Page 178 of Moon Craving

to say she did not see him. Along with the intensely curious Earc, he frequently

accompanied her and Guaire on their forays to visit herds-men and other far lying clan

members.

But Niall acted as the silent escort, rarely speaking to Guaire or Abigail, and turning

a fierce frown on them any time they touched in friendship.

Una had gone back to treating her laird's wife less than warmly as well. Abigail

tried to talk to other women about her chilly demeanor, but the housekeeper denied any

negative feelings. Nevertheless, in ways both subtle and overt, Una made it clear she

would prefer Abigail leave the domestic duties to her.

However, Abigail refused to give up her place of domestic leadership in the tower.

She was Talorc's wife and would not allow another woman to make her feel inadequate in

the role. Whatever grudge Una held against her, Abigail was still lady of the keep. Full

stop. Period.

While she had no desire to lord her position over others as her mother did, she was

not about to be walked over either. Thus, she moved delicately into a more solidly

supervisory capacity each day. She made it a point to give personal direction to the

women who helped Una do the cooking and cleaning for Talorc and his elite warriors.

And continuing in her campaign to make the great hall and the rest of the tower

more of a home than a fortress, Abigail instructed Una in further additions and changes

she wanted made.

Chairs now flanked the great fireplace and fresh flowers graced the banquet

tables. A long plaid, about four feet wide, hung down the wall behind the table at which

Talorc, Abigail and her husband's highest-ranking soldiers sat. She was embroidering the

Sinclair coat of arms in black thread on a piece of blue silk she had brought with her from

England, which she planned to sew onto the banner's center.

Una resisted the changes, complaining to others about the fresh flowers and

additional furniture to dust in the great hall. When she thought she could get away with it,

she also countermanded Abigail's orders to the other women.

Abigail was contemplating what to do about that while she worked in the

now-thriving herb garden. Despite the widow's negative attitude, Abigail did not want to