Duncan sat alone at the board, amusement lighting his eyes when he watched Agnes stalk across the hall with her burden.Leila was glad to have the chance to speak to him before his departure and took the seat beside him.Iain brought her a piece of warm bread and some honey, and she accepted his offer of ale and an apple.
“I am glad to see you more settled,” Duncan said and Leila smiled.
“Only for a year and day, Duncan.I am certain that Fergus intends to find me a husband.”
“And I would hope that you intend to keep the one you have.”
She smiled.“I hope to show him that I am a good wife.”
“And if the lad is fool enough to cast aside the gem that has come so easily to his hand, then you must remember my offer.”
Leila smiled and kissed his cheek.“I will, Duncan.Thank you.”
He finished his ale and nodded, his gaze lingering upon her.“The anniversary of my handfast with Radegunde is the sixth of September.I hope to see you before then, either as I journey to collect her from Châmont-sur-Maine or as we return to Scotland together.”
“You must send word,” Leila said.“We could meet at Haynesdale, if it is more convenient.I am certain that Bartholomew would welcome us all.”
“As am I.”Duncan stood and bowed.“Until we meet again, Lady Leila, farewell.”
“Journey safely, Duncan,” she said, rising to take his hands and kiss his cheeks in turn.“Radegunde is relying upon you.”
He smiled and touched the braid of Radegunde’s hair upon his wrist briefly before donning his gloves, bowing once again, and striding away.Leila blinked back a tear, and hoped that their paths would cross again, then she sat down to finish her meal.Murdoch was in the hall and watching her once again, but she ignored the way he saluted her with his cup.
Iain paused before her, bowing low.His French was almost as careful as Calum’s and certainly was more formal.“My lady, I am instructed to show you whatever you would like to see and to put myself at your disposal on this day.”
“Thank you so much, Iain.I should like to see the kitchens and the stores this morning, then the garden this afternoon.I must also visit Margaret in the village after the midday meal and would ask directions to her home.”
The older man nodded approval of this scheme.“We should perhaps choose a location for the dovecote while in the garden,” he suggested.“I have sent word to Dumfries this morning to engage the man who builds such structures.Xavier dispatched a boy to buy fish at the morning market and it seemed a good opportunity.”
“Thank you, Iain.That was an excellent notion.I know a little of the requirements of such birds, but both the weather and sunlight is different here.I remember, for example, that it was key to ensure that they had shade for part of the day, but that might not be the case here where the air is colder.Perhaps we should choose several alternatives and let the builder share his advice.”
“A most excellent plan, my lady.”
“Did my laird husband send word to Haynesdale?”
“He did, my lady.I sent it with the boy and bade him find a messenger in Dumfries.It should be readily done.”
“Thank you, Iain.”Leila set aside her napkin and rose to her feet.She beckoned to Agnes.“I should like to give Agnes the task of sweeping the hall and removing the rushes.The dogs can spend the day in the stables and the hearth can be cleaned as well.”
Iain nodded and gave rapid instructions in Gaelic to Agnes.
“Would you like to meet the cook, my lady?I hope that Xavier is not in foul temper this morning...”Iain continued, taking great pains to warn Leila of the perils of the fiend who commanded the kitchens.She understood immediately that the two older men who had vied for Calum’s approval for years now battled for her own.
The kitchen, to her delight, was immaculately clean.Two boys were scrubbing the wooden tables with great gusto, urged on by the dark-haired man with silver at his temples.He chided them as he chopped onions, casting them with perfect aim into a great cauldron that hung over the fire.
Iain cleared his throat pointedly.
Xavier turned, as if to shake his knife at the intruder, then he evidently saw Leila.
“This is Xavier,” Iain said.
“I am most pleased to make the acquaintance of the master of this domain,” Leila said, remembering that cooks often were proud.“The meal last evening was delicious.”
Xavier smiled and bowed deeply, then erupted a rapid stream of French.“My lady!I am enchanted and honored by your presence in the kitchen, my small domain as you so graciously acknowledge, and would offer my felicitations upon your marriage to Laird Fergus.”He bowed again.“I can only apologize that it was impossible to create your own favorite dishes for your wedding feast last evening as we knew nothing of you in advance...”
“Of course, you could not, Xavier.You had so little warning.I thought the venison was particularly marvelous.”
“Ah!”Xavier’s eyes lit.“But that was due to the return of your lady and his lordship, for I had no cloves before noon yesterday and they are the key to that particular sauce.You answered my dreams, my lady, and so the meal benefitted greatly from your arrival.”
