She looked at me pointedly. “It was easy enough tae, as you know, Kaitlyn, ye art oft in the news stories this week.”
I huffed.
She watched my face and Magnus’s in turns.
I was feeling squirmy under her gaze. Now I wished I had pulled Magnus aside and told him as soon as I heard.
Her smile widened. “You haena told him the truth of it I see. I imagine ye daena want him tae ken it. Tis sordid the way ye have carried on with other men—”
Magnus’s jaw set. “She has told me of it.” His eyes cut to me quickly. “We daena have secrets, she tells me everythin’.”
She made a humphing noise. “Well, I believe your trust is misplaced, but how you run your household and keep your wives is your own business I suppose, Magnus, though divorce is an option. It wasn’t in 1703, but you could now.”
“What is your business here then, if ye arna involved in mine?” His chest was rising and falling fast with his breaths. He stood at one side of the room, I stood two feet away.
Lady Mairead stood across the space.
She said, “We should sit, I have come tae see ye from a great distance and I am feelin’ the pain of it. I daena mean tae disquiet ye, but tis time tae speak on the matter. We have much tae discuss.” She dropped to the couch and gestured toward the chairs across from her.
I glanced at Magnus. He shook his head. I stepped closer to his side.
“There has been much disorder in your kingdom, Magnus. Twas quite a predicament ye left. I have been feeling the misfortune a great deal. Your ribs have healed?”
“Aye.”
“Losing Donnan was a true blow.” Her eyes fell on me. “Kaitlyn has told you the full story of it? How she ended up and where?”
Magnus sat down in the chair opposite her and leaned his elbows on his knees. “I said we have nae secrets.”
I didn’t want to sit in the other chair, it felt too gosh darn far away. I perched on the arm of Magnus’s chair.
She nodded. “I see. I will get on with it. Your Uncle Samuel has decided tae take your throne. He is lobbyin’ the governors tae allow him tae ascend and without ye tae argue against him, they may well allow him tae take power. He is formidable. He has killed or dismissed most everyone that was favorable tae ye. When ye return twill be quite—”
“I daena intend tae return.”
She leveled her gaze on him, “He wants tae kill ye. What would ye do, hide? I found ye as soon as I decided tae. The only reason he hasna found ye here is because he hasna the brains tae think on it well. But he will find ye. He will kill ye and Kaitlyn will be taken tae the future and punished as the murderer of Donnan. You would never be safe from it.”
A growl came from Magnus’s throat.
She continued, “Since ye have abandoned me tae deal with the troubles ye left, I have kept him from findin’ ye. When I realized he sent men tae attack my brother’s castle Balloch, I proved tae him that ye were nae there and encouraged them tae withdraw. I have kept your home here in the New World a secret from him. It has been a dreadful amount of work tae accomplish this.”
She paused and watched him for a moment.
I could hear the faint beat of a Katy Perry song through the door. It was incongruous to have a party in the other room, and a meeting like this about futures and battles and death and ‘no where to hide,’ happening here.
“I daena have control of the situation as I did with Donnan. With Donnan in power I simply had tae deliver ye and the throne was yours. Now I must accomplish a great deal more.”
“Twas nae so simple. I had tae fight. I almost lost my life.”
She shrugged, “In comparison our current troubles make those battles seem easy.
“You are speakin’ using ‘we’ and ‘our’. I am nae a part of it.”
“You have a death wish. It pains me tae hear ye say it.” She stared into space for a moment. It didn’t seem like she was listening to the songs, but she asked, “Magnus, have you become accustomed tae the music?”
“Tis still verra loud, but I have grown used tae it.”
“I have as well, twas Chef Zach that started us on it, you remember. I haena gotten used tae the images though. The lights bother me greatly. I greatly prefer the turn of the twentieth century, twas verra civilized and nae quite so loud.”
They both sat quietly for a moment.
Why the hell didn’t I wear a dirk under my dress? I could spring on her, stab her through the heart, become a double murderer. I might of course not survive the trauma.
