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“I haena any notion what ye are speakin’ of.”
I looked up at him with a half-grin. “History of the world stuff. When this all gets taken care of I’ll tell you all about it: dinosaurs, the American revolution, the Titanic, some natural disasters thrown in. The point is, I haven’t done anything for you to be proud of me for.”
“Ye just said, ‘When all this gets taken care of.’ He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed the back of my hand. “Ye show me in your eyes and in your words that we will get beyond this and back home together. Sometimes I canna believe tis true, but I look at ye beside me and tis in ye: yer mouth is set, ye are making a list in your head, ye are holdin’ my hand. Ye are leadin’ me tae our future.”
“God I hope so, it seems kind of bleak today.”
“Tis nae bleak, tis simply the next step. And ye are forgetting, I am Master Magnus. I get shit done.” He grinned, put his hand on my back, and we walked to the meeting in the other room.
48 - KAITLYN
The Bella woman was sitting on the couch with her feet tucked up under her. Lady Mairead was across from her on a chair. The man we were meeting with stood to the side. He was waiting to pick a seat. The space beside Bella was empty, but no one was moving toward it. There were so many artifacts crowded around the space that it was a little like hunkering down in the back room of a crowded antique shop. Lady Mairead’s hoarding seemed like the kind that needed professional help.
I glanced at Magnus for cues. I didn’t want to sit beside Bella but didn’t want him to sit beside her either. The man warmly shook Magnus’s hand. Lady Mairead said, “Magnus, ye remember Minister Donahue?”
“Aye. We met at Donnan’s Equinox Gala.”
Minister Donahue glanced uneasily at me. I tried to meet his eyes while trying not to look like a murderer.
Magnus said, “Minister Donahue I’d like to present my wife, Kaitlyn Campbell.”
The Minister shook my hand as if I was distasteful.
After the civilities were over Magnus looked at Lady Mairead. “And...?”
Lady Mairead asked, “What, Magnus? Have a seat.”
“There are nae enough seats, ye can see this.” He gestured for me to take the chair near Lady Mairead and offered the end of the couch to the Minister. “But tis nae matter, Bella will be unnecessary at this meeting. We will discuss her first and then she can go home. I will stand until then.”
“Bella is necessary she is carrying your heir—”
“Will she be fightin’ alongside me for the throne? Nae.” He turned to Bella. “Bella, when is the bairn due?”
“Your son will be born on June 13th.”
“Aye. And are ye safe? Do ye have a place tae live and enough food for ye and the comin’ bairn?”
She nodded. “I do. Lady Mairead and Minister Donahue have given me a place in town. It’s hidden enough. I have a car and everything I need.” Very quietly she said, “Except you.”
Her eyes were locked on him and watching it was very very very traumatizing.
So I stared down at my hands, bare, minus my wedding band. And then I closed my eyes because it was all too much to take in.
Magnus’s voice. “I am glad ye have what ye need and that ye are safe, Bella. I will protect ye, I have promised that much.”
“Thank you for not leaving me to deal with Samuel, that was—”
“Ye have Kaitlyn tae thank for this. She decided we would protect you and the bairn.”
“Oh.” She glanced at me. “Thank you, Kaitlyn.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome.” I wanted to add, “I didn’t do it for you, I did it for Magnus,” but every word I spoke would bring me closer to tears and betray me as ‘in over my head,’ so I decided to manage my words, keep them close. I looked away.
Magnus asked Minister Donahue, “I think tis all we need Bella for? She is tae have enough food, whatever she needs. Other than that...”
“Yes, yes, I think that’s all we need.”
Lady Mairead said, “She needs be there when ye fight Samuel.”
