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.
Before they left Edinburgh they were visited by George Leslie, the Earl of Rothes, who was the head of the Leslie clan. Both Patrick and Adam were pleased by the honor done their minor branch of the family. Cat, however, was not impressed.
'We're richer,' she said. 'He has decided to keep on good terms wi us in case he has to borrow money.'
Though the men were shocked at this lack of respect, Fiona laughed. 'Ye really are a bitch, Cat, but I happen to agree wi you. Besides, George Leslie is of the new kirk, and his family was implicated in the murder of Cardinal Beaton years ago. I dinna trust him.'
They left Edinburgh for Glenkirk in mid-May. The earl, his countess, Adam, and Fiona all rode. Sally, Lucy, and the baby were comfortably settled in a wagon. A troop of Glenkirk soldiers under Conall More-Leslie escorted the party, for the roads were not safe. Many small merchants, hearing they planned to travel by way of Aberdeen, asked leave to travel with them. The larger the group, the safer everyone was.
They reached Glenkirk two weeks later. Fiona chuckled wickedly at the reception awaiting them. Lined up were the dowager countess Margaret Leslie, Cat's parents and brothers, Fiona's parents and brothers, all the Leslies of Glenkirk, and the More-Leslies of Cran-nog.
'Jesu,' swore Cat under her breath. 'They've dragged the whole clan out! The only one missing seems to be our uncle, the abbot.'
'No, he's there. He just stooped to pick up Aunt Meg's glove.' Fiona sounded as if she were going to laugh.
'Christ's toenail!'
'It's nae us, Cat.’Tis his next Earlship of Glenkirk they've come to welcome,' returned Fiona as the mob descended upon them.
She was right. Poor Jamie was snatched from Sally and passed, howling his outrage, among the delighted relations. Cat angrily retrieved her son, soothed him, and quelled the protest from the group. Ellen called, 'I'll take him, my lady.'
'Ye most certainly will not,' snapped Cat. 'Yer far too good a maid, and I have missed ye,' she told the crestfallen woman, who immediately brightened. 'Sally,' called Cat. 'Take yer wet master.'
She endured the welcoming banquet arranged by Patrick's mother before being allowed to escape to her apartments. Her mother cornered her long enough to ask whether all was well between her daughter and the earl. Assured that everything was fine, Heather breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her husband. As evening drew in, Cat yawned hugely. Meg Leslie smothered a laugh.
'I think,' she whispered to her daughter-in-law, 'that it would be perfectly permissible for ye to end this banquet.'
Cat leaned over to Patrick. 'Glenkirk! Must I fall asleep in the jellies before ye'll end the evening?'
'All right, sweetheart, but I'll stay awhile. Let us stand up now, and put the others who also wish to retire out of their misery.'
They stood, giving the signal for those who wanted to leave. Cat politely bid her guests good night and hurried to the nursery. Jamie, his eyes bright, lay on his stomach sucking his tiny fist.
'He's such a good bairn,' said the doting Lucy.
Cat picked up her son and cradled him for a moment. His tiny nose twitched.
'Och,' crowed Sally proudly. 'The smart laddie smells the milk!'
Jamie began to cry. Lucy took the baby from Cat while Sally hurried to help her mistress remove her bodice. Cat sat down. Taking her son again, she gave him her breast. When the child had sated himself and lay drowsily in her
