Page 27 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)
T here was much to make ready in preparation for the May Day celebration that would take place that day.
Sorsha had been up well before sunrise and with the aid of Edra and Enid, the hall was looking quite festive.
Fortunately, the children had remained sleeping while she hurried through her tasks.
Sorsha smoothed her hand over the tablecloth she’d placed on a serving table near the buttery and admired the fine cloth.
She heard someone approaching and turned to see Clovis standing nearby, shifting shyly from foot to foot.
He was confident with Shaw but seemed to feel out of place here in the fief.
Still, he cleared his throat and said, “Milady, I am sorry to disturb ye, och the laird left before I could stop him. He went to sanctify the fields with a handful of soldiers.”
She smiled at him. “You are not disturbing me, Clovis. Good morn. What does ‘sanctify the fields’ mean?”
He chuckled. “The priest came early this morn to bless the peat. ’Tis when the head of each family carries burning peat around the fields and crops to bless them.
The smoke carries God’s blessing and ensures good crops.
When the men return, they will put the peat in their hearths to bless their homes and bring good fortune to them. ”
“Oh, that is lovely. Was there something you needed?” She set a bowl on the table and placed a small cloth inside it. Once Edra brought the bread, she’d cover it to keep it warm.
Clovis cleared his throat. “Milady Maven has gone to the graves again. Usually, the laird goes to retrieve her but since he’s gone…”
“I shall go. Worry not, Clovis.” Sorsha heard the patter of footsteps on the stairs.
The children were awake! Their sweet faces stared at her as she approached the exit of the keep where Mamo’s cloak hung on a peg.
“Ah, you finally awakened. Come, you shall eat your morning fare in the kitchen with Edra while I go and retrieve Mamo.”
Clovis bowed to her and hurried from the keep.
Sorsha took her daughter’s hand and then Luthor’s.
“Let us find something to fill those bellies of yours.” She grabbed her cloak and Mamo’s from their pegs and shuffled the children through the doorway into the kitchen.
But there was no one inside. Both Edra and Enid were likely seeing to the May Day celebration chores.
It left her in a quandary. She needed to take care of Shaw’s grandmother but couldn’t leave the children alone in the kitchen. So she lifted Gillian onto a stool and did likewise to Luthor before filling two bowls with pottage and setting a bowl before each of them and bidding them to eat.
As she watched her daughter, Sorsha was saddened. Gillian had always been a quiet child but now she was even more severe. She didn’t smile and no mirth shone in her eyes. The lass hadn’t yet spoken since her return to her.
Sorsha despaired at what to do about it.
Gillian had witnessed her father being killed and Sorsha hadn’t been allowed to console her.
Then the child had been taken from her and probably left on her own without a tender hand to guide her.
Was there a way to bring her daughter back from that traumatic chaos?
Luthor stuck his hand into his bowl of pottage and quickly swiped a handful of it across Gillian’s face. He laughed and wiped his hand over his tunic. Sorsha picked up a cloth and tried to clean up the mess, mostly on Gillian’s face. Her daughter made no sound or showed any shock.
“Luthor, why…? Why would you do such a thing?”
The lad shrugged his shoulders, picked up a spoon, and dipped it into the bowl, intent on eating whatever remained of his pottage. Sorsha wasn’t sure if she should punish him or even what the punishment would be. The last thing she wanted to do was to frighten the lad.
What was obvious was that Gillian paid no attention to the lad. Perhaps he was trying to incite her to speak. If that was so, it was a kindhearted thing to do though his actions weren’t very kind at all.
The kitchen door opened and Niahm entered. “Good morn, Milady.”
“Please, Niahm, we said we would not be so formal. You are my dear friend now and shall call me Sorsha.” She paused, “Right now, I need your favor.”
Niahm pressed her long red strands of hair behind her shoulder and smiled. “Of course, I shall be gladdened to help ye.”
“Will you watch the children whilst I go and retrieve Shaw’s mamo from the graves? Clovis told me that he was unable to get Shaw to do it before he left and he is stuck at the gate on duty.”
Niahm nodded but as she peered at the children, her expression crumpled. Before Sorsha knew what was happening, her friend broke down into a mass of tears. Sorsha wasn’t sure what she’d said to upset her but the lass was troubled. She hurried to her friend’s side and guided her onto a vacant stool.
