The man’s muscular body was garbed in a red plaid tartan with athick leather belt at his hips. A scabbard crossed his back and held a massive sword. She lowered her eyes when he caught her looking. Eva’s cheeks heated at her embarrassment and when she chanced to take another peek at him, she caught him watching her with vivid green eyes. He had the most attractive face she’d ever seen on a man, lightly whiskered and shaded in the same lightness of his locks.
Hastily, she walked away, completely abashed by her forwardness. That’s when she noticed the page was gone and must’ve left her. She approached the apothecary’s stall and intended to buy something to help her father’s wheezing.
“I need a remedy for my father. He is having trouble breathing and wheezes,” she told the man who stood in front of the stall.
“I am sorry to hear that, Mistress.” The seller was an aged man who quickly gave her a medicinal for her father’s ailment. “This tincture, Mistress, should aid him. ’Tis just spices mixed with a wee bit of plant oil. Have him add some drops to his ale twice each day. And take this wad of jimsonweed. Burn it in your hearth so it fills the chamber with its curative smoke. He shall be eased in no time.”
Eva took the jar and reddish-purple stems from him, paid the man, and thanked him. Then she realized she hadn’t brought anything for herself. She grabbed a jar from his stall table, opened it, lifted it to her nose, and took a whiff. The mixture wafted to her and reminded her of spring when flowers bloomed. “This smells nice.”
“Oh, aye, Mistress. ’Tis a cream to soften your face, made from rose petal oil and a scoop of beeswax. Just rub it on after a wash and your skin shall be as soft as a bairn’s.”
“I shall take it.”
After paying for her purchases, she secured them in the basket and walked along the lane, admiring the many stalls she passed. Someone startled her when they shouted behind her. Eva turned abruptly and found the Highlander she’d seen earlier. He stood close, holding onto the arm of a lad. The man appeared angry as his brows furrowed andhe gripped the lad as if he was about to give him a thrashing.
“Leave him be! What is the trouble…?” Before she could finish her question, the lad dislodged his arm from the man and sprinted off.
“Come back here, ye wee thief,” the Highlander shouted. But the lad disappeared beyond a group of people standing on the lane. “Ye should guard yourself, lass, against thieves,” he said huskily and handed her coin pouch back.
Eva took the pouch from him, and frowned at it. She’d been unaware that the lad had picked it from her. When she lifted her gaze to the Highlander, his becoming green eyes stayed on hers and caused heat to wind its way through her. What held her spellbound was his lightly whiskered face. He had the beginnings of a beard but it didn’t overtake the skin of his hard jaws. His manly brows furrowed slightly as he stared back at her.
She craned her neck to look at his face and uttered, “My thanks, but I was in no need of your aid. There were only a handful of coins in the pouch, not much of a loss.”
“I was only trying to save ye from losing your coin,” he said, stepping closer.
He was intimidating not only with his height but also with the strength he portrayed. His bared arms bulged at the biceps and even his forearms were thick with muscle.
The man made no further rebuke for her carelessness.
“’Tis no wonder the lad ran off. You frightened him and should have a care how you speak to those of a tender age.” Eva likely insulted him given his hard stare and slack-jawed expression. She hurried away and tucked the pouch inside her overdress seam to keep it safe. After ensuring that the Highlander hadn’t followed her, she tried to find the lad.
At the end of the lane, she spotted him. The dark-haired lad stood with a woman and he appeared to be upset. Likely the Highlander had scared the wits from him. She approached slowly so she wouldn’tcause him to flee. When she stood beside them, she overheard the lad.
“I swear, Ma, I tried but was caught,” the lad said to the woman.
Eva stepped in front of the lad. “You tried to thieve from me.”
“Oh, Mistress, I am sorry. My son…he was just trying to help me. Pray, do not call the sheriff’s men. We meant no harm.” The woman looked as if she’d weep. Her tattered garments, as well as the lad’s, indicated that they were vagrants. She realized that they were an impoverished family who were probably hungry.
Eva took pity on her. “I am not here to cause trouble, ma’am. I just…” With a glance nearby, she hastened to a cart and purchased another basket. Then she removed the items she’d bought except for the bread and the apples. She returned to the woman and handed the basket to her. “Here, take this.”
The woman’s eyes widened at her with disbelief. “I…I cannot take that, Mistress.”
“Please, take it. And here, a few coins to help you get through the next day or two.” Eva collected four coins in her palm and placed them in the woman’s hand.
The woman sobbed and clutched the coins. “I do not know how to thank you, Mistress.”
“Have you no husband? Home?”
She shook her head. “My husband died fighting for the king and we were ousted from our home when I could not pay the owner. We have been in the cold for months.”
Eva commiserated with the woman. “I am sorry to hear that. Make sure your lad doesn’t thieve though. The last thing you need is for him to end up jailed. If your son needs employment, have him come to the castle. I shall tell the chamberlain to give him a job. He can earn coins to help you.”
“You would do that for us, Mistress?”
Eva nodded and turned. “Of course, I would be glad to. What is his name?”
“Thomas, Mistress.”
