Colin continued the teasing. “You rut after her like a stallion after a mare in heat.”
Bridge giggled.
Faith heard the conversation, and thinking herself in a dream, remarked, “Aye, that he does… and he’s built like a fine stallion, too.”
Bridget turned bright red and the three men roared. Colin and Borg slapped Eric on the back.
“Not a better compliment could be given,” Borg said.
“And so Faith is not embarrassed when she wakes we will take our leave,” Colin said.
“A wise choice,” Borg agreed and reached for Bridget’s hand. She looked to Eric.
“I will see to her care,” he assured her and turned to Colin. “Inform Lady Terra that Lady Faith is delayed and will speak to her later.”
“My pleasure,” he answered with a charming smile, a dramatic bow and a knowing wink before he exited the room.
“That man could charm a witch,” Borg said.
“He will have his chance then with Lady Terra,” Bridget confirmed and shivered. “That one is pure evil.”
Eric and Borg exchanged concerned glances.
“Oh, my,” Faith said softly, her eyes fluttering their way open.
Borg nodded to Eric and with Bridget’s hand in his they hurried out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Faith sighed and gathered her jumbled thoughts as her eyes drifted fully open. “I cannot believe I fainted again, Bridget.”
“A growing habit.”
“Eric,” she said, surprised when her eyesight turned alert.
“Is there something you wish to tell me?” he asked, his blue eyes full of concern and his voice gentle though anxious.
She wondered if his hand rested intentionally on her stomach or if his own thoughts brought it there. She did not wish to disappoint him and yet she still could not confirm if she was with child. There was an excellent chance she was and in one more week or two she would be certain, but she could not admit to carrying a child now and then possibly disappoint him. Besides, she was feeling simply wonderful. She ate without her stomach protesting, did not tear for no reason and felt wonderfully hungry in the morning. She displayed no signs of being with child, though she was aware that some women were prone to fainting spells when they carried.
She decided honesty was her best answer. She placed her hand over his. “I will be certain in a week or two.”
He would have preferred a more definite answer and while he told himself to be patient and wait, he already grew anxious about her health. “You feel well?”
“Never better,” she admitted and pushed herself up to sit. “Actually I am suddenly quite famished.”
Again his disappointment showed. “Your stomach does not protest?”
“Only lack of sustenance.”
He stood. “I will see that food is brought to you.”
She slipped off the bed, her smile bright. “I think I prefer to visit with Mary in the kitchen… this way there will be more for the choosing.”
“That hungry are we?”
She nodded and headed for the door.
“Your stepmother waits in the hall.”
That stopped her and she turned. “I had forgotten about her.”
He walked over to her. “Bridget explained what happened.”
“I could not tolerate her another moment.”
“You need not, this is your home,” he said, pushing her fiery red hair away from her face. She had stopped concealing her scar weeks ago and that pleased him. But what pleased him more was the fact that she felt no shame when naked in front of him. He simply regarded the long, thin scar as a badge of honor won by a warrior who had been victorious in battle.
His hand drifted to the back of her neck and he pulled her to him as he leaned down to share a kiss. The mutually loving exchange brought sighs of satisfaction and whispers of promises each would fulfill for the other before the day was done.
A loud grumble from Faith’s stomach caused them both to smile.
“Come, I will make certain your belly is filled.”
She giggled as they left the room. “I think you have already done that, my lord.”
He stopped and captured her chin in his large hand. “I would be proud for you to carry my child.”
She broke free of his gentle hold and raised herself on tiptoes to deposit a fast kiss on his lips. “And I would be the happiest woman in the world to have your babe.”
“Now that we have agreed on that and you have made it known that I possess the size and potency of a stallion, we will—”
She gasped and grabbed his arm as they proceeded down the stairs. “It was not a dream? I really spoke those words to you?”
He smiled. “Not only to me.” He then proceeded to give her a full accounting of her remark. It was a red-faced Lady Faith who entered the kitchen.
o0o
“I do not think we should be doing this,” Bridget said as they walked toward the Donnegan wagons near the castle gate, Colin following not far behind them.
Faith held tightly to her healing basket, afraid her trembling hands would betray her nervousness. She had eaten a hardy meal with Eric and with duties of the keep calling him he had turned her over to Colin’s care. He thought her to be busy with tending the ill today, but she had other thoughts. “I need another look at Nora’s body.”
“Colin will not allow it,” Bridget whispered. “I heard Lord Eric instruct him to keep a careful eye on you.”
“I know, I heard the same instructions myself, but . . .” she said, her voice falling low. “I do not think Colin will enter a cottage where a woman close to her birthing time is being examined.”
“But how will you sneak past him?”
“Colin cannot be in two places at once and Rebecca has two doors to her cottage. We enter through the front door and I will exit out the one that opens onto her garden. It will take me only a few moments to reach the empty cottage where Nora’s body waits for burial tomorrow. A quick peek and I will be back.”
“I am going with you,” Bridget insisted.