She said, “Since ye seem intent tae break your vow tae me, Magnus, I have been considering my paths forward. As I see it, I have two. Samuel is married, but she is a ridiculous woman. I should bed him I think, become his mistress, then his wife. He is verra stupid and I could easily convince him of my worth.”
“You wouldna do it.”
“Oh I would. He has a son. I could throw my wisdom and protection behind his bloodline and ascend tae power in this way. Twould be comforting, I suppose, tae use my skills in service of someone who would be grateful for them. I wouldna have tae listen tae them say they daena want the throne.”
She shifted in her seat, irritated at the thought. “The problem with this scenario is my own son would be an enemy of the throne. Samuel wouldna trust ye tae remain uninterested. He would want tae kill ye and if I protected ye twould be my death warrant. This path for me, taking Samuel’s side, guarding his bloodline, would mean I canna protect ye as I have been accustomed tae do and ye would have tae remain hidden for all your days without my help.”
Magnus scowled.
“The second path before me is one where ye accompany me tae the future. You secure your throne. And ye protect your own bloodline and mine.”
Magnus said, “But—”
“Before you speak on it, Magnus, I want ye tae understand, you arna only speakin’ for yourself. Tis easy for ye tae hide. You could even hide Kaitlyn if ye could keep her under control. But there is the matter of your child.”
Magnus stared down at his hands. “I will protect my family.”
“Will ye? Because if you and I choose tae allow Samuel’s bloodline tae take the throne, your son will be a direct threat to Samuel’s son. I daena ken how Samuel would allow your son tae live. Bella is in hiding, but—”
My heart dropped to my feet.
Oh god.
Magnus’s head shot up, his eyes focused. “What are ye...?”
She smiled, nodding her head as if pleased. “Ah yes. And have ye told your wife about your mistress?”
I drew in air and my back went completely straight. I stiffened. I stiffened so much I might never relax again.
“She was nae my mistress.”
“Oh really? She lived with you. Donnan said he was oft in your apartments and would see her unclothed in your bed. You haena shared this with your wife? You daena keep secrets from her?”
Magnus said to me, “Daena listen tae her, Kaitlyn, she is tryin’ tae start trouble between us.” He reached back for my hand.
I brushed it away and did the only thing I could do, fold my hands in my lap and stare at the wall across from me. A watercolor painting, a common one here on the Island, a local artist who painted beach scenes, a wash of tan, a blur of blue for the ocean, a flick of a tiny black brush for a flying seagull — what the fuck was I thinking about while my husband discussed his son by another woman?
I emerged from my mind-freak to see my husband run his hands through his hair with a groan. “How do we — tis mine? It could be Donnan’s...”
Lady Mairead said, “Tests have been run. The baby is yours nae Donnan’s. Ye can see for yourself.”
She held out a bundle of white paper, folded in thirds. Magnus unfolded them and smoothed them out to read. I looked over his shoulder. There were three columns of numbers and letters and at the top Magnus’s name, another name, Bella, and a third column, Unborn Child. I was looking at my husband’s paternity test, but I couldn’t see it because my vision
was swimming in and out of focus with the tears that were filling my eyes. Furious tears.
Plus Magnus’s hand was shaking.
He said, “I canna tell what it...” He looked confused and dismayed by all the numbers that meant something important but wouldn’t outright say it.
Lady Mairead said, “It says that you are the father. The DNA markers connect ye directly.”
Magnus scowled down at the page. He flipped to the following page. Donnan’s name topped a column of numbers, a few with minus signs. He flipped back to the top page, none of the number and letter combinations in Magnus’s column had minus signs. He tossed the papers to the coffee table.
I tried to swallow my rage.
Lady Mairead said, “Bella has gone intae hiding because Samuel meant tae kill her.” She pulled a square pale pink envelope from her pocket and held it out. “She sent this for ye, Magnus, so you would ken where she is with your unborn son.”
