Macbeth turned to me. “We must arrange a workroom.”
“Arrange yourself as you will,” I said then dismounted. I patted the blood bay’s neck then passed his reins to a waiting groom.
“My lady, we have prepared chambers for you, your maids, and Lord Lulach,” a footman told me, straining to look, presumably, for Lulach.
“Tira, Rhona, please see to the chambers, and get some rest,” I told my maids.
“Yes, my lady,” Rhona said.
“Yes, my lady,” Tira agreed.
I turned back to the attendant. “I need my own, private meeting space. I’ll need to have an audience with any messengers who’ve come to see me.”
“Oh. Yes, my lady,” the man said, looking surprised. He turned to a page beside him. He said something in a low tone to the boy who sprinted off like his trousers were on fire.
“My lord,” another attendant said, motioning for Macbeth to follow him. “If you will come with me, I will show you to your council chambers.”
Macbeth signaled to the man to wait a moment. Dismounting, he stepped toward me as if he wanted to say something in private. I recoiled at the thought of having him so close to me. Involuntarily, I stepped back.
Noticing the gesture, Macbeth froze. I saw him master whatever emotion briefly crossed his face, and then he said, “It will be better if we share a counsel chamber.”
“When necessary,” I replied. “Only when necessary.”
Macbeth clenched his jaw. “Fine,” he spat. His temper making his cheeks turn red, he turned and stalked away.
I caught Banquo’s eye. He frowned. “Lady Gruoch, I must see to the men. Do you need anything else here?” Banquo asked.
“No, Thane. I seem to be in good hands.”
Banquo smiled at me. “Then I will see to you soon. The Moray guard will stay with you.”
I nodded to Banquo who mounted his horse.
I turned back to the attendant.
“Lady Gruoch, if you will come this way,” the man said, gesturing.
Motioning to the Moray men, I turned and followed the man back into the abbey.
It was strange to walk the same halls I traversed when I’d come to see Duncan crowned. Everything had been about pageantry. Beautiful lords and ladies roamed the halls looking like walking decorations. The place had been adorned with flowers, garland, and silks. Now, everywhere I looked, I saw steel. Macbeth and I had won through bloodshed.
But the difference was a good thing.
I had no use for frills and false faces and endless discussions on the weather.
England was unsettled.
The southern Scottish lords were unsettled.
Our people were poor and uneducated.
The country was weak in commerce.
Duncan had made no allies abroad save England.
There was much work to be done.
The attendant led me to a chamber where servants were busy shifting tables, building up the fire, or washing down furniture.
“Will this suit you, Lady Gruoch?” the man asked.
I eyed the place. There were two doors, one that entered by the main hallway and another at the back of the room.
“Where does that door go?” I asked. I motioned for one of the Moray men to investigate.
“To the hallway on the west side of the abbey,” the attendant said.
“You said I had messages? Riders?”
“Yes, my lady,” he said then turned and motioned to two boys who carried satchels full of scrolls.
“Anything from Fife?” I asked.
“No, my lady, but there is a special envoy waiting for you—in particular.”
“An envoy?”
“From Que—Lady Suthen.”
“Bring them in,” I said.
“But, my lady, you’ve just come in from the road. Surely, they can wait until you’ve taken some refreshment, some rest…”
“I said bring them in,” I repeated, my voice sharp.
The man nodded. “I’ll go get them now.”
I turned to the Moray men. “Killian, check everyone for weapons. No one comes in without being disarmed.”
“Yes, my lady.”
A table had been set at the front of the room. A maid busily washed it down while the others finished setting up the space. I went to the girl.
“Lass, I know you’re busy, but will you see to it some refreshment is brought for my men. Some ale and bread. Whatever there is to be had.”
The girl paused mid-wipe and looked up at me, her eyes wide. “Ye-yes, my lady. Of course.”
“Thank you,” I told her.
The girl quickly mopped the water off the table then turned and ran off.
I turned and looked around the room. The chamber, which only a few moments ago had been a hodgepodge of chairs and tables, had already started to look like a formal meeting hall. I went to the hearth. There was a bright, cheery glow in the fire. I grabbed a chair and slid it toward the fireplace.
“Lady Gruoch,” one of the servants called, rushing to my side. He grabbed the chair. “Please, allow me.”
“I was just moving it closer to the fire. I still have some chill from the road,” I told the lad who stared at me.
“Of course. But let me. You shouldn’t be lifting chairs, my lady,” the boy said, gently taking the chair from my hands and setting it before the fireplace.
The two maids who’d been working on the fire quickly tidied up the kindling then rose, scrambling to get out of the way.
“My lady,” the boy said, adjusting the chair for me.
I looked from him to the maids. A half-laugh bubbled from my lips.
“My lady?” the boy whispered. “Is there anything wrong?”
The two maids looked at one another, worry in their eyes.
I shook my head. “No. Nothing at all. It’s only…my gods…do they really not move their own chairs? How absurd. No wonder my father was never at court. Thank you all for your quick and hard work. The room looks wonderful, and the hearth is warm. Thank you all so much.”
The servants looked at one another, seeming unsure what to say.
“My lady,” the first maid said, bobbing a curtsey which the second maid awkwardly mirrored. The pair rushed from the room.
I smiled at the boy who’d helped me with my seat.
“My lady. I’m not sure if I should offer to help with anything else or not,” he said with a smile.
“I’m well. Thank you. What is your name, lad?”
“Gordon, my lady.”
“Thank you, Gordon. You moved the chair most excellently.”
The Moray guard chuckled lightly.
I lowered myself into the seat and looked at the fire. Madelaine. Madelaine needed to come soon because there was no way I was going to be able to navigate this alone. I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the fire on my face. My back ached. It felt good to sit.
I would be queen.
This was how queens were treated.
This was how other queens were treated. Not me.
“My lady,” the attendant called.
I opened my eyes to see a group of three well-dressed men at the door. They frowned, their expressions sour, as Killian disarmed them.
The attendant crossed the room, the two pages following along behind him. “These boys will run messages, errands as needed. I will send a secretary as soon as I can find one.”
I shook my head. “No need. These boys will do for now.”
“Oh. Well. Very good. I will go see to Lord Macbeth now.”
“Is his council chamber close by?”
The attendant nodded. “Down the hall, two rights, then on the left. But he is not there at the moment. He’s retired to his chamber to take some rest.”
Of course. “I see.”
“The envoy,” the man said, motioning to Suthen’s men.