Skye glanced at Lennox to catch sight of his reaction. That was what interested her anyway. The sooner she was rid of his presence, the sooner she would find her peace again.
She smirked in triumph at the reddish color the guest's cheeks had taken. He was holding the cup in his hand and twirling it.
The uncle abruptly stood up from his chair and looked at Skye with narrowed eyes.
Skye prepared to face him, but Lennox stood up.
"My lord, let's put aside all this. It don't matter at all, and believe me, it don't concern me anyway. You have done an excellent job with the scotch, congratulations," he told him.
The uncle looked at him and seemed to calm down. He sat back in his chair.
"Yes, you are right, Lennox, and forgive me. I don't know what happened to me. I usually don't react like that."
Skye brought her cup to her mouth. "Right, not usually, but you always reacts that way uncle" he muttered to herself and took another sip.
"How is your father, Duke Cameron?" the uncle asked Lennox steering the conversation into calmer waters.
"He is also busy with his business. I also help him of course. He is fine with his health. Last winter he had a stomach issue that kept him in bed for a few days, but he's over it now and he's fine."
He replied, and his lips curled up slightly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry you went through such rough time. But since he got over it, everything will be fine," said the uncle in a flat voice, without convincing anyone of his supposed "sorry."
The conversation that followed was about business, making Skye feel unbearably bored.
At one point, two servants entered the dining room, bowed before the uncle, and then began to collect the dishes from the table and place them on the large silver tray they had brought.
The arrival of the servants interrupted the boring conversation between the two men, and Skye let out a sigh of relief.
Her aunt turned and looked at her giving her a fevered stare. She didn't have to say anything; she opened her eyes wide and pursed her lips.
Skye lifted her chin and turned her eyes away.
"You are unbearable," her aunt whispered in a scathing tone.
"Lord Malcolm would you like us to bring the desert now?" asked the servant while the other was already leaving the dining room carrying the heavy tray.
"Yes, of course," the uncle replied.
The servant bowed in front of the uncle and left the dining room.
Lennox, who remained straight-faced until that moment, raised his eyebrows. "Did I see correct? Did the servants just bow? This is a privilege that only King Cinaed has."
The uncle laughed merrily, but Skye could make out the drops of sweat on his forehead.
She lifted her cup to take another sip of her scotch while inwardly waiting to see how her uncle would handle the situation.
"You're right, Lennox," the uncle said, giving him a friendly pat. "I've told them a thousand times that they don't have to do it. That it is not even legal, but they insist on doing it out of respect for me. After so many times that I have told them, I got fed up and just let them do freely what they want."
Skye suddenly started coughing, drawing all eyes on her. Lennox was full of worry, unlike her uncles, who looked at her and frowned.
Lennox got up from his seat and walked over to her.
"My lady, are you all right?" he asked while patting her back gently.
"Y-yes…thank you," she replied, and she did feel herself coming to her senses after the gentle pats on her back. "My scotch didn't follow the right course, but I am fine now."
"Thank goodness, my girl. You worried us." Aunt said using the same fake sweet voice that Skye loathed.
"I am glad you are okay." Lennox told her in a gentle voice and returned to his seat.
The uncle tried to laugh, but it came out more of a nervous laugh than a hearty laugh. "Please, Lord Lennox. I wish what you saw with the servants should not be discussed outside the castle, and you don't have to worry, I will comply them. I give you my word."
Lennox looked at him and lifted a single eyebrow. He scratched his jaw without a word thinking about it. "Okay." He finally told. "Nothing is going to come out of this castle. What happened will stay here, between us, but you will keep your word."
His uncle gave him a big smile. "Thank you, Lord Lennox. Of course, it is the word of a Lord after all."
The two men picked up their conversation where they had left off as Skye recalled the scene where her uncle had gathered all the men and women who worked in the castle and demanded them bow to him whenever they stood before him and before they left his sight.
And had boldly pointed out to them that the offenders would be harshly punished. As he also pointed out to them, as he had said at the time, the 'Golden Rule' of the castle - they would not bow when the uncle received guests in the castle, and violators of this rule would be punished even more harshly.
