“I’m sorry that I dinna come to see ye earlier today. ’Tis only I’ve been working on something for ye. Do ye think ye would feel up to accompanying me somewhere tomorrow? We will no go far from the castle, and I’ve received Mary’s blessing to get ye out of doors for awhile.”
Images of Arran reading me note, learning that I was dying and choosing not to come to me side teased me, stabbing their way through me heart. He was truly gone from me life. I pushed away the pain as I smiled as brightly as I could at him. “Aye, I would like that verra much.”
“I am verra pleased to hear it, lass. ’Til then.”
He ducked under the door, and I rolled over so that I could stare into the setting sun. Perhaps the light would burn all images of Arran from me mind.
Chapter 32
“Nay, lass. I doona think ’tis a good idea for ye to strain yerself right before ye go outside. That will be hard enough for ye as ’tis.” Mary lay the dress she’d picked out for me over the back of the chair next to me bed and pulled back the curtain so that the morning light would shine in.
“Do ye want me to scream for Adelle and Bri, or will ye oblige and help me yerself? I’m sure they would be more than happy to do it.”
“Nay, lass. Please doona go hollering, ye will only get Adelle to do the same herself. If ye insist, I shall have a bath drawn for ye, and if ye wish to wear another dress I shall retrieve it.”
I smiled triumphantly as I pushed meself upright and swung me shaky legs over the side of the bed. “I insist. I doona wish to be proposed to looking the mess that I do now. I can smell meself. It has been far too long since I’ve had more than a cloth bath.”
“Aye, fine. I do agree that ye are smelling a wee bit like old cheese. Do ye have any other demands of me?”
Mary feigned annoyance, but I could tell she was happy to help and glad that I was feeling well enough to bathe. “Aye, can ye have Bri and Adelle come up anyway? I’d like Bri to pin up me hair, and Adelle willna like it if she is left out of the preparations.”
“Aye, I suppose ye are right about that as well. Give me a moment, and I shall fetch them.”
“No need. We’re here. We saw Baodan this morning, and he told us you agreed to accompany him so we figured we would come and help you get ready.”
Adelle came across the room to give me a light hug and help me to me feet as Bri smiled and extended a treasure in me direction.
“Look what I’ve brought for you! I went down into the spell room and got it from your pile of clothes. It will make you feel more human, and you’ll like what it does to the way your dress looks.”
“Aye, I know. It can work miracles.” I reached for the bra and clung it tightly to me chest. “But do ye no think that he will notice it?”
Adelle laughed heartily, garnering a ‘lower yer voice before I thump ye’ look from Mary. “If it was me accompanying Baodan today, then yes, he might. But I don’t think you’re the sort of girl to let a man pass a base on the first date.”
“Base?” Mary and I said the word in unison, sending both Bri and Adelle into a fit of laughter.
“Never mind, dear. Let’s start getting you cleaned up.”
Adelle led me toward the tub as Mary directed the men who brought in the steaming pales of water. Before long, I was being tugged and pushed and prodded in different directions as all three women worked diligently to prepare me for the outing.
*
The Castle Formerly Known as Kinnaird
If Arran was counting right, he felt certain that Edana should have been swelling more beneath her clothes than she seemed to be. It was true that he was no expert in such matters, but it had been at least four and a half moons since he’d shared her bed, and he could still not see the slightest change in her physical appearance.
He’d also taken notice of how well she seemed to be feeling. She’d not been troubled by the bouts of ill stomach he knew many women suffered during their beginning stages. It had been bothering him for days, the wondering, and he knew he could not keep his questions inside any longer.
He reached across the table where they were eating their evening meal and layed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Edana. I wish to ask ye something, lass, but I doona want ye to be angry at the question.”
She sat straight back in her chair, malice clear in her eyes. Each day he could sense her disdain for him a little more sharply.
“Why would ye think I should get angry? Are ye suggesting that I get angry often?”
There was no reason to be gentle with her. He knew that regardless of what he said, she would find a reason to be upset by it. “Aye. ’Tis exactly what I suggest. Ye stay angry all the time. Ye scream at people who have done naught but help ye, and I believe ye are a liar.”
He watched as her face blanched, and something deep within in him told him his suspicions were right.
“What do ye mean? What could I have lied to ye about?”