“Aye? He gives us commands.” Liam rubbed his hands together. “So he must be returning home this spring,” he said, walking alongside the messenger.
“Liam,” Malcolm said as he took his place on the other side of their guest. “Let us wait until Edward has caught his breath. Everyone will want to hear the news. Spread the word, and we’ll gather in the great hall this eve. I will have Molly prepare food enough for all. Mayhap I can convince my wife to play her music for us.”
“Thou art wed, my lord?” Edward’s brow rose.
“I am. Why?”
“Ah…your father speaks of you often. ’Twas my understanding you were as yet…undeclared.”
Liam laughed. “Aye, well, he was before his father left for London. Malcolm had planned to wait until William’s return to take his vows with our Lady True, but the clan made other plans for her that did not include him. He had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. You’ll understand once you’ve met the lady.”
Liam took his leave as Malcolm and his guest entered the keep. He bid a servant to make ready a room and a bath for Edward, and led him to the table where his two pages prepared a plate for their visitor.
True rose from her place and came to his side, followed by his sister. “Edward, this is my wife, Lady Alethia. We call her True. And this is my sister, Lady Elaine. This is King Henry’s messenger, Edward of York. He has brought us news from London.”
“My pleasure.” He bowed to the ladies and turned to Malcolm. “My lord, I was charged to see these missives safely into your hands, and I would do so before taking my ease.” He reached into his leather satchel embossed with the king’s seal and pulled out several vellum packets tied together in a neat bundle.
Malcolm took the letters, sorting through them as he sat. Two were for his mother, one in his father’s hand, one in his aunt’s. Two were addressed to him, one from his father, and one from his uncle. He broke the wax seal on the one from his father and began reading. “Mmph.”
“What does he say, Malcolm?” Elaine asked.
“He returns home by the end of next month.” He frowned over the letter.
“Something troubles you?” True rested her hand on his arm.
“’Tis nothing. Why don’t you and Elaine take Mother’s letters to her. Inform Molly we feed the clan this eve.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “I’ve told our guest you would play for us after we sup, if it would please you.”
“I’d be happy to play tonight.”
“Come, True.” Elaine tugged at her sleeve. “Let us take these letters to my mother.”
True looked from him to his sister and rose from the table. Malcolm watched them walk toward the kitchen, their heads bent close together in whispered conversation. He knew Elaine was telling his wife they would get the news from his mother much more easily. He grunted and read his father’s letter again.
“Your wife is very lovely, my lord.” Edward nodded in the direction the two women had gone. “Her accent is foreign. From whence does she come?”
“She is the daughter of a king. Her land lies across the ocean and is not well known to us.”
“How does she come to be here in the Scottish Highlands?”
“Och, well, that is a long story and best saved for another time. I’ve much to see to before nightfall.” He gestured to Tieren. “Lad, you will look after our guest and act as his page for the remainder of the day.”
Malcolm glanced at the messenger’s dirt-encrusted leather boots and mud-spattered leather jerkin. He wore an over-tunic proclaiming him to be a messenger so none would harm him in the execution of his duty. He’d see to it his garments were cleaned while here as well.
“Tieren,” Malcolm continued his instructions. “Show him where the bathing room is once he’s done eating, and then take him to his chamber.” He spoke in Gaelic, and thought once again ’twas time to teach Tieren English and mayhap French. He would be Hunter’s voice in this world, and he needed to learn to communicate with others not of their clan. “The lad will show you where you can bathe, and to the room prepared for you. Until this eve, make yourself at home.”
Elaine took Alethia’s arm as they walked to the kitchen to speak with Molly. “Whatever my father wrote to my brother he’s also written to my mother. She’s much more likely to share the news with us. Let us speak with Molly and then take the letters to Mother.”
“You’re right. Your father will be home in less than two months.” How had his father reacted when he’d learned of his son’s handfasting? Had William written something about it that caused Malcolm’s tension?