An Ensuing Evil and Others Read Online Free PDF Page A

my lord MacBeth. I taught young Malcolm to ride his first horse. His death grieves me sorely.”
    “Indeed,” sighed the brehon, and dismissed him with a wave.
    When Garban had gone, MacBeth turned to Cothromanach. “Let us hear from the maid’s own lips that we were in our beds at the time the deed was done,” he told the brehon. “Then you may be able to quench any malicious rumors which may be spread about us.”
    “You are sensitive on this matter,” observed the brehon.
    “I know my grandfather, the High King, and my cousin, Duncan Mac Crinan,” MacBeth said grimly.
    “So be it,” Cothromanach sighed.
    Margreg was young and youthful, scarcely seventeen. She was dark haired, fair skinned, and attractive, and what is more, she knew it. There was a boldness about her that might have been interpreted by some as a speculative lasciviousness.
    She entered the chamber, dropped a half-curtsy to MacBeth, and was about to acknowledge the venerable brehon when her eyes caught sight of the body on the floor. Her features wrinkled distastefully, but she did not avert her gaze.
    “The brehon wishes to ask you a few questions,” MacBeth said, stepping to one side and motioning the brehon to proceed.
    “You are maidservant to the Lady Gruoch?”
    “You know so,” retorted the girl with confidence. “You are as familiar with this castle as I am.”
    Cothromanach suppressed a sigh of irritation. “This is an official inquiry, girl. Just answer my questions and leave your impudence for those who appreciate it.”
    The girl pouted in annoyance. “Yes. I am maid to the Lady Gruoch.”
    “How long have you held that position?”
    “Full one year since she came to this castle with her baby in search of sanctuary.”
    “Did you attend your mistress at bedtime.”
    “I did. Her dressing room is next door to the bedchamber, and that is where the baby, Lulach, sleeps, and that is where I sleep, as well. I helped her undress and prepare for bed. That was just after the feasting.”
    “So you sleep in the next chamber. Were you disturbed in the night?”
    “Yes. I awoke and heard the baby coughing. He is a good little soul but inclined to a night cough. So I arose and tended the child. I had quietened him and was about to go back to bed when I heard a door open and footsteps in the corridor. Curiosity made me go to the door, and I looked out.”
    MacBeth had turned with a frown. “What time was this?”
    The girl shrugged. “I have no means of knowing, my lord. It was dark and cold, and the embers in the fire I had built in the chamber were gray.” She turned to Cothromanach. “I try to keep a fire going through the night for the good of the baby. Warm air eases his poor little chest.”
    “You said that you went to the door and looked out,” MacBeth observed heavily. “What did you see?”
    “The Lady Gruoch, walking down the corridor. She was carrying something in her hand.”
    “How could you see that it was her? Did you or she have a candle?” asked the brehon quickly.
    The girl shook her head. “No. There are torches kept alight in the corridor there.”
    “So the Lady Gruoch left the bedchamber during the night?” pressed MacBeth unnecessarily.
    “What time did she return?” demanded the brehon.
    “I do not know. Having seen that it was my lady, I simply returned to my bed, for it was chill, as I have said, and I was asleep in no time.”
    “Were you disturbed again?”
    “Yes. I thought me barely asleep when I awoke and found my lady bending over me. She said she could not sleep and asked me to prepare her a goblet of mulled wine. I did so.”
    “And you had no idea when that was either, I suppose?” sighed MacBeth.
    “Oh yes. It was not long before Garban came and knocked at your chamber door. I prepared the wine and went in, finding the lady Grouch sitting up in bed. You were there also, my noble lord, fast asleep by her side. I don’t think that you had been disturbed at all during the night,