Rory Maguire smiled and nodded, pleased. The girl was a natural horsewoman. Turning he looked to see the boxes and trunks being unloaded off the ship. "Mary, Mother of God," he muttered beneath his breath. "I've never seen such a muck."

The duke laughed. He had had the same reaction when he first saw all of Fortune's luggage. "I've had the captain send into the town for wagons to transport my daughter's belongings. We dinna have to wait. Do ye hae horses for my wife and for me?"

"Aye, my lord. The lady can ride the black mare. 'Twas a black mare you last rode to Maguire's Ford," he recalled with a quick smile at Jasmine, and she nodded. "And I've a fine stallion for you, my lord. He's just trained. I couldn't bear to geld him, and so I must keep him separate from the breeding stock. We'll probably sell him to someone who needs a new breeder. He'll fetch a fine price as do all our animals. The descendants of Nightwind and Nightsong are very valuable animals. Who's to ride in the coach?"

"Adali and Rohana," Jasmine said.

"So they're still with you, eh? What happened to the other little lass you had, my lady?"

"Toramalli is a married woman now," Jasmine answered him. "She and her husband are at Glenkirk, our home in Scotland, making certain our three sons behave themselves. Patrick is fourteen now, while his younger brothers are thirteen and ten. We thought to bring Adam and Duncan with us, but they preferred having a summer without us."

"Then you expect to return home fairly quickly?" Rory asked.

"Aye," Jasmine replied. "William Devers has been recommended by both my priestly cousin and by the Reverend Mr. Steen. If he and Fortune please each other there will be a wedding before summer's end, Rory. If that happens, the daughter born at Maguire's Ford will make Ireland her home. I hope he will turn out to be Fortune's future, for I should like my daughter to be happy and settled."