Page 39 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)
Mamo scoffed. “Och, ye be bent for no reason, lass. Ye know your ma never intended to gift it to ye. The only reason your ma kept it was because of its value in gold. Ye always confessed that ye did not like the brooch. I say good on ye, Shaw, for using it to please Lady Sorsha. That was a fair idea, melting it down to make a cuff for her.”
“Ye should have told me that ye wanted it,” Shaw said to Corliss.
“Ye never asked and why should I have to ask for a possession of Ma’s?” Corliss leaned toward Idris but he spoke low in her ear.
Sorsha was dismayed that she had upset Corliss once again. And just when they were on more friendly terms. She would have to apologize to her privately with the hope that Corliss wouldn’t hold it against her.
Idris finished his quiet discussion with Corliss and she nodded. “It matters not…about the brooch, that is. Ma gifted me with other trinkets to remember her by. Lady Sorsha, the cuff does appear beautiful with that gown though.”
Sorsha almost choked on the sip of wine she’d taken at what seemed to be a compliment coming from the horrid woman. She nodded but said nothing.
Supper was coming to an end, thankfully. The conversation with Corliss was awkward and she wanted to escape Shaw’s sister’s watchful eye. Shaw finished his meal and rose. Walen took notice and shouted for all to be quiet. The hall silenced immediately.
“Clan of Mackintosh, in two days hence I will be leaving the fief for a visitation to our crofters and farmers.” Shaw took her hand and bade her to rise.
“I was given the hand of this bonny woman by the king himself as my bride. My wife, Sorsha, and I will journey to our clan’s outlying areas to also give the news that the king has permitted us to keep our tax in the coming year. ”
A shout of cheer arose.
“We will leave the children here and shall be gone for a sennight or two.”
Sorsha kept her expression from showing her displeasure. She didn’t want to leave the children but she understood why Shaw wanted to give the news to the crofters in person. Before they left, she had many tasks to see to. Namely, who would watch the children whilst they were away?
“Shaw,” Corliss called, and stood. “Idris and I would like to accompany ye and Lady Sorsha on this journey. ’Tis been a long time since I visited the crofters and it might aid my husband when we finally gain the rights to our land back.”
“If ye wish to come along, I see no issue with it.” Shaw nodded to her.
Sorsha drew a deep breath of discouragement. The only reason she got along with Corliss in the last days was because they hardly ever saw each other. On such a journey, she would have to suffer her company, God forbid, morn, noon, and night.
Corliss and her husband left the hall a short time later.
Sorsha noted the hushed, harsh voices between them.
They were having a row about something. If anything, she felt sorry for Idris, being married to such a harridan.
Still, he was no valiant knight either. The two of them were a match made in Hell with their surly natures.
As she sat by herself, a myriad of items flitted through her mind of things that she needed to tend to the next day.
Even as she trudged up the steps after helping Edra clean up the hall, she yawned and made a mental list. Shaw was quiet on their walk to their chamber. He opened the door for her and she hurried to sit on the bed.
Sorsha removed the gold armband and set it beside her. “I cannot believe Corliss wanted your mother’s brooch. You should have given it to her. I feel terrible now…”
“My sister never wanted it. Besides, my ma gave me several of her things to keep. I would not fret about it.”
She sighed with weariness and set the brooch on the trunk where she kept her belongings. “I am not fretting about it.” Once she finished disrobing, she pulled back the bedcover. Lying back, she closed her eyes and breathed easily.
The bed shifted with Shaw’s weight when he sat on the mattress. He yawned and then pressed his body against hers. “I missed ye when I was away.”
“You were only gone for three days.” She giggled lightly when she felt his lips press her neck. Sorsha reached for him and settled her arm above his waist.
“Three long days, lass. I can see that ye are tired so I will let ye get some sleep. But I promise to awaken ye in the morn and spur your desire.”
Sorsha snuggled closer to him. “I like it when you awaken me, as long as you promise not too early.” She heard him grunt in response but didn’t mind because he was beside her.
She wouldn’t admit how much she’d missed him too. With each day, Sorsha was in danger of losing her heart to him. Then she reconsidered her thought. She loved Shaw and always had.
