by Jennae Vale
“Oh, thank you. