Free Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh

she also found Mary’s warm, sympathetic nature immediately endearing. It was obvious to their new guest how much in love this couple were.
    ‘I am so glad to welcome you here, dear Winifred,’ Mary said, clasping her sister-in-law’s hands between her own. ‘You are to make Traquair your home in dear Will’s absence.’
    And so life settled down for Winifred as she and Cecilia fell into the rhythm of Traquair’s routines and the demands of helping Mary with the household management, which included everything from hiring staff to ordering shopping from Edinburgh.
    ‘Two new moons have come and gone,’ Mary mentioned one day. ‘Hard to credit,’ she added, shaking her head.
    Winifred didn’t need her to say to what she referred, for William strode around her thoughts every moment she wasawake and roamed her dreams as she slept. ‘I try not to think about it,’ she lied, and quickly changed the subject. ‘We must add some mace and cloves to our list, sister. Here, let me write that down.’
    Mary’s expression showed she understood her remark was being deflected. She nodded. ‘And I must not forget to procure my husband’s grey writing paper from Messrs Gordon in Canongate. Upon my word, he’ll be in fair wrath if I forget.’
    Winifred sent Mary a look of dry amusement. ‘Your dear husband couldn’t be angry with you over anything, Mary. He worships the very ground you tread.’
    Mary grinned. ‘Why don’t we travel to Edinburgh and do the shopping ourselves? You could use a diversion.’
    Winifred leaped at the opportunity. ‘Oh, yes, and then we can choose the candles ourselves! You said you didn’t trust the cotton wicks they’ve been sending.’ She bent her head over the list again. ‘I’m adding starch blue. The laundrywomen will need fresh reserves if they are going to work through the linens to put away for winter.’
    They had their trip to Edinburgh, autumn began to surrender and Winifred grew increasingly glad that Will was a reliable correspondent. When his letters came, she sat down with Mary and read parts of them aloud. Anne would giggle at the little stick pictures he drew at the end of the letters, usually of himself and Anne picking apples, riding horses or holding butterflies.
    The latest had greeted them after Winifred had spent the day in the dairy overseeing the making of cheese. It was Mary’s son, Linton, who had been sent with the message.
    ‘Aunt Win, it’s another letter from my Lord Nithsdale,’ he said excitedly.
    Winifred picked up her skirts and ran with her nephew back to the main house.
    Mary and Cecilia soon scuttled in after her. ‘I heard.’
    Winifred tore open the letter, not even pausing to seat herself. She began reading aloud, hungrily devouring the words like a woman famished.
    ‘ My dear hearte …’ And now she did pause, blushing slightly as she skipped over her husband’s endearments and enquiry as to her health and Anne’s.
    ‘ What news of Willie? he asks,’ she said, looking up at her sister-in-law, who smiled benignly. Cecilia nodded encouragement. ‘I must tell him that our son took his first hunt.’
    Winifred continued reading aloud. ‘ Mar’s army is moving south through the winter like a great snowball, gathering up more men as we travel. Behind us Perth is captured, as are all the towns on the north side of the Forth. Our standard flies o’er the kingdom of Fife, Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff and Moray. Even Inverness is proudly Jacobite. Lords Kenmure and Carnwarth and I took Moffat, and now we journey to Dumfries .’
    The three women exchanged a look of nervous relief. Mary smiled encouragingly. ‘He is safe,’ his sister murmured.
    Winifred read on, her shoulders visibly relaxing. ‘ Regrettably our Jacobite army failed to capture Edinburgh Castle, foiled at the last by stupidity, but we stay hopeful that our monarch, King James, will arrive hitherto with much needed men and arms from France. We are assured a dozen