Magnus refused to take it. “I daena—”
I leaned over the coffee table, and snatched it from Lady Mairead’s hand.
She looked incredulous. “You want tae read what the mistress says tae your husband?”
“No. I don’t.” I folded my arms with the note under them pressed to my chest. Petulant. “But Magnus will, and it’s for him to read, not you.”
Lady Mairead scoffed. “I have always said I rather like you Kaitlyn. You haena been the best wife for Magnus, I do regret the alliance, but I see a great many familiar qualities tae myself.”
“I’m nothing like you.” I continued staring at the painting, my trembling hands stuffed under my arms, the note sealed by another woman gripped in my fingers. I didn’t want to touch it, but what if Magnus reached for it, wanted it?
I would probably totally freak out. And by freak out I meant, I had no idea, but it would probably be freaky.
I could feel him glance at my face, but I kept my eyes averted. Fury was riding my breaths. But I didn't know who I was most furious at — Lady Mairead and her evil, malicious ways? Magnus for breaking his vows? Myself for being here in the middle of this nightmare without a good escape route? Nothing to do but sit here and take this?
“So I have two choices, Magnus. The one, I back Samuel. You and Kaitlyn hide together, live your happy life here in Florida, or anywhere really. Bella would be left tae protect your son alone. Samuel winna want him tae live, but twould be none of your business tae worry on it. Or two, you come take your throne and protect your son as your heir. I ken which choice I prefer, but I need ye tae decide which one ye will be able tae live with.”
Magnus’s hands were clasped. His mouth was pressed to them. He looked about to explode, holding himself back. His face held a storm. A lightning storm, wind and rain, torrents of it. The kind of storm that bent a human to its will.
He couldn’t think with that kind of storm inside.
I couldn’t think watching the torment buffet him.
Magnus.
He just heard he has a son.
I wanted to kill him.
My heart also broke for him.
“No.” It was from inside of me, so abrupt and sudden I didn’t really understand why I said it. No, to what? To whom? Just, no?
Lady Mairead leveled her eyes waiting for an explanation.
Why was I speaking out of turns? Again. And I wasn’t even part of the conversation, not really. I was just one of the choices.
“You can’t make this choice, Magnus. Don’t.”
“I have—”
I turned to Lady Mairead. “He can’t make this choice.”
“He has tae.”
I turned on the arm of his chair and spoke directly to him. “You can’t make it. How can you? You can’t. And I can’t watch you make it. No matter what you choose I can’t let you make that choice — whatever you choose it won’t be the right one. It will kill me to see you choose it. You can’t. But I can, okay?” His brow drew down even more.
“Magnus, you have to let me make this choice for you. It has to be mine.” I clutched his hand. “I know the man you are, you can’t make it.”
“But I—”
“I’m serious, if you choose me, what becomes of us? It’s us, alone, hiding forever? Could we even have children? What if I can’t? How long before you hate me for having chosen me?” I pulled his hand closer to my heart and held it against my chest.
“And if you choose her, if you choose your son... I can’t ever forgive you for that. There isn’t a choice here for you to make, but there is a choice for me to make. Let me.”
“Kaitlyn, ye canna leave me.”
I stroked down his jawline. “I can’t leave you. I won’t. But let me decide for you. Trust me in this. I’m the only one who can do it without tearing us apart — if you’ll let me.”
He searched my face for a long moment then nodded. “Okay, mo reul-iuil, okay you decide.”
Lady Mairead asked, “You would live by Kaitlyn’s wishes?”
“Aye, I live by my wife’s wishes, I serve as she decides.”
I took a deep fortifying breath. “Magnus will fight for his throne. He will come to the future and he will be the king. He will protect his—” The word caught in my throat. “Son. And... Yeah. He will.”
“You heard your wife, Magnus, do ye agree?”
His pause was long and worrisome. He stared down at the carpet before him, then said, “Aye.”
“Good. I do need tae rest before we go tae your kingdom—”
Magnus said, “I have made a promise tae Quentin that I will bring him home. I must do that afore anythin’ else.”