Faith protested with a shake of her head. “You cannot. You must remain at Rebecca’s cottage in case Colin calls for me.”
“And what if you faint again?”
“I will revive on my own soon enough
Bridget looked at her with concerned eyes. “It is dangerous for you to go off on your own.”
Faith smiled. “I will not be on my own. Rook will come with me.”
The large animal followed beside her, his attention steady on his surroundings and on her.
“You will not be gone long?”
“Nay, I will have my look and be on my way.” She would not be deterred from her intentions. She felt she had missed something when last she had looked upon the scarred body, and she wished another look.
They both stopped talking when they came upon the cottage; Colin moved to follow them in.
Faith blocked his path with a raised hand. “I think it is best if you remain outside.”
Colin smiled. “Lord Eric has instructed I not leave your side.”
She returned a smile as charming as his. “Then you will stand beside me while I examine Rebecca, who is large with child?”
Colin’s smile faded. “I will wait right outside this door.”
“A wise choice,” Faith said and disappeared inside, shutting the door behind her.
Faith explained her plan to Rebecca and the young girl eagerly agreed, feeling privileged that Lady Faith would place such trust and confidence in her. Faith switched hooded cloaks with Bridget and she quietly slipped out the other door with Rook at her side.
She moved swiftly, avoiding open areas and keeping her hood pulled down to conceal her identity. She was glad for the fine mist that began to drizzle, causing many to seek shelter and others to speed their outdoor tasks before a heavy rainfall began.
No guards were assigned to the cottage. Nora was now Lady Terra’s responsibility and she had
ordered that the young servant be prepared for burial and requested a plot of earth from Lord Eric. Faith was relieved to learn that Nora was to be buried on sacred ground—that of the soil behind the castle chapel.
Rook followed Faith inside the small cottage. It was dark and damp and a dense chill filled the room. A single candle glowed beside the girl’s cold, stiff body. Her dress of brown coarse wool and white tunic looked familiar and Faith realized the clothes belonged to Bridget; they were her best garments when at Donnegan keep. They were no longer necessary to her. Eric saw to it that the servants of the keep were finely outfitted and Bridget with her stitching skill created handsome garments for herself.
Faith approached the corpse slowly. Nora had been washed, her torn skin stitched and her hair washed and plaited. Her eyes held a stitch in each one, the living fearing to look into the eyes of the dead, frightened death would try to steal their souls and return. She looked asleep—as if in peace—and Faith was glad that she had been tended by caring hands.
Rook positioned himself by the door, protesting with whines and whimpers in steady intervals. He evidently did not care to be there, but then neither did she.
She ordered him quiet with a promise that they would leave soon.
Hasty steps took her to the head of the table where Nora lay in repose. She moved the candle closer to her face to study the scar that had been stitched. She remembered the wide gash and even now, with numerous stitches holding it closed, one could see how jagged and deep it had been. The scar followed down her neck in a haphazard path. Seeing the wound again for herself made Faith realize that the person who had inflicted it did so in a rage of unbridled anger.
Faith’s attacker had not been angry but rather on a mission against evil. His cut was precise and intentional, as if he understood or at least believed exactly where evil resided in a body. But the person who had attacked Nora simply had slashed out at her with the sole attempt of killing her. The thought that someone would kill so maliciously frightened her, for surely such a person was possessed of insanity.
She shivered and Rook whined.
“I agree, boy… let us be off.”
o0o
Colin pushed away from the cottage wall he was leaning against as Eric approached. He had positioned himself under the eave of the cottage roof to avoid the fine mist that fell and which would surely dampen his clothes. Dark clouds had moved rapidly toward them from the east, causing the wind to pick up and the rain to start, making Eric’s arrival timely. He would want Faith returned to the keep before the rain turned heavy.
“Lady Faith is inside,” Colin informed Eric as he drew near.
Eric joined him under the eave. “Will she soon finish?”
Colin shrugged. “She has not been in there that long.”
Colin’s eye caught a fair maiden walking a short distance from them. She was wrapped in a soft green wool cloak, her pretty face a lovely sight to behold.
Eric grinned and shook his head. “You will learn to curb that wandering eye when I find you a wife.”
Colin dramatically clasped his hands over his heart. “If I cannot have a wife as brave, strong and loving as Lady Faith, I fear I cannot marry at all.”
“I doubt another like my wife exists but I promise I will do my best to find one similar in nature and quality,” Eric insisted just as dramatically.
Both men grew silent as their eyes watched the intentional swaying hips of another maiden that passed by. Her generous smile settled on Colin.
Colin was about to call out to her when Eric stilled his response with a firm hand to his arm and a finger to his own lips for silence. Colin obeyed, remaining silent along with his friend, and listening, though for what he was not sure.
After several moments Colin understood what it was Eric had heard.
“Two voices,” Eric whispered to Colin, and he nodded his agreement. “And neither one belongs to my wife.”
