“On the morrow, more hands could help.”
Leila turned to confront him, her hands on her hips and a glint of resolve in her eyes.“On the night of my nuptials, I will meet my husband in a clean bed, in a clean chamber,” Leila said firmly.“There will be no dirt, no sweat, and no vermin.”
Fergus had to acknowledge that this was only reasonable.
“Also, I think it wiser to have fewer persons in the solar at any time, and that the door should be locked in our absence.”She met his gaze briefly and he knew that she was being protective of the reliquary entrusted to them.
All the same, this was wrong.
Fergus cleared his throat.“I appreciate that this is not the home you know and that you would be cautious, but if you wish to be trusted, Leila, you must trust first.”
She held his gaze, unflinching.“I will trust those who earn my trust.”When he frowned, she dropped her voice to a murmur.“I think it only reasonable to be cautious where such a prize is concerned.Let them blame it upon my being from afar.It will be safer that way.”
Fergus respected Leila’s thinking, though he knew there was only one key to the treasury and doubted the lock would be readily compromised.He also saw that her thinking would not be changed in this moment.It would take time for her to trust all at Killairic, perhaps after the reliquary had found a haven.
He did not want discord between them on the day they would take their vows, so he changed the subject.
“I did not realize I had purchased so much,” he said, surveying the piles of cloth.
Leila cast him a warm smile as she opened yet another trunk, revealing even more fine cloth.“You are a generous lover, to be sure.”
“Is that a criticism?”
“Of course not!It is a good trait to be generous.I simply wish the lady had returned your esteem.”
Fergus leaned against the wall, wanting to watch her expression.She seemed to very mysterious to him in this moment, and he wanted to know her thoughts.“But then we should not be making a handfast this day.”
Leila’s dark gaze flicked to his.“We would not.”
“Would you regret that?”
She put down the cloth she held, granting him her complete attention.“Of course.I told you just days ago that you are the kind of man I should like to wed.That was not a lie and it has not changed.I also appreciate that your offer ensures my security in this land.”
“I would ensure that we have time for you to find a lasting match, to meet a man you can love fully,” Fergus said.
Leila’s gaze flicked away from his.“You are a good man, Fergus.And as a result, I regret that you had such affection for a woman who broke her vow to you and that your generosity appears to have been misplaced.”He watched her brows draw together as she ran an admiring hand over the cloth.
“Then let us put it to good purpose,” he said, liking that his words erased her frown.“First, choose for yourself.Which cloth will you make into a kirtle first?”
“The red, I think,” Leila said, touching a length of crimson wool blended with silk.“It is a joyous color.”She shook her head.“I will need assistance, though.I confess that I have little talent with a needle, and do not even know how to make the kirtles that women wear in this land.”She winced.“My uncle thought it a failure that I did not try harder to sew.”
“My mother despised sewing as well,” Fergus confessed.“She was much happier riding to hunt.”
“Truly?”Leila’s eyes lit.
“Truly.”
“I should have liked to have met her.”
There was naught that could be said to that.“We will ask Margaret in the village to sew for you.I do not doubt that she still has the most skillful needle hereabouts and my mother was always complimentary about her talent.”Fergus nodded at the array of fabric.“Choose a second.The lady of Killairic must have at least two garments of her own.”Leila touched the kirtle she was wearing, and he shook his head before she could speak.“In addition to the one given to you by Radegunde,” he said firmly.“It is a good serviceable garment, but not the attire of a lady.”
Leila smiled and stepped back.“Then you choose.”
Fergus selected two lengths of fine cotton for chemises and another length of wool in deep gold.He picked sheer fabrics to match for veils and added them to the pile.A golden circlet would replace the plain pewter one that Leila had worn since Haynesdale, and two finely crafted leather belts with detailed tooling would suit her as well.He added the stockings, a velvet purse, a heavy black wool for a cloak.“We shall find some fur to line it,” he said, then frowned at the shoes and slippers.“They will all be too large for you.Let us ask Margaret what can be done.”
“You are a generous lover,” Leila said.
“It isallyours, if you desire it.”
