Read Online Candlemas by Shirley McKay - Free Book Online Page B

and distorted his will at every turn. Gavan Baird appeared, with his crumpled coat and foolish ruffled hair, grinning from the library. ‘Come and sit with me. For there is a book I want to share with you. We need not interrupt the ladies at their work. They will be some while.’
    Hew was consumed with a wild dislike of him. ‘Have you gone quite mad? I want to see my wife!’
    â€˜Now is not the time.’
    Hew pushed Gavan Baird, and his simpering, away, and leapt upon the stair. He had not reached the landing place upon the second floor when Robert Lachlan came, welcome as an ogre rising in a dream, a nightmarish attempt to keep him from his task. Lachlan, unlike Baird, would not be pushed aside, and he was quite prepared to match Hew blow for blow, if ever Hew were fool enough to attempt to fight. Finding his way blocked and further progress barred, Hew assailed him fiercely, ‘Is this friendship, Robert? To deny me the entrance to my own house?’
    â€˜Dinna disport like a bairn. You don’t want to go there, and the women do not want you. She is well provided for, with Meg and Bella too. Whit wad they want with you? Leave it to a lass.’
    â€˜But what can I do, Robert? How can I help?’
    â€˜I recommend strong liquor. It will make the time pass, wondrously. When Bella lay in with wee Billy, the whole thing went by in a flash.’
    â€˜When Billy was born,’ Hew corrected, ‘you were out cold for three days.’
    â€˜What did I say to ye? Done in a flash. And a grand bonny babby is he.’
    His sister Meg appeared, the calmest voice of reason in this frantic world, coming down the stair. ‘Keep your voice low, Hew. You make too much noise.’
    â€˜What has happened, Meg? How does Frances do? Why have you left her?’ he cried.
    â€˜Did I not just tell you to keep down your voice? Frances is quite safe, for now, with Bella Frew. Her labour has begun. It cannot be of help to her to hear you rage and shout.’
    â€˜But Meg, it is too soon.’
    â€˜It is early, yes. But babies do not mark the days off on the calendar. They come when they will come. Trust her with us, Hew. I came out for a moment, to find one of your servants. For I think the time has come, to send a man for Giles.’
    A panic came upon him, gripping at his bowel. Physicians were not called upon, never were they called upon, until there was a real and present threat of death. ‘Why would you do that?’
    â€˜Why, then, should I not? He is my husband, and your dearest friend.’ Meg’s response was bright. But she could not conceal the shadow in her face.
    Bewildered, he whispered, ‘It cannot be now. I have brought candles for her.’
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    Glossary
Caquetoire
a 16 th century ‘gossip chair’
Lubber
an idle lout
Poffle
a croft or small landholding, appearing in place names
Scunner
a cause for disgust
Timmerman
a carpenter

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE HEW CULLAN SERIES
    Hue & Cry
    http://amzn.to/1nSZ9RU
    â€˜A gripping and welcome addition to the growing genre of historical crime fiction’ Waterstone’s Books Quarterly
    â€˜An elaborate, closely plotted tale that combines extensive research with high drama’ The Herald
    1579, St. Andrews. A thirteen-year old boy meets his death on the streets of the university city of St. Andrews and suspicion falls upon one of the regents at the university, Nicholas Colp. Hew Cullan, a young lawyer recently returned home from Paris, uncovers a complex tale of passion and duplicity, of sexual desire and tension within the repressive atmosphere of the Protestant Kirk and the austerity of the academic cloister.
    Fate & Fortune
    http://amzn.to/1KeTxvn
    1581: young St Andrews academic Hew Cullan is unhappy with his life and disillusioned with the law. After his father’s death he is invited by the advocate Richard Cunningham to complete his legal education in Edinburgh as