Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I went in search of the one person I knew could help me sort through all that Jerry had told me—Alasdair.
* * *
“Mary, just give me one wee taste. What harm will it do? I willna tell a soul ye allowed me to taste it early.”
I could hear Alasdair the moment I reached the first step leading down to the castle’s kitchen. Mary’s banter with everyone was entertaining, but she and Alasdair shared a special bond of friendship that made it even more so.
“Alasdair, if ye doona believe I shall stick ye with this poker if ye doona step away from the fire, I shall be happy to prove ye wrong. Elspeth willna be pleased if ye wind up with an arse that’s so sore ye canna walk for days.”
“Mary!”
I stepped into the room, but neither of them seemed to notice me.
“Doona ‘Mary’ me. Yer own mouth is far more foul than my own. Ye think that ladies doona think the same foul words that ye men say every damned day. Well, we do. ’Tis only that I know ye too well to worry over what I say in front of ye.”
“I know ye well, and I’ve never known ye to speak in such a way. Something is bothering ye.”
I knew exactly what bothered her, but I said nothing as I waved when Alasdair glanced my way.
Following Alasdair’s gaze, Mary ran over to hug me the moment she saw me.
“Morna, I feel I havena seen ye in years. Where were ye? I know ye were not with Mae as yer father believes.”
“I’ll tell ye later. Will ye allow me to speak with Alasdair alone for a moment?”
Pulling away, she crossed her arms and glared at me.
“Ye canna mean to send me from my own kitchen?”
Apologetically, I reached forward to squeeze her arm.
“Aye, I am. I’ll make it up to ye. ’Twill only take a few moments.”
Something about my tone must have expressed my urgency, as she left the kitchen without another word.
When we could no longer hear footsteps, Alasdair spoke.
“I came here to wait for ye. I knew ye would come to the kitchen after returning from the inn. I’m afraid I have terrible news.”
“Aye, I know. I’ve already spoken to Father. He told me the first suitor is already here. Who is he?”
Alasdair’s nose crinkled upward in disgust, which only affirmed what I already suspected. My father’s opinion of me was so low he’d invited trolls into our home to woo me.
“His name is Fulton Fyfe. His father is laird of a small territory. I believe Father only summoned him here because he wishes to control that territory once Fulton’s father passes. The man is weak. He would happily allow Father to run his territory. Ye willna care for him, but news of the suitor is not the terrible news I have for ye.”
My already knotted stomach tightened further.
“What is?”
“I no longer have a place where ye can practice yer spells. The room I planned for ye is where Father placed the suitor. I hid the books in my own chambers until I think of another way.”
Even unintentionally Father could destroy my hope. I had no time to worry over it now.
“Alasdair, I must tell ye what I learned from Jerry.”
Repeating every detail of my conversation, I told my brother everything. By the time I finished, Alasdair was pacing the room while rubbing his forehead.
“By all the saints, Morna, what are we to make of it?”
