THE SECRET (The Power Of Love Conquers All)
CHAPTER 21

Strange, but even though they were two completely strangers, Jacelyn felt an urge to calm her heart. Margaretha looked completely lonely and Jacelyn understood that kind of feeling.

"Did you never have time to go visit your daughter?" jacelyn asked with pity to look at the sad looking Margaretha.

"I haven't visited my Shaista since she got married" replied Margaretha, "The Stewart kingdom is very secretive. They don't accept outsiders." - honestly Margaretha with a heavy heart.

Jacelyn was astonished by what Margaretha said, she could not believe what she had just heard.

"But, you're definitely not an outsider" she protested.

"Shaista belongs to Sinclair now. It wouldn't be appropriate if I asked her to visit us, and it wouldn't be appropriate to ask that we could visit her."

Jacelyn shook her head. He never heard anything so absurd. "Did he ever send you a message?"

"Who will deliver the message?"

Silence enveloped them for a moment. "I want to" whispered Jacelyn.

Margaretha looked at her husband, then looked back at Jacelyn. "Do you want to do that for me?"

"Of course," Jacelyn said sincerely.

"I'm afraid it's not worth doing" Margaretha said.

"Of course it's worth it" argued Jacelyn. "It's not that hard either, Margaretha. If you have a message you want to convey to Shaista, I promise I'll find it and give it to her. Then, on my way back to Northumbria, I'll give him a message for you. Maybe there will be an invitation to visit later" he added.

"We're going out to see the horse, my wife," exclaimed Carmous with a thunderous voice. "We won't be long. Is dinner almost ready?"

"Yes, Carmous" said Margaretha. "Evening will be available at the table once you're back."

The men left the cottage. Carmous shut the door. "Your husband sounds angry" Jacelyn guessed shortly after the men left.

"Oh, no. He's not angry" said Margaretha quickly.

"But, he's a little agitated. Receiving an honorable Stewart Emperor in our home is a great honor for us. Carmous will continue to boast about this for the next month or two."

Margaretha arranged the dishes on the table, then added another pot of water. The bread has been cut. Jacelyn helped the woman to pour the broth into a large bowl and put it in the middle of the long dining table.

"Maybe, during dinner, you can ask Shaista to tell Sgaire" Jacelyn suggested.

Margaretha looked amazed. "If I asked her like that, she would feel offended" Margaretha explained. "If I ask if Shaista is happy, then it's the same that I think Sinclair isn't happy. Do you understand how complicated this is?"

In Jacelyn's opinion, it's not complicated, but it's ridiculous. He could feel himself angry for Margaretha. Stewart's kingdom is cruel to her. Didn't any of them have the compassion of a family like Mom and Dad?

He had no idea what he would do if someone told him he would never see his aunt Olivia and Uncle Noriie again. His eyes were even already glazed over just by thinking about that bad thing.

"If you want to ask..." Margaretha smiled at Jacelyn while waiting for Jacelyn to catch what she meant.

Jacelyn nodded. "Sgaire might think that I don't know that manners because I'm Northumbrian."

"I will gladly ask her, Margaretha," promised Jacelyn. "What are all the highest Clans in the highlands like Stewart kingdom? Are they all shutting themselves off from outsiders?"

"Klan Maclean and the Maitland Clan did it too" replied Margaretha. "If they're not at war with each other, then they'll shut themselves down" he explained. "The landlord of the Maclean Clan was between the Maitland clan and the Stewart kingdom, and Carmous told me that they kept fighting for land ownership rights. None of the three clans attended the festival, but the other Clans attended. Are all Northumbrians the same as you?"

Jacelyn tried to concentrate on what Margaretha asked her. But it was quite difficult for Jacelyn to be able to answer him, because she was still stunned by the woman's relaxed statement that the Maitland clan was an enemy of Stewart Kingdom.

"Millady?" ask Margaretha. "Are you sick?"

"Oh, I'm very healthy" replied Jacelyn. "You're asking me if I'm like the other Northumbrians, aren't you?"

"Yes, right," said Margaretha as she frowned at the sight of Jacelyn's face turning very pale.

"I don't know if I'm the same as everyone else or not" Jacelyn replied. "Because of the fact I prefer to live a closed life. Margaretha, how could the men find a life partner if they never got along with other clans?"

"Oh, they have their own way" replied Margaretha. "Sinclair came here to exchange for a mare. He meets Shaista and they instantly fall in love. I was against that union because I knew I would never be able to see my daughter again. But Carmous won't listen to me. After all, you can't answer no to the Stewart Royal People. At least I never heard anyone say that. And Shaista has also set her heart on marrying Sinclair."

"Is Sinclair similar to Sgaire?"

"Yes, similar. But, more quiet."

Jacelyn chuckles. "In that case, he would have been dead" he said. "Sgaire rarely speaks."

Margaretha could not help but laugh when she heard Jacelyn's words. "The people of Stewart kingdom are indeed very strange, but they also have their own advantages. I can tell you if Carmous has an attack or needs help, then he can send word to the noble Emperor Ailean."

"Before Shaista got married, we often lost our goats. The theft soon stops as word that Shaista is married to a Stewart royal is spread. Carmous also began to be respected. Of course the initial reaction was the same as when he met you, and it could have changed his status."

"You mean the shock of knowing I'm Northumbrian?"

"Yes, the surprise."

The two women looked at each other and suddenly laughed loudly just as the men had returned inside. Ailean was the first to enter. He nodded towards Margaretha, then paused for a moment to wrinkle his face towards Jacelyn. Jacelyn felt that Ailean was thinking that her pleasure was not an act worth doing. That possibility made his laughter even louder.

"Go and sit at the table" Margaretha instructed.

"Are you going to join us?"

"I'll serve first, then I'll join you."

Whether Margaretha realized it or not, the woman had just given Jacelyn a reason not to sit next to Carmous. The men had taken the same position as before. Jacelyn lifted the chair near the stove and brought it to the other side of the table. Then he made his way between Ailean and Sgaire.

If those knights were surprised by Jacelyn's bravery, then they were good enough not to show it. Sgaire even shifted a little so Jacelyn was not too constricted.

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