Eadulf was not entirely persuaded by her argument.
‘Talking of love and hate, I suppose Marga and Fergus Fanat will get together now?’ he asked. ‘Even after the hearing, Fergus Fanat still pronounces his love for her.’
Fidelma turned back to the window where she had been looking down on the courtyard of the fortress below.
‘He thinks that he loves her,’ she replied. ‘I am not sure that it is good enough for Marga, because at the very moment she needed the great essential quality of love — belief in the beloved’s integrity and support for her against all adversity — he failed her. How can you love someone you think is a liar and a killer? For Marga, to find that the man who claimed he loved her also disbelieved her, even going so far as to denounce her while claiming it was for her own good. . well, how can Marga ever trust that man again?’
‘Do you mean that love must be blind?’
‘I mean that love is not a superficial emotion. Love is knowing someone, their faults as well as the good, and, above all, understanding them. Fergus Fanat did not know Marga. And Marga, if you recall, finally recognised that fact. No relationship can be built on mistrust.’
‘So there is no forgiveness for him?’
‘I would say not,’ confirmed Fidelma, glancing down through the window. ‘In fact, Fergus Fanat has missed his opportunity.’
Eadulf frowned. ‘You sound very positive about that fact.’
‘Come here and look down into the courtyard.’
Eadulf moved across the room to join her.
Below he could see Sister Marga standing, her head thrown back and apparently laughing at something a tall, broad-shouldered warrior with dark hair was saying. Eadulf raised his brows and glanced at Fidelma.
‘Gormán?’
‘Why not?’ She smiled. ‘I understand that the girl is going to stay with Delia for a while before considering where her future lies. I do not doubt that Gorman might convince her that she could have a worthy place at Cashel. Our library stands in need of another good scribe, for the girl writes a fair hand and translates in several languages.’
Eadulf watched the warrior and the young girl turn and, walking close together, move towards the stables. They could hear the girl’s warm laughter answering Gorman’s masculine tones.
It suddenly reminded him of something and he turned back to Fidelma. Before he could say anything there was a sharp knock at the door. Eadulf groaned. In answer to Fidelma’s call, the door opened, and old Brother Conchobhar put his head round it. He smiled brightly as he saw them standing together by the window.
‘The aspects were contrary,’ he said in an apologetic tone. ‘That was why you had the trouble during these last few days. But planets move on. Like time itself. Now all is well. The aspects are very favourable. It is the right time now. I thought that you might like to know.’
Eadulf grinned, glancing towards Fidelma.
‘It was always the right time, Brother Conchobhar,’ he said.