Page 47 of The Guardian's Bride
“I came up here to find you, but the air and sun do feel good.” He grinned. The wind whipped through his thick brown curls and the sunlight added sparkle to his eyes. He had given up his English surcoat and wore his tunic, trews, and plaid, garments that seemed far more natural to him.
The wind filled her veil and billowed the hem of the dark blue woolen gown that Lady Ellen had given her. When the wind batted her veil free, she reached for it just as Aedan snatched its tail and handed it to her. He brushed back strands of hair that blew over her forehead, and she straightened the veil to try and wrap it over her head again.
“Leave it,” he said. “The winds will just undo it again. You look fine without it.”
The shiver that went through her had naught to do with wind. She tucked the veil into her belt and waved the wildflowers in her hand. “I wanted to see what plants I could find here. They are unusual sorts. I have never seen this kind of mallow before.”
“Bonny,” he said, looking at her rather than the straggling plants. “Best come down from this great rock before the wind takes you over the edge.” He grasped her elbow to lead her down the rough incline back toward the castle.
“I have a request for you from Sir Brian’smédecin,” he said, “who heard you have some skill. He wants your opinion on one of the men held in the dungeon.”
“I can try to help.”
“I thought you might agree. Also, Brian told him you had some trouble on the boat, so the fellow offered to give you some ginger for the sickness.”
“Ginger! How kind. It is rather costly.”
“An expense covered in the accounts here, no doubt. I also wanted to let you know that we sail this afternoon, so you may be glad of the ginger.”
“I might. How long is it from here to Fife?”
“About three hours, more if rain moves in.” He pointed toward the distant sky, where gray clouds gathered on the horizon. “What plants do you have there?”
“This is mallow, good for wounds and digestion, and this one is a kind of parsley. These long fronds are a small beet plant that rather likes salty climates, as it grows near beaches and sea cliffs. I thought to dry them and bring them back to Kincraig. I have a little cottage there where I make some remedies. It used to belong to my aunt, who left it to me,” she added softly.
“She taught you well. I think we ate that weedy-looking bit for supper last night.”
“The sea-beet? We did, with the baked fish. It tastes rather like spinach and is nicely salty. When I recognized it, I wanted to see if I could find some.”
“Will any of those help your sickness?”
“Not much. Perhaps the mallow, though it thickens when boiled, so it is not very appealing on an upset stomach.”
“I wish I could help, lass, but I know little about cures and things.”
“You did help when you told me to find straight lines in the distance. I had not tried that trick before. I just wish I did not have this—flaw.”
“Flaw? You have none. Me, I have more than enough for both of us.”
“You! Not a one. Well, fewer than you think,” she teased, laughing. He chortled, wind blowing through his curls, ruffling his beard.
She felt a thrill of joy over so small a thing as his low, easy, lovely laugh. She had never known anyone who made her smile as much as Aedan MacDuff did. Wondering at that, she stared at him. He tilted a brow in question.
“I am devilish impatient sometimes,” he said.
“So am I. Patience is not my virtue.”
“You have been more patient with me than I could ever ask. And I am sorry we must go over the water again to reach Fife.”
“I know you need to get there to see your family. Your wee son.”
“My lad, aye.” He smiled. “His name is Colban. He is five. He is my heart.”
“I can tell. Your sister looks after him?”
“My sister Marjorie and my aunt, Lady Jennet, live with him at Castle Black. I thought it would be a safe place for them. But Edward wants to change that.” He frowned, watching the rippling white-tipped sea beyond the great rock.
“You are very concerned about their safety.”