She smirked. "My sweet uncle," she murmured and took another sip from her cup.
She suddenly remembered and stood up abruptly. Her chair creaked to the floor.
"Um… Excuse me for one moment. I will be right back." Skye said quickly and headed for the exit ignoring the lightning bolts her uncle's gaze was shooting at her.
Skye knew it was a great insult to the guest to leave the table so suddenly, but there was something she had to do before it was too late.
Before closing the door behind her, she heard Lennox say. "Don't worry, Lord Malcolm. Lady Skye has to be absent for a while. Let's not make it an issue. Although it is disrespectful to me, I assure you that I am not offended at all. Besides, she will be back soon."
Skye smiled but immediately remembered what she had to do and moved forward with quick steps.
She saw the servants carrying the trays with the platters filled with cut fruits and nuts. She approached them.
The servants wrinkled their brows. "What is the matter, my lady?"
"Tavish? Fergus? We have a guest. For God's sake, don't bow to the uncle again. Did you forget the golden rule?
The two servants looked at each other with wide eyes and swallowed hard. Yes, they had completely forgotten about it.
"Don't worry I will arrange it. You will not be punished."
The two servants looked at her with soft eyes filled with an inner glow. "Thank you, my lady. How are we ever going to pay you back?"
Skye sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you? You don't have to pay me back and now go. I have delayed you long enough. And remember, no bowing. I will come soon. If we all enter together, they will understand that this was the reason I left." She told them while the servants started to pace towards the dining room, but they had heard her every word.
Skye chose to return to the dining room after seeing the servants leave.She made her way with soft steps toward her seat. "Here I am," she said. "I wasn't late, was I?" Added avoiding looking at them. "Oh, dessert is here too. Lovely!" she said, trying to make her excitement sound realistic. Wearing a big smile, she served some of the forest fruits and nuts on her plate. She took a blackberry with her fingers and put it in her mouth. Her aunt turned and looked at her; her eyes opened wide. Skye took the message and picked up her fork."Is everything okay, Skye?" Uncle asked her as he took his cup to drink some of his drink- he wanted to appear calm and that it was a simple question without meaning, but his glance over his cup burned her."Yes, uncle, everything is fine," she replied as she turned her attention back to her plate.Suspicions began to arouse in her mind that the uncle had understood the reason for her absence.But what mattered to her was that the servants would not be
Skye growled and stood up. She grabbed her silver cup and raised her hand to throw it at the closed door, but Fiona wrapped her fingers around her wrist."Don't dare!" she snapped. "The noise it will make will be heard where Malcolm and Lennox are sitting. You have given us enough humiliation for today. That's enough!"Skye winced. "Aunt, you are hurting me!" she said, trying to free her wrist, but aunt's grip was tight.Before she let her wrist, Fiona grabbed the cup from Skye's hand and put it away from her. Then, without another word, she returned to her seat."I'm going to my room." Skye announced, but her aunt glared at her."No, you are not! It's a rule, have you forgotten?'Skye sighed and sat back down. The truth was yes; for a moment, she had forgotten about that rule. She could do nothing more but wait.She sighed again. Waiting was so annoying!Her aunt suddenly started sniggering.Skye turned and looked at her, her brows furrowed. "What are you laughing about?""I laugh be
"Little brat," Malcolm growled through his gritted teeth lowering his hand."And now? What are we going to do, my lord?' Fiona asked. Her trembling voice carried desperation.She had followed Malcolm to the bottom of the stairs, but she had stayed back a few steps and watched the entire scene.Malcolm turned and looked at her. "What can we do?" he asked her calmly as he started to walk towards the living room, clasping his hands behind his back.His head was slightly bowed, which Fiona had learned to recognize over the years at his side. Malcolm was cogitative.Fiona followed him in silence."You know very well that every prospective groom is not obligated to marry Skye," Malcolm continued. "He has the right to choose. This was the king's order when I had first submitted my request to the king's scribe. And the same was in force for all the times I had applied for the same request in the last three years.""When can you apply again?" Fiona asked, putting her hand to her forehead. All
Skye ran to her room. She got inside and closed the heavy door behind her. She leaned against the door, trying to regain a normal rhythm in her breathing.Her eyes were filled with tears of despair."Monster!" she muttered through her gritted teeth."My Lady, what happened?" A young girl approached her with quick steps. She touched her gently on the shoulder. "Come let me help you sit down."Skye was lost in her thoughts, but the girl's voice brought her back to reality, and she left herself in her care.Skye broke away from the door, taking a step forward. Her legs were shaking, and so were her hands. The girl saw this and wrapped her arm around her waist to support her better."Are you okay? What happened, my Lady? You worry me." She led her to the bed and helped her sit down."Let me get you some water. I just brought a jug of fresh and cool water. It will benefit you."She came back holding a glass of water. She put it to Skye's lips and responded by taking a few sips."Very good!
