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concealed by an over-large léine and carefully draped cloak. He had a short, sparse red beard and a pair of small green eyes twinkling from under his sandy-coloured eyebrows. He didn’t appear disconcerted by entering a strange woman’s bedroom, and beamed happily at her before plumping himself down on the most comfortable chair in the room.
    ‘Ah,’ said Fergus apologetically, seating himself on the window seat, ‘Mara, this is my young cousin, Boetius MacClancy. Just walked in the door half an hour ago. He has just passed his final examinations at the MacEgan school in Duniry and is now an ollamh .’ He beamed proudly at his relation and Mara murmured some congratulations, while wondering irritably why Fergus had seen fit to land his cousin on her the very day on which she had given birth.
    Pompous name, Boetius; suits him, she thought, while studying the young man with a professional smile still nailed to her face. He had probably been christened Baothglach, but had Latinized the name to make it more acceptable to English ears.
    ‘Does King Turlough know the happy news yet?’ enquired Fergus.
    ‘No, not yet,’ said Mara briefly.
    ‘You haven’t told your husband!’ Siobhan almost fainted with shock.
    Mara gazed at her irritably. Really, Fergus was a fool, she thought. Why on earth did he think it was a good idea to bring along his stupid wife and his cousin to visit a woman who had given birth only a few hours previously.
    ‘It was very kind of you to visit, Siobhan,’ she said keeping her voice as bland as she could manage. ‘And very nice to meet you, Boetius. Unfortunately my energy is limited so perhaps, Fergus, you and I could have a few minutes alone while we talk of legal matters. Would that be all right, Siobhan?’
    ‘Oh, the death of Malachy. What a terrible thing,’ shrilled Siobhan. ‘Don’t you worry your head about that, Mara. We’ve got just the solution. Boetius here will investigate the murder. He will take over your legal work as well as your teaching duties – after all, he is a qualified ollamh so he is perfectly able to teach. He is young and strong, and he will manage everything beautifully. I’ll have a word with your housekeeper about a room for him so that he won’t have to waste time riding between here and Corcomroe. He will keep your lads in good order and take no nonsense from them.’
    ‘I’ll soon sort it out for you. No need to worry about a thing.’ The large young man beamed at her happily. His voice was as pompous as his name, thought Mara, wondering how to get out of this unexpected turn of events.
    ‘We thought that would be the best thing, especially in view of the murder.’ Fergus chimed in. ‘You see, I would not be able to give it my full attention. Like you, there are examinations coming up and I have a case of shipwreck to deal with, and . . .’ He tailed off looking at her anxiously.
    ‘I don’t think that will be possible,’ said Mara hastily. ‘My daughter, her husband and my grandchildren are already here. We will have no spare accommodation, especially as I have invited Nuala to stay here, also, as her uncle Ardal has accompanied the king into battle.’
    ‘Of course, you know your own business best, Mara.’ Siobhan’s voice betrayed a deep doubt on that subject as she continued. ‘But I’m surprised that you, the Brehon, should harbour someone who has been accused of the crime.’ She nodded her head wisely and added, ‘We met Sadhbh, Malachy’s housekeeper, and she told us what occurred. Poor Caireen; what a terrible thing to have happened to her. We’re on our way over to see her, after we leave here. Poor woman! Her husband poisoned and his own daughter accused of the terrible deed.’
    ‘Who accuses Nuala?’ Mara sat up in bed. A rapid surge of blood flooded out and drenched the sheet beneath her. She felt her head become dizzy; suddenly she was hot and soaked with sweat; and then, just as suddenly, icy cold. The three