Chapter 5 #2
She wondered what he wanted to speak with her about and why Ashley and Jenna were looking daggers at him. A warm smile appeared on his face before he took her hand and escorted her the rest of the way to the head table.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling a bit weak in the knees. A strange feeling passed through her, one she hoped didn’t show on her face.
“’Twas my pleasure,” he turned and walked back to his seat, where he was greeted by other men who laughed and patted him on the back. She had no idea what they were saying. As she’d learned from Hamish, when he was excited about something it was near on impossible to understand him.
“Are you okay?” Jenna asked.
“Fine, thanks.”
“If you’re not, it’s totally understandable. I know how overwhelming it can be.”
“Oh, you mean being here in this time,” Tina felt like an idiot. She thought Jenna knew how Donal had affected her, “I think I might be experiencing the time travel version of jet lag.”
“Totally understandable,” Ashley said.
Tina glanced down the table. She’d met everyone here. Robert, Irene, Cailin, Cormac … “Where are the other women from our time?”
“Sophia is over there with Latharn.” Ashley pointed to a nearby table. “Sara’s not here. They must be eating at home. She’s been making a real effort to learn to cook.”
“Logan seems pleased with it,” Cailin chimed in. “He hasn’t complained much of late. What of ye? Do ye cook, Tina?”
“I can, but I don’t very often. My mother likes to be in charge of the kitchen.
I help out when she needs me.” She gazed out over those gathered.
She had a perfect view of everyone. It was loud in the great hall, but not uncomfortably so.
She saw many groups talking and laughing together.
When Ashley said they were one big family, she wasn’t kidding.
There certainly were many unaccompanied men, but no matter where she looked, her eyes always came back to settle on Donal.
He caught her looking and winked at her again.
She’d always thought guys who winked were a bit cheesy, but it was kind of charming the way Donal did it.
She bestowed a sweet smile on him. Tina was quite taken with his handsome appearance.
He was much taller than her. His broad shoulders and solid build were something she found quite attractive.
A twinge of guilt overcame her. He’d just lost his wife, but still, she wondered, could he be the one?
If her pounding heart was any indication, he just might be.
***
After dinner she’d found she was completely exhausted and excused herself from the great hall.
Her room was lit with candles and a fire blazed in the hearth.
There was a linen gown laid out on the bed and after she managed to get herself out of the gown Edna had given her, she slipped it over her head and climbed into the bed, which was surprisingly comfortable.
She hadn’t expected that. She thought for sure she’d be sleeping on straw or something similar.
As she settled into the mattress, she thought back on the last couple of days. She had traveled through time! She was really here in a castle with handsome highlanders and friendly women. She fell easily asleep.
The sound of a baby crying invaded her dreamless sleep.
She sat up immediately and listened. “Elena,” she whispered.
She continued to listen, but the crying continued.
Donal mustn’t know what to do. She climbed out of bed and opened her door.
The passage way was dark, so she hugged the wall as she made her way towards the crying.
Tina didn’t have to go far. At the very next door the crying became louder.
She softly opened the door and entered. The fire from the hearth lit the room.
Donal was seated on the edge of the bed, rocking a cradle and pleading with the baby.
“Please, wee Elena. Dinnae cry anymore.”
“Donal,” Tina said.
“Lass, what are ye doing here?” he asked, standing and facing her.
It was dark in the room, but the light from the hearth cast a glow that illuminated every muscle of his chest through his shirt.
Her breath caught in her throat as she moved her gaze upwards to his lips.
She had the urge to smooth the worried lines from his face, but that would be too bold.
Elena’s cries became more insistent. Tina tried to speak, but at first only the tiniest of squeaks came out.
She cleared her throat. “I heard Elena crying.”
“I’m sorry she disturbed yer sleep.” He turned back to the cradle, his frustration showing in the defeated slope of his shoulders.
“No. It’s okay. Is she alright?” Tina moved closer to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Yes, that is what is was, she tried to convince herself.
“I dinnae ken. She willnae sleep.” He scrubbed his hands through his hair before rubbing them over his face.
“Here, let me.” Tina walked to the cradle and picked Elena up. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” She patted Elena’s back and rocked back and forth with her. She was glad to have a job to distract her from Donal’s presence while she got her heartbeat under control. Before long Elena quieted.
“Yer magical, lass,” Donal whispered.
“What?” she asked, her dazed brain trying to focus on anything but Donal.
“Ye got her to stop. What magic have ye used?”
Poor clueless man. He really had no idea what to do with babies.
One benefit to everyone living in the same house was that she had spent a lot of time with her niece and nephew when they were tiny.
Once you learned the sway-pat-bounce rhythm all babies seemed to love, your body never forgot. “No magic. Just a little know how.”
“I’m afeared I’m nae verra skilled as a Da,” Donal said as he ran his hand through his hair.
“You’ll get the hang of it,” she said. “Is this your only child?”
“I pray so,” Donal replied and then seemed to think better of his response. “Aye. She’s the only one.”
“I guess it’s been a long time since you last saw your wife,” Tina said. She wondered about her. About them.
“Aye. So long I didnae even ken she was with child.”
Tina did a quick calculation in her head and came up with about a year and a half.
She wondered if that was normal for men in this time.
That couldn’t be right. Ashley lived with her husband and there were a lot of families in the great hall at dinner.
It must not have been a very happy marriage for them. “No one told you?”
“Nae. I found out today.”
“No wonder you seemed so shocked.” She thought her day had been busy.
“Why do ye think she cries so? Does she miss her Ma?” He seemed truly puzzled as he paced back and forth in front of her.