In her bedchamber the next morning, Sorsha readied for the day. Enid had come to collect the children for their breakfasts and now she finished dressing. As she stood by the window, she gazed at the lane that passed by the fief.
Suddenly, a magpie landed on the stone sill and startled her by chirping noisily.
Sorsha jumped back with a gasp. Magpies were thought to bring a bad omen or death.
If only one magpie appeared, it was a sure sign that someone would soon die.
Sorsha wasn’t much for superstition, but birds were often considered mystical creatures.
With her hand, she flapped it at the window casement, and thankfully, the magpie flew away.
By the time Sorsha left the holding, clouds grayed the sky and she draped her shawl around her shoulders to ward off the slight breeze.
In spite of the chill, there was much activity about the lane.
The clan was busy preparing for the harvest. Carts lined the path which would take the harvested fruit and vegetables to the kitchens where they would be readied for storage.
Edra would probably be run off her feet all day and so Sorsha headed to the kitchen to help her.
She entered and found the woman sitting on a stool looking somewhat defeated. “Mistress Edra, there you are. Have you seen the children?”
“The children were here but a moment ago but I sent them to fetch straw for me. I have been up before the sun rose this day. My feet are aching and so is my back. I could use your help if ye have the time.” Edra moaned and set her hand at her waist.
“Tell me what you need.” Sorsha stood beside the table awaiting direction.
“Tis the day we perform the sop seile ritual.”
Sorsha poured a cup of warm mead and set it before the elder woman.
“This should help ease you. I never heard of such a ritual. What is it?” Although she lived by the border, her family usually followed the English in their practices.
Her father had been primarily a merchant with a fleet of ships and most of the rituals he adhered to were those of seafaring.
She wondered who would now occupy her father’s manor, who would command his fleet of ships, and what would happen to her father’s wealth since Edmund had written of his probable death.
Hopefully whoever took over her father’s business looked out for the men her father had employed and the servants who lived at their manor.
“Oh, Milady, throughout the year straw wisps are collected in buckets and some people add metals like silver or gold to the water. The metals seep into the wisps and when harvest time comes, the men take the wisps and use them to place drops of water onto items needed for good fortune.”
“Like what sort of items?”
“’Tis believed that the droplets protect the home and dwellers from nefarious eyes.
It is also practiced on horses and their harnesses and rubbed on plows before being sent to the fields when planting begins in the spring.
Farmers are a superstitious lot and they think the ritual will bring a good harvest season. ”
“It is an interesting thing to be sure.” She looked at Edra’s weary face. “You should stay off your feet for a spell. What do you need me to do?”
“Take that bucket and visit the cottages along the lane. They will give ye the wisps. The wisps will need to be taken to Jonah, the stable master. He shall know what to do with them.”
At that moment, Corliss entered the kitchens. “Why is the morning fare late to the table? I’ve sat there for an eternity.”
Sorsha took pity on Edra and spoke up, “Edra has a malady this morn and cannot bring it. If you want a meal, you can fix it yourself.”
Corliss muttered something under her breath and turned to face the shelving where the foodstuff was placed. As she went about preparing her morning fare, she ignored them.
Before Sorsha left, she helped Edra rise. “Perhaps it is best that you take to your bed for a little while. You can return later after a rest.”
Edra bobbed her head. “Aye, I shall, Milady. I want to check on Lady Maven too.”
“We shall see you later, Corliss.” Sorsha snatched the bucket that she needed to collect the wisps and guided Edra from the kitchens.
How could the lady hold such disparaged thoughts about her own grandmother?
Sorsha thought Mamo’s devotion to her husband was kind of romantic, especially in the way she spoke of joining him in the hereafter.
Mamo missed her love. Sorsha would miss Shaw if she ever lost him.
Maybe she should tell Shaw that she loved him.
She mused about it as Edra ambled inside, and then as she moved down the lane to the last cottage and knocked at the entrance.
A young lass opened the door.
“Good day, I am helping Edra by collecting wisps.”
The lass invited her inside. “Milady, we are pleased ye have come. Here,” she said, and hastened to the small kitchen area inside the cottage. “We only have one wisp. Da headed to the fields to help with the harvest and Ma was called to help birth a bairn. I am looking after my brother and sister.”