Una was excited. It was a long time since she had entertained any of her women friends and she was looking forward to it. She had ordered in some very special French wine and had the cook bake some fluffy scones with homemade jam, butter, and pints of fresh cream. She loved the prospect of doing the things she had not done in an age, like sitting and sewing clothes, spinning, and doing cross-stitch and tapestry. There was also the very simple pleasure of talking about the things women loved to discuss. As well as her closest friends and family, she had invited a few of the other lairds' wives and she foresaw that her only problem would be to get them all to go home.

Athol was unwilling to stay around and listen to all the 'ladies' chattering' as he so uncharitably put it. He decided to ride over to Blairmore to see his father and mother, even though he had promised to stay with Davina for at least two weeks.

"I think you can manage without me for one day," he said, laughing at Davina's face when he told her of his intentions.

"I suppose so, but who will I have to cuddle today?" Davina asked morosely, her face sullen.

He sighed heavily. "Davina, you are not a baby and I will be back this evening." Then he pulled her close. "I will give you something well worth waiting for when I get back!" His eyes were twinkling.

"What?" she asked, pretending to be ignorant.

"Me," Athol said simply, spreading his hands and giving her a wide, guileless smile.

"You are so-so-" Davina said, frowning as she searched for the word. "Exasperating!"

"I know and that is why you love me." He kissed her. "And you are so very easy to annoy and that is why I love you." He hugged her so hard she feared her ribs might crack, then went out and mounted Jock. "Enjoy your chatter!" He called, waving. A moment later, she saw him cantering past and waved back, laughing. He really was the most irritating man, but how much she loved him!

Una was in her element. In half an hour, all the food was gone and she had to order more from the kitchen. Maura was holding the floor, telling them the completely unbelievable story of how she was almost killed by the Loch Ness Monster. She dragged out this story on every occasion she possibly could.

It was an old story, but she was an excellent raconteur and every time she told it, it was a tiny bit different, so it never became any less funny. The ladies were roaring with laughter by the time Maura got to the part where the monster caught her hand and was quite hysterical as they heard how it almost ate her fingers. They were crying at the end when they heard how she had escaped by catching a fish with her bare hands and tossing it into the monster's mouth.

"Then I scrambled to the bank expecting a giant set of gnashers to come down on my backside and bite me in two!" She put her hand over her heart and waved her hand in front of her face as if to cool it down, feigning shock.

Davina was looking for any sign of the character flaw that Athol had spotted in Maura, but all she could see was a lively woman who was generous, funny, and comfortable in herself. She could only imagine that Athol's judgement was wrong, but it had always been right before. For the first time, a shiver of doubt began to crawl down Davina's spine.

After the ladies had eaten their fill again, they sat down to resume their sewing. It was then that Lorina broke her needle. "Damn!" she said in irritation, reaching for the little glass jar. She pulled out one of the needles, threaded it, and went back to work.

Una looked at the glass vessel appreciatively. "That's pretty." She smiled then she turned it around and noticed the gray stain inside.

"Oh, that," Lorina said and laughed. "I found it under the table in the breakfast room. I have no idea where it came from. I cannot use it for perfume, because despite my best efforts to clean it, it stinks of garlic!"

"What is that stain?" Una asked, puzzled.

"I have no idea," Lorina replied, shrugging.

Una passed it to Davina, who passed it around to everyone else. It was a curiosity, nothing more, but it was enough to send Maura's heart racing in panic. She tried desperately to think what to do. She hoped to God that no-one knew that arsenic smelled just like garlic. She took the bottle from Mary, admired it, then passed it on to one of the others. For a fleeting moment, she had thought of dropping it, but the stone floor was covered in thick rugs, and the little bottle would have rolled on it harmlessly.

Maura hoped that her face was not showing her feelings. Her heartbeat had still not slowed down. Consequently, her face was flushed, her body was tense, and she was unnaturally quiet. She looked up, met Una's eyes and smiled, feeling as though her thoughts had been laid bare for everyone to see.

Davina, suddenly watchful, saw what Athol had seen. There was something about Maura's demeanor that was suspicious, and there was definitely a major problem with the bottle. She saw Maura's eyes flickering back and forth, watching it, till Lorina put it back in her pocket again. Only then did she relax and breathe an audible sigh of relief, but she remained subdued. She did not see Davina pull Lorina aside as she left.

"Mother," she said, "may I see that bottle again? I want to check something.

"Of course," Lorina replied, looking mystified as she handed Davina the little glass bottle. "Why?"

"You must keep this to yourself, but I have heard that arsenic smells of garlic." Davina's voice was low and heavy. "I want to see what Elisaid says."

"Oh, my God!" Lorina's eyes widened in shock. "You mean this could have been what killed your father?"

"I think so, but not a word to anyone, and especially not my mother." Davina's voice and face were grim. "I may be completely wrong."

Lorina nodded. "I will be quiet until you tell me otherwise." She shook her head in disbelief. "This has been such a shock."

"Wait for my message," Davina ordered, then she sighed heavily. "At least now we will know one way or the other."

"Aye," Lorina replied and hugged her. "Take care now, Davina. I need you to look after my boy."

"Now that," Davina exclaimed, "is not a duty but a pleasure!"

Lorina left, and Davina looked at the little vessel again. It was time to find out the truth. No-one else seemed to have noticed anything amiss and when Una saw her guests off, they were happy and smiling, having enjoyed an afternoon of camaraderie and gossip. Una was delighted that the afternoon had been such a success, and her smile as she turned to Davina was heartwarming.

"That was wonderful," she said happily, "I am definitely going to have another ladies' afternoon soon. Maybe we should make it a regular thing."

"Definitely!" Davina agreed, "I have not seen you so happy in an age, Mother. Have you given any thought to that companion? I know Rosa is a good woman, but she is hardly your equal in intelligence and wit." Then she laughed. "Mind you, not many people are!"

"I'm still thinking about it." Una frowned. "Would not such a woman have to give up her marriage prospects?"

"A mature widow?" Davina suggested.

Una mulled this over for a moment. "Perhaps that would work," she said thoughtfully, "we can look for someone who has recommendations from our friends."

Davina nodded, smiling and kissed her mother. "I have work to do, Mother. Excuse me, I will see you at dinner."

"I do not think I will be needing any of that," Una said dryly, "I feel as though I will never eat again!"

Davina went straight to her bedroom and penned a letter to the wise woman, summoning her to the castle. She sent a groom with the message and told him it was a matter of great urgency. Within an hour, the groom had come back with Elisaid and she was ushered into Davina's parlor.

"Good day, Elisaid. How are you?" Davina smiled and poured the old lady a glass of ale, then took one herself.

"Well, milady, an' yerself?"

"Always well, thank you." Davina smiled at her and took the little bottle out of her pocket. "Elisaid, my mother-in-law found this under the table the other day. Can you shed any light on what it contained?"

Elisaid took the proffered bottle from Davina's hand, looked at it, then took the stopper off and sniffed it. "Aye Milady," her voice was firm and certain, "it had arsenic in it."

Davina gazed at the offending bottle for a long while as if by gazing at it she could make the ugly truth go away. "Do you think that this is what poisoned my father and mother?"

"I am sure it was, milady." Elisaid looked at her with pity in her old eyes. "Whit black-hearted monster wid dae a thing like yon?" She shook her head and sighed heavily.

---

"Thank you, Elisaid. I knew you could help me," Davina was almost in tears.

Elisaid would have put a comforting arm around her but it was not her place to touch a lady. She confined herself to a few words of comfort. "Nae doot they will catch him, milady, an' when they dae I wouldnae like tae be in his shoes!"

Davina smiled at her through eyes full of tears. "No doubt you're right, Elisaid," she sighed, "thank you for your advice." She dropped some coins into the old lady's hand and wiped her eyes.

Greatly daring, Elisaid patted her shoulder and left. She felt extremely sorry for the young woman. She had everything: an estate, a business, wealth, and a handsome, loving husband. Yet despite all that, she was not immune to unhappiness. In some ways, Elisaid preferred her own lot in life. She might be poor, but at least she was content.

Now, there was absolutely no doubt and Davina, although she had known in her heart for a long time, found that knowing for certain was different. She felt frightened and helpless. But there was help. There was Athol, her big, strong, dependable husband. She could not imagine how she had ever done without him.

At that moment Athol was trotting along the cliff path, impatient to get home to his wife. They had been married for such a short time, but it seemed like forever. He wanted to get home and eat a hearty dinner with her, feeding her from his spoon while she pretended to protest that he was feeding her like a child. Then he would sip from her wine glass and kiss her with the taste of it still on his lips. He loved to make her laugh, and she was so easy to tease. He knew that as soon as he got back she would run to him, jump into his arms and smother him with kisses.

Tonight… He felt his body's response as soon as he thought about her surrendering to him in the big feather bed. He was such a fortunate man. He smiled and urged Jock into a canter. He couldn't wait to see her.