“’Tis a gift from me,” Elspeth told her.
May stared at her for a moment. Elspeth thought she saw the flash of a tear in the firelight. “I have a gift fer ye as well, sister. Tomorrow, then.”
She left as Elspeth was opening her mouth to tell her she didn’t have to give her anything. It was enough that she had been so welcomed into their clan.
She worked on May’s clothes for the rest of the day and even refused to spend more than a few moments with Logan. When she finally left the sewing room, she went straight to her and Logan’s bed and fell into it. She heard him enter the room later with a tray of food. The scent of roasted duck and vegetables drew her up in bed.
“Is that fer me?” she asked her husband, hoping it was.
“Aye, ’tis fer ye. I dinna carry anyone else’s supper to them. Only ye.”
Only her. He loved only her. But what about his arm? Would he leave her to go fight for the Catholic king against the king’s son-in-law, who was Protestant and rumored to be coming for the throne? She didn’t want to ask him. She couldn’t bear the answer. She didn’t want him to give up anything for her. He worked for six years to use his arm again so that he could rejoin the king’s army. Nae. She could not ask!
She lifted her hand to her forehead to rub it.
He set the tray down in front of her on the bed then moved behind her to rub her temples.
“Did ye agree to make a dress fer my sister? Why?” he asked when she nodded. “Did she strike some kind of bargain with ye?”
Bargain? Elspeth thought. Aye, May wanted to. “Nae. There is nae bargain. The dress is my gift.”
He smiled at her while she ate. She thought he might want to know why she strained her sight and grew calluses on her fingertips for a gift she wasn’t expected to give. But he didn’t ask.
“Why do ye keep staring at me?” she asked with a mouthful of succulent duck.
He dropped onto the bed and set his chin in his hand. “I like how ye look.”
She raised her elbow to her ear. “I am a mess, Logan.”
“Ye are perfect, my love,” he said in his husky voice she liked.
“Why do ye lie, my dearest?”
“Do ye mock me?” he asked, sounding…and looking insulted.
“Aye, I mock ye,” she let him know while she wiped her hands on the serviette he handed her. “I know what I look like and ’tisna pleasant.”
“’Tis pleasant to me,” he argued, slipping his two fingers under her arm.
“Stop that!” Her command was laced with giggles and finally laughter when his fingers roved up her neck.
She grew serious and covered his hand with both of hers. “Logan? Husband? Promise me ye will never leave.”
“I will never leave ye, Elspeth. I give my word.”
She smiled, and that seemed to be all he cared about. So, she made certain to smile often and let her truest delight shine full force on him when he pushed her down on the bed.
*
Elspeth waited forMay to arrive in the sewing room. She paced before the dress hanging behind her. She hoped May liked it, but what if she didn’t? Elspeth spun around to look at it and chewed her fingernail, looking for the flaws.
She heard a gasp behind her and turned slowly to face May.
Logan’s sister appeared entranced by the dress before her. Looking at it herself, Elspeth had to say it might be the most beautiful set she had ever made. The skirts, with arisaid to match, were softly colored in purple, the purple of the heather outside the windows, muted blue, and moss green.
“Elspeth! Och, Elspeth, ’tis the bonniest dress I have ever laid eyes on.”
She hurried to it and gathered the folds in her hands. “So soft,” May practically purred like a cat. “May I have it now?”
