17
“They arrive!”Leila cried when she spied the party approaching Killairic.She had remained in the solar that morning, simply to watch the road.“Fergus, they arrive!”she called again from the top of the stairs.She managed to take only three before he was before her, having run up the stairs from the foyer.
“Do not rush on the stairs,” he said sternly, then swept her into his arms to carry her down to the great hall.
“You fuss too much,” she chided him.
“We shall ask Radegunde about that,” he replied, then gave her a quick kiss.Leila had not bled once since arriving at Killairic.Her belly was rounding so that more than Margaret noticed the change—that woman had commented upon the change when fitting Leila’s new red kirtle with its fine embroidery.Leila felt like a queen when she wore it and she felt hale with the child.Calum was delighted by the promise of a baby, but Leila wanted Radegunde’s conclusions before she would be at ease.
There had been much activity at Killairic over the summer.A distant cousin of Isobel’s had returned from Iona with Murdoch and had taken Gavin back to the isles to be raised with his kin.Their family had a number of children and Gavin had been pleased to go with his relation.Gavin had learned a great deal while helping the miller which impressed his relation, too.The harvest was in and it was bountiful.Killairic did indeed seem like a paradise as well as a home.
Bartholomew had sent word that he had a missive from Duncan, and that Gaston and Ysmaine would escort Radegunde the north to rejoin Duncan.They intended to halt at Killairic, and Leila could not wait to see her friend again.
Given the flurry of messages that had been exchanged over the summer, she anticipated that her plan with the pigeons would be well received.She was excited by the prospect of sharing that, as well.
The Templar knights, Enguerrand and Yvan, had returned to Paris, after escorting Karayan back to Châmont-sur-Maine.It was only under protest that Enguerrand agreed to pretend the relic in his custody had been lost, and Leila hoped that Lord Gaston, with his experience of diplomacy, had been more persuasive.Fergus thought that knight would write to the Master of the Temple in Paris to ensure that the two knights did not believe they had failed in their duty.She hoped the party brought tidings of the Grand Master’s plan for the reliquary.
Bartholomew and Anna had arrived at Killairic the day before and they were already in the bailey by the time Leila and Fergus reached it.Lord Gaston shouted from the gates, waving from the back of his destrier, and Fergus cried a welcome in return.Leila wished she were taller and could see better over the crowd of villagers come to greet the arrivals.
Lady Ysmaine followed her husband through the gates on a mount of her own.Radegunde’s brother, Michel, was in the small party, which surprised Leila, then she saw Radegunde and shouted a welcome of her own.She ran and the two met in the middle of the village, each embracing the other with force.
Then Radegunde pulled back, her eyes wide.“You are with child!”she declared then hugged Leila again, but more gently.“Since when?You must tell me all.”
Leila smiled, anticipating the kind of discussion she had missed so much.“Since the end of April, I think.Fergus and I swore a handfast as soon as we arrived.”
“And when does your year and a day conclude?”
Leila smiled.“It matters little, for we were wed in June.”
Radegunde congratulated her, then kissed her cheeks in succession.Leila looked up to find Gaston smiling at the pair of them.
“I did not tell her,” he whispered with a wink.“Though Karayan told me.”
Radegunde gasped in outrage and Lady Ysmaine chuckled.“Gaston!How cruel!”
“How is a welcome surprise unkind?”that man protested.“It is Leila’s news and should be hers to share.”He shook a finger.“If she had sent a missive to Radegunde, that would be another matter.”
“I apologize that I did not,” Leila said, but Radegunde was not distressed.“And how can you speak of surprises, when you have planned one for Duncan?”
Radegunde smiled and blushed, her anticipation of their reunion clear.“How was he when last you saw him?”
“Missing you.”Leila seized her friend’s hand.“Come to the garden with me.I have a surprise for you all.”
“Before they even have a cup of ale?”Bartholomew said.
“It is not that far from Dumfries, which is undoubtedly where they halted for the night,” Fergus noted, his eyes twinkling at Leila.He knew her scheme, of course, for he had helped her in ensuring all was ready.
“Fergus is right in that,” Gaston acknowledged.“And I confess to be curious.”
Once in the garden, they all turned naturally to the dovecote.It was as if they guessed its import, though they still did not know why they were there.“I saw yesterday that you raised birds,” Bartholomew said.“Doves?”
“Pigeons,” Leila corrected, taking one of the adults from the dovecote into her hands.
“Ah!”said Lord Gaston and smiled, evidence that he had guessed.
Lady Ysmaine looked from her husband to Leila, clearly mystified.“Is there a reason why?”
“I will wager that they are homing pigeons,” Lord Gaston said.
