Outlander Kitchen

Fergus’s Chestnut Tarts from Dragonfly in Amber

“What on earth is that?”  I peered over his shoulder, and gasped when I saw the signature at the foot of the letter.  James Stuart, by the grace of God King of England and Scotland.

“Bloody Christ!  It worked, then!”  Swinging around, I spotted Fergus, crouched on a stool in front of the fire, industriously stuffing pastries into his face.  “Good lad,” I said, smiling at him.  He grinned back at me, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk’s with chestnut tart.

“We got it from the papal messenger,” Jamie explained, coming to the surface long enough to realize I was there.  “Fergus took it from the bag while he was eating supper in a tavern.  He’ll spend the night there, so we’ll have to put this back before morning.  No difficulties there, Fergus?”

The boy swallowed and shook his head.  “No, milord.  He sleeps alone — not trusting his bedmates not to steal the contents of his bag.” He grinned derisively at this.  “The second window on the left, above the stables.” He waved an airy hand, the deft, grubby fingers reaching for another pie.  “It is nothing, milord.”

Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber, Chap 13 (Seal Books, 1992)

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