Nay.
Alan was a man full grown, strong and vital. He did not need her seeking to protect him.
Yet the impulse remained.
When she left his chamber—fled it, in all fairness—she went to his mother and put in a request for the physician. Mistress MacKallan had given her a long, quizzical look as if wondering at the sudden show of concern.
But she agreed to send one of the footmen back for the physician, adding, “We are all at sixes and sevens, so I shall have to find someone. Our men are either out searching or on guard, and today—” She hesitated and drew a breath. “Today my husband has important guests arriving.”
“Send the earl’s man to help Alan dress, if ye can.” Annista bade her, and hurried back to Alan’s chamber, only to find the room empty, the connecting door to her own chamber shut and Alan’s clothing gone.
A bit breathless, she hurried to her own chamber.
“Bonnie, ha’ ye seen Master Alan?”
“Nay.” Bonnie shook her head. She must be aware that Annista had spent considerable time with Alan and had to be curious. But, being a well-trained servant, she did not ask.
Instead, with fearful eyes, she inquired, “Has Master Evan been found?”
“No’ yet. But I canna help but think he will keep awa’ from the house today. The earl is expecting guests.”
Unless Evan decided he wanted to create a true furor. Embarrass his father deeply. To be sure, how could Evan know that important guests were expected? He could well return with violence in mind.
“I wish ye to stay close today, remain here in this chamber, if ye will.”
“But Mistress Annista, I am fine.” Bonnie tipped up her chin. “As there is so much to be done—”
“Help me change into something fit to be seen by guests, then, and we shall see.”
As Alan’s wife, would she be required to meet any guests?His wife.
A flash of memory—wholly unexpected—invaded her mind. Once again, she lay atop Alan in the bed, kissing him. Feeling all of him.
By God, what was she to do with such relentless memories?
When she appeared in the kitchen, she found it woefully short-staffed, occupied by no more than the cook and a single maid. The others, so it seemed, were busy elsewhere, preparing for the guests.
She requested a tray for herself, saying she would carry it up with her own hands when prepared, and then went to the great hall.
Maids cleaned and set up tables. On one smaller table, the household breakfasted. There she found her husband.
He looked pasty under his tan and new lines bracketed his mouth. Lines of pain? He was hastily and not too completely dressed, and she longed to go to him, straighten the collar of his cotte. Smooth his hair.
But she had promised, had she not?
Earl and Lady MacKallan both sat at the table. No one seemed overly interested in breakfast.
Marching up, Annista glared at her husband. “Ye were meant to wait for me.”
Startled, he returned, “Did we agree to that?”
“Agree or no’, ye needed help in dressing.”
“I managed,” Alan said.
Earl MacKallan cleared his throat. “Pray sit, Annista, and break your fast wi’ us,” he invited.
“I planned to take a tray up to my chamber.” Annista switched her gaze to the earl. “Wha’ are the plans for the day? I can go out searching, if ye will gi’ me the lend o’ a horse.”
