Magnus and a Love Beyond Words Read online

  I grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.” I dropped onto the bed with the book. “Cool. I have something Lady Mairead wants, got a new dress for your coronation tomorrow, and you’re on the cusp of being a king.” I opened the book. “Tis a verra good day for me.” I began to try to read the difficult writing.

  Chapter 26

  The following morning Hammond, wearing a dress uniform, collected us and took us by helicopter to the palace. Lady Mairead still seemed discombobulated about the missing book — the one that was beside me hidden inside the dress box she gave me the night before.

  Magnus’s eyes were open, but he faced straight ahead, focused, probably nervous. I watched out the window, trying to get the scale of the country, the kingdom. It wasn’t much different from my own time, at least from the air — except small things: a shit ton more air traffic, taller buildings, more streets, more sprawl.

  As we approached the castle I asked, “So this is the same area as Balloch?”

  Magnus glanced out the windows. “I recognize the mountains. See,” he pointed, “tis called Beinn Labhair.”

  Around the palace were piles of wreckage from the battles the day before. Military trucks drove around the grounds and drones flew through the air.

  We landed on the same landing pad where we had landed so many times before as prisoners, but this time as the royals. People bowed, helped, seemed awed by Magnus. I was not trusted, you could see it in most everyone’s eyes.

  We were directed to the royal apartments. They had been cleaned of Samuel’s things and I was pretty grateful Samuel had lived here for a while, putting some distance between me and Donnan. I could safely assume most of Donnan’s stuff had been removed for Samuel’s and now stripped for us. And I didn’t have a personal grudge against Samuel, now that my husband had killed him and all. His son, Roderick, though, he was really pissing me off.

  Our apartments were gorgeous and opulent: glass windows, sliding doors, large-scale paintings and sculptures surrounded by lush fabrics and antiques. But here it wasn’t piled and hoarded, these rooms were decorated with the best showpieces history had to offer.

  First thing on my list: Organize and catalogue the hoard and have it appraised. Maybe make Lady Mairead stand down from further collecting.

  Would I need to take it all back to where it belonged? How much of history had already been screwed up?

  The next thing on my list: close Donnan’s private prison rooms. It was frankly freaky to imagine they were here somewhere — where I had been kept. Where who knows how many women had been kept.

  I would close that shit down.

  * * *

  My dress was a perfect fit. I looked dignified and very rich. My jewelry was simple but expensive. I looked like I was born to do this, like Princess Kate — the British one, though of course she wasn’t born to be a queen, she started ordinary, but somehow she always pulled it off. I would try to be like that. To pull it off.

  Magnus was gorgeous. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants, a military jacket much like Donnan used to wear. He looked, what was the word, resplendent, with his sword at his waist, medals on his chest. “How come as soon as you strap on a sword I want to take it off you again?”

  “Because ye quite fancy me, my wife. Tis a verra nice thing.”

  “I do, I really do, but I will have to overcome it, I suppose. We still have to wait five days and besides my dress is already on.”

  “I suppose we do have tae wait and we want the crown on m’head before anymore time passes.” He leaned in and kissed me and in our fancy clothes it was quite sexy to press against him.

  * * *

  The coronation was a lot like a small wedding. The very large grand room held about thirty people. Most everyone wore military-style coats except for a handful of women in beautiful dresses. Cameras were stationed around the perimeter to broadcast the ceremony. On the walls were large projections of an audience, from floor to ceiling, their faces coming forward and back, in and out of focus. A large chair-like throne stood at the front and a man in deep purple robes waited solemnly beside it. As I was led to my seat in the front row, there was a good deal of murmuring. Lady Mairead was led to the seat right next to mine.

  I did not have enough coaching, none really. I straightened my back and tried to look gracious and commanding. I wrapped my ankles and folded my hands in my lap and wondered why the fuck I had decided to do any of this ever at all.

  Oh, that’s right — Magnus.

  I twisted in my seat as he walked through the door and across the carpeted middle of the room. All eyes were on him. His eyes on me.

