Late summer, 1390

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate is holding herself together very tightly as she leaves the Douglas' war tent. Oh, she knows well enough when she is being condescended to -- that brash, smirking, weather-bitten, brawling usurer--

The men-at-arms escorting her give warning glares to the Scottish soldiers, but it's hardly necessary. They might grin at her fury, but none seem inclined to have it directed at them.

Anger is much preferable to the dread threatening to creep into her heart, at least. She'll certainly not let anyone think the Douglas frightened her. She clings to that resolve as they ride back to the castle, where Margaret waits.

Comments

[valiantrebel]

If the Lady Northumberland has been a touch snappish these past several days, no one has the nerve to remark upon it or complain.

And when word arrives that Kate has returned (that Kate only has returned), well, Margaret Percy will remain composed. This is as hard on her daughter-in-law as it is for anybody.

Still, there is a touch of irritation she cannot hold back as she hurries to greet Kate. "Daughter, how now? What news?"

[tiltingwithlips]

Oh, she's not in much mood to be judged; she has done plenty of it herself in the last little while.

"He is not here." Her tone is snappish, though she won't quite meet Margaret's eye, glaring off to the side instead.

[valiantrebel]

"As I've not peeled you both apart, I see that."

Oh no, Kate, you're going to look at her.

"What happened?"

[tiltingwithlips]

But she doesn't want to!

"He would hear of nothing but his ransom. Not of peace nor anything else."

[valiantrebel]

At that, Margaret truly has to bite her tongue.

"You spoke to him of peace?" she says incredulously.

[tiltingwithlips]

... Oops, says Kate's face.

[valiantrebel]

Of Harry's parents, the Earl of Northumberland is actually quite slow to rise in anger.

Lady Northumberland, on the other hand, is too baffled to be angry at the moment, but she'll get there.

"Why, Kate? To what end should you promise a carpenter you'd chop down all the trees and cart them off away from him?"

[tiltingwithlips]

"What use are these wars if they have no end?" she grumbles, hugging her elbows.

[valiantrebel]

"Kate." KATE. From between gritted teeth: "The Douglas has no use for peace: it will be broken as cheaply and as quickly as he or Harry can muster."

[tiltingwithlips]

"Very well," Kate snaps, "then all the better he would not hear it and I left with nothing of Harry but a note!"

[valiantrebel]

That slows her down, for a moment, anyway. "A note? Saying what? How does he?"

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate shuts her mouth, presses her lips together hard to keep them from trembling, and retrieves the note. She holds it out to Margaret without looking at her, still.

[valiantrebel]

She's not ashamed to say she grabs for it.

There's no mistaking that's Harry's hand. And -- she smiles, though the rest of her bearing is shaken.

"There. He is so mad he repeats himself -- he's lost track in the middle of his sentence."

[tiltingwithlips]

She manages a tight smile in return.

"And so I trust he is well."

[valiantrebel]

"Well enough, I'll wager." Margaret sighs and folds the letter. "I should have come with thee. I have sent what letters I ought, but I should not have left thee alone to do this."

[tiltingwithlips]

"I thought I could do this alone."

More fool her

"May I have the letter?" she asks quietly.

[valiantrebel]

Margaret hands the paper back, no longer able to sustain her frustration.

"Oh daughter, thou couldst not have known." She reaches for Kate's shoulder. "The Earl will be coming from Richard's court. He may have some word for us, as the old lord Douglas captured him for ransom himself."

[tiltingwithlips]

But she should have known, it seems to her. She should have--

"I pray so." She shuts her eyes hard, but doesn't flinch away from Margaret's hand. "Mother, I cry thy pardon, that I have not -- I could not--"

[valiantrebel]

Harry used to cry himself in and out of rages when he was a boy, but in truth, it has been a long time since Margaret has comforted anyone through tears.

Maybe there's still time to fend them off. She draws closer and leans in for a hug.

"Thou and he will laugh at this when you are both old," she says. "Nay, long before that, I should think."

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate takes a shaking breath and wraps her arms around Margaret, presses her face into her mother-in-law's warm shoulder.

She'll not give voice to her fears, not yet. But she'll take the support, and gratefully.

And a few tears can be overlooked.

[valiantrebel]

Margaret, somewhat uncertainly at first, pets the back of Kate's head.

"Will we improve thy spirits to speak of future plans now?"

[tiltingwithlips]

Slightly muffled: "Give me but a moment, mother, I beg."

[valiantrebel]

She laughs, once. "Patience for me, then! Yet I'll not leave thee."

She might hug Kate a little tighter, if she's allowed.