Both men stood and approached the closed door.
o0o
Faith meandered her way around the cottages so as not to be noticed. In her haste and with Rook close on her heels and the rain beginning to fall in earnest she hurried her steps, causing Rook to grow anxious from her nervous pace and race up against her.
Caught off balance from the weight of the large dog being thrown against her, Faith found herself tumbling to the wet ground facefirst. She sputtered and spit dirt from her mouth and staggered to her feet with difficulty, her garments wet and muddy and weighing her small frame down.
She cast Rook a reproachful glance and with no time to waste she hurried her steps once again though with her weighted garments her steps were not as quick.
Faith entered the back door of Rebecca’s cottage with a sigh of relief, her face marred with mud and her garments soaked.
Bridget and Rebecca sat at the lone table near the hearth and cast stunned eyes upon the frightful creature that stepped through the door. After a moment of shock was replaced by recognition, the two women stood at the same time the front door was thrown open and Eric and Colin marched in.
Eric cast shocked eyes at the woman in the doorway, shook his head along with Colin and set his eyes upon her once again.
“Faith?” He seemed to ask the question of himself and then he growled that low rumbly growl that portended his anger.
Faith did not respond; she wisely chose silence.
Bridget and Rebecca dropped back down in their chairs.
Colin smiled and kept control of his desire to laugh out loud.
Rook sneaked past Faith and over to Colin’s side.
“Smart dog,” Colin whispered to him.
Faith decided at that moment to explain. “Eric—”
She never got past his name; he was on her in a flash, grabbing her, hoisting her over his shoulder and marching out the door without a word to anyone.
Chapter Thirty-one
Faith kept her hood pulled down over her head as Eric marched boldly across the castle grounds, through the keep and up the stairs. She heard whispers, giggles and laughter and while she hoped all who saw the outrageous incident would simply think the dark lord was about to folly with a servant, she could not easily convince herself. All at Shanekill Castle knew the Irish devil loved his lady and the only woman he would hoist over his shoulder and carry to his bedchamber would be his wife, Lady Faith.
Gossip was probably already spreading, the women admiring Lord Eric’s romantic actions and the men boasting of his potency. The topic would entertain the wagging tongues for days.
Eric bellowed for a bath to be brought immediately to his chambers as they crossed the great hall and mounted the stairs. Faith heard the servants scurry at his command and she also heard their giggles and whispers.
His booted foot kicked open his bedchamber door and he walked to the middle of the room where he deposited her much more gently than she had anticipated.
He stared at her briefly and then rubbing his chin and jaw he began to circle her slowly. Faith remained as she was, though a chill seeped into her bones from her damp clothes. Still she thought it wise not to move.
He stopped circling and asked, “Do I want to know where you have been?”
She thought to respond but he supplied the answer himself.
He began circling her again. “Nay, I would grow angry if I learned you disobeyed my orders and had gone off alone.”
He stopped and glared at her, his blue eyes bright with tempered rage.
She remained still, though her teeth were near to chattering.
He continued walking around her. “And if I learned that my wife decided to take it upon herself and sneak off to—” He stopped abruptly both in talk and movement and glared at her for several minutes before he sought another answer. “Did you go to see Nora again?”
She opened her mouth to reply and once again he responded to his own query.
“But of course you did. You knew that I would forbid you access to her disturbing corpse so you set out to s
ee it without permission.”
She was about to nod a reply when several servants carried the large wooden tub into the room and placed it in front of the fiery hearth. More servants followed, filling the extra-large tub with buckets and buckets of steaming water.
Faith wanted to cry at the thought of the warm water seeping into her bones and chasing her deep chill away. Instead she shivered.
With a softly muttered oath her husband was upon her. “If you grow ill because of your rash actions I will thrash you.” He then proceeded to strip the sopping wet cloak off her and when he felt her cold skin and realized the depth of her chill he released several more oaths and shouted an order for the servants to hurry.
Bridget entered the room just as the last of the buckets were being emptied into the tub, after which Faith sighed with relief.
Borg followed just behind, with Rook beside him.
“Out,” Eric ordered, to everyone’s surprise.
Bridget attempted to protest, but a warning look from Borg and a firm hand to her arm stopped her. The servants hurried out, followed by Borg who shoved Bridget out in front of him with Rook trailing behind, his tail between his legs and his ears drooping.
Eric said nothing; he stripped himself to his waist in an instant and then he proceeded to strip her. His hands worked fast and steady and as the warm air in the room hit her skin she shivered and her teeth chattered.
“I should thrash you now,” he said, though his voice held more concern than anger.
“I-I—”
“Not now,” he ordered and scooped her naked body into his arms. He carried her to the tub and gently lowered her into the steaming water.
She sighed loudly from the exquisite pleasure of the hot water seeping into her bones and chasing away the awful chill that had consumed her. She slipped down under the water until it covered her shoulders and again she sighed.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said, looking to her husband who kneeled beside the tub.
“You are a sight,” he said in an attempt to scold.
Faith dumped several handfuls of water over her face to rid herself of the mud.
The Irish Devil Page 33