"But how…?" his mother queried Henry, truly surprised.

"I know," he said. "We hadn't met since we were children at some great party at Queen's Malvern. I went to court last winter at Charlie's behest, and there was Cecily, a maid-of-honor to the queen because she speaks such perfect French. I fear, Mama, it was love at first sight. I have been to Clearfields several times, and Cecily and her family have been here at Cadby a number of times."

"And you never told me!" Jasmine didn't know if she should be angry or not, but Fortune laughed.

"Why Henry, I should have never taken you for a romantic," she teased her big brother.

"Ohh, Cousin," Cecily said quickly, "he is most romantic!"

They all laughed at the ingenuous remark by the bride-to-be.

"Uncle," Jasmine turned to Padraic Burke, "could you not have said something?'You are still capable of writing, and do not look either infirm or slow of wit to me."

"What was I to say?" Lord Burke demanded. "I could be certain of nothing until this son of yours asked my permission. He was quite concerned because they are cousins, but they are not first cousins, and so I feel the consanguinity is of little import. But tell me, Niece, what your opinion is on this matter?"

"I am content with my son's choice, although actually Cecily and I belong to the same generation, Uncle, for you are my mother's older brother," Jasmine noted.

Cecily Burke laughed, and her eyes twinkled. "Then," she said mischievously, "the children Henry and I have will be his generation, will they not, madame?"

"God's blood!" the marquess of Westleigh said, which caused his family to burst into great laughter.

A party was held to celebrate the betrothal, and to Fortune's surprise Sir Christian Denby was there. Attaching himself to Fortune he remained by her side all evening, although she attempted to dismiss him coolly.

"You should not be unescorted, madame," he told her.

"I am in my brother's house," Fortune replied.

"Your neckline is far too low," he said, but he could scarce take his eyes from her cleavage.

"Does the sight of my breasts disturb you, sir?" she mocked him. "You are free to look away, I assure you."

"How can I when you display your wares so boldly for all to see," he responded. "Are you seeking to take a lover in your husband's absence, madame? I am told your mother once displayed such proclivities."

Fortune gasped, shocked, and not certain for a moment that she had heard Sir Christian correctly, but then he spoke again.

"Was she not Prince Henry's whore, madame?" he said.

Fortune slapped her companion as hard as she might, but aware of the place, she then turned and walked away. Immediately Henry Lindley was at his sister's side.

"What has happened?" he demanded.

"Why did you invite that man to your house?" Fortune asked.

"He is the cousin of one of my neighbors, and new to the vicinity. He is wife hunting, and my neighbor thought such a gathering at Cadby would be an ideal place for Sir Christian to observe the local belles. What is the matter, Fortune? Why did you slap the man?"

"Because he has insulted me, and he has insulted Mama as well, Henry." Then she went on to tell her brother what Sir Christian Denby had said to her. "He is a Puritan, Henry. I should not have him in the house, but you must not spoil Cecily's night by causing a scene and escorting the blackguard from your house. Just keep him away from me!"

Back at Queen's Malvern Sir Christian Denby paid them another call, pushing past the servants into the hall where Jasmine and Fortune sat. "I have come to tender my apologies to you both," he declared.

Fortune stood up. "Get out!" she said angrily. "How dare you invade our home without invitation? You are not welcome here, sir!"

"It is only my concern for you, a woman alone, madame, that causes me to behave so," he said.

"I am hardly alone, sir. My mother and my sister are with me. I have a daughter. The house is full of servants who have known me all my life, and my stepfather will be shortly coming down from Scotland to spend the months until I leave with us. 1 am not alone!"

"I must speak with you alone, Lady Lindley. I fear for your child. You must not raise her Catholic lest you condemn her sinful soul without hope of salvation, and into an eternal hellfire," Sir Christian Denby said earnestly.

"If you believe that, sir, then I feel very sorry for you," Fortune said angrily. "What sort of God do you worship? My daughter is innocent of any sin, as are all bairns. Get out! Do not come back!"

"Adali," Jasmine said quietly. "Escort the gentleman from the house, and see he is not allowed entry ever again."

"Yes, my princess," Adali replied, coming abreast of the unwelcome guest and conducting him swiftly from the hall.

"My God!" Fortune said despairingly. "What makes people think like that, Mama? Why is there such hate in the world for another faith, another clan? I will never understand such 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."