Page 187 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Nine

Rhoslyn set the last egg in the basket, then recorded the total number of eggs on the small parchment she’d brought to the kitchen. Twenty-three eggs in this basket alone. She had always marveled at how Mistress Muira was able to coax so many eggs from her hens. In the past, they had surplus enough to share with the villagers. However, it was likely they would have to purchase more hens just to feed St. Claire’s men.

She stepped to the left where a fourth basket sat on the counter and began counting. Rhoslyn reached twelve before her thoughts turned to the wedding ceremony planned for tomorrow morning. A tremor rippled through her stomach. In less than a day, her marriage to Sir Talbot St. Claire, a man she’d known for two days, would be blessed by the church.

Nay. She met him two days ago, and had spent less than a day with him. She knew him not at all.

Perhaps, that wasn’t wholly true. She knew he was strong of body and mind. Physical strength was expected in a knight deserving of his king’s favors. Wasn’t that what she was, a favor bestowed upon a man for loyal service? Despite knowing such things were the way of the world, the thought galled her.

She’d married Alec because her grandfather believed he would be a good husband. His wealth, she had to admit, was no small consideration, but he’d been a good man who died too soon. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that he had died before their son. He would have been devastated to know his son had lived only two months. Sadness poked at her heart and she ruthlessly pushed it aside. She couldn’t give into sorrow. She had retreated to the convent in sorrow, and look where that had gotten her.

Mistress Muira gave a small cry and Rhoslyn looked up from the eggs. Her stepdaughter Andreana entered the kitchen and stopped a few paces inside. Rhoslyn set the egg she held back in the basket and rushed forward. When she reached the girl, she threw her arms around her. Andreana stiffened. Rhoslyn’s heart squeezed. It had been too long since she’d seen her stepdaughter. Rhoslyn drew back and Muira crowded in to give Andreana a hug.

“Och, ye have grown in the two months since I last saw ye.” the housekeeper said.

The other half dozen women working in the kitchen crowded around and each hugged her as well, then Muira shooed them back to work and Rhoslyn grasped Andreana’s hands and looked at her. In the fourteen months she’d been gone, Andreana had gone from being a gawky girl to a young woman. Her hair had softened and grown lustrous, her face had lost its roundness, appearing longer, with more pronounced cheekbones, and her breasts accentuated a small waist.

“Ye are beautiful,” Rhoslyn said.

Andreana’s eyes fixed on her face and Rhoslyn detected uncertainty. Ah, so along with the woman’s body had risen a woman’s uncertainty. And Rhoslyn had been absent during this crucial time when the girl who had known her as her mother entered this new phase of life.

“Why just look at your hair,” Rhoslyn said. “So long and soft. I do believe ‘tis a darker shade of black than it was when I left.”

Andreana’s eyes brightened. “Grandfather says it is darker than a raven’s feather.”

Rhoslyn drew back and studied her hair more closely. “He is right.” Rhoslyn held her at arm’s length. “And ye have grown into a woman’s body.”

A blush crept up the girl’s cheeks.

“I am so glad to see you,” Rhoslyn said. “Who brought ye?”

“Grandfather.” She hesitated. “He said it was time I returned home.”

“He is right,” Rhoslyn said, although she would have given anything not to be there herself.

St. Claire and her grandfather entered, with Sir Baxter close behind. Rhoslyn pulled Andreana aside.

“Andreana,” her grandfather said, “this is your mother’s new husband, Sir Talbot.”

Something strange stirred in Rhoslyn’s stomach at hearing St. Claire referred to as ‘her husband.’

Andreana gave a pretty curtsy. “Sir Talbot.”

He acknowledged with a nod. “Andreana.”

Rhoslyn caught the appraising look Andreana gave him from under her lashes, and read the appreciation in her expression. St. Claire seemed oblivious to her inspection, but Rhoslyn had the feeling he simply pretended not to notice. That, she grudgingly admitted, spoke well of him. No doubt, Andreana had broken a heart or two in her absence, and it was no small matter for any man not to respond to a beautiful young girl’s admiration. So St. Claire wasn’t one to rob the cradle—at least not the one at home.

“This is Sir Baxter, Sir Talbot’s captain,” Rhoslyn’s grandfather said.

“Lady Andreana.” Baxter gave a slight bow.

Andreana’s eyes shifted onto the knight and Rhoslyn was startled to see a blush creep up her cheeks. Sir Baxter gave no indication he noticed Andreana’s reaction, but he wouldn’t. St. Claire wouldn’t allow it.

Muira stepped up beside Rhoslyn. “Mayhap Andreana would enjoy helping with preparations for tomorrow’s wedding celebration?”

Rhoslyn started. “Wedding celebration?” She swung her gaze onto St. Claire. “We only just agreed to have the wedding tomorrow. How can there already be plans for a celebration?”

“Once we decided, I asked Mistress Muira to make the arrangements.”