  As he passed my chair he paused. Then he dropped to a knee with a grimace, a slight press against his abdomen as he lowered. He took my hands in his. He bowed his head over our hands. His brow glistened, his hands trembled.

  I freed from his grip and gently brushed my fingertips down his face. I put my hands back within his and we squeezed.

  Then he stood, composed his face into strength, straightened his jacket, and continued his walk to the front of the room.

  The ceremony stretched long and most of it was monotone and in Latin, which made some weird sense now I knew this whole royal lineage time-jumped here from the 16th century.

  Like everything about this place, the ceremony was full of incongruities — past and future melded. Historical with bits of futuristic details. Latin contrasting with gigantic video projections. The castles, the ceremonies, the clothing, they weren’t the future so much as brought from the past.

  An entire kingdom created by time jumpers, men who contained within them the brutality of the past and combined it with invincible power. But yet, until now, the men that ruled held tight to ignorance and savagery—

  Note to self: add a law requiring ceremonies that involve my fate and life have to be performed in words understandable by me. I will decree it.

  Until then my husband was making lots of promises and vows to his new kingdom in words I couldn’t understand. Like a lot of this, I hadn’t really thought it through.

  * * *

  There was a reception. No one wanted to speak to me, which was fine. Everyone wanted to speak to Magnus. He introduced me and made small talk while I tried very hard to keep all the names straight to coach him later because the last thing we wanted was Lady Mairead doing that for us. So I spent my time while I was left out of conversations inventing mnemonics, like: Colonel Porters. His wife Wendy is portly. She looks like she’s eaten a lot of KFC. The chicken colonel competes with Wendy’s hamburgers.

  I didn’t know if it would work, but it gave me something to do.

  * * *

  Food was served as a grand sit-down meal. A weird thing I noticed on this whole weird day, everyone kept complimenting me on the meal. Wonderful dinner, Your Highness. Why thank you, I did not one thing.

  It was thrilling actually that I was the head of a machine that could do this without me lifting one single finger or saying anything to anybody.

  We ate at a long table in the formal dining room — Magnus at the head, Lady Mairead and I across from each other. I chewed and wondered, was this my life now? One of the long walls carried a projection: shifting video of gigantic street parties, crowds of people celebrating Magnus’s ascension.

  * * *

  After dessert was served, Colonel Donahoe came to the head of the table and whispered something in Magnus’s ear. Magnus’s eyes cut to me. He listened for a moment then said, “Thank ye, Hammond, keep me informed.”

  Lady Mairead was watching closely as was I.

  Magnus leaned to my ear. “Bella is bein’ moved here tae the hospital, she is nearin’ her time.”

  “Oh,” I said for lack of anything better, smarter, more interesting to say.

  Chapter 27

  After dessert Magnus and I took our leave and Lady Mairead stayed behind to say goodbye to the guests. We held hands as we stalked back to our apartments, pausing at the end of the hall for a moment confused a
bout which way to go and needing to ask one of the hallway guards for directions.

  We made it to our doors and guards opened them without question so I knew we were in the right place.

  We entered our sitting room, sofas in brocades, pillows in silk and embroidery, antique tapestries, marble sculptures, intricately carved tables and above it all one of my Picasso paintings. It was comforting — here behind the couch and also back there in 2018. I couldn’t imagine how it got here but at least I never sold it to a museum. It was still ours and I loved its timelessness so much.

  The other wall, facing our painting, held one of those never ending videos of celebrations. The overall color theme of the room was white accented with gold, like a king named Louis was about to get married all up in here — probably to his mistress.

  I did not like the parallels.

  Magnus sank into the couch. I sat in the chair opposite him. The skirt of my pale blue dress spread around my daintily clad feet, my elbows on my knees. “What do you know?”

  “She is here. She is accompanied by a man, a John Mitchell, Colonel Donahoe daena ken him, and is searchin’ his history. The bairn is early.”

