Chapter Twelve #2
“I need a lady’s maid,” Evie told her. “I’m just a little unconventional and might not always need you to do everything a lady’s maid usually does.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t need your help.
Don’t worry. You’ve done nothing wrong.” She leaned back against the sloped end of the tub while nodding at the wardrobe.
“There’s no way I can manage all those laces, ties, and teeny-tiny buttons.
” Then she remembered that the girl had never answered about Clan Heberdy.
“So, now that we’ve got that straightened out, any word on the Heberdys and when they’re leaving?
Be advised that I’m counting on you to keep me informed about everything that goes on around here. ”
Ada grinned. “Lady Merelys is not verra pleased at all that Lord Blackmorrow rejected her after inviting them to come.”
“It’s my understanding that it was Chief MacMuirrow’s advisors who invited her to come—not Lord Blackmorrow.”
“Aye.” Ada’s singsong tone, paired with a knowing nod, promised that she could be counted on to be a loyal informant.
“Ye know that’s true as well as I do, but she’ll not admit to it.
The peat boy heard her screaming at her poor maid to correct her, telling her it was Lord Blackmorrow who wanted her to come and marry him. ”
Interesting—and also a bit worrisome. Would Lady Merelys turn into an enemy that warranted watching? “When are they leaving?”
“They say they canna leave until the ice clears.”
“Ice?”
“Aye.” Ada hurried over to the wardrobe and threw open both its doors.
“Ye would think it already the dead of winter out there. Bitter cold and ice so thick, ye canna hardly walk, and the winter stores not even fully brought in yet. My sister Mary says ’tis the work of the Unseelie.
Whenever an early winter comes, ’tis because of the war between the Fae of the Light and the Fae of the Dark.
” Ada crossed herself, then glanced to the heavens with a sad shake of her head.
“May the Almighty protect us. Our poor peat cutters set out early to fetch extra peat for the sheds, and the lads were sent to search for any wood washed up from the sea. It could verra well be a long, hard season for the clan.” Resuming her pawing through the depths of the wardrobe, she raised her voice to be heard.
“Pray for a break in the weather so Clan Heberdy can leave and not be forced to winter with us.”
Evie winced. None of that sounded good, and she believed the bad weather was a by-product of the curse on those of Craig Durness, not necessarily the works of Callum and Morganna’s people.
The storm hadn’t become so violent until she’d sworn to everyone in the meeting hall that she and Drummond had been together since the beginning of time.
Apparently, she really needed to be careful not only about what she said but also about how she said it.
She set her ring on the small table beside the crock of soap. “Do you think the Fae are dangerous?”
“The Fae?” Ada peered at her in disbelief. “Aye, m’lady. Verra dangerous indeed.”
“And what about Clan Heberdy?”
The maid didn’t seem quite so convinced about that.
“I dinna think them foolish enough to cause us any harm whilst they are guests here at Dubh Tower.” She emerged from the wardrobe with an armload of garments.
“Course, they’ll be none too pleasant to yerself, seeing as how ye won Lord Blackmorrow’s heart and saved him from Lady Merelys’s clutches.
” Her beaming smile stretched even wider as she draped the clothes across the end of the bed.
“All of us here at Dubh are so pleased for his lordship. We canna remember when last we saw him so happy.”
Evie pressed a hand to the base of her throat, regretting her harshness with Drummond even more.
He hadn’t deserved it. She’d made her choice—whether purposely or not, she’d made it, and now needed to own it, and not punish him for it.
And last night hadn’t been a simple matter of lust or giving in to pure physical pleasure.
It had been…right. More right than anything she’d ever felt before.
Maybe they had just met, but they’d clicked in a way that defied explanation.
A knock at the door startled her from her ruminations, making her splash.
“Who dares interrupt my lady’s bath?” The sudden redness of Ada’s cheeks matched the indignation in her voice as she flew to the door. She yanked it open the barest bit and growled, “What is it?”
Whoever was out there spoke in such a hushed tone that Evie barely caught the words MacMuirrow’s solar.
MacMuirrow’s solar? Wouldn’t that be Drummond’s father’s solar?
Because Drummond’s solar was just outside that door.
She swallowed hard, suddenly realizing she needed to meet her new father-in-law as soon as his health permitted.
It was the polite thing to do, but still, it felt like being called to the principal’s office.
“Her ladyship will be ready when she is ready,” Ada told the person on the other side.
