Besieged

thoughts!'

'Nor I, nor did your grandfather,' Jasmine said quietly. 'I suppose we must pity Sir Christian, who certainly does not live up to his name.'

'He frightens me, Mama. And his harping on Aine's salvation. He spoke of it to me at Cadby before he insulted us. I do not want him anywhere near my child. He is evil!'

Personally Jasmine agreed with her daughter, but she said nothing, instead soothing Fortune as best she could. She advised Adali, however, that her granddaughter was to be watched carefully at all times.

***

James Leslie came down from Scotland just before the twelve days of Christmas began. Henry came from Cadby with Cecily and her parents, for it had been decided that the young couple would wed on December thirty-first in the chapel at Queen's Malvern. The celebration made for a happy time, bringing back to them all the many family gatherings that had once been held at Queen's Malvern in the time of Skye O'Malley and her husband, Adam de Marisco. The family chapel, that had seen several weddings in its day, was warm with winter sunlight. Little Autumn Leslie preceded the bride in her first public duty.

Reaching the altar rail, she suddenly turned about and said in a tiny piping voice, 'Mama, where do I go now?'

A chuckle arose from the assembled guests, and Charles Frederick Stuart, home for Henry's wedding, quickly picked his baby sister up and said softly to her, 'Why into my arms, my lady Autumn, is where you go now.' And when Autumn smiled sweetly at him, Charlie wondered if perhaps he shouldn't start giving thought to finding a wife himself, but as swiftly decided that perhaps he was still too young. After all, Henry was practically twenty-six, and he was only just twenty-two.

The winter set in, and while the days were once again growing longer, the winds were cold, and the snow blew gustily about the house on many a day. Still, by the time Aine Mary Devers celebrated her first birthday there were daffodils in the gardens of Queen's Malvern. In all the time since Captain O'Flaherty had come calling last summer, there had been no word at all from Kieran. Still, Fortune knew her time in England was coming to an end. Then one day they had a visitor.

'I am Johnathan Kira,' he introduced himself. 'I am in charge of the family's business in Liverpool, my lady.' It was Jasmine to whom he spoke. 'I am informed by our people in Ireland, that your daughter's vessel, the Cardiff Rose, was sighted a hundred nautical miles, or perhaps slightly more, off Cape Clear a week ago. I thought I would come to Queen's Malvern to see how I may be of help to Lady Fortune now that she is about to leave for Mary's Land, and also to ask a favor.'

'What is the favor, Master Kira?' Fortune inquired.

'First a question or two, my lady,' came the smiling reply. 'Is it really true that Mary's Land is for all men, no matter their faith? And if that is so, would you allow my second son, Aaron, to travel with your party? If there is a place where he will not be persecuted, then the Kira family is of a mind to set up a branch of its business in the New World. Would a Jew be welcome in Mary's Land?'

'I can only tell you what I know myself,' Fortune said. 'Lord Baltimore himself told us that all people, no matter their religious faith, would be welcome in Mary's Land. If that is so, then surely there is a place for your son, sir. I will be more than happy to offer him passage on the Cardiff Rose when I sail. Your family has done business with my family, and my stepfather's family, for many generations.'

'I thank you, my lady,' Johnathan Kira bowed.

'Ye'll stay wi us the night,' the duke said.

'I am grateful, my lord, for your hospitality,' came the reply. 'However, you must not be offended if I eat only the foodstuffs I have brought with me. Our dietary laws are quite strict, and when I travel I must bring my own food lest I violate them.'

'What will your son do aboard ship then, sir?' Fortune asked him. 'We will be at sea several weeks.'

'He, too, will bring his food with him. When and if he runs out, he will do his best to keep to our code. In extraordinary circumstances it can be forgiven when a man must break the law,' Johnathan Kira explained to Fortune. 'Besides, Aaron is young, and his conscience does not often trouble him over any matter.' He smiled at her.

Adali hurried into the hall, and going to Jasmine he bent and whispered in his mistress's ear. Jasmine grew visibly pale.

'What is it?' the duke asked his wife.

Jasmine looked to her daughter, anguished. 'Rois has been found in the garden where she was with the children. She was unconscious. Brendan was safe in his basket asleep, but Aine is missing.'

'Oh, God!' Fortune cried, jumping up.

'Is Rois conscious yet?' the duke demanded of Adali.

'She is coming around, my lord, but the blow to her head was a hard one. 'Tis fortunate she wasn't killed, I think. We have carried her into the house, and Polly is sitting with her. Brendan yet slumbers.'

'Sir Christian Denby,' Fortune said angrily. 'I shall kill him when I find him, and I will!'

'What?' her mother said. 'What is this you say, Fortune?'

'Aine has been stolen by Sir Christian Denby. I am certain of it! All he has done in the time we have been acquainted with him is fret that my daughter would be raised a Catholic. The man is a fanatic, Mama. You, yourself, recognized that.'

'You canna accuse him wiout proof, lass,' the duke told her.

'What kind of proof would you have me bring before you, Papa? My instinct tells me it is Sir Christian. Who else would take Aine? And why? Are the women of this region so bereft of bairns that they would dare to steal mine? Or perhaps you think it gypsies? There have been none hereabouts. It is that man! Every fiber of my being tells me this is so, Papa. You must mount a party of your men at once and find him, and my child,' Fortune said angrily. 'I will ride with you.'

'Your daughter is most certainly correct,' Johnathan Kira said quietly. 'My lord, if you will allow me to speak. There have been rumors about this man for some time now.'

'Rumors of what sort?' the duke asked.

'Infants, and small children, my lord. Catholic, Anglican, even a Jew or two, all who have disappeared while Sir Christian Denby was in the vicinity. Usually these have been the children of unimportant people who had neither the power, the authority, or the wealth to complain or seek their children out. It is said these children are placed with loyal Puritan families to be raised properly. I believe Lady Fortune's instincts to be absolutely correct in this particular instance. With your, with her permission, I should like to ride over to Oakley to speak with the gentleman in question.'

'What can ye do to help us?' the duke demanded.

'Let us say, my lord, that I may have a small influence with Sir Christian. Time is of the essence, my lord. He will not have yet had time to dispose of your granddaughter. There are no Puritan families in the near vicinity. He will have to take her somewhere else. It is too late in the day for him to begin his travels, my lord. Let me help, if indeed I can.'

Before James Leslie might say another word, Fortune said, 'Go, Master Kira. Go now, and bring my daughter back.'

Johnathan Kira bowed politely to Fortune, and then, turning, hurried from the hall.

James Leslie smiled a cynical smile as he watched the man go. The