“There is nae sich thing as a weed,” Leana replied, smiling at her. “‘Tis just a flower growin’ in the wrang place. There is a use for everythin’, even if it is only tae delight yer eyes.”
“And what is the use of dandelions?” Abi asked.
“We ca’ them ‘pee-the-beds,’” Leana answered. “If ye cannae pass watter ye make a tea oot o’ these an’ soon ye will be peein’ like a fountain!”
Abi threw her head back and laughed heartily. “You are so clever!” she said merrily, clapping her hands. “What else?”
Leana pointed to some stinging nettles. “Ye can make tea fae them an’ a’,” she told Abi. “They are good for the same thing, an’ for yer skin an’ stomach. I drink a cup a day tae keep my hair shiny.”
“I wondered how you did it!” Abi said rapturously. “I am going to do it from now on!”
“I need some mair,” Leana announced. “I will pick some, or my hair will get a’ dull.” She wrapped her thick cloak twice around her hand and picked a bouquet of it, then made a bundle out of it. “There,” she said triumphantly. “Nettle tea an’ shiny hair!
“Here are some blackberries,” she went on, carefully picking the purple fruit from a prickly bush.
“I know those!” Abi laughed. “They are delicious!” She helped herself to some, relishing its sweet but tart taste. “Mmmm…”
Leana smiled. She looked down at the heather all around them. “Ye can make ale oot o’ this, an’ ye can use it for burnin’ in the fire. We used it tae stuff oor mattresses. We use it for medicine. I dinnae knaw whit we wid dae withoot it.”
“How do you know all this?” Abi asked. “You are so clever. Do you keep it in a book?”
“I cannae read or write.” Leana replied simply. Abi looked at her in horror for a few seconds. “Then I must teach you!” she burst out. “Starting today.”
“Naw Abi,” Leana laughed. “Whit wid I dae wi’ sich knowledge?”
“Reading and writing?” Abi threw her hands out as if to encompass the whole world. “Everything! You could write all your remedies down and pass them onto your children. You can write down your methods. You can buy a prayer book and read it in church. You could even find another kind of employment if you wanted to.”
“Abi,” I keep a’ my readin’ an’ writin’ in here,” she tapped the side of her head. “I have nae need for books or paper, but thank ye for thinkin’ o’ me.”
Abi stared at her, frowning for a moment, before taking her arm and walking with her through some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere on Earth.
For once, the sun was shining, and as they turned towards the gray sea they saw that it was, as usual, restless, with frothy waves chasing themselves inshore, looking like the manes of white horses. Down below them were the crests of pine trees and the weathered gray and brown thatch of the tiny fishermen’s houses.
Out at sea a little flotilla of fishing boats was returning with their catch, and they could see shawl-wrapped women waiting at the harbor for their husbands to bring in supper. The fresh wind from the sea blew into their faces and made their eyes water, and they laughed at each other as they wiped away their tears.
The heather was just beginning to die, and its bright cold pink color was changing to a somber brown. Sentinel fir trees stood on either side of them as they walked to the edge of the steep hill from where the road snaked down into the village of Ardbrae. On every side of them were lemon-yellow gorse bushes which would keep their color till the deepest days of midwinter.
Leana sighed, for her eyes were not only watering from the wind, but from love. Every time she looked at the sea, the land around her with its heather and prickly thistles, she felt an upwelling of tenderness for the fierce and spiky, yet tender country of her birth. She loved her Scotland with all her heart.
After a while they began to stroll back to the castle again for their midday meal, and afterwards they went to see Pansy, who seemed to be every bit as enchanted with Leana as Abi was. Leana was not particularly fond of horses but by now she was quite fond of Abi, so she indulged her by petting and fussing over the little mare, who received her attention very graciously.
Despite her earlier reluctance, Leana gave in to Abi’s pleas, and spent the afternoon reading her alphabet, surprised to find that she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
It was almost time for dinner when Leana looked down at her extremely dirty gray work dress and realized that she would have to go home. One of the guards had already left with a message for her father, however, so she could not go with him. Fraser was nowhere to be found, even if she had wanted to go with him—which she did not—as the attraction between them was too strong for comfort.
She went into Abi’s room and told her the problem, but Abi just smiled. “I will get you a clean dress,” she said, looking Leana up and down as if measuring her. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Leana sat on the bed and waited, wishing that she was back at home. This was a strange world to her. She was completely out of her element, and whenever she let her mind rest for a moment it went straight to Fraser. They had seen him several times during the day, but he always seemed too busy to talk to them, and when he did his tone was cold. She jumped as Abi came back in with a deep purple-colored dress draped over her arm.
Abi held the dress up against her and pronounced it perfect. It had a modest round neck, short sleeves, and a long, slightly flaring skirt. It had flowers all the edge of the neck opening and a goldish belt around the waste, which made it look like something a Princess would wear. Leana loved it.
She drew in a deep breath and smiled at Abi. “‘Tis lovely, Abi. Thank ye!” Then she gave her new friend a hug, and she and Abi clung together for a few moments, laughing.
They sat down in the dining room and waited for Fraser, who came in a few minutes later.
He bowed and said politely, “Good evening ladies.” However, his eyes were hard, especially when he looked at Leana. He wasted no conversation on them, but ate quietly and left without finishing his food.
“That is very strange.” Abi frowned. “I have never seen him leaving food before.”
