Page 84 of Laird of Steel
Maybe once they were better acquainted, his heart would warm to her. Maybe time would draw them closer together. But at the moment, he didn’t feel moved by Lady Carenza. And despite Merraid’s optimism, he wasn’t sure he would ever feel that way.
Chapter 14
The next morn, Merraid went to the kitchens to fetch breakfast for Lady Carenza. A bowl of apple frumenty. Warm. Rich. Sweet-spiced. Gellir’s last missive hadn’t coaxed the lady from her sickbed. Perhaps she’d be tempted by a tasty breakfast.
She was winding her way across the crowded great hall toward the stairs when Lady Feiyan pulled her aside.
“How goes it?” she murmured. “Do you think our butterfly will emerge today?”
“Lady Carenza?” She hoped so. But according to Ede, Davy had reported more tears last night.
Lady Feiyan nodded. “Poor Gellir is beginning to believe she doesn’t find him attractive.”
“Gellir?” Merraid choked out.
Their brows rose in simultaneous amazement.
“I know,” Feiyan said, shaking her head. “’Tis as if the man’s ne’er looked in a mirror.”
Merraid grinned. That was true. Lasses sighed and fainted at his feet. But Gellir was driven by his own purpose and ambition. He carried on, blithely unaware of their attentions. She should know. He’d been blithely unaware of hers.
“Here,” Lady Feiyan said. She loosed the blue ribbon from her braid. Tied it into a bow. Set it on the tray beside the frumenty. “Tell her ’tis a gift from her betrothed.” She winked.
“And that he said it matches her eyes?”
“Absolutely.” She nodded toward the stairs. “Go.”
She’d just reached the steps when she was mobbed by Swannoc, Ede, and Davy.
“Wait!” Ede cried, moving to block the path.
Merraid frowned. “What?”
“Don’t do it.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t go up to Lady Carenza’s chamber.”
“Why not?”
“She’s…not awake.”
Ede was a bad liar. “Is that so? And how would ye know that?”
Ede gave Swannoc a desperate look.
Swannoc glanced at the platter. “What she means to say is the lady’s not goin’ to like the frumenty.”
Bloody hell. What were they up to? “Well, she’s not goin’ to like it cold. That’s for certain. Now out o’ my way.”
Davy crossed his arms and tried to deepend his voice. “I’m afraid I can’t let ye do that.”
If he were a grown man, Merraid would have tossed him on his arse for his impertinence. But he was only a young lad. She narrowed threatening eyes at him. “Ye’re not goin’ to stop me.”
Davy nervously licked his lips. He’d no doubt seen her best greater men than he. “I’m just tryin’ to help,” he mumbled.
He looked to Swannoc for assistance.