But she didn’t close the door, so whoever it was must be arguing.
The maid stamped her foot and whirled about to face Evie.
“Mistress Martha has arrived. Do ye wish to see her before ye’ve dressed?
I told Griogair ye needed yer privacy, and no one was to interrupt ye.
But he knows yer fondness for the woman. ”
Apparently, having Ada as a lady’s maid was going to be like having a guard dog as well, and Evie had to admit—she kind of liked that. But she was immensely relieved that Morganna had returned as promised. “Please let her in, Ada. Mistress Martha has indeed become a good friend to me.”
Seeming none too pleased by that, Ada twitched her shoulders as if she had an itch she couldn’t reach. “Verra well, m’lady. As ye wish.” She disappeared out the door, presumably to tell Griogair to stand down.
With a heavy sigh, Evie sank back against the sloping end of the tub and submerged herself to her chin. It appeared Ada would be as jealous and possessive as a guard dog, too. That might get interesting.
Morganna swept into the room, moving with the agility of a vibrant young woman rather than the hobbling old healer she portrayed.
Evie cocked a brow at her, then aimed a pointed look at Ada, who followed close behind.
Morganna immediately slowed and became the character she was supposed to be.
“And how are we this fine morning, m’lady?
No more spinning sickness? No more pain in yer head?
” She hitched her way over to the side of the tub and gave a subtle nod of approval at the warning ring sitting on the nearby table.
“I’m much improved, thank you, and Ada went to the trouble of adding herbs to the bathwater to get rid of any lingering aches and pains.”
Turning to look at the maid, Morganna settled her black shawl tighter around her bent shoulders. “Good. It appears Mrs. Farris chose well for yer lady’s maid.”
“Indeed, she did.” Evie smiled at Ada, hoping the praise would improve the maid’s mood. “By the way, Ada, what was that I heard about the MacMuirrow’s solar?” In her relief to see Morganna again, she’d nearly forgotten.
“Visitors,” Ada said as she held out the warmed length of linen for Evie to wrap herself in as she stepped out of the tub.
“Allow me to dry ye, m’lady, so we might dress ye with haste.
It would seem three of yer countrymen made it through the ice storm with gifts to celebrate yer union with his lordship.
Apparently, they were traveling and missed the ceremony in yer homeland and regretted it sorely. ”
“I see.” But she really didn’t. She cut a hard look over at Morganna, who mouthed, Later.
“I brought oils and powders for her ladyship,” Morganna said to Ada, while pointing to the other room. “In that chest by the outer door. ’Tis heavy, but I think ye can manage it.”
“Of course I can manage it,” Ada said, her tone a bit snappish. She ushered Evie over to the cushioned stool closer to the fire and smiled. “A moment, m’lady, whilst I fetch the things poor Mistress Martha is too aged to carry for ye.”
“Chit,” Morganna said under her breath.
Evie bit her lip to keep from smiling, then whispered, “You’d better talk fast, because that girl isn’t slow about anything.”
“Jadrack, Jarrah, and Farbis are the visitors from yer homeland—Craig Durness, far to the west. Ye must not speak of yer Nashville or other American cities anymore.” She glanced at the door, then turned back to Evie.
“And Mercury is in the stable. He wished to see ye safe and well afore he returns to the future. Be impressed. ’Tis quite a feat to win the loyalty of a unicorn when ye are no longer a virgin. ”
“Mercury is a unicorn?”
“Why do ye think he glowed when we rode through the passage to the sidhe hill?”
“So you admit he glowed?” Evie couldn’t believe she’d ridden an actual unicorn. She couldn’t wait to get to the stables and see him again.
“Did I not just say that?” With a smug grin, Morganna eyed the door. “Yer maid is not moving so verra fast now, is she?”
“What did you do? Bolt that chest to the floor?” Evie dried her arms, neck, and face with the tail end of the linen.
It worked better than modern-day towels—at least the towels she’d always owned.
Poor Ada would be fit to be tied by the time she got back to the bedroom with the box of goods.
“Don’t pick on Ada. Once you leave me, she’ll be one of the few allies I have. ”
Morganna’s grin disappeared. “Ye will be fine, lass. I have faith in ye.” Easing closer, she peered at Evie as though studying her. “I know ye forged the bond and spoke the oath, but has yer mind made peace with yer heart and soul yet?”