Page 76 of The Daughters of Avalon
“There you are, m’lady!”
Quite pleased to see the maid, Elspeth gave the woman a smile and a hug, then smoothed her skirts, and bent to put a finger inside the back of her slipper to straighten the fold that was gnawing at her heel.
For the first time in her life, she had shoes—fine shoes—soft and plush and pressed with silk. “Good morning, Cora! Have you need of me?”
“Yes, m’lady.”
Elspeth’s cheeks warmed. “I fear I slept too late, but you must realize, you are always welcome to call at my chamber.”
Cora smiled warmly. “Thank ye, m’lady. Alas, m’lord bade us not to wake ye. He said ye were too weary and to leave you abed sleeping.”
“Ah, well, I must thank him for that,” Elspeth said, smiling. “But, next time, if you have need of me, I must insist you come to me at once—never mind what my lord says. After all, I am now your lady, and you are my kinsmen and I will never put my sleep over your needs. How thoughtless would that be?”
The maid’s smile brightened all the more. “Bless you, lady! You have my word; I will do so if I must. Alas, but now, you must hurry to the hall. M’lord’s kinsman will be departing anon and he’s taking Wee Davie wi’ him. M’lord wishes you’ve had a moment to greet them.”
“Oh,” said Elspeth, with a bit of surprise. “He did not tell me.” She had no idea at all that he had a kinsman in the house, or who in the name of the Goddess Wee Davie was! Rather, she’d thought he had an emissary from Scotia’s king.
But, of course, with all her own problems, they’d spoken so little about his household, and she now, faced with her lateness to break her fast, she felt guilty about that.
“I am quite certain he did not wish to trouble you, m’lady. I dinna believe his council went very well.” She gave Elspeth a twisted, worried face. “My girls were talking all about it this morn, and for that, I beg your pardon. I gave them a good speakin’ to and they know better than to gossip aboot the things they hear in our lord’s council.”
“I see,” Elspeth said, wondering why Malcom did not speak to her of any of this last night.
But, of course, she knew why. She had sorely tempted him with thatchainseshe’d worn, and no doubt it was her fault he’d been distracted. The very thought of it made her blush. “And where are they now?”
“In the hall, breaking fast, m’lady. M’lord will be expectin’ ye.”
“Thank you, Cora.”
Nervous, but curious nonetheless, Elspeth left the maid and hurried down into the hall, finding the morning meal sparsely attended. But, of course, the morning prayers were not yet over. Thankfully, she didn’t have to look far to find her husband. He was seated upon the dais, at the lord’s table. He spied her at once, waving her in, having saved her the seat of honor beside him.
Elspeth hurried over, smiling and nodding to all who greeted her. “Good morn,” she said to a servant girl. And to Rhoslyn as she passed, “Good morning.”
“Good morning, my lady,” said Rhoslyn.
And even before she’d sat her bottom in the chair beside Malcom, Cora’s daughter Ellyn swept a plate full of sop invindown before her—toasted bread with wine—and Elspeth noticed with some surprise that there was also a child at the table.
“Hallooo,” said the boy she remembered from yesterday. He waved at Elspeth and Elspeth waved back. “I’m Davie.”
“Halloo, Davie. I am Elspeth.”
He shoved a fat slice of toast into his mouth and said with a full gob, “Yah, I ken. I’da been pleased to know ye better, lady, but my Da says we gots important business to attend at Carlisle and we’ll be leaving now, I suppose.”
His father—or at least the man she assumed to be his father—tipped Elspeth a nod. “My lady,” he said. “Ye’re as bonny as my cousin said, and I’ve never seen that fellow so besotted. You must have bewitched him.”
Elspeth blinked. She opened her mouth to speak as Malcom’s arm slid around her waist, and she inhaled a breath, grateful for his presence, although the reference towitcherybefuddled her. She turned a wary smile to Malcom.
He squeezed her waist reassuringly, answering his cousin. “Of course she’s bewitched me, ye oaf. But no less than your Cailin did, and ye pined like a puppy far too long. At least I knew what I wanted and seized the opportunity when it presented itself.”
And then he turned to the wee boy, without giving his cousin a chance to respond. “I’m sure your mother’s eager to see you, Wee Davie. Dinna forget the bow I gae ye, and I’ll be expecting a big fat cony when I come visit. D’ ye remember what I taught you?”
The boy nodded excitedly. “Practice close-range with eyes closed.”
“There ye go,” Malcom said. “Dinna forget.”
“Ye’ll ha’e the boy clipping the king’s arse with that advice,” said the other man seated to the cousin’s left. All three men laughed, and Elspeth chuckled.
“Uncle Mal… when will ye come visit?” said Wee Davie, though his gaze lingered on Elspeth.
