Page 53 of Bride of the Wicked Laird
“I look forward tae attending the fair with Davina one of these days,” Aileen said, delight in her voice. “I hear she won a purse from ye with her archery prowess.”
Everard cleared his throat and looked quizzically at Davina. Had she told Aileen about the prize he’d claimed? She gave her head an imperceptible shake. He understood, at once, that this was a secret they shared between them.
“Aye. She took me by surprise with her skill. She is certainly me equal.”
He grinned, his spirits lifting as he observed Davina glowing at his praise.
With his eyes constantly seeking her out and being rewarded by her smile and the way she looked at him from beneath her long lashes, it was beginning to dawn on him that he was at serious risk of losing his heart to this mysterious lass.
All that made him even more determined to find out the truth about her past.
Hopefully the tinker would have more news when next he visited the market in Castle Bay in a few days’ time.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Aileen insisted on walking Davina back to her cottage after supper. Although Davina had half-hoped she might have some time alone with Everard again, she knew that it would be foolish to be alone with him. Especially, now that all she could think of was how his perfect lips had felt on hers, how his strong arms had embraced her and how she wanted more of him.
Besides, she had much to share with Aileen. While they had awaited the men to join them in the solar she had spoken with Aileen about her upcoming trip to Castle Bay on the morrow. Aileen was sailing her small boat across to the village, while Maxwell remained at Kiessimul for talks with Everard and the Clan Council.
She’d offered to take Davina with her, and start the first of her sailing lessons. Davina had worked with Broderick to prepare a list of supplies and she also was hoping to ask the midwife questions about childbirth. Her heart was in her mouth at the prospect of finding her way alone through the village, but shewas also eager to select the herbs she needed for several of the salves and tisanes Broderick would prepare.
Although she was daunted by the prospect of sailing, she was determined to overcome her fear of water.
If she was able to remain at Kiessimul Castle, as she hoped, continuing her work with Broderick, she would have to make frequent short trips to the village to fetch supplies. Aileen had agreed not to mention to Maxwell or Everard that Davina would accompany her the following day, as Davina had it in her mind to surprise Everard with her new skill and show off her newfound courage.
When they parted at the door of Davina’s cottage, Aileen handed over Feather’s little basket. “We shall leave early, I will come and tap on yer door.”
“I’ll be ready.” Davina was almost breathless at the idea of the forthcoming trip. She so wanted Everard to see her as worthy and even, in time, to regard her as every bit as worthy as all those other lasses, the daughters of lairds, who were more suitable matches for him.
Paying no heed to the nagging doubts planted in her head by Mildred’s words about who Everard would wed, she donned her night-shift and readied herself for bed. Her heart was singing as she carefully hung up her new gown, untied her braids and combed her hair before shaping it into a single braid down her back.
Feather joined her on the pillow just before she snuffed out her candle.
It was a crisp, sunny, morning when Davina set off with Aileen for Castle Bay. First of all, Davina had to learn how to tie and untie the boat’s mooring rope before they set off. Next, she was shown how to hold the oars, how to pull them evenly and how to change direction using only one.
As the sail caught the wind and they skimmed across the water, Davina was so busy with her lessons that she almost put out of mind the fact that she was on the sea and not on dry land.
Once they’d reached the shore and pulled the little craft up onto the sandy beach, Aileen waited, while Davina painstakingly tied the mooring knot she’d been shown and secured the little craft. They wandered along the shore, enjoying the sunshine, passing the assembly of scattered cottages leading to the center of the small village.
They parted ways at the first crossroad they came to. Aileen continued on, heading to the blacksmith’s to see to a strong steel gate he was making for the new house, while Davina turned down a narrow lane, following the directions she’d been given by Broderick.
They had agreed to meet in the tavern as soon as their tasks were completed.
Davina checked the directions Broderick had written for her to make sure she didn’t get lost. “Six houses along ye’ll come tae a bridge over a wee burn. Cross the bridge and the first cottage ye come tae belongs ttaeo the midwife.”
She passed six houses and, sure enough, there was the burn and the bridge. She crossed the bridge and knocked at the first door she came to.
A burly, red-faced man opened the door. “Is this the midwife’s house?” Surely, this couldn’t be the right house. The midwife was a woman.
The man looked at her with a grimace of disgust. “Nay, lass. Two doors further down.” He waved a hand toward the end of the lane.
After thanking him she headed off to the place he indicated. It was the last cottage in the lane, set back from the street in a small thicket of woods and quite difficult to discern among the trees. Making a mental note to bring Broderick up to date with his directions, she paced to the gate of the small cottage, opened it and continued along the path to the front door.
After rapping three times and waiting without hearing any response from indoors, her heart sank. The place was quiet, there was no smoke issuing from the chimney. Mayhap the midwife was away, helping to bring a newborn into the world at this very moment.
She walked back along the path and out through the gate, pausing to decide whether she should wait a little longer or join Aileen in the tavern.
It looked like someone was at home at the neighboring house as smoke was spiraling from the chimney. It occurred to her they might have an idea where she could find the midwife. Making up her mind to consult with whoever lived next door, she turned back. As she did so, a man appeared beside her.
