Page 8 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
So she took a deep breath and met the Queen’s gaze. “I’ll no’ let ye down, Yer Majesty.”
As her Queen nodded, eyes softening slightly, there was a knock at the door.
Brigit reached for a dagger hidden at her waist at the same time she saw Avaline reach for her bodice.
An Angel’s reflexes are never dulled.
The Queen only hesitated a moment before calling, “Yes?”
The door swung open to reveal Lawrence, the royal household’s seneschal. “Yer Majesty, I have yer afternoon wine.”
After waiting for the Queen to nod in welcome, the older man shuffled in, holding the silver tray. Brigit, tucking her blade away once more, jumped to her feet.
“Let me help ye, Larry,” she said as she took the heavy tray from him. “For certes, someone of yer stature doesnae need to be lifting and toting.” She accompanied the admonishment with a saucy wink, to show she meant no insult.
But the seneschal straightened regally. “I am honored to do it, my lady, and my name isLawrence.”
“Och, is it?” Brigit said brightly, pouring the wine for the Queen with a cheeky smile. “I’ll try to remember that, Larry.”
The Queen stifled her own snort of laughter and managed a serene nod to the seneschal. “Thank you, Lawrence. What would we do without you?”
“I’m certain I dinnae ken,” he replied stiffly.
“Perhaps I should speak with my husband about a reward for your duties?” the Queen began gently. “A man of your years is surely looking to retire. Perhaps a young wife to keep you occupied?”
While the seneschal’s expression had turned acerbic at the mention of retirement, the idea ofa young wifecaused said expression to melt into contemplation. But all he said was, “I live to serve, Yer Majesty,” before bowing his way out.
As the door closed, Brigit’s giggles escaped. “He wasno’happy at the suggestion of ye giving hispower to someone younger, Yer Majesty.” She poured herself a glass of the wine as well.
“Yes,” she chuckled in response. “But you saw he did not mind the offer of a wife?”
Avaline thrust herself to her feet with a disapproving hum. “Who would marry someone like that?” she snapped as she took the glass from Brigit’s hand.
Brigit shrugged good-naturedly and poured herself another. “Someone who saw the benefits of marriage—and the marriage bed—and was looking for a royal reward.” She winked at the Queen. “Want me to start asking—discretely—among the chambermaids?”
Her Majesty’s eyes twinkled teasingly as she shot a glance at Avaline. “Nay, but thank you. I will put the suggestion to my husband and see if he has another in mind for the seneschal position—it is a heavy responsibility, to be in charge of the royal household. Lawrence deserves a reward.”
“A reward better thanmarriage,” muttered Avaline, plopping herself down.
“Oh, Avaline,” the Queen sighed, finally addressing the woman’s snark. “Marriage is not the horror you have in your mind. Yes, it is the lot in life of most women, and few are lucky enough to find love within its bounds. But it is a partnership, in the same way you are partnered with your fellow Angels. Having a spouse you can trust and lean on is one of the gifts of life.”
Avaline just dropped her gaze to her wine and didn’t respond, a sure sign she didn’t agree but didn’twant to argue with Her Majesty. Brigit, meanwhile, was considering the Queen’s words.
A partnership.
Aye, that was what the King and Queen had. ‘Twas what Brigit’s own parents had had; a partnership where each trusted the other to do what was right and necessary to care for the family.
But Brigit had never considered that life for herself.
For the one thing, she already had responsibilities and danger as a Queen’s Angel…how could she find time for a husband who wasn’t already part of that life? And she couldn’t imagine limiting herself to only one man for the rest of her life!
But a treasonous little voice in the back of her mind whispered:Ye could if he were like Drummond, and cared about ye.
Well, aye. But Drummond was a traitor, which just proved she was shite at choosing men, right?
The Queen sipped her wine, then hummed in satisfaction. “Sit, Brigit. Let us make plans to trap a traitor.”
The reminder fell like a bucket of cold water splashed over her, and Brigit plopped back down onto the bench, cradling the goblet between her palms. The surface of the wine reflected the despair in her eyes.
