The summer faded away into autumn. Annabella grew large with her bairn. The earl was openly solititous of his plain wife. Their amusement came from the constant battle between Matthew Ferguson and Agnes Baird. Agnes would be seventeen at year’s end, and there was no hiding the fact that Matthew wanted her as his wife. The laird of Rath and his wife would be coming before winter to be with their eldest daughter when she gave birth. Matthew intended to ask the laird’s permission to marry Agnes then. He had, however, said nothing to Agnes; nor would he until he had spoken with Robert Baird.
Finally, in mid-October, a messenger arrived to say the laird and his wife were but a day behind him. Annabella was overjoyed, for she had not seen her parents since their fateful journey to Edinburgh almost two years prior. Agnes was not as pleased.
“I hope they do not want me to return to Rath,” she said.
“Ye’re welcome to remain wi’ us at Duin,” Annabella replied, “but as ye’re soon to be seventeen I suspect our parents are concerned that ye hae no husband. There is no court for ye to visit, and so a husband must be found for ye among the border families near Rath. Ye must be wed, Aggie. The old Church is nae longer an option, so it is wed ye must be. I’m sure Da will have a suggestion as to a husband for ye.”
“I dinna want to leave Duin,” Agnes insisted. “I love it here. I love being wi’ ye.”
“Then if a husband canna be found for ye at Rath, one must be found at Duin,” Annabella said mischievously, looking directly at Matthew Ferguson, who looked away.
Agnes saw her look and sniffed scornfully, but said nothing, to her sister’s surprise.
The Bairds of Rath arrived, to be greeted by both of their daughters. Anne Baird looked upon her eldest daughter’s big belly, exclaiming, “Are ye certain this child is to come in December?”
Annabella laughed. “Sometimes I wish it would come now, for I am as fat as a well-fed shoat, and I can no longer see my feet.”
“I think it is a good thing we have come now,” the lady Anne replied.
Robert Baird, however, after greeting his two daughters, was eager to know whether he and Angus would be hunting grouse anytime soon. He was delighted to learn they would be going out on the morrow. “Not today?” he said, not keeping the disappointment from his voice.
“’Tis past the noon hour,” Angus told his father-in-law, “and the sun will be setting soon, Robert. The grouse will be awaiting us tomorrow.”
The laird’s glance turned to Agnes. He looked her up and down. “Ye’ve grown some since we last saw ye,” he said. “Ye’ll be needing a husband, Agnes.” Then, turning, he followed the rest of his family into the castle’s hall. The entrance to Duin Castle across the worn oak drawbridge had given the laird of Rath pause. He had known that his son-in-law was a wealthy man, but the solid stone walls and the iron portcullis had come as a bit of a surprise. Inside, however, the house proved to be gracious and warm. More important, Annabella was obviously very happy.
There was a fine hot meal to greet the guests: rabbit stew, venison, a roasted capon, fresh bread, two kinds of cheese, and butter. There was a choice of wine or ale.
And apples baked with cinnamon were served when the rest of the meal had been cleared away. “Ye keep a good table, daughter,” the laird of Rath praised his daughter.
Afterward they gathered about one of the two large fireplaces in the hall to exchange news. Sorcha had delivered a son, and her husband’s family was well pleased. Nothing had been heard from Myrna in the north, although the laird’s sister had written once to say they had arrived, and Myrna seemed to be settling into her new home. The lady Anne expressed her disappointment at not having heard from her second daughter.
“Be glad, Mama,” Annabella said. “If she were unhappy the whole of Scotland would know it by now. She is obviously content wi’ her lot and wi’ her man.”
“Else she would hae filled our ears wi’ her complaints by now,” Agnes said mischievously. “Her Highlander is probably wondering what he got himself into.”
They all laughed, but Annabella was more sympathetic. “Aggie, dinna say it. Pray our sister and her husband will live a long and happy life wi’ many bairns.”
“Myrna was foolish,” Agnes said without the slightest hint of remorse. “She gave away her most precious possession to that cad Melville. A man who was already deceiving her wi’ another. I will never do such a thing! I will preserve my virtue until my wedding night.”
“But will ye preserve it after yer wedding?” Matthew Ferguson said wickedly.
The laird of Rath shot a quick look at his wife, confused to see her suddenly smile a very knowing smile. What was this all about? he wondered silently.
Agnes Baird gasped with shock at his question. “How dare ye make such inquiry of me?” she demanded of him. “Do ye imply I would behave dishonorably after I am wed?” Her cheeks were pink with her outrage.
“I simply wish to learn whether ye will be a willing and faithful bedmate once we are wed,” Matthew responded calmly.
“Wed?” Agnes practically screeched. “How dare ye even presume to think I should wed ye, Matthew Ferguson?”
“If I can gain yer da’s permission, Aggie, of course ye’ll wed me,” he said, and he looked to the laird. “May I have the honor of yer daughter Agnes’s hand, my lord?” he asked Robert Baird. “I have become quite fond of the lass these two years past that she has been wi’ us at Duin. I am my brother’s steward. He will tell ye that I serve him to his satisfaction. I hae the means to care well for Aggie. We will live here in the castle, where she will hae her sister for good company. Our bairns will hae their cousins for playmates. If this dinna suit yer daughter I will build her a stone house on lands that I own nearby. I have more than enough coin for it.”
“Do ye hae yer brother’s permission to ask for my daughter’s hand?” the laird asked, knowing the answer but preserving the formalities.
“Aye, my lord, I hae Angus’s permission,” Matthew replied.
“I’ll nae wed him!” Agnes shouted, jumping up and stamping her foot.
“Be silent, lassie!” her father roared back. Then he looked to his wife.
