Page 50 of Love Set Apart
“I see. So she believes Marie will send her on her way if she has nae money.” Edna wished she could be as sure as Robert and Emilie. Marie was a hard one to read, and she had a reputation for making rash decisions.
“Aye. That is what we believe,” Robert confirmed.
“Let’s pray it’s that easy.” Edna tried to keep the worry from her voice, not wanting to put a damper on Robert’s mood.
“I must go. Emilie will be waiting for me.” He hurried off through the courtyard toward the garden.
“Off with ye then,” Angus said. He turned to Edna once Robert was gone. “We may be on our way home sooner than we thought.”
“I want to see Maggie and Dylan. The babies will be coming any day now.” Edna always had her family in her thoughts and she’d been sure to let Maggie know exactly that when they’d spoken through the fire. Being there for Maggie when the twins came would be her number one priority once she and Angus were back home. “Maggie will need our help. We may need to stay for a week or two until they get into a routine with the bairns. I’d like to be there before they need us, if possible.”
“As would I. It’ll be nice to see the inn and all our old friends. I ken it hasnae been that long, but I do miss them.” Angus wrapped an arm around Edna’s shoulders, giving her a squeeze.
Edna responded with an arm around his waist. “It would be wonderful to see them and we can always invite them to visit us in Edinburgh, as well. We have a spare room for guests.”
Angus turned to her and in all seriousness said, “Let’s finish what we came to do then.”
“We should find Matteo and see if he’s heard anything yet.”
Angus extended his elbow for Edna to take and they headed into the palace hoping for good news.
* * *
“Matteo,”Angus called, seeing him waiting for Marie in the throne room. They headed his way, eager to hear any news.
The room was busier than usual that morning. It seemed many people required an audience with Marie. They stood around in small groups here and there. The hubbub of voices filled the room, allowing them to speak without fear of being overheard.
“Good morning, Angus.” He bowed his head as they approached. “Madame Campbell.”
“Good morn to ye,” Edna said. “Any word?”
“Not yet. They are still searching for anything that Comte Toussaint may have sent to the palace before his death.” He seemed more troubled this morning and Angus wondered if there was more than the dowry that was bothering him.
“They doona seem verra organized,” Edna noted.
“Not at all.” Matteo paced back and forth for a bit before stopping in front of Angus. “The Queen Mother has threatened me.”
“Threatened ye? How?” Angus asked, as Edna drew closer.
“She has told me that even without a dowry I must marry Emilie. She says that Concini has information about me that would destroy my standing in Rome.”
“Do ye ken what it is?” Angus asked.
“Possibly.”
Angus hoped he’d say more, but it was Matteo’s business and if he didn’t wish to share it with him, Angus understood.
“Why is this so important to her? If Emilie has nae dowry then it should be a settled matter. It’s odd that she would push for the marriage, doona ye agree?” Edna was baffled. “Why on earth would Marie even care?”
“She can be a spiteful woman. She is angry with me for some slight she accuses me of. Concini told her I spoke poorly of her to him.”
“No’ that it should matter, but did ye?” Angus asked.
“I’m afraid so. It seems she was angry that I questioned the dowry and Concini told me that she made remarks that were complete lies. She knows that my family are all dead and she said she assumed I’d had them poisoned so I would be the sole heir to the family fortune. I was furious and said some unflattering things about the Queen Mother and her family. I told Concini it was something her family was known for, not mine.” Angus could see how tense he was, how worried he was about what he had said in anger. “It was a mistake to say what I was thinking, especially to Concini. I should have known he would tell her everything I said and would probably add more.”
“I doona ken much about Concini other than he is the Queen Mother’s favorite,” Edna said.
“He enjoys gossiping and creating problems. If there is a rumor going through the palace it likely came from Concini,” Matteo explained. “I have known him for many years. Even when he lived in Rome, he was not above pitting one friend against another with his gossip and lies.” He bristled at the thought of it.
