Chapter 7 #2
“You’re right,” Tina said, knowing that she wasn’t, but not wanting to be judged. “I should keep my options open.”
“That’s probably the best idea,” Ashley said. “I’m going to enlist Cailin’s help. He knows all the men who would be eligible bachelors.”
“Thanks,” Tina said, filling her voice with feigned enthusiasm. What was wrong with Donal? Was there something she was missing?
***
Donal wasn’t surprised at the light tap on his door. Although he’d tried his best to quiet her, Elena’s continued crying was sure to wake Tina. He should feel bad about that but he had to admit he was glad to see her.
“Come in,” he said.
“Is she alright?” Tina asked, going immediately to the cradle.
“I’ve been rocking her, but she still cries.” How was a person to know what babies wanted when they just cry and cry? Every time she stirred he’d sat up and gently rocked the cradle. That had worked through most of the night, but now she was just crying for no reason and the rocking wasn’t working.
“Oh, you poor baby.” She reached into the cradle and rubbed Elena’s belly before lifting her into her arms. “Do you mind if I sit?” Tina asked.
He patted the edge of the bed to let her know he didn’t mind.
He’d propped himself on one elbow and made sure he was covered from the waist down.
Tina rubbed Elena’s back and gently rocked back and forth.
In no time, Elena was snuggled into her neck and yawning, she was still fussing but the crying had stopped.
So rocking did work, he was the one doing it wrong.
Although truth be told, he was quite sure that if he was allowed to snuggle into Tina’s neck, he would find peace there, too.
“You must be tired,” Tina said.
Donal stifled a yawn. “Nae. I be fine.”
She shook her head at him and rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be the big, strong man around me, you know.”
She thought him big and strong, which pleased him. Tina placed Elena on the bed and continued to rub her belly. “I think she’s got a tummy ache.”
That made him sit up completely alert. “What can be done?” He hadn’t even considered that the bairn could be in pain.
“I don’t know, but this seems to be helping.”
There was magic in those hands, he thought.
Elena’s fussing, turned to whimpers and then disappeared altogether as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Tina continued gently rubbing and Donal lay back in the bed feeling the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders by a wee lass from the future.
He closed his eyes and felt the bed shift as Tina lay across the foot of the bed.
His lips curved upward. Somehow she had taken all his worries from him, leaving him in a more peaceful place.
What would he do when she left him … left them?
It was something he didn’t wish to think about, so instead he pretended she was staying and saw himself in a small cottage with her at his side and his wee daughter playing at their feet.
It was a pleasant thought and one he was determined to make come true.
***
Morning broke and Tina awoke to find herself back in her own bed.
She didn’t remember falling asleep and she didn’t remember returning to her room.
Donal must have carried her there. Her foggy memory suddenly cleared.
He had. She could feel his strong arms as they lifted her from the bed.
Her head had rested in the crook of his neck where she burrowed in.
She heard the sound of a very manly groan close to her ear and felt a gentle kiss on her forehead as the blanket was lifted to cover her.
“Goodnight to ye, lass,” he’d said before leaving her.
She was happy she hadn’t forgotten and the memory of it aroused her in ways she hadn’t felt in ages.
Ashley had to be wrong. He was the one. Why else would she wake longing to see him?
She hurried from her bed and ran downstairs to the great hall expecting to find him there, but instead she found Doreen playing with Elena. “Good morn to ye, miss.”
“Good morning, Doreen. How’s Elena this morning?” She felt Elena’s forehead and was rewarded with a smile. “She seems quite happy this morning.”
“Aye. She seems well.”
“She’s been having trouble sleeping,” Tina explained.
“I’ll see to it that she gets a rest later this morn.”
“Good. Where did Donal go?” She hoped the breathiness of her voice didn’t belie her interest.
“I dinnae ken. He said he’d be back later.”
“Hmmm …”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, Doreen. I thought I’d have breakfast with him.”
