"Everything is clean, even the windows," India noted. "Papa must have been planning this since I returned to Glenkirk." She turned and slowly descended into the main room of the lodge. "Even here, everything is dusted and swept. But it really is small. When I think of my palace in El Sinut… why, my personal apartments were larger than this by far, weren't they, Meggie?"

"Your day room was bigger than this," Meggie said frankly. "This is nae more than a wee mousie's hold, my lady, but more folk hae lived in smaller places, I can tell you. We'll manage."

Diarmid had brought the wood, and there was already a fire started in the large fireplace. "I'll begin a fire in the bedchamber, my lady," he told India.

"Put enough wood in there for the night," she told him. "I don't want to be frozen in the morning."

The carters from Glenkirk unloaded the provisions, and, directed by Meggie, brought them into the lodge where the serving woman put them away. There was flour for baking, salt, and spices. Bundles of herbs were hung from the kitchen's rafters. Several barrels of wine, ale, and apples were stored in the larder along with a large wheel of cheese and two whole hams. Two milk cows had climbed the ben tied to the back of the cart. They were now led into their barn. A coop holding half a dozen chickens and a rooster were uncrated in the yard. A haunch of beef and one of venison were hung in the larder next to the ham. There was even a block of sugar, and a small barrel filled with honeycombs. There was a large fat tomcat to keep the rodent population down, a small collie, and a deer hound for company, protection, and hunting.

"Last chance to go back to Glenkirk," India said to Fortune as the carts began their return journey. It was past the noon hour, and the sun would set in another two hours.

"I'm starving," Fortune said, ignoring the invitation. "What's for dinner?"

"I'll see what's in the basket," Meggie said. "Cook was kind enough to send something along so we would nae hae to fuss today." She bustled into the kitchen.

"What a treasure," Fortune noted to her sister. "You were fortunate to find each other. She isn't any older than we are, is she? What luck she didn't decide to return to Ayr, India."

"I don't think she would have left my service," India replied, "but when Papa inquired discreetly for her, we found her mother had died suddenly, even before Meggie was captured, and her father killed. Her betrothed, of course, had done exactly as she had anticipated, and wed with his second choice, Meggie's rival. There was nothing for her to go back to, Fortune."

Supper was a roasted capon, a rabbit pie reheated in the brick fireplace oven, bread, cheese, and apples. India insisted that Diarmid eat with them at the trestle, dragging two more little chairs from the common room so they might all sit.

"You must go back down to Glenkirk tomorrow," she told him, "and tell Papa we need carrots, onions, and leeks. We cannot live the winter on just meat, bread, and cheese."

"Aye, m'lady, but I dinna know why not. 'Tis good food," the clansman said. "Still, the duke hae told me to humor ye, and so I'll go for ye. As long as the weather is good, I can fetch up whatever takes yer fancy. Will there be anything else while I'm about it?"

"Pears. They'll keep in the cold," India said.

"And conserves," Fortune added. "And perhaps some jam. I like jam on my bread."

"Check in the kitchen, Meggie," India told her servant, "and see if there is anything else you'll need."

The clansman nodded, and, having finished his meal, took his leave of the women, saying, "I'll leave the collie wi ye. Bar the doors both front and back, m'lady. I'll be sleeping in the stable loft. There's a wee room there."

"Will you be warm enough?" India fretted.

"Aye, the room is tight, and I hae the dog for warmth," he told her with a small smile. Then he was gone out the door, which Meggie shut, and firmly barred.

The three young women slept in the upstairs bedchamber, India and Fortune sharing the big bed, Meggie on the trundle pulled from beneath the bed. The collie lay down at the head of the stairs, as if guarding them until sleep finally claimed her, too.

The following day dawned clear. After a meal of oat cakes and ale, Diarmid More-Leslie went down the ben to Glenkirk to fetch the required items. Meggie began to put her kitchen in order while India and Fortune explored the nooks and crannies of the lodge, discovering an old oak tub in a kitchen recess, and some woman's clothing in a small trunk in the upstairs hall.

"Do you think they were Mama's?" India wondered aloud.

"Nay," Fortune said, admiring the doeskin jerkin with the silver-and-horn buttons she had just pulled out. "Mama wasn't as long-waisted, and the style is old-fashioned. Besides, Mama never wore such a garment in her entire life. She is far more elegant." Fortune tried on the jerkin. "I think it may have belonged to Papa's mother. They say she hid herself up here to avoid marrying her first husband. I think I'll keep it. I like hunting clothes."

"It suits you," India said, smiling at her younger sister. Then she caught her breath suddenly.

"What is it?" Fortune said, seeing a strange look come over her sister's beautiful face.

"He moved!" India half whispered. "The baby moved within me, Fortune!" Then she burst into tears as she sat down upon the top step of the staircase. "Damn! Damn! Damn!" she swore softly. "My bairn is alive within me, and his father will never know him. It isn't fair, Fortune! It just isn't fair!"

"You have hardly spoken of him since you came home," Fortune said, sitting down next to her older sister and putting an arm about her. "Did you love him very much, India? What was he like? Was he handsome?"

India sniffled, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "Aye, he was handsome. He was tall, and had hair like a raven's wing, and the bluest eyes you have ever seen. His nose was straight, and his jaw firm, and his mouth…" She paused a moment, then continued. "His mouth was the most deliciously kissable mouth in all the world."

"What's it like being kissed?" Fortune asked.

"Wonderful," India replied. "I cannot explain it. Someday you will kiss the man you love, and you will understand, Fortune."

"I suppose so," Fortune replied matter-of-factly.


***

Their days took on a comfortable cadence. By virtue of their social status, India and Fortune had never really done a great deal for themselves. Now, however, they arose each morning, and, after dressing, Fortune went down to the barn to gather eggs from their hens and drive the cows into the small pasture on sunny days. Until it snowed, the cows could forage, but once the winter set in, they would be confined to the barn. It became India's task to set the table for meals and gather up the clothing that would need laundering, but neither of the other two girls wanted India overtaxed for the sake of her child.

Some days Fortune rode off into the forest with Diarmid to hunt for small game. India and Meggie walked in the forest and high meadows most early afternoons. And Meggie cooked and cleaned and did the laundry. The sisters, however, kept the bedchamber neat and dusted. Each morning they shook out their featherbed as Meggie taught them, and then drew the bed clothes back over it smoothly and neatly. Neither had ever done such simple tasks, but it helped to fill the lonely hours. Fortune had requested her lute be sent up from Glenkirk, and on many evenings she played for them, and they sang the old songs of unrequited love, great battles, heroes, and kings. Diarmid had his pipes, and was easily encouraged to play.

Like his brother, Red Hugh, he was a big man of few words, but practical and kindly. His hair was a nut brown, and his eyes an amber hue. He wore a short beard with his hair drawn back, secured by a leather thong. He was popular with the ladies, the sisters knew, but he had never married. The winter would be lonelier for him than for his three female charges, who at least had each other. While deferential to the duke's two daughters, Diarmid had struck up a budding friendship with Meggie. Up before the first light each dawn, he had the fireplaces blazing and water brought into the kitchen even before Meggie came down to put the bread dough that had been rising all night in the oven to bake. While he spoke little to India and Fortune, Meggie could get him talking, and even bring a rosy flush to the big man's cheeks.

"You've made a conquest," India teased her maid servant.

"Hummph," Meggie replied, but she smiled.


***

Just before Christmas it snowed. They awoke to find the white flakes swirling about the lodge. Diarmid found a Yule log for them in the nearby forest, and dragged it into the little house on Christmas Eve, setting it in the fireplace where it burned merrily for almost two days. They took turns telling the Christmas story, and sang Yule songs. They lit a fire outside on the cliff top on Twelfth Night, and watched as the other fires sprang up for as far as the eye could see, vying to identify the Glenkirk fire first.

Now the winter set in hard. India insisted that Diarmid sleep before the common room fire at night rather than in his stabletop loft. It was just too cold. Even the cows, horses, and poultry were brought into a small shed attached to the lodge on the kitchen side. It was warmer for them there than the stables. The lodge took on an earthy smell, but it did not bother either India or Fortune. Survival was more important.