Charles nodded. Sally stuck her head out the door and called. "Mistress wants the ceremony in the parlor by the fireplace."

While Mrs. Kerr and the abbot blustered disapproval, Patrick strode back into the bedroom. Cat stood shakily in her ruby-red velvet dressing gown. Her long, heavy hair was plaited and pinned up. held fast with gold and pearl pins. He did not miss the pain in her eyes. His arms were around her. Neither said a word. Picking Cat up, he walked into the hall and carefully down the stairs to the main parlor. The abbot, Mrs. Kerr, and Sally followed.

Charles Leslie opened his prayer book and began. Patrick and Cat stood before him, Cat holding Glenkirk's hand very tightly. He knew each time she experienced a contraction, for her grip tightened. He marveled at her strength.

The abbot, having noted his niece's pallor, went quickly through the ceremony. "The ring," he hissed at Patrick. Patrick handed him the ruby. Charles Leslie blessed it, returned it to the earl and watched him slip it on Cat's finger. Her eyes widened appreciatively at the heart-shaped stone, and she smiled up at him. He smiled reassuringly at her. After a few more words, Charles Leslie pronounced his niece and nephew husband and wife.

Patrick didn't wait for congratulations. He lifted Cat and carried her quickly back upstairs to the bedroom. Sally ran ahead, opening the door, as Mrs. Kerr followed close behind. The two women helped Cat out of the heavy gown and onto the birthing table. When he was sure she was as comfortably settled as she could be, Patrick drew up a chair and sat by her side.

"My lord, this is no place for a man," remonstrated Mrs. Kerr.

"Unless my wife objects I will remain to see my son bora." He looked at Cat.

She held out her hand to him. "Stay, my lord," she smiled at him. "Ye've already missed so much."

The pains were coming faster and harder. Her entire body was bathed in perspiration. She gritted her teeth and breathed deeply.

"Don't hold back, my lady," said Mrs. Kerr. "You must cry out, or it will go the worse for you."

"I dinna want my son entering the world to the sound of his mother's pain," she insisted.

"Nonsense!" snapped back Mrs. Kerr. "He’ll nae remember it, so busy he'll be with his own howling." Her eyes twinkled. "Why don't you swear-in the Gaelic-for he'll nae understand that."

The abbot of Glenkirk, waiting outside in the hallway, listened in amazement to the stream of colorful Gaelic issuing from his niece's chamber. It was followed some ten minutes later by a triumphant shout from Glenkirk, and the outraged howl of an infant. Unable to restrain himself any longer, Charles Leslie rushed into the bedroom. Mrs. Kerr was tending Cat while Sally wiped the birthing blood from the wailing child.

"I've a son, uncle! A son! The fifth Earl of Glenkirk," shouted Patrick. "James Patrick Charles Adam Leslie!"

"Aye, uncle," spoke up a tired but amused voice. "He has a son. The fourth earl has given birth to the fifth earl. And just fancy, he did it all by himself."

"I couldna hae done it wi'out ye, sweetheart," grinned Patrick.

"No, ye couldn't have," she laughed weakly. "When do I get to see the marvel I hae produced?"

" 'Twill be a minute, dearie," said Mrs. Kerr. "Yer all cleaned up, and-" she slipped a clean, sweetly scented nightgown of soft pale-lavender wool over her lady's head-"ready to be put back into your bed. My lord, would you be so kind as to carry the countess to her bed."

Gently, Patrick lifted Cat and placed her between the warmed sheets. Then he drew the down coverlet over her. Sally placed the sleeping, swaddled infant in Cat's arms. "God's nightshirt! He's so tiny! I've seen bigger Christmas capons." But there was pride in her voice. "He's got your hair, Patrick," she said, noting the damp tuft of black that Sally had brushed into a curl.

Mrs. Kerr took the baby back and handed him to Sally.

"She'll put him in his cradle, and sit wi him until he wakes. Do ye still wish to nurse him, or shall I hire a wet nurse?"

"I'll nurse him myself, Mrs. Kerr. At least for now. I do think, however, that Sally's sister, Lucy, should come and be her assistant in the nursery. Sally cannot watch the child all day and all night."

"Yes, my lady, but now you must get some sleep."

"In a few minutes, Mrs. Kerr. You'll see that his lordship and my uncle are well taken care of at supper?"

"Of course, madam," smiled Mrs. Kerr. "I'll see to it at once." She turned to go.

"Mrs. Kerr?"

"Yes, my lady?"


"Thank ye, Mrs. Kerr. For everything."

The housekeeper bridled with pleasure. " 'Twas an honor, my lady, to deliver the future Glenkirk." She turned to the abbot. "Come, sir. I'll wager all this excitement has raised an appetite in you." Together they left the room.

