Chapter 53

Fann heard cursing and laughter as he approached the room he and Eleanor shared. Two things that he did not associate with his wife in her current condition. He opened the door slowly, not sure what he would see on the other side. Eleanor was in bed, but not flat as he had expected. She was propped up on a pile of pillows with a glass of wine in one hand and the other stroking a sleeping kitten. Isobel was standing in the middle of the room telling a tale, cursing like an old highland warrior and looking about as steady on her feet as a cow in a dory. Eliana was on the floor beside a chair, laughing and holding her sides.

“Oh! Stop Izzy! Do stop! If you continue making me laugh we will have to remove my corset. I can’t catch my breath!”

Eleanor saw him first and smiled. “Did you know, husband, that aquae vitae is not nearly so hard to swallow if you warm it a wee bit and dissolve lots of honey in it?”

He looked around the room and saw small glasses on every table.

“You’ve been expe