“He’s been gone for some time.” If she said she wasn’t disappointed, she’d be lying to herself. She’d been looking forward to seeing him and had rushed downstairs with that thought in mind.
“Come sit and have breakfast with us,” Jenna said as she entered the hall. “Ashley will be right down.”
“Alright.” She followed Jenna to the table and sat next to her.
“I see Donal found a babysitter for Elena,” Jenna observed, nodding towards Doreen.
“Yes. She seems quite capable.”
“She is. She’s helped me and Ashley on more than one occasion.”
“Poor Donal really needed the help,” Tina said.
“I don’t doubt it. He’s not the most responsible man around,” Jenna said, rolling her eyes skyward.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Tina was irritated for Donal. He seemed quite responsible to her.
Before Jenna could answer, Ashley joined them. “I talked to Cailin last night and he has a few prospects for you.”
“Are we matchmaking?” Jenna asked.
“We are.”
“I’m curious to know who he picked. I’ve been talking with Cormac about the same thing. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ve come up with the same names.”
Tina wasn’t sure this was how it was supposed to work. “Isn’t Edna the matchmaker?”
“She is, but a little help from us wouldn’t hurt. Besides, if you don’t like them, you can tell us. We won’t mind.”
Tina carefully schooled her reaction. “Alright.” She didn’t care who they picked for her. She knew what she wanted and Donal was it. She only hoped he felt the same way.
“So, who did he pick. Names, please.” Jenna leaned her elbow on the table and peered past Tina to see Ashley.
“Tam, Jock and Marcas,” Ashley beamed.
“They were Cormac’s choices, too.”
“And good ones,” Ashley said, glancing at Tina.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Tina. We’ll arrange everything. You’ll get to spend some time with each of them and then you can make your choice.”
I’ve already made my choice, she thought. “I think I need some fresh air. I’ll talk to you later,” Tina said, rising to leave.
“Is everything okay?” Ashley asked.
“Fine,” she replied. How could she tell them this wasn’t what she wanted? They were just trying to be helpful.
“We’ll start working on this for you,” Jenna called after her.
She couldn’t walk out of the hall fast enough and was relieved when she reached the doors to the courtyard. If only Elle were here. She’d understand.
She descended the steps and headed for the gate. She needed to get away so she could think.
“Tina!”
She turned to see Donal hurrying towards her with a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. Her heart thudded in her chest at the sight of him and the closer he got, the louder it thundered in her ears.
“These are for ye,” he said, handing them to her.
“Thank you,” she lifted them to her nose and their sweet scent calmed her. “They’re beautiful.”
“As beautiful as ye,” he replied.
She felt the heat of his gaze as a flush of warmth penetrated her from head to toe. “And thank you for carrying me back to my room last night.”
“I would have left ye there. Ye looked so peaceful laying next to Elena, but I didnae wish to soil yer reputation.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” How could anyone think poorly of him? He was a good man and she was a good judge of character. One thing she prided herself on was her ability to read people.
“Doreen is with Elena. She seems to be in good spirits this morning, thanks to ye.”
He looked away and shifted his weight. Looking first towards the gate and then back at the castle. There was uncertainty in the movement and Tina realized he was nervous.
“I was thinking … that is … I wondered if ye’d like to walk with me to the village.”
Tina felt her smile spread across her face and down to her toes. “I’d love to,” she said.
“You would?” He seemed surprised, but caught himself and said, “It is nae too far and the weather is quite fine.” He took her hand and tucked it under his arm, smiling down at her with the most beautiful smile.
She stared at his lips for a moment before raising her eyes to meet his.
She saw there what she imagined was the same thing she was feeling.
She licked her lips and gazed at the dirt path in front of them.
They passed others as they walked and Donal nodded a greeting to them. Tina felt she was in a bubble that muted the sights and sounds around her, leaving her fully aware of the man beside her. With every brush of his arm on hers, a tingle of excitement passed through her.