Page 38 of Highlander's Captive Bride
“Hmm. Still, look at her now, playing with Nadia. Thank the Wee Man she has such a good friend to come and keep her company. I dinnae ken what I would have done without Nadia sometimes. She’s a good lass, and she loves the bairn.”
Poppy finished the ironing, and Daisy helped her stow away the clean sheets. Then, they joined the two girls, standing over the bed and watching them play for a few moments.
“I win again!” Elodie cried gleefully, skillfully catching the spiky little metal jacks on the back of her hand, small though it was.
Nadia’s face fell in mock despair. “Ach, ye’re too quick for me, El,” she whined. “I dinnae think I’ll ever beat ye at this game.”
Elodie giggled. “Only Da can beat me,” she confided, a glow of pride on her pale, little face that sent a pang through Daisy’s heart.
“Now, ye two,” Poppy butted in, her hands on her hips. “That’s the last game of the night. ’Tis time to wash up and get into a clean nightie for bedtime, lass,” she told Elodie.
The child scrunched up her nose. “Och, just one more game, Poppy, please!” she begged with big eyes, making them all laugh. “Then, I promise I’ll get ready for bed.”
“All right. Just one. Then ye can have yer milk, and yer faither will be here soon to read ye a story,” the faithful servant said with an indulgent smile.
So, the final game was played, and Elodie won again, much to her amusement. Fragile as she was, she giggled with triumph as Poppy came and helped her out of bed to wash.
While Poppy and Elodie were occupied at the washstand, Nadia smiled at Daisy with mock resignation and shook her head as she collected the jacks in their little cloth bag. “I wish I could say that I let her beat me, but I cannae even claim that,” she told Daisy ruefully. “However many times we play, I’m just too slow.”
“Aye, she’s quick in all she does. ’Tis such a shame she’s laid low,” Daisy replied.
“Aye, I pray every night for the sickness to end,” Nadia said, sounding sad. She got up with the bag of jacks and crossed to the dresser by the hearth.
Daisy looked away, leaning over the bed to straighten the covers and plump the pillows, ready for Elodie’s return, feeling a wave of affection for her young patient.
She heard Nadia open the dresser drawer where the games were kept, then the chink of the jacks as she placed the bag inside, and the drawer clicking shut. Then, she heard a loud hissing sound and quickly turned her head to see what it was.
“Och, the milk’s boiling over!” Nadia suddenly exclaimed, bending over the hearth, a cloth in her hand, rescuing the saucepan Poppy had left to heat above the fire.
“’Tis a good thing ye were there to save it,” Daisy remarked, grimacing as the smell of singed milk permeated the chamber.
“Ach, ’tis very hot,” Nadia said, quickly setting the pan down on the stone hearth away from the fire and waving her hand as if it was burned.
Concerned for her, Daisy asked, “Are ye all right, Nadia? D’ye need some salve for that?”
“Nay, nay, ’tis naething,” Nadia replied, returning to the bedside and taking Poppy’s chair. “I’ll just say good night to Elodie, and then I’m away to me own bed,” she said. “I’m tired.”
“I suppose ye’ve been busy with all the Beltane arrangements and making all the decorations, eh?” Daisy prompted.
“Aye, I wove five garlands yesterday, and me fingers are still sore.” Nadia waggled her fingers and laughed lightly, adding, “And there’s still many more to go before we’ll be ready.”
Daisy laughed as well, but it turned into a yawn. “I must say I’m weary too. ’Tis wearying, trying to puzzle out the nature of Elodie’s condition,” she admitted. “It keeps me from sleeping sometimes.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nadia told her with a sympathetic look on her lovely face.
Just then, Poppy and Elodie returned to the bed, with Elodie’s face glowingly clean.
“In ye go, then, hinny,” Poppy said, helping Elodie into bed.
“The milk boiled over a little,” Nadia told the servant. “But it should have cooled down by now.”
Poppy made a face. “I ken. I can smell it,” she replied.
Elodie sat up against the pillows, while Poppy went and stirred honey into the milk before bringing the beaker back for the child to drink.
“Good night, El,” Nadia said, kissing Elodie on the cheek. “I’ll see ye tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
“Thank ye, Nadia. Sweet dreams for yerself,” Elodie replied, smiling sweetly.