The next day Skye woke up very early due to her worry.The darkness inside her chamber was starting to break, and she could make out the silhouettes of objects. It was beginning to dawn.She got off the bed and walked over to the window. Her chamber faced the east, and when she drew aside the curtain, the sun was beginning to rise, outspreading an orange-red color over the mountain slopes.Oh! She had to hurry.She took off her nightgown and put on one of her dresses without wasting valuable time choosing one as she used to do every day.As soon as she was ready, she hurried out of her chamber, heading to the kitchen. She knew that most of the servants were there at this time early in the morning.She went down the stairs and saw Maysie carrying fresh water in a wooden bucket."My Lady, has something happened? Why did you wake up so early? I'm just now bringing you your morning water," Maysie ran to her and sputtered without taking the appropriate breaths.Skye gently touched her arm.
The official courtier left, and a few moments later, Lennox entered the royal throne room with a broad smile."At last, Lennox!" he was welcomed by King Cinaed. The wrinkles of the long waiting had disappeared from King's forehead."King Cinaed, I understand your agitation, but the journey from Lord Malcolm's castle was a long one. My men and I came directly here, without stopping, not even to sleep at night. We only rested the horses for a couple of hours so that I could be here as soon as possible as you had asked me to."A relaxed smile crossed King's face. "That makes me doubly pleased, Lennox, and I want you to know that. So, before you tell me everything that happened at dinner in every detail, I guess you're hungry, aren't you?'Lennox placed his hand on his stomach. "The truth is, that yes, I'm hungry.""Good, because I have ordered to have food ready for us in the dining room. Let's go before the food gets cold," the King encouraged him.Lennox straightened his body, taking o
The following day, the King saw Lennox and his men out early in the morning. Lennox thanked him profusely for his hospitality, and the King wished them a pleasant journey.The King entered the castle as soon as the company had moved away, and all that was left was a cloud of dust.He headed towards the library where he had his office, but a step before entering, he saw his clerk almost running towards him."Your highness, please wait," he shouted to be heard over the distance that separated him from the King, "it's important."The King stood, and when the clerk approached him, he asked what had happened."I have drawn up the decree and I would like you to review it. We have not many days left. Also I would like you to check the names of the young ladies I have chosen so far and tell me if they are approved or not. But…" the clerk bit his lower lip.The King took a deep sigh. "Tell me, Glenn. I have work, and you're delaying me.""I'm sorry, Your highness," he apologized and bowed his
Malcolm's jaw dropped open.What he had just heard was not at all the answer he expected.He fell to pieces. All his hopes had just vanished.Why should the King oppose him? What did he care who a girl he hardly knew would marry?"But my king, I don't understand why…" he began to say, trying to change King's mind. It was unthinkable for him to leave idle.He wanted to finally get rid of Skye, if possible, on the same day, at the exact moment.The King raised his hand abruptly, and Malcolm stopped talking."You can go in peace Malcolm. I'll see to it that a groom is found for Skye. You will hear from me soon, very soon."Malcolm's eyes twinkled. "Oh, Your Highness!" he exclaimed. "You have no idea how much joy your words will give to Skye.""Yes, yes, I can imagine. Especially Skye will be delight." said the King raising his eyebrows as he spat out his words ironically."Yes, of course" Malcolm nodded his head. A big smile remained plastered on his face.The more the King saw this, the