Page 59 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Time rolls on.”

“Aye.”

“Unless it doesn’t.”

CHAPTER 26 - KAITLYN

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - 1775

Ilay in bed while Magnus was getting dressed. “I’m hungry but I don’t want to get dressed. I’m depressed.”

He said, “Ye canna stay in bed, mo reul-iuil, and get fed. We ought tae get up and go out.”

I watched him button his breeches.

“Why? We got word out, maybe I just lie here until we get rescued.”

“Because our rescuer could be looking for us, perhaps they daena ken where we are, but also, if Lady Mairead has seen where we are, tis likely Asgall kens where we are. He might come looking for us.”

“Then, hiding is good?”

“I daena hide. I need tae go out and see what is happening. I am not goin’ tae wait for a knock on the door.”

“Yeah, that’s got all the worst parts of hide-n-seek, waiting for someone to find you. I am not a fan.” I threw the covers off. “Fine, I will get dressed, I will meet you in the dining room in oh… about two hours.”

“Dost ye want me tae help ye dress? Or send one of the maids in?”

“It ought to be a maid because you, Master Magnus, can never get through the dressing without embarking on an undressing.”

“Tis true, tis my great failing.” He bowed from the room. “I will see ye downstairs, mo reul-iuil.”

A maid helped me bathe and dress. She had a pretty smile and laughed in a sing-song voice when I said, “If it gets much hotter than this, we are going to melt into a puddle on the floor.”

A blush crawled up her cheeks. “Where are you from, my lady?”

I said, “Scotland, by way of other parts of um… Europe.”

She said, “Oh,” and tightened the apron on my dress extra tight. “You look beautiful, my lady.”

I went to meet my husband downstairs, where we had a cup of watered down coffee and some toast points for breakfast. “This is a really nice inn.”

“Aye, tis one of the finest we hae visited, Auld Tommy knew his business.”

I laughed. “Auld Tommy… he’s like our age, what are we, thirty?”

“I am thirty, as the crow flies, ye are thirty-one, I think.” I batted his shoulder. He said, “I am lookin’ around and thinkin’ I ought tae hae powdered hair. Dost ye like the fashion?”

I glanced around the room. “You should, or better, one of those powdered wigs, it would be so sexy on you, almost as sexy as your arse and thighs in those?—”

“I ken, m’wife has a thing for breeches.”

“It is so true, I’m slayed by the little buckle by your knee. What do we do next?”

“I think ye need a new dress or somethin’ tae lighten yer mood.”

I ate a bite of toast with marmalade. “Ah, the way to my heart, colonial shopping.”

“Aye, ye will tuck intae a store, make the arrangements, I will stand on the streets and look bored but I will truly be watchin’ for trouble. Tis the perfect activity for the day, I daena ken what we will do on the morrow.”

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