The next morning after washing up and dressing Aisling placed the glamour spell. Looking at each other making sure all was in place they head downstairs for breakfast. The breakfast was not what they were expecting after the night before. It was a bacon, eggs, white and black pudding along with potato pancakes. Astila looks at the meal it"s very greasy and not knowing what white or black pudding is he doesn"t eat to eat. Aisling giggles looking at his face. She called the waitress over."The white pudding is it pork sausage or liver?" Winking at Astila wondering what he is thinking.
"We made it with pork sausage this morning. The cook wants to make the liver with onions and mushrooms tonight for dinner. "
Aisling then looks at the black pudding.
"Is the black pudding the same it pork sausage as well?" The waitress nods affirmatively.
"Thank you May we get an extra plate? My husband, I"d not a big fan of certain foods and I would not want to waste it. Since it won"t be touched maybe the boy would like to have it instead, when I"m finished making the plate?" The girl goes to get another plate. Aisling explains what each pudding is.
"White pudding is oats sausage and sometimes potatoes mixed together and fried. It"s a way to fill you up and cut the cost of food. It feeds more people this way. The black pudding is the same except there is a good helping of blood in it for extra iron. " pointing to the cake she explains." these are potato pancakes they have minced onions, mashed potatoes, eggs, and flour. They are then fried till crisp. " now that he knows what he is eating. He doesn"t seem as disgusted by it. Astila decides to eat bacon, b.u.t.tered bread, and eggs. He watches Aisling make a plate for the boy from the night before. Waving him over she asks him
"I hope you do not mind, but my husband is a picky eater. He does not eat the pudding would you like it? No one has touched it I promise." The boy grins showing off his rotting teach.
"Oh no, ma"am I am ok with that I usually get the sc.r.a.ps anyway. Thank you both " he takes the plate and happily goes to the table in a corner where he can see if he is needed. He gulps down the food quickly as if he hadn"t eaten in days. Astila notices the waitress is smiling warmly at Aisling. When they finish the meal they go to pay she waves them away.
"It"s included in the room. Thank you for feeding him. He doesn"t get to eat that often, his mum pa.s.sed a few months back. She used to work here so we give him what is left. Sometimes there isn"t enough left for him. " Aisling hands her an extra shilling for a tip. The girl is not used to people handing her money for just doing her job. Aisling takes her hand stopping her from giving it back.
"It"s ok to keep it, where we come from if we like the service someone gives we give a little extra." With that being said they wave bye and head to the park.
Astila shows a driver the address and off they go. He watches Aisling taking In the sights of the town. She looks like a child hanging her head out of the carriage to see everything. It"s not long and they are at the park taking her hand to help her out they look at the beauty that surrounds them. The stone wall entrance towers overhead. Trees line the park walkway. This looks like the same place that Aisling saw when she was scrying. The perfect walled flower beds she notices they have moonflowers and roses. There are kitchen herbs in one of the beds. They are strolling around when she hears her name being called. Turning to see who is calling her. There is Lord Hawk with Ester. Ester looks somewhat peaked today as if she is not well. Aisling looks at Astila she notices that he is watching her closely.
"Miss, are you not well this morning you look quite pale?" He asks her hoping to get a clue as to what may be ailing her. She looks embarra.s.sed but answers him anyway.
"I have a little stomach upset this morning. I hope you don"t mind if I sit on a bench for a few moments?" She excuses herself and walks beside the rose garden to sit in the warm sun. Aisling excuses herself from the gentle to sit with her.
"You know my husband is a Doctor. He could check you out if you like?" Aisling takes her hand her fingers are ice cold.
" I will be fine if I sit a few moments. Thank you though you are very kind. How long have you been married?" She smiles at Aisling.
"We had our handfasting
Close to four months ago and were married two days ago. We didn"t want to wait the year before marring. How about you two?" Aisling wants to know exactly how she feels about this man.
"We have been courting for almost a year. I know he has had other women. That was before I gave myself to him though. He hasn"t seen anyone else since. We have talked about marriage. His parents are n.o.bles, but so are mine. My parents originally come from England. My father is a Duke he was sent here because he insisted on marrying my mother. She is of the same cla.s.s set as Lord Hawk. My father is a favored cousin of the queen and to have him marry an Irish n.o.ble was not in the plans. So he was sent here for disobeying. " A gentle breeze carries the scent of sage and rosemary when Ester smells it she becomes nauseous. Watching her Astila walks over and takes her pulse. Lord Hawk is taken back by this man who is touching her. He goes to grab his arm away from Ester.
"Stop My Lord, my husband is a Doctor he is only checking her heartbeat. " Aisling rea.s.sures the upset man. It"s strange that he is jealous of anyone touching her. Then why does he marry Ingrid? All of these questions keep crossing Aisling"s mind.
"How long has it been since you had your last menses?"Astila asks her very quietly so that anyone else around cannot hear.
"About two months I think. Why is that important?" She looks up at Lord Hawk with a frightened look.
" you might want to have a family Dr do a more in-depth exam, but I think you may be pregnant. " Astila gets up and shakes the other gentlemen"s hand in congratulations. Lord Hawk is beaming with excitement and happiness. This is far too confusing to them. They remember the anger and shock on his face from the scrying.
"I will make sure she does. Darling are you ready to go eat. If you are with a child we need to keep you well-fed. " the four of them make their way to a small tavern not too far away for lunch.