Page 92 of Highland Renegade
When Emily entered the room, Lorelei was twirling a sprig of heather. She held it up to her nose.
“This would make a nice perfume.”
“We use it in some of our soap-making, but I doona think anyone has ever thought to press the flowers into perfume.” Fiona shrugged. “We are nae London Society here.”
“Still.” Lorelei looked at Emily. “Do you not think one of the shops on Bond Street would be interested in a new scent?”
“It would be a welcome relief,” Juliana said. “Some of those French perfumes are terriblyflowery.”
Emily took the sprig from Lorelei and held it to her nose. The scent was light and not too sweet. “It might be worth looking into.”
“You sold whisky to White’s,” Juliana said.
“Yes, but the whisky is already distilled and more is being made. We would have to set up a perfumery and start from scratch.”
“At least the process would not take as long.”
“That is true.” Emily turned to Fiona. “Do you think Glenda might be interested in helping with this?”
“I doona ken, but we can ask when she returns.”
Emily nodded. Perhaps this would be a way to involve Glenda and get to know her better. Sitting down, she picked up a gown she’d left in the solar that had a small tear in the skirt. She hated asking the servants to do mending for her, since they already had their own families to take care of, and the last thing she wanted anyone in the clan thinking was that she thought herself superior. Besides, there was enough light left to fix the small rend.
Thirty minutes later, she bit off the thread and smoothed the stitches she’d made. Although she was not an accomplished seamstress, she thought her work was quite acceptable. Standing, she stretched and yawned.
“I think I will take a short nap before the evening meal.”
“Aye,” Fiona answered absently, engrossed in a game of checkers with Lorelei. Juliana just waved a hand and didn’t look up from the book she was reading.
Emily walked the short distance to her bedchamber and opened the door. The coals in the brazier had not yet been lit, leaving the room cool now that dusk was approaching. With a sigh, she took the oil lamp hanging from a sconce and turned the wick up to illuminate the room. Making her way to the tinderbox, she noticed a folded piece of paper propped up against it. She set the lamp down and picked it up.
I will secure a room at the inn in Taynuilt tonight. Will ye come? We will have the privacy we need. Ian
’Tis better if ye do not bring a horse, since it will raise questions. The bog was dry enough yesterday for ye to cut through and will save ye time.
Emily folded the note and laid it down, her hand trembling with excitement. They’d been interrupted last night. He had said this room was neither the time nor the place so he must have planned this and left the note this morning before he left. Her hand flew to her mouth. When had he expected her to find this? They’d spent most of the day at the cottage and she hadn’t come to her room before going to the solar. Had he been expecting her earlier? Was he waiting for her now? Thinking maybe she wouldn’t come, since it was already near dark?
She hastily scribbled a note to Maggie that she wasn’t feeling well and was taking to her bed and didn’t wish to be disturbed. Then she hurried to the wardrobe and took out her sturdy walking boots. Ian was right that taking Muirne out this time of day would only create questions or, worse, one of the grooms would insist on coming along. He had said the bog was dry and his brothers had been working it most of the day. Grabbing her woolen cloak from a peg near the door, she swung it over her shoulders and stepped out into the hall.
All was quiet. Her sisters and Fiona were still in the solar, the men were gathered in the Great Hall, and the maids would be preparing the evening meal. Emily used the servants’ stairs and left the note on the housekeeper’s desk near the back door and let herself out.
The gloaming had settled as she made her way around the corner of the castle and to the postern gate. Once outside the walls, she took a deep breath of cool, crisp air and started walking.
She passed the healer’s cottage, silent and still now that Gwendolyn was making her autumn rounds. By the time she reached the bog, darkness had fallen, lit only by a sliver of new moon.
Emily took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. She remembered what Ian had told her about the boards sinking below the surface where the bog was treacherous. In the distance, she could see moonlight reflecting off them. If they were visible, the ground should be safe to that point.
She started to cross the upturned rows of peat, stumbling a bit at the unevenness of the earth. The soil felt damp but not wet. Still, it was just a matter of minutes before the leather soles of her boots were soaked through. The ground seemed to be more uneven as she walked and she nearly turned her ankle several times as she navigated the heavy clumps, her legs beginning to ache with the effort. At least she could see a cluster of rocks not too far away on her right, so she must be nearing the other edge of the bog.
Perhaps she would rest a minute when she got there. She turned and headed for the boulders. Her foot slipped and she stumbled slightly, balancing by pushing her other foot down.
When she tried to lift it, it stuck. So did the first foot. And then she heard a sickening, sucking sound as mud and water oozed over her boots.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Darkness had fallen by the time Ian turned the team through the raised portcullis and drove across the bailey. He had meant to be home hours ago, but the cooper had learned of some used oak barrels available that were necessary to allow the whisky to mature. Since they would now be producing more casks, they’d need all they could get. Unfortunately, the barrels had been in a warehouse ten miles away.
He turned the weary horses over to Jamie and made his way to the castle. The evening meal had already passed, but folks were lingering over tankards in the Great Hall. Some of his kin were still seated on the dais, having obviously taken their meal there tonight. Just as well, he thought. Emily, in light of what she’d offered to do, should be seen more often joining the clan. Her seat was empty, although her sisters were still there. He glanced toward Carr, engaged in conversation with Rory. He definitely wanted to talk to him, but it could wait a few minutes.
