Page 55 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Nineteen

“Whatisit,lass?”Craig said, looking confused at his wife’s reaction to his words.

She wiped the tears from her face.“’Tis no’hing.I am just weary and I think ‘tis so nice that ye want me to come with ye.”

He placed his knuckle under her chin and raised her head.“I think ‘twould be good for ye to get away.From what I’ve been told ye have been working verra hard.”

Her heart swelled with joy.Mayhap he still believed Helena was the perfect woman, but the day might arrive when he saw her in a light different than the shrew he’d believed her to be when they’d married.“Is Helena going to Varrich, also?”She asked.

“Nay.Robin dinna want to leave the clan with no healer, and since Helena preferred to stay behind this time, she can take care of any injuries while ye are gone.”

She felt as silly as a young lass that Craig wanted her with him.If only she could learn to trust the mon, then she knew they could have a good life together.True, he’d been away for most of their marriage, but everything she’d heard about him while he was gone hadn’t given her reason to believe that in a fit of temper he would lay his hands on her.

And after spending weeks with Robin and Helena, seeing the love and devotion between them, it might be a good idea to open her heart to him.The way she’d missed him while he was at the border told her that feelings she dinna want when she married him, had slowly changed.Mayhap some time away with him might help them.Could he actually begin to care for her?

She met up with Helena at the great hall where she was finishing up her meal.“We have a few patients to see this morning.Cait MacKay sent a young boy from the village to see me, with a message to ask if we could visit with her today.”

“Did the laird ever get the chance to speak with her husband about her injuries?”

“Aye.He sent word to Gaun to come to the brooch to speak with him.At first the mon tried to tell my husband that his wife fell against a table and that’s where the bruise came from.Robin told him we would be checking on Cait during the rest of her pregnancy and if there were any more bruises, he would have Gaun whipped.”

“Ach!Do ye think he would really do that?”

Helena smiled.“Oh, aye.Robin is verra firm about a mon no’ taking care of those entrusted to him.”

Lorena filed those words away.

Cait was feeling quite miserable when they saw her.The summer was officially over and the cooler weather was causing her chills.The bairn was moving around quite a bit and the poor woman looked tired and cranky.

“Do ye have someone who can help ye with the heavy work?”Lorena asked.

“There is my auntie who lives at the end of the village, but she is getting on in years and the cold weather tightens up her fingers so bad.Gaun has been helpful lately.”She smiled, her entire face lighting up.“I doona ken what happened, but he is verra nice to me lately.”

Lorena and Helena shared a smile.Apparently Robin’s threat with a whipping was all the mon needed to control his temper.

“I am most pleased to hear that, Cait.We will be checking on ye every few days.Should ye need us before then, just send word to the brooch.”Helena gave the lass some herbs that she told her would help her sleep and then Lorena went out to the wagon and brought in a bucket of Maude’s famous mutton stew and some fresh baked bread.

Cait was most appreciative, and Lorena left there feeling very good.She placed her hand on her still flat stomach.“Helena, how long will it be before my stomach starts to expand?”

“Every woman’s body is different, but ye can expect to see a bit of growth by yer third month.How have ye been feeling?”

“Tired.Otherwise, I am well.”Helena glanced sideways at her.“Have ye told Craig yet?”

“Nay.He was injured when he arrived back, as ye ken, and then we got into a bit of a disagreement.Although, now that he has invited me to go with him to Castle Varrich, I am feeling much more pleasant toward him.”

Helena laughed.“Robin and I had some disagreements at the beginning.I think all married couples do.”

“Have ye ever been to Varrich?”

Helena shook her head.“Nay.I was a mere healer and orphan growing up.I was just happy to have a roof over my head, food, and a way to earn my keep.Going to events at other castles was something I dinna even dream of, so far above me such things were.”

Feeling a little guilty, Lorena said, “Do ye feel bad on missing out on this one?”

Her sister by marriage must have read something into her words because she stopped and placed her hand on her arm.“Doona fash yerself, Lorena.I am happy to stay behind.Ye were raised as a laird’s daughter so ye ken more of castle life than I ever will.I believe I would be uncomfortable.”

“Ye are the laird’s wife!”Lorena said.

“Aye.But I doona feel like such most days.”