Everywhere he went that day in the village, praise of his lady was in the air.The smith, Farquar, was uncharacteristically fulsome in his admiration and showed Fergus how the dapple plow horse, Nellie, already improved her gait.Leila had evidently been there before Fergus to check on her charge, as well, a circumstance that impressed Farquar as much as the lady’s knowledge.
He had the keys copied by the silversmith, lingering with that man while a mold was made and the metal poured.He chatted with the silversmith, who had always possessed an excellent memory, and caught up on births, deaths, and gossip in the village.The miller had died after the marriage of his son, and the silversmith hinted that the younger man was overwhelmed with his responsibilities.His wife had borne a son and was with child again, and the silversmith noted the demands of infants.Fergus resolved to send Hamish to assist him, under the guise of learning more about the milling of grain.
He then made a visited to Margaret, only to hear more praise of his wife.Margaret was very happy with the needles and thanked him for his gift.Margaret and her girls were busily sewing and he was pleased to see the cloth he had brought home being so expertly shaped into garments for Leila.They agreed upon the suitability of the colors and how they would flatter his wife, and Margaret reminded him that the old midwife had died in his absence.
“I would wager, my lord, that you might wish to find another before the winter,” Margaret said, keeping her gaze fixed upon her work.Fergus knew she felt she was speaking out of turn.
“Because my lady may conceive?”he asked gently.
Margaret nodded.“She is such a wee thing, my lord, and so kind.I would not see her welfare at risk.”
“Nor would I.”
“I beg your pardon, my lord, for speaking so boldly, but men do not always think of these matters.”
“You are right, Margaret, and your counsel is welcome.Do you have any notion of where a midwife of skill might be found?”
“There are two in Dumfries, my lord, the younger being the daughter and apprentice of the older.She might welcome the opportunity to leave her mother’s tutelage.”
“So long as she knows all she must.”
Margaret scoffed.“At thirty summers, I doubt she will learn much more.She was to wed, my lord, and have a family of her own, but her betrothed died before the nuptials were celebrated.”
“Tell me her name, Margaret, and where she might be found.I will seek her out when next I am in Dumfries.”
“I think that would be wise, my lord.Some folk need time to make such a choice as this.”
From there, Fergus visited the mill and admired the children of the miller’s son.He asked if the younger man might offer some tutelage to Hamish, as a favor, and the offer was gratefully accepted.He collected the finished keys from the silversmith then, feeling that his morning had been well spent.Fergus was returning to the hall for the midday meal, thinking that he should hunt this week to ensure there was sufficient meat, when he saw Leila and Murdoch leaving the chapel together.
They were unexpected companions, to his thinking, but Leila smiled and hurried to his side.He bent to kiss her, knowing that many eyes watched them.“I begin my lessons with the priest,” she said, her words falling in a rush.“Murdoch aids in the translation of more subtle notions.”
“I could assist you in the same way.”
“But you have obligations, Fergus,” Leila said, smiling up at him.“And Murdoch has offered most kindly to do this for me.”
“Are you sure it is not too much of a burden, Murdoch?”Fergus asked the warrior, who he would have named the most unlikely assistant for any studying matters of faith.
Murdoch smiled, his gaze flicking to Leila with admiration.“I would aid my lady to find her footing in this land, sir.It is not a simple task she has undertaken, and I would see her succeed.”
“It is most appreciated,” Fergus said, wondering if he saw too much in this new union.He had no reason to be suspicious of Leila, and little more to doubt Murdoch’s intent.He did not like how openly the warrior admired his wife.
Still, he felt uneasy but could see no elegant way to change the arrangement.Leila was clearly pleased with it and he did not wish to tamper her enthusiasm.Matters would be much simpler if she changed faith, but he knew it was a delicate matter.He was glad she had embarked on the quest of learning more, and that without his prompting, and reasoned that Murdoch’s assistance was a compromise he would tolerate.
Just as Leila would tolerate the duplication of the keys.Fergus had learned from his parents that marriage was challenged by differences of opinion and the trick lay in negotiating a balance between both views.
He would not criticize her scheme.
They reached the hall to find his father still in his chamber.Enguerrand and Yvan were playing chess in one corner while Iain arranged the midday meal.
“I will take the duplicated keys to my father,” Fergus said to Leila, showing her that they were already upon a lace.He surrendered the original to her once more, noting how her fingers closed over them protectively.Her lips tightened, but he smiled at her.“There must be a second set,” he whispered.“And I saw the silversmith destroy the mold.”
She nodded reluctant agreement.
“My father will not surrender them to any other.”
Leila nodded again.“If he is tired from our vigil last night, I could take a meal to him.”
Fergus smiled down at her, appreciating how she cared for his father.“He might prefer that.I will ask him.”He kissed her again.“Thank you, Leila,” he murmured for her ears alone.“We make a good beginning together.”
