She decided to get back to her work with the mushrooms and on obtaining parchment and ink to keep notes.
“William?Might I ask ye a favor?”she asked that morning as they dressed in their chambers.
William curved around her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, then pressed a warm kiss against her neck.
“Any favor ye desire, I shall give.”
Don’t say that yet, she thought.
“I was thinking about the puddock stools.”
He lifted his head so his lips brushed her ear.“Of course ye were.What must we do with them now?”
Thatwe.Och, it made her insides melt.
“More planting, as I’ve said.But I thought it might be useful if I had a way to keep track of where they are planted and when.Do ye have parchment and ink I may use to do this?”
He stiffened behind her.
Oh, feck.Is there a problem with that?How have I overstepped now?
“The only writing utensils are in Uncle Cormag’s study, and mayhap in Caitir’s salon.I dinna think ‘twould be wise to use those.If ye are none to weary and can wait a bit, we shall ride to the larger market at Stonehaven later today, and I’ll purchase your needed items.”
Hewill purchase.That told her everything she needed to know about the state of women's writing in the early Middle Ages.
Ailith nodded.“Thank ye.I’d love to go and ride with ye.We have no’ done so in a while.”
His lips pressed against her ear.“I would think we rode quite a bit last night, but if ye want another ride first …” He trailed off as his tongue traced her ear.She shivered.
“Save your energies for this eve.I’d rather return from Stonehaven before the rain catches us.”
He released her with a grin.“Ye promised me a ride tonight.I’ll hold ye to it,mo ruaidh.”
A smile crept across her face.His attention and affection were unwavering and undeniable.
“And I ye,” she teased back as they departed their chambers.
The ride to Stonehaven was easy.They were ahead of the rain, but dark clouds gathered on the horizon.William flicked his gaze west.
“We might have a damp day searching for your puddock-stools on the morrow.”
“I’ll wear my hood.Are ye worried the rain will melt ye?”she asked with a slight grin.
It was a movie reference he wouldn’t get, but Ailith couldn't help herself.It was a joke her father had often made about the rain, and since he’d been in her thoughts much since the wedding, the memory of Jack’s tease came to her now.
“Like a wad of dirt?Nay.I’m more hardy than that.”
“So am I,” she replied.“And I have urgency with this.”
She felt him nod behind her as they reached the edge of the village.“Aye.I can understand that.”
The village of Stonehaven was as bustling as it had been a few days prior, when she had purchased his Luckenbooth.Tying off the horse to a rail at the edge of the market, William took her hand and led her past several stalls.
“The scrivener is at the end of the stalls,” William said as they walked.
But Ailith’s attention was not on her husband.It was on the familiar, orange-haired woman at a vegetable stall.Not the herbalist this time.
William tugged Ailith’s arm to halt them as she stared at the woman, transfixed.Something about her struck Ailith, and as if she sensed Ailith staring, the woman turned around.
