Marriage is Murder

Kate was glad to see them taking care of the plants that were getting a taste of the first frost of the season.

"We need a greenhouse," Kate said. "So we can have herbs all year long."

"My grandfather has a very impressive greenhouse at his compound," Angus said. "When he comes back, I'll ask him to contact who put up his. He is never short of herbs."

It took Edward a few minutes to get back, but he had indeed gone out and checked Angus's garden plots. When he came back, he had a bag on his shoulder. He opened it and handed Angus several shrunken herb plants over flowing with herbs. When he resized them, they were actually huge one pot gardens full of cooking herbs. Then he handed Angus a scroll.

"Plans for a greenhouse, Lad. In England, you'll never keep fresh herbs year round in winters. You still have time to add it and to stock it before the snows," Edward said.

"I'll talk to Brian about it," Angus said.

"What for?" Edward frowned. "He''s been working on making the place self sufficient for quite some time. Oh, give those here. If its worth doing, its worth doing yourself." He took the scroll back. "Fix that sauce." He strode outside like he owned. it.

"Uh...I take it we're getting a greenhouse," Kate said.

"Indeed," Angus said. "Do you think Brian is going to care?"

"I think he's going to be grateful," Kate laughed. "Truly. Its fine."

"I'll check that location but it needs to have the right sun, and I think, I might like to make it more natural looking. Perhaps having it span over the creek so that the water already runs right through the center of it."

"There's a lot of rock around that creek, Edward," Kate said.

"I know," he smiled, having ideas. "I'm going to go check out both location ideas." He excused himself and went outside. Angus didn't say anything. He knew that his grandfather had some ambitious ideas and he had a feeling it was going to be beautiful. He rinsed the fresh herbs and packaged what he didn't need and added the rest to the sauce. The fragrant aroma of crisp basil binding with the flavors of the tomato and the onion and garlic began to float through the house.

"I hate to say it, Angus, but your grandfather was right," Kate said. "That smells like a true smell of Tuscany now."

"He's always right when it comes to that stuff," Angus laughed.

"It is," Edward said, studying the lay of the land. The spot that he was standing in was close to a bit of a rocky outcropping that stood perhaps 10 feel high. "Look there to the Northwest," Edward said. "There's the source of your filtering." The creek was being down from above the rocks by a waterfall. The water flowing through all the layers of rock was causing a ntaural filter. He took a scoop of water and tasted it. "Its sweet. Its a perfect place for it. If we do it right, we could build a greenhouse and a conservatory both that was not only practical but a lush, beautiful warm place that you could escape to for a few hours in a winter afternoon to forget the snow. there is no reason why it couldn't be at least a two story greenhouse to allow for the waterfalls to be incorporated right into it with the creek running through the heart of it. Watering the plants, then, becomes simply a bit of a simple charm to spray the water on the plants. You'll have to warm the water a bit in the winter, but that's not difficult either. It could be incredibly beautiful. And truthfully, I dont' think if it came to surrounding his wife with beauty, I think Brian would spend his last cent if it pleased her. I can't see him objecting."

"When are you going to give that up?" Edward frowned at him. "They seem to all be moving forward with business, and yet you keep bringing it up. If they're willing to let go and move forward, why don't you? It will be far easier for all of you if you leave it alone. And if Jeffrey didn't tell you that, he's an idiot." He started to walk off what he felt were the appropriate corners of the greenhouse and took large sticks, charmed them so they would glow and put them into the ground. Two belown on the level below the rocks and two up on top of the rocky outcropping to mark the upper level. It would be a rather split level affair.

He walked back down to where he had been before. It would surely be a massive and impressive structure if it truly filled between his four stakes. "I think I should next draft out my ideas, my changes to the blueprints I brought, and then show them to Brian."

At the house, Kate looked up when Jim asked about Khaat. "No, I think she'll be back soon with Robert in time for dinner. I don't think its going to feel like home for her. There's too much difference there now for her to feel like she did. I think, if Robert is smart, he'll have allowed her to either be in her rooms to work or in his library. Someplace familiar. She's going to feel like this is home to her now. Not the farm. And that's really as it should be."

Kate smiled. "Sounds like it wil be much too beautiful for just plants. Edward might as well put a couple sleeping bags in there now because thats where we'll find Khaat and Brian. They won't be able to resist."

"Oh sure," Angus said. "Just waht they need to do, sleep in a greenhouse."

"If it incorporates that waterfall, it will remind them so much of those nights outside under the stars with Remus that it is precisely where they'll be," Kate said.

"Well, I suppose if they want to sleep with the basil, thats up to them," he said. He began to set the table. "We'll be eating in about 20 minutes. I have some macaroni and cheese for the kids. Tomato might not rest so well on their stomachs for another day or so. I hope Khaat and Robert get back in time."

"They will be," Kate said. "Robert's timing is usually close to impeccable. They'll be here. Besides, I know he won't take any pain potion while he's working and he wont be able to deal with it much longer than he has."

"What are you talking about?" Angus frowned.

"Brian didn't tell you then. That damned wound is infected. It's a miserable looking thing. Brian and Khaat have been tending it, but the pain almost doesn't respond to traditional pain potion, and he utterly refuses to take the concentrated stuff because it causes such a sleep. He doesn't want to be under those effects. Its important to him to be able to be alert at a moment's notice. So, if it continues into tomorrow, he may soon be one cranky old man."