“Sit and be calm.” Sorsha looked about for a clean cloth and found one draped over the side of a bucket of what appeared to be fresh water.
She dampened the cloth, then pressed it to her friend’s face to wipe away her tears and over the back of her neck.
“That should make you feel better. Tell me! What’s wrong? Are you ailing? Why are you weeping?”
“The children…” Niahm pressed her hands over her face and continued weeping.
Sorsha set her arm around her to offer comfort. “What about the children?” She glanced at them but Gillian and Luthor paid no attention to them while they ate their pottage.
“I… How can this be happening? I thought I’d done what was needed, but now…Oh, I cannot be a mother! What am I to do?”
A dawning struck her. “Oho…you are going to be a mother.”
“That is what the midwife tells me.”
She hugged Niahm and pressed her hand over her pretty hair. “I am sorry, Niahm. Have you spoken to Walen?” She knew that he was the child’s father.
“No. There is no reason to. He will not marry me.”
“How can you be sure if you don’t speak to him?”
Her friend sniffled. “I don’t know.”
Sorsha frowned. “I know you love him and he loves you, doesn’t he?”
Niahm shrugged. “He says he does.”
“Well then, ’tis easy enough. We shall make sure he marries you…
” Sorsha gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I am pleased by this and we shall talk more about it. Right now, I must go and get Mamo from the graves. Can you watch the children until I return?” When Niahm nodded, Sorsha turned to the children.
“Be behaved and do not give Mistress Niahm any trouble. Finish your morning fare. I shall return quickly.”
Sorsha hurried out of the kitchen and practically trotted to the gate; her dash shortened her breath and made her heart pound.
She waved to Clovis as she passed. By the time she reached the graves, she was gasping and had to bend over with her hands on her knees from the exertion of running so far.
As she did, she noticed that there was a guard trailing her and reasoned that Clovis must have sent him for her protection since she had left the gates.
As she straightened, she scanned the cemetery for the elder woman and spotted her lying on the ground, her long hair spread like a splash of silver against the new green grass covering the graves.
With slower steps, Sorsha approached Mamo and knelt next to her.
For a moment, she thought she might not be breathing.
She touched her lightly on the shoulder and Mamo’s eyes fluttered open and Sorsha gasped.
Shaw’s grandmother appeared briefly confused before she stretched a little and yawned.
“Good morn, Mamo. Here, let us get you warm. ’Tis a chilly morn.
” Sorsha placed her fur-lined cloak around the old woman’s shoulders, noting her frailty.
Shaw was right to be concerned; it wasn’t good for her to be lying on the cold ground in the night air.
“We should get you back to the fief.” She helped the lady to rise by gently taking her hands and pulling her upright.
The guardsman stood a good distance from them and couldn’t overhear what they said. Sorsha was gladdened because she hoped Mamo would confide in her.
“I…I am sorry to trouble ye, lass. Somehow… Well, I sometimes end my nights here.” Mamo appeared embarrassed.
“You did not trouble me at all. Why do you come here? This is such a sad place.” Sorsha stuck out her arm. “Hold on to me whilst we walk back.”
“This place is dear to my heart. ’Tis where all those I love are resting. They await me.”
“I hope you do not plan to join them soon.”
Mamo’s eyes lowered. “Every day it is my greatest hope, but alas, here I remain.”
She clutched the old woman’s arm tightly. “And gladdened I am because it would distress Shaw to lose you…and me as well. I have never had a grandmother. Mine passed before I was born.”
“I shall be happy to oblige ye, lass, and will be your mamo.”
“Mamo, that makes my heart happy. Let us return.” She called over her shoulder to the guardsman and said, “Can you take Mamo’s arm too. The ground is treacherous here.” He did as she asked and held onto Mamo’s elbow. As Sorsha traipsed the hilly walk back to the fief, she kept quiet.
“So many are out and about,” Mamo said when they reached the gate.
“The festivities are soon to begin. All are excited.” Sorsha realized the falsehood she’d spoken then because not all were excited.
Gillian was far from jubilant about celebrating May Day.
Unlike most children, her daughter had never been fond of festivals.
If only her daughter would smile and laugh again. If only she would speak to her.
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