“You’re at it again, True.” Elaine grinned at her as they entered the kitchen.
“At what again?”
“Worrying.
“I wasn’t worrying.” She frowned. “I was thinking.”
“Aye. ’Tis the same thing where you’re concerned.”
After arranging things with Molly, they took the back stairs up to Lydia’s solar, where they found her before the hearth with her embroidery.
“Mother, I’ve a letter for you from Father and one from Aunt Rosemary.”
Lydia raised her head from her work with a welcoming smile. “Aye? I thought as much when I heard the signal from the village.” She set her handiwork aside and took the vellum from Elaine, holding it to her heart for a moment. “Your father will be home soon.”
Elaine sat on the edge of her chair. “Aye, and True is vexing about it.”
“William will come to see things Malcolm’s way, my dear. And the both of you have my support.” She smiled and opened the letter from her husband as if she could hardly wait. “Och, they’ll have words, to be sure. The two are a great deal alike, and both are as stubborn as oxen.”
Lydia’s attention shifted to her husband’s letter, and Alethia sat next to Elaine to wait for her to finish. Lydia made small exclamations and murmurs as she read, bringing an answering smile to her own face. What must it be like to be separated from one’s spouse for an entire winter? She hoped never to find out.
“Well, what does Father say?” Elaine asked, once her mother put the vellum in her lap.
“He’ll be home at the end of next month.” Lydia leveled a stare at her impatient daughter. “Our king and his new wife return at the same time. James has issued an edict to all the clans to cease fighting amongst ourselves. He says Scotland must become a united kingdom if we are to grow strong and prosper.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Alethia asked. Lydia gave off the same disquiet Malcolm had after he’d read his father’s letter.
“If all the clans will agree to it, aye, ’tis a very good thing, but also unlikely, especially here in the Highlands. Some of the clans have been feuding for centuries,” Lydia said.
“Like with the Comyns and the MacKintosh?” she asked.
“Aye, exactly like that.” Elaine nodded. “We will honor our king’s command. That doesna mean the Comyns will. They’ve always been a treacherous lot. What else does he say, Mother?”
“Some of it is no’ for your ears, daughter.” Lydia grinned, her cheeks tinged with a blush.
Alethia could clearly see the clan’s interest lay elsewhere as she played her third piece. All were anxious to hear the messenger speak, and their curious glances drifted to him again and again. She smiled, curtsied and quit. “It’s happened,” she remarked, settling into her place beside Malcolm with an exaggerated sigh.
“What has, True?” Malcolm covered her hand where it lay on the table.
“Our clan has tired of my music.”
He chuckled and drew her closer to his side with his arm around her waist. Content, she settled against him.
“Nay, our people will never tire of your music, mo cridhe. They canna wait any longer to hear what Edward has to tell us.”
“I vow, my lady, ’tis true,” Edward said from his place next to her. “I found your music truly captivating. I’ve never heard the like before.”
Alethia felt Elaine’s look and turned to find her friend raising a single eyebrow at her. She grinned and decided she’d been adequately compensated for the clan’s lack of interest. “Thank you, Edward.”
“We should probably get on with it,” Malcolm said. “’Tis time to introduce our guest.” He moved his chair back and stood facing his people. Taking his dagger from his belt, Malcolm pounded the hilt on the table three times to get everyone’s attention. The hall went quiet, and all eyes turned expectantly toward the dais. “Word has reached us from my father. He will be home at the end of April.” His voice carried to the far corners of the hall. “This is Edward, King Henry’s messenger. He brings tidings from our King James, and I bid you all to give him your attention.” Malcolm waited until Edward stood before taking his seat.
“I am sent here by your liege,” Edward began. “Your king sends his greetings and wants all of his subjects to know he is on his way home to take his place on the throne of Scotland.”
A raucous cheer and the stomping of feet interrupted his speech. “Long live King James!” someone from the rear of the hall shouted, and the echoed sentiment went on and on in a roar of sound. Edward appealed to Malcolm for his aid, and again her husband stood and pounded on the table until the noise ceased.