Lady Mairead sighed. “Fine, I suppose it can’t be helped, you can handle that first, though I will need a gesture from ye tae prove ye will comply with your wife’s decision. A promise that you will come tae the future ready tae fight.”
“You have my word.”
“Your word isna good enough.”
I stood. “What do you want then?”
Magnus said, “Daena, Kaitlyn.”
“It’s fine, Magnus, really. I’ll agree to just about anything to Get. This. Bitch. Out of our lives.”
Lady Mairead pulled a small leather-covered book from her pocket. She placed it on the side table, opened to a blank page, and placed a ball-point pen across the pages. The pen was printed with, “Loving Amelia Island!” down the side.
“I would like ye tae write here, Kaitlyn, where ye were on — let’s see, the mornin’ of the third day of November, the year 2018?”
I said, “That was a couple of weeks ago. I woke up at home—”
“Please write there the time you woke up and the address of your bedroom.”
“Oh.” My heart sank. I scrawled the address of our home.
“Then where did ye go?”
“I was in a race, in Jacksonville.”
She gestured for me to write it down. “The time and the address.”
I wrote that down too.
“And then?”
“I ate dinner at home with Magnus and then—” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “We went to bed early because I was tired.”
“Write the time ye were home for dinner and the time ye went tae bed.” She watched me write. “Put the date at the top. Include the year. Now sign the bottom of the page.”
I signed it. A possible death warrant for myself. I had to comply or I would be dead two weeks ago. There was no way I could go back and warn myself without throwing everything that had happened, all the happy moments between then and now, out of whack.
Lady Mairead picked up the book, closed it, and pushed it into her coat pocket. “If ye daena come tae the future, ye canna hide from me. I will go tae this date and Kaitlyn and I will discuss the issue. Dost ye understand me, Magnus?”
Magnus said, “Och, aye.”
I raised my chin. “Yes, we understand.”
Lady Mairead returned to her seat.
I drew a deep breath and another standing between Magnus and Mairead
. “And about you needing a place to rest tonight.” My words started faint, but I made them louder and more firm to make up for a weak beginning. “There is no way in the world that I am allowing you to come to my home. It’s my home, not yours. You aren’t welcome. I will call and get you a hotel room. The security guard will take you.”
Lady Mairead said, “Aye Kaitlyn, keep your home tae yourself. You should enjoy the peace of it. Twill be a matter of days before your past catches up tae ye and the press is on your doorstep. Then all of Samuel’s army will arrive soon after tae bring ye tae justice.”
Magnus said, “Call about the room, Kaitlyn. Security and I will take Lady Mairead there. She will leave first thing in the mornin’.”
“Yes, she will.” I smoothed down my dress. “Yes. She will. Magnus, can I speak to you in the hall?”
* * *
In the hall Magnus pulled me into his arms. I cowered there against his chest and let him surround me. We didn’t say a thing.
There were too many emotions and things to say, but it all had to wait.
Finally I pulled off and stepped back.
He held my face and wiped my tears away with his thumbs.
“I’m probably a mess and there’s a whole wedding reception to deal with.”
“You look beautiful and...”
I showed him a sad smile. “What should we do with this?” I held up the envelope.
“I daena want it.”
“I get that. Me too. But you might need to know.” I tucked it into his chest pocket. “You’re going with her to the hotel?”
“I should. I will guard outside her room. You and I have a lot tae talk of, I daena want tae go without speaking tae ye on it, but I daena trust her tae...”
“Yeah, me neither.”
I watched his face. “Magnus, come home in the morning. After you see her off, come right home. Even if you—”
“Even if I — what?”
“If you travel with Lady Mairead, if you need to go see the woman who...”
“I daena. I winna go.”
I straightened his tuxedo jacket and his tie. “But if you do have to, come back in the morning, November 25, so I don’t worry.”
“Aye. I will be home in the morning.”
Entangled With You Page 7
