Recap: It has been a several eventful days for Katherine. First she and Ben were called in to help a servant girl deliver a baby that had been conceived at birthday party for Connor MacLeod that had been attended by all the CLims. When she refused to have anything to do with the baby, the Chancellor held a hearing the next day to determine what to do with both the mother and child. The infant was given up for adoption and Katherine took her into both her heart and home. The twelve CLims who were determined to be the possible father of the baby were each given equal responsibility in helping Katherine with the baby. After the trial, Katherine retired to her rooms in the castle where Jathelle gave Katherine a very special gift - she is now able to breast feed the infant herself, which is a good thing considering the little girl had been allergic to all the formulas they had tried. As the afternoon turned to evening, there was a steady stream of visitors, including all twelve *uncles* to see Katherine's new addition to her family.
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After Carol, Mullard and Monroe left; the rest of the *uncles* were admitted two by two to see the baby. Lou and Sal were next; followed by Jeremy and Jeremie. All four CLims left the room with thoughtful looks on their faces. The baby was so beautiful she would melt the heart of anyone. John Brennick and Fred went in next, and when they came out of the room, there were tears of joy running unnoticed down Brennick's cheeks as he considered the possibility the little one could actually be his. The last two were Paul Racine and Hudson Santeek. By that time the little girl was awake again and they both got a chance to hold her briefly before she started to fuss and complain that her tummy was empty again.
As soon as the two CLim's left, Katherine unbuttoned her shirtwaist again and started to nurse her. It was becoming easier with each time, though it looked like she was going to want to be fed every two hours. In the meantime, the ever-thoughtful John Clayton had managed to round up a comfortable rocking chair and brought it in just in time for her to use. Ben was still fascinated with the fact that Jathelle had been able to cause an immortal woman who could never be pregnant to lactate and he was mulling over in his mind some other possibilities.
Katherine was still nursing when there was another knock on the door and Connor forced himself to take his eyes off of the wondrous sight of Katherine nursing the baby to go see who it was. When he opened the door, he snapped to attention and said, "Your Highness!"
Standing outside the door was King Arthur himself with a large beautifully wrapped gift for the baby in his arms. "Greetings, MacLeod. Would you be so kind?" he asked as he pushed the heavy package into the immortal's arms. Connor took it and stood back to let him into the room, shaking his head with amusement. Every time he saw the king, he could not help but compare him to his teacher Ramirez. It still amazed him how similar the two of them were.
"I would like to greet our island's newest resident, MacLeod. May I go in?" he asked. Connor glanced over at the open door where Ben and John were standing and received a slight nod in answer.
"Of course, Your Highness, go right in!" he said. He followed the king in to see Katherine still in the rocking chair nursing the baby but now with a shawl modestly draped over her. That didn't stop Arthur from leaning over and lifting the corner of the shawl to take a good look at the wee one. If he thought it unusual to see the baby taking her nourishment from Katherine's breast, he gave no sign of it.
"She's an absolutely beautiful child, Lady Katherine," he said with a soft smile on his face as his finger lightly touched the baby's cheek. "And I cannot think of two better-suited parents for her than yourself and MacLeod here. I shall have to tell Chancellor Sharon her judgment in this case was impeccable."
Sighing, he lowered the shawl and announced. "I brought you something I do believe you will be needed," he said as he motioned to the burden in Connor's arms. "Would you open it for her, kind sirs?" John and Ben walked over and helped remove the elaborate ribbons and wrapping from around the present. Inside was an intricately hand carved and wooden cradle complete with bedding.
"It's very beautiful, milord," Katherine said with a happy, radiant smile as they laid the cradle at her feet. "It will come in extremely handy! I was beginning to think we would be sleeping with her between us tonight. Thank you!"
"It was my pleasure," he said. "If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to ask. And if it is in my power to give it, it will be done." Then he leaned over and kissed Katherine softly.
"There is one thing the two of you might wish to know," he added. "I am familiar with the child's maternal lineage. Jenny's mother Maggie was a serving girl back in the old Camelot and a visiting Lord from the emerald island shamefully took advantage of the poor lass. We did not cast the girl out or blame her for something that was not her fault, and she and the resulting child of that unfortunate incident have been kept under our protection even to this day. Maggie has a very good and caring heart and came to me right after the judgment. She begged permission of myself and the Chancellor for her to be allowed to come to Lornadoon so that she may serve you and to help care for the child. I will give my blessing on this if milady is agreeable to it."
Katherine looked at Connor and received an almost imperceptible nod in reply. "We would love to have Maggie join our household, milord," she said with a bright smile.