  “Dangerous early, or just exciting early? She looked far along when I saw her...”

  “I daena ken.”

  “Well, we’ll have to ask someone for the information.” I looked around. “As soon as there is someone to ask.”

  We looked at each other across the room. “Until then we wait, I suppose.” I stared at my hands. “It feels like good news she has a man with her? But I suppose it could be bad news too?”

  “Depends on what kind of man he is.”

  “I guess that’s true.”

  * * *

  Every few hours a physician named Dr Franklin would come to our apartment to fill Magnus in on the details. All I needed to know was Bella was going to have a baby.

  Everything else was shaking my core.

  I didn’t understand how to advise him or help him because I was completely lost. The Manual for How To Be A Human had been silent on waiting for the birth of your husband’s baby. It helped a little that the birth of the baby would help save my husband’s life — having an heir improved his chances, but by a slim amount, on both saving him and helping me.

  Lady Mairead sent word that all the guests were gone home. I guessed she wanted to come hear news, but Magnus didn’t offer any information beyond: we are waiting to hear.

  Who was I kidding though, Lady Mairead had been living here for long enough; she was sure to be getting crucial information long before me.

  * * *

  We went to bed early. There was a dresser drawer in my room with some clothes for me, pajamas and underwear, a closet with a few dresses inside. The bed was a four poster, in a deep purple with gold accents, and was very comfortable but still my sleep was fitful.

  And then in the middle of the night Magnus rose from the bed. “Where are you going?”

  “Nae where, mo reul-iuil. Just tae get the news.”

  He slipped through our door to the sitting room.

  He didn’t return, so I got up to see what the news was. Magnus was on the couch. The room dark except for one small table lamp. “What’s happening?”

  “Tis a surgery.”

  “Oh, ” I sat beside him and took his hand. “That’s good though, a decision has been made, the baby will be here really soon.”

  He nodded.

  “Do you need to go to her? I mean, I don’t know what protocol is, should you be in the room, or like waiting out in the hall?”

  “He is a bastard. I shouldna be there, twould raise her standin’ above yours.”

  “Oh. I mean, I appreciate that, but he is your son.”

  “I will see him after he is born. And I will proclaim him mine in due time.”

  “How do you know all of this, what to do?”

  “I have lived in London, been to court, I have seen this many times. It helps me greatly tae have him as an heir, but the man with them complicates things. If Bella marries him and he is—”

  “So we wait some more?”

  “Aye.”

  Chapter 28

  The physician arrived an hour later to tell us the baby, a boy, had been born. And Bella had come through the surgery well. Bella was with the baby right now, but Magnus should come to the hospital rooms to meet him.

  Magnus dressed in dark slacks and a nice white shirt. I didn’t have anything casual and comfortable, but I supposed this occasion required a dress. I applied some makeup and brushed my hair. I should look good in case there were photos.

  Magnus and I met at the doors to our apartments and Colonel Donahoe met us to accompany us downstairs.

  * * *

  We walked the route I had traveled just a few days before. We passed the room where Magnus had been recovering. Bella was in there, I could sense it in the way the air turned dark and repelling.

  We were let into the same office I had been in when they wheeled Magnus away. The room was dark except for a small desk lamp spilling light across the desk blotter. There was a leather couch, two comfortable leather chairs and a wall of books. It looked like the kind of office a New York psychiatrist might have.

  A nurse said to Magnus, “Your highness, please have a seat, I’ll bring him in a moment.” She left through the double doors.

  Magnus and I sat in chairs. We didn’t talk. I barely even breathed. I didn’t know how I passed the time because I may have freaking gone unconscious. I was surprised I stayed in the chair and didn’t collapse onto the floor.

  * * *

  Then, after so very long — all my nightmares and dreams came true when a hospital-style bassinet was pushed through the double doors by the nurse. Magnus stood. I stood. Magnus crossed to the bassinet and looked in. The baby was wearing a little blue hat and swaddled in a blue silk blanket.

  Magnus whispered, “Och aye, he is verra wee.”

  The nurse said, “He is early but Dr Franklin said he is in perfect health. Would you like to hold him?” She scooped the baby from the bassinet with the practiced movements of a delivery room nurse and before Magnus could finish with, “Can I?” placed the baby in Magnus’s arms.

  My chin trembled with tears as Magnus’s arms simultaneously strengthened around the baby and relaxed with the comforting of him. He stepped back and lowered into the chair, his eyes on the baby’s face. The baby was awake, looking up at Magnus. Magnus repeated himself, his eyes glistening. “Verra wee.”

  I sob smiled, a confusing clash of emotions inside me, love for my husband and happiness for him with bitter regret and anger at this baby who was so sweet — so there was some guilt there too. I sat in the chair beside them and tried to keep from dissolving into ugly-crying.

  Magnus looking at the sweet baby face, Archie, a baby who would one day love his Da so much he would sacrifice everything for him and save my life. Magnus looking at me his face glistening with tears. Me, someone who loved Magnus so much I would sacrifice everything for him, because I knew he would do the same for me. I knew it. Down deep inside.

  Magnus’s chin trembled like mine. “Tis overwhelmin’ me tae meet him.”

  “Me too. I just went through like one hundred and seventy-five emotions.” I gulped some air. “He’s beautiful.”

  “Aye.” We both sat and concentrated on that baby face as slowly the baby’s eyes closed and he fell asleep.

  Magnus ran a hand through his hair. “I should go speak tae Bella.”

  “Yeah, probably.”

  “Would ye hold him while I am gone?”

  “Can I?”

  “Aye, Kaitlyn.” I put my arms out and he gingerly transferred the baby from his arms to mine, a weight that was heavier than I expected, much like the arrival — it was all more heavy, big, deep, and destroying than I thought possible.

  Magnus slipped through the doors to go to Bella’s room as the baby settled into my arms, across my stomach; a pleasant weight, one I wanted so desperate
ly and here it was, borrowed—

  I sobbed and tears streamed down my face. I missed my baby. I had never looked into his eyes. Felt his lovely living weight. Never listened to his soft breaths and smelled his sweet baby skin and… and… oh god—

  My shoulders shook with it as I tried to be quiet. I tried to be contained and controlled, a grown up, a mother, the kind of person who could hold a baby and keep them comforted and could love them and be loved back.

  The baby looked up at me.

  My first moment with him and here I was devastated.

  I gulped down my tears and took a deep breath.

  “Hi.” I rubbed my thumb gently across the baby’s temple. “Did you wake up? You’re probably surprised to see someone holding you while they're crying. I’m sorry about that. This was not how I wanted to make my first impression. I’m Kaitlyn.” I wrapped his baby fist around my thumb. “I’m going to be your stepmom. Now, before you get upset and go thinking that means I’m going to suck, let me tell you three things about me. First, I do kind of suck. And you and I might not always see eye to eye. As a matter of fact you’ll probably think I’m a huge pain in the ass. But I love your Da, and you will really love your Da, so we will have that in common. We can be friends based on that I think. Plus, two, I am very loyal, and you and I just became family, so you can count on me, I will always be here for you.”

  I stroked a finger down the baby’s cheek and there was a little fuzz of dark hair out from under his hat. I pulled the baby hat off his head and leaned in and kissed his forehead. “If you ever think, ‘No one listens to me,’ or ‘No one likes me,’ or ‘No one wants me,’ because I’ve been there before — when I was growing up it seemed like the only person who really wanted me was my grandmother, Barb, I always knew at least I had one person. Well, you have your Da, of course, and your mom, but you also have me, a third person. And that makes you very lucky, to have three people. Also, I am cool. I know if people say that it generally means they aren’t, but I’m saying it because you don’t realize it yet. Because you’re a baby, but I’m very cool. I understand a lot about how the world works. I’m brave and strong and true. I have fought kings and won. So yeah, I’m your step mom and I’m a little like having a dragon in your corner. Like the good kind.”