The great hall looked exactly like its name a long hallway grown huge. The length was three times as long as it was wide. The beautiful ornate ceiling soared above us, making me feel tiny and insignificant. And though the assembled party numbered over forty, the crowd was dwarfed by the scale of the walls. One very long table ran down the expanse of it, lined on each side by chairs full of people, young and old. They were loudly talking and in the cavernous room it was very loud. Many servers bustled around carrying platters, covered in dishes and pitchers.

Magnus grasped my hand under his arm and set his sights on the head of the table. He pulled me toward it down the side of the room.

Mine was a long nervous approach. I tried to keep my eyes down, but there were so many odd faces turned our direction. As we passed through the room, diners ceased talking, and stopped eating mid-bite. They twisted in their chairs to see us. They stared and whispered as our passage caused a ripple effect of silence from one end to the other.

We arrived and Magnus pulled to a stop and stood, head bowed. I dropped my head as well. At the table sat a man in one of those historical founding-father-style long flowing wigs that I never ever thought I would see on a person. He was wearing makeup. His skin was pale white, his eyebrows arched dark, rouge circles on his cheeks. His features, similar to Lady Mairead, looked pinched and twisted on him. He ignored us, continuing to speak with the woman to his right. She was occasionally glancing up at us, but he remained indifferent.

After a moment Magnus cleared his throat. I remained clutching his arm, staring down at the floor. Under the tablecloth there were crumbs, a half-eaten potato, and a couple of bones, about chicken leg size.

After a moment, the man turned in an affected motion that seemed to say, As important as I am I had not noticed you there. He sized Magnus up, his eyes flicked toward me, then quickly away. “Ah, the young Magnus, home from your travels?”

“Aye, Lord Breadalbane, I am home. I wish tae present my wife, Madame Kaitlyn Campbell.”

“Ah!” The Earl’s eyes flitted down the table to where my attacker sat, staring at his dinner plate, his face black blue and swollen. “Welcome Madame Campbell, and where do ye hail from? You will forgive me, I had nae heard young Magnus had taken a wife.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My former name is Kaitlyn Sheffield—“

He interrupted to say, “You are a Brit?”

His brow raised and his eyes drew away from me and leveled on Magnus while I answered, “Yes, though I have lived my entire life in the West Indies.”

He leaned back nodding. “Och aye, the sugar! I have developed a taste for it, twill be good tae have a connection tae the sugar trade in the family I think.” He laughed, a practiced laugh, and looked up and down the table for general agreement. “And how are you enjoying the visit tae my castle so far?”

He leveled his gaze on Magnus while waiting for my answer.

I felt Magnus’s muscles tighten. His energy shifted, his will engaged.

I said, “It has been—“

Magnus interrupted me. His jaw set, his eyes stormed over. “Lord Breadalbane, I canna sit at this table until my cousin has been made tae vacate his chair. I winna share a table with him.”

Everyone turned to look at the man who attacked me. The sight of him made me shake with fear.

He stared straight ahead chewing slowly.

Magnus watched the Earl, refusing to look away.

The Earl said, “Ah, so this is the history of your ugly maw, Ewan. You said ye fell down drunk.”

Everyone twittered amusedly.

“He has attempted tae fall down drunk upon my wife.”

The Earl’s eyes rested on my bruised cheek. “Och aye, tis a wonder you dinna kill him young Magnus.”

“Madame Campbell has asked him tae be spared. But—“ Magnus turned to Ewan and banged his fist on the table jostling the china and glassware. His voice raising dangerously high. “His eyes winna quit looking at her.” He turned back to the Earl. “Lord Breadalbane, I insist he must nae remain at this table or the Madame Campbell and I will return tae our rooms and leave on the morrow.”

The Earl put his hands out placatingly. “Now now, we’ll have none of that. Madame Campbell is welcome here and has my promise nae harm will come tae her. You feel affronted, young Magnus?” He leaned forward and bellowed down the table. “Ewan, didst ye know that Madame Campbell was the wife of your cousin?”

He said sullenly, “Nae.”

“See, Magnus, tis a misunderstanding. Twill nae happen again. Though I can see ye are raring tae fight. In the service of peace within my great hall I will arrange a better seating.” He looked back down at Ewan. “I wish ye to move, Ewan. Take a seat farther down the table.”

Ewan slammed back his chair, yanked his plate and drink and stormed off to another chair.

“See, young Magnus, sit here,” He waved a finger and a man and a woman vacated the seats closest to the Earl, giving them over to us. “Have a drink and some food and tell me what has happened to your mother.”