind of ye, Magnus, Wilfrey and I were planning on visiting Hollywood and Manhattan. There’s a great deal I want tae show him, but, I truly daena need ye tae come take over. I ken I complain but I really just want ye tae beawarethat I am doing it alone and…” She glanced at Wilfrey who was holding her hand. “I am not going tae be alone anymore.”

Then she said, “But tis good tae hear ye admit it. I do a great deal for ye, ye ought tae appreciate me more.”

“I am aware,” and then Magnus teased, “Dost everyone need me tae tell them I am aware of all they do? Fine,” he took another Snickerdoodle, “Lady Mairead, I am aware ye run m’kingdom at great cost tae yer own pleasures. Lizbeth, I am aware I hae given ye a great deal tae worry on. Sean, I ken ye are trying yer best tae take care of yer family as the son of the sister of the Earl, and ye and Lizbeth are making decisions trying tae keep yer families safe — anyone else?”

Fraoch said, “Ye haena done me yet, Og Maggy.”

“I am aware that in another lifetime ye cared for m’bairns as if they were yer own, ye are a good brother.”

Zach grinned and held forth a cookie.

Magnus held a cookie in each hand. “I am aware that Chef Zach bakes the best cookies. I canna even begin tae tell him how much he means tae me.” He jokingly dabbed at his eyes with his wrist, then took a bite of a cookie. “And Colonel Quentin is always willing tae drop everything tae help, and James, who inna here because his bairn will be born verra soon, is a good man. And finally, m’wife kens how I feel.”

I raised my bottle of Sprite. “You don’t have to tell me, I know.”

Then he said, “Madame Hayley daena need me tae say a thing, because she is too chill, she kens her worth.”

Hayley held up her orange soda. “Hear hear!”

“And Madame Emma who runs all m’books, while helpin’ me care for Chef Zach, who as I mentioned, provides us with cookies, is irreplaceable. And Madame Beaty, who is in the nursery, carin’ for the bairns, has m’most enthusiastic respect. She also delights us regularly with music at all hours.”

He raised his soda. “There, tis everyone.”

Lochinvar said, “Hey, ye forgot yer brother, Lochinvar!”

Fraoch said, “If ye daena say something nice about Og Lochie he is likely tae recite a long poem about himself.Again.”

Lochinvar said, “If ye daena say something nice about me, Og Maggy, tis clear that ye need tae hear the poem again, ye haena learned it.”

Magnus laughed. “I am aware Lochinvar, that ye hae put yer desires away tae come see if Sean was still here, yer selfless acts?—”

Lochie said, “And heroic!”

Magnus said, “Yer selfless and heroic acts are oft overlooked.”

Fraoch raised his soda. “And I am aware that if ye overlook his acts ye will be reminded by long-winded poetry.”

Lochie drank from his bottle. “I winna need tae recite it, it seems as if ye hae taken the meanin’ tae heart.”

Fraoch leaned forward and looked at Lady Mairead and Wilfrey. “Tae change the subject, how about we go down tae the chapel and get ye two lovers married?”

Lady Mairead said, “What…? But… we were going tae?—”

“Yer whole family is here, ye ready? Ye signed the forms, Wilfrey?”

Wilfrey nodded.

Fraoch said, “Then we should do it now, I canna see a reason tae wait. Call me an ol’ softy, I love love. We thought we might be here for a funeral, let us turn it intae a wedding.”

Magnus slapped his hands on his knees, “Excellent idea.” He stood up and put out his hand for his mother to help her rise.

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