Page 11 of Bride of the Wicked Laird
“What pretty flowers,” Aileen admired the little arrangement Davina had placed on the table.
That brought a smile from Davina, who had been looking rather solemn until that moment. “Why yes,” she pointed to the yellow flowers. “I love buttercups, dandelions, but most of all these gentians and the bluebells.”
“Ye ken a lot about flowers and plants?”
“Mayhap the laird has told ye I am from the Convent at Iona?”
Aileen nodded. “Aye, he told us a little of yer story.”
Davina felt her cheeks redden. “When I was there, I worked in the garden.”
“Then ye must visit our house on the island, where I wish tae make a garden. I’ve spent most of me days at sea and I’m nae one fer gardening. Mayhap ye can advise me.”
“I would be most happy tae dae so. I cannae imagine spending me life at sea.”
“Then ye can share some of yer knowledge of gardening and I may tell ye about sailing and the sea.”
“I’m afraid I was most horribly seasick on the journey from Mull.”
Aileen laughed. “That can soon be overcome. I can take ye fer a wee sail in me boat. When the sun is shining and the water of the Bagh is gleaming, sailing is a most wondrous thing.”
Davina shuddered. “I cannae imagine it. The very thought makes me weak.”
“Then mayhap ye would one day trust me tae sail with ye. Ye can visit me home and we could walk in the machair, where all the wildflowers are in bloom. It is a sight tae see.”
This brought a sigh from Davina, whose stomach had tied itself into a knot at the very thought of sailing across the water. “I would love tae stroll the machair with ye, but I am sore afeared of the water.”
Aileen reached for her hand. “Dinnae fash, Davina. In time ye will get used tae it.”
“I hope so. I would love tae visit yer house as well.”
A maid appeared at the door bringing with her a tray bearing some little cakes of currants and almonds and two large tumblers of the rosewater drink.
Davina took a bite of one of the cakes. “Mmmh. This is all so different tae what I was used tae at the convent. I dinnae remember ever eating sweetmeats before.” She nibbled another cake and gave a sigh. “These are delicious.”
Smiling Aileen glanced over. “And, I daresay, ye’re only used tae wearing the clothes of the nunnery.”
Davina nodded, her mouth too full to speak.
“We must see tae that as well. Ye must have sweets whenever ye wish and I will ask the seamstress tae visit ye so that ye may have new things tae wear.”
Once they’d finished their repast, Aileen took Davina by the hand. “Come, I wish tae show ye the castle and then we must week out Jonnet, our seamstress.”
They strolled through the courtyard and into the keep. Aileen escorted Davina through several long passages to the feasting hall. I was a long room with windows high above. The walls were decorated with hangings of tapestries and painted with flowers and leaves. It was bright and cheerful, not like the somber walls of the convent with only their religious icons for decoration and one could also reach the great hall from the courtyard. “Ye shall join with us tae dine with us this night. I wish ye tae meet me husband, Maxwell. He’s Everard’s braither.”
They climbed the stairs to the watchtower where they could look from the battlements out across the bay in all directions. “From here ye can see along the shore of the village. Beyond the villagein the hills is where I bide wi’ me husband Maxwell, our War Chief.”
Davina strained her eyes to see beyond the row of whitewashed houses along the shore, hoping for a glimpse of the wildflower-covered fields beyond.
“And beyond Barra, is the Isle of Vatersay, our neighbor. We often row there tae visit friends and exchange produce.”
Although Davina admitted to herself that the vista of silvery sea, green hills and deep-blue sky above was beautiful, she found it daunting to see water all around her. Of all the places in Scotland she could have come to, somewhere surrounded by seemingly endless water seemed like her worst nightmare.
Despite the pleasant spring sunshine warming her, she shivered.
Aileen looked up. “Is something wrong?”
Davina shook her head, not wanting to let Aileen observe her distress. If she was to remain at Kiessimul for any length of time she would have to get used to the water, no matter how difficult that may be. And the fact that she didn’t know why water made her feel that way was what troubled Davina most.
