Even Calum had said as much.
Leila knew she should be patient, but it was not her inclination.She liked to see matters set to rights, instead of letting them fester.
It seemed she would learn a new skill in this match.
She thought of telling Fergus that she felt dread at his scheme to visit Isobel and her husband, but feared he might interpret that as jealousy.
It was not her place to say more than she already had.Fergus had been good to her, better than he had reason to be, and Leila was not one to ignore her good fortune.
Much less to place it in peril.
She said nothing and returned to the bed, glad to step onto the rugs from the cold floor.She drew the curtains around the bed on three sides, then stirred the coals in the brazier before climbing on to the mattress.
“Let me come with you,” she said when it seemed Fergus took overlong with his preparations.“I would like to see more of Scotland.”
“I expect you would like to see Isobel,” he replied lightly.
“You cannot blame me for being curious.”Leila was not going to tell him that she was more curious about his reaction to the sight of Isobel than any detail about his former betrothed.“Stewart might take more kindly to your visit if you brought your wife.”
“I understand and appreciate that, but you have only just arrived at Killairic.”He cast her a bright glance.“Perhaps your caution is deserved and I should have someone I trust remain here,” he whispered and looked at the door of the treasury before meeting her gaze again.
Leila nodded understanding, pleased that he trusted her with this responsibility, and dared to make her suggestion.“Then take Hamish with you.”When he would have argued, she raised her hand.“I will manage with gestures for a day, and you should not ride alone until the shadow you discern has vanished.”She smiled at him and shook a warning finger, hoping to convince him.“If you disregard the warnings of your angel, he or she may cease to keep you safe.They are willful in that way, to my understanding.”
“Fair enough,” Fergus said and sat down to hone his blade.“Perhaps Enguerrand might be of assistance to you tomorrow.”
Leila nodded agreement.“Perhaps he might.His Gaelic seems to be quite good, and Yvan can remain in the hall with your father, watching the stairs.”
Fergus was clearly pleased.“An excellent notion, Leila.I thank you for it.”He fell silent then, focusing on his task, and Leila would not pester him when he wished to think.
Even if he thought of beautiful Isobel.
She felt Fergus draw away from her, as surely as if he had left the solar.It was as if an invisible wall was being built between them, brick by brick.Would she lose him completely on the morrow?What if Isobel confessed that she wanted him still?
Leila wondered if he would return to her and Killairic, or if there would be some other reason—found by Isobel or by Fergus—for her new husband to linger at Dunnisbrae.
She was not one to sit by and wait for results.She preferred to shape events herself, and this situation reminded her of a story.
It might just be the perfect one.
Leila cleared her throat.“If you do not intend to sleep, perhaps I might tell you a tale.”
Fergus spared her a glance.“I thought your expertise was with horses.”
“But I like stories.My uncle liked to tell stories as he worked, at least when he was occupied with quieter tasks like those you attend on this night.”
A spark of curiosity lit in Fergus’ eyes.“What kind of stories did he tell?”
Leila smiled.“Stories like this one.”She sat up in the bed and hugged her knees to her chest, closing her eyes and hearing her uncle’s deep voice.She could see the dustmotes dancing in the sun in his smithy, smell the horses and hear them rustling in their feed.“Once upon a time, there were two brothers who were the sons of a king.They were both virtuous and handsome.When the father died, the older brother, Shahriar, became King of Persia in his father’s place.The younger brother, Shahzenan, became the King of Samarkand, one of his father’s other possessions.They parted with much affection when Shahzenan departed to take custody of his kingdom.Both brothers subsequently fell in love and married, each then having a beautiful and beloved queen.”
Fergus smiled but did not comment.
“After ten years had passed, both kingdoms were prosperous and at peace, and Shahriar wished to see his brother again.He sent his vizier to Samarkand to invite his brother to come home for a visit.Shahzenan was delighted by the arrival of his brother’s vizier and by the invitation.After greeting the vizier in his camp and sharing a meal, as well as news of Persia, Shahzenan agreed to accompany the vizier to Persia.Though he had planned to remain in the camp for the night, the prospect of his departure made him yearn for the queen’s company.He wanted to share as many moments as possible with her before his departure and so he returned to the palace, late that night, and went directly to her apartment.Although he thought to surprise her, Shahzenan was the one surprised: he found a male slave making love to his own wife.”
Fergus turned to look at her, but Leila continued, as if unaware that there were similarities between her tale and his situation with Isobel.“Shahzenan was outraged!”she said.
“I can imagine,” Fergus noted.
“Shahzenan had not even left for Persia and his wife betrayed his trust at the first opportunity.He was so angry at her faithlessness that he drew his blade and killed both wife and slave where they lay in her bed.Bitter and angry, he left the palace and stayed in the camp until the party rode out for Persia.He felt, in fact, so betrayed that he confided in no one.Shahzenan was filled with grief when he reached Persia, although the preparations his brother had made for his arrival lightened his heart.An entire wing had been added to Shahriar’s palace, just for him, with a view over his brother’s private pleasure garden.It was so beautiful and his brother’s warm greeting almost dismissed his disappointment in his wife.Shahriar knew his brother well and saw that something was wrong.He asked for the tale, but Shahzenan was aware of his brother’s happiness in marriage.He declined to share such a tale in his palace.”
