“Are you?”Calum asked with a knowing smile.
“Leila has agreed to pledge a handfast with me.”
Those in the hall turned to listen, then murmured to each other.
Fergus smiled at Leila, who gazed at him as if theirs was a love match.The sight made his heart pound.“We shall pledge to each other this very day, before the feast.”
“That is most excellent news!”Calum declared, then rose to cross the floor to them.He seized Leila’s hands in his and kissed her cheeks, evidence that he already admired her.“I am delighted, Lady Leila, to welcome you to our family.”
“And I am pleased to join it, my lord,” Leila said, bending to kiss his hand.
Calum chuckled with satisfaction, then raised his voice.“Iain!I have more labor for you, but it is a joyous task.Fergus and Leila are to pledge a handfast this very day, and the solar must be made ready for the bride.”
“But Father, you do not need to surrender the solar,” Fergus protested.“You are Laird of Killairic.”
“Of course, I do!I have long thought that I should pass the lairdship to you upon your return, and this day will be the perfect time to do so.”His father lowered his voice.“Let your new wife be lady of her own hall, Fergus.Killairic has been without a woman’s guidance for too long, and I welcome the surrender of my responsibilities.”
“But, sir, I would not oust you from the comfort of your chamber,” Leila protested.
“But you must, Lady Leila,” Calum insisted.“The heir to Killairic should be conceived in the great bed in the solar, if you will forgive my blunt speech, just as Fergus was.”He winked.“Indeed, you cannot begin too soon upon that endeavor.”
Leila blushed and smiled, even as Calum turned to Iain.“Move my belongings into the chamber at the south side of the tower.I have thought often of how the morning sun warms that small chamber more than it can heat the solar.There is space enough for a good bed and several braziers.I have only the two trunks that will need to be moved.”
“Of course, my lord,” Iain said, a thread of dismay in his tone.Fergus guessed the reason immediately.This new task would add to his already-full schedule for the day.
“We will all help,” Fergus said and Iain’s relief was visible.“The boys can move my baggage to the solar, and Duncan and I will help move Father’s trunks.Every man in the hall is already occupied with preparations for the feast, so let the newly arrived take on this task.”
“Indeed, sir,” Iain said.
“In fact, leave the matter to me, Iain,” Fergus continued.“You have much to manage this day, and my bride and I can decide how best to arrange the chamber for her tastes.”
“Thank you, my lord!”Iain declared, glancing at the state of the hall.
“When Hamish is done with the spice inventory, send him to me,” Fergus said.“I will ask the Templars if their squires might share the task.”
“You will need this,” Calum said in an undertone, revealing a pair of keys that hung from a lace around his neck.They had been hidden beneath his chemise, where once they had hung from Calum’s belt.He removed the lace and gave it to Fergus.The larger was the key to the solar, which was seldom locked, and the smaller to the treasury, which was accessed from the solar.“There is an inventory in a ledger just inside the door.Be certain that all is as it should be.”
“Thank you, Father.I will.”Fergus offered his arm to Leila.“And now, let us see to the solar.”
