74. Chapter 74 - Ash

Lochie left and a maid helped me undress from my disgusting clothes into a dress that resembled the dresses the other women were wearing. This style had a bodice and a skirt and with my hair up, I felt pretty. My injured shoulder felt a lot better. I could almost do without a sling, but wore embroidered fabric around it just to remind myself not to reach with my arm.

Lochie returned. "There has been a storm, Quentin, Sean, and Liam hae gone tae see who tis."

"What do you mean, storm?"

"Och, I forget ye are new tae it. When ye time travel there is a storm. A storm means someone is coming."

"Weird."

"Aye, unless tis an actual storm. If ye hae been time traveling long enough ye begin tae see the difference."

He cocked his head to the side. "Ye look verra beautiful."

I blushed. "Thank you, Lochie."

"We'll go ahead and go down tae breakfast."

He walked me along the corridor, and down the steps and through the doors into a large room he called the gallery. Wow. One wall had large windows, the other wall was lined with paintings, there were marble sculptures along the wall, and a few sitting areas, with lovely antique furniture in intimately arranged circles for conversations. It was really fancy and expensive looking, I was gawking at it all. "It's like a museum."

"Wait until ye see Lady Mairead's collections! This gallery belongs tae her brother, her collection is many times more grand. But I warn ye, she is a conniving, deceitful, ornery auld broad, daena trust her generally. We are on Magnus's side though, which means she will do anything she can tae help us. As long as ye never cross her."

I said, "Wow she sounds like trouble..."

"Madame Hayley will barely speak tae her, ye must be cautious."

"Okay, anyone else I need to worry about?"

"Nae, everyone else are good people, she is the only one ye must watch."

Guards drew open double doors and we entered a large Great Hall. I was awestruck by the soaring ornately carved and painted wood ceiling, and the intricate tapestries adorning the walls. At one end of the room the morning light was shimmering through large, arched windows. And there was a long table down the room, with smaller more intimate tables along the side.

There was a fire in the large fireplace, and the scent of smoke filled the air, competing with the smell of baked bread — I was famished.

We made our way to seats but had to stop first near the head of the table. Lochie said, "Lady Mairead, I would like ye tae meet Ash McNeil. Ash McNeil, the Lady Mairead."

I bobbed my head. "Pleased to meet you."

She pushed back her chair, stood in front of me, and looked me over. "So ye are the maiden who has been the cause of all this turmoil...?"

"Um, not really, I... it wasn't my fault. I..." I glanced at Lochie, he sort of winced and shook his head.

"Did three Campbells, including a king, hae tae rescue ye?"

"Yes, but in my defense, I had no idea about time travel, I?—"

"Were ye armed?"

"Yes, I had a gun, I was just caught unaware. I had no idea I was in danger until?—"

She interrupted me and turned her attention to Lochie. "Lochinvar, heed this, if ye daena give a woman enough information, how is she tae protect herself?"

"Aye, Lady Mairead, I hae learned a lesson."

"Good. We winna hold this against anyone but Asgall." She asked me, "Ye met him?"

"I did, briefly." My stomach growled, loudly. "My apologies."

The woman named Lizbeth said, "Mother, Mistress Ash has been injured and unable tae come tae meals since she arrived. Let her sit, we can ask her questions once we hae properly fed her."

Lady Mairead said, "Fine." And sat down in her seat.

More people were filing through the doors, I recognized many of them as members of Lochie's family, and then a plate was placed in front of me. A poached egg with a piece of bacon, a slice of heavy bread, and a bowl to the side of my plate with oatmeal in it, swimming in fresh milk.

I had a dish of jelly in front of my plate, a small plate of butter, and there was some honey for the oatmeal.

It was all delicious. I barely spoke while I ate.

Then, as if she had been waiting, Lady Mairead said, "So ye met Asgall, did ye ascertain how tae find him?"

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. "I have no idea, honestly."

She sighed, irritatedly.

Lochie squeezed my hand.

She said, "I suppose we will hae tae focus on the thirteenth century."

It came to me then, something Asgall had said, "Actually no, I don't think that's where he'll be — he told me he hated that um... time, he said he needed a cigarette. He wanted to smoke freely somewhere. I also know how many buildings were in the compound, how many people and weapons, the escape route, and can tell you that he had a thick mustache that pointed up on the sides."

She raised her chin. "So which is it, ye daena ken anything or ye ken a great deal?"

"I suppose I know a great deal."

Lady Mairead smiled, "I see we will get along nicely."

Kaitlyn sat down beside Lizbeth and Hayley and others took their seats farther down.

Kaitlyn said to Lady Mairead, "Did you hear the good news?"

Lady Mairead said, "Of course we heard, Archibald and Benjamin came tae m'rooms earlier and told me all about it, ye will be going tae meet Magnus?"

"Definitely, as soon as breakfast is over."

She sighed again. "I suppose I will return tae Riaghalbane."

The doors of the Great Hall opened once more and there was a loud booming voice. "I am home tae get ye!"

It was Lochie's brother, Fraoch, and when he entered everyone laughed and cheered.

Lady Mairead said, "Dear Lord, there is always a disruption, we will hae indigestion."