Whatwouldshe do next? So much had happened, and her life had changed so drastically, she knew not what the future held. Regardless, she was determined to make the best of it.
The healer and the maid fussed over her and helped her undress. She could not have been more grateful. She had missed them both.
Her swollen knee was an angry shade of violet. 'Twould soon be black and blue, she knew. She was glad when Mistress Almsly determined she had no broken bones.
"I will mix up a comfrey poultice for it to reduce the bruising." The healer then examined her neck. "What happened here?"
"Dalacroy's guard, Campbell, wrenched it when he slapped me."
"Och. What a knave! He deserves the dungeon for severely mistreating a kind lady such as you."
"Cyrus said—" Elspeth snapped her mouth shut. "I mean… Laird Stornmor said he intended to slap the man down."
Mistress Almsly chuckled. "Aye. Good. His lairdship is a fine man. So protective over you, is he not?" She raised a brow. "He's a mite smitten with you, m'lady."
Elspeth's face heated as she grinned. "'Haps I'm smitten with him as well."
"I knew it!" Mistress Almsly beamed a bright smile. "'Tis high time you found happiness. You deserve it."
"Well, naught may come of it." Elspeth shrugged. When she visualized Lady Lily, gloominess overshadowed her. "He is an earl after all. He'll want a highborn lady."
"Humph. If he's a canny man, he will see that you are the finest lady in all the land."
A loud knock sounded at the door and they all jumped. "Lady Grey?" Cyrus's deep voice resonated from the corridor.
"I'll need a bit more time!" she called out, hoping he wouldn't enter until she was washed, dressed and tidied. Bernice was attempting to untangle the snarled mess her hair had become.
"You're all right then?" he responded.
"Aye. I should be more presentable within an hour's time."
"Very well."
Moments later, a lighter knock sounded.
"Who is it?"
"Smith, m'lady." Greymont's housekeeper.
"Come in." Elspeth did indeed need to talk to her.
Once the wiry, gray-haired woman curtsied and stood beside the bed, Elspeth inquired about how things were proceeding.
"The maids are serving ale and refreshments to the lairds and soldiers. We're all a wee bit thunderstruck to have a marquess, two earls, and a chief visiting all at once." Exhilaration lit her blue eyes.
Elspeth grinned. "There has been very little excitement here over the past several years."
"Indeed."
"Have the kitchen staff cook a large stew and bake two dozen loaves of bread."
"They have already begun, m'lady. They heard you were injured and took it upon themselves to start preparing whatever was in the storerooms. It may not be such a fancy meal, but no one will starve."
"Cook is resourceful. Every dish I've tasted of hers has been delicious." Elspeth's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly.
Smith's eyes widened. "Heavens, you must be starving. When I get back to the kitchen, I'll send some food up."
"I would appreciate it."
