Page 58 of Bride Takes a Charmer
“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 thelane. 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 thesop seileritual.”
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.”