Patrick came and sat gingerly on the edge of his wife's bed. Taking her hand, he raised it to his lips. "Yer overproud, Cat Leslie, and stubborn beyond belief. But, by God, I love you. I am proud and lucky to hae ye for my wife… and my friend!"

She lifted her leaf-green eyes to him and they twinkled mischievously. "Ye owe me a house in town, Glenkirk, and as soon as I am able, I intend to get it!"

Patrick Leslie's deep laughter sounded throughout the entire house.

Chapter 11

JAMES Patrick Charles Adam Leslie had appeared on the twenty-fourth of February, 1578. Four weeks after his birth, Adam and Fiona Leslie arrived home from France. The earl had sent his messenger with news of his son's birth, and the younger Leslies returned in haste so as to be godparents to the child.

Charles Leslie performed the ceremony without delay. He had been away from his abbey for about two months now. Hiring a swift coastal cutter, he sailed north to Peterhead. He would be able to continue overland easily from there, and looked forward to spending his first night back on dry land enjoying the hospitality of Deer Abbey.

Fiona was amused to find Cat enjoying her maternity. "I didna think ye were the goo-ga type," she chuckled.

Cat grinned back. "Neither did I. It creeps up on ye wi'out yer knowing it. However, I dinna intend to hae another for several years."

"If Glenkirk's the rutting stallion Leslie is, ye'll hae no choice."

"I'll be careful," said Cat meaningfully.

"Why, cousin," remarked Fiona, raising an elegantly plucked eyebrow, "how different ye are from a year ago."

"It's been a rather busy year, Fiona."

And it got busier for Cat. She was looking for a house, for with Adam and Fiona back home, the little Edinburgh dwelling was too crowded. Adam had promised his wife they would travel, but that had changed now.

The second Glenkirk son, James, was married to Ailis Hay, and Ailis Hay's only brother, Francis, had died of a winter flux. Gilbert Hay had no other legitimate sons, and therefore James Leslie had become his father-in-law's heir. James and Ailis were moving to Hay House to learn the management of a small estate.

Michael Leslie would be marrying Isabella Forbes in less than two years, and taking over her estate. It was therefore up to Adam Leslie to learn the management of Glenkirk in the event that Patrick died before his son, James, reached his majority.

"Spend a year at Glenkirk, and ye can hae a year to travel," promised Patrick, seeing Fiona's disappointment.

Cat, meanwhile, had found a house to suit her. Like Leslie House it was on a quiet side street. But her choice was off Canongate, which ran towards the Palace of Holyrood rather than towards High Street. Built of brick, it contained a large and sunny kitchen, a pantry, a washroom, a still room, a storage room, a servant's hall, a comfortable room off the garden for the cook, and several cubicles for the kitchen help. The main floor held a wide reception hall, a bright formal parlor, a library, a dining room, a family dining room, and family parlor. The second floor was made up almost entirely of one great hall. Off it were several private anterooms. On the third floor were six bedrooms, each with its own dressing room, and indoor sanitary facilities. On the fourth floor was the nursery, and on the fifth, the servants' quarters.

The property had a flower garden, kitchen garden, and orchard. It also had a fine large stable. When the earl complained of the size of the house, he was reminded of the size of their families. Glenkirk House would serve for all the Leslies when they visited Edinburgh, and would be useful later on when the little king came into his own, and held court. Cat had hired Mrs. Kerr on a permanent basis to run her new house. She wanted to stay in Edinburgh at least till the end of June so she might attend to the ordering of the furnishings. Glenkirk gave her till mid-May.

"Why can't you and Adam go home alone?" she protested. "Fiona and I will stay in town to finish this business, and then join ye later."

Patrick laughed. "Madame," he said looking down at her, "I hae no intention of letting ye out of my sight ever again. Yer an impossible wench to catch up with, my dear. We'll return to Glenkirk together in mid-May. Ye'll hae to have yer business finished by then. Besides, what difference does it make if the house is finished now, or not?"

"Because, my lord, I hae no intention of spending the entire winter snowed in at Glenkirk. After Christmas, or before if it be possible, we will return to town for the winter."

The earl was amused. So she had plans to come to town each winter? He chuckled to himself. What a handful she was going to be. Best to keep her little belly filled with his children. A full nursery would keep her busy.

During the next few weeks Cat spoke with numerous craftsmen and, approving hundreds of sketches, ordered the furnishings. She arranged with Benjamin Kira that the craftsmen be paid, upon Mrs. Kerr's approval, after delivery had been made. She did not tell Patrick about this. The earl might have forgotten, but Glenkirk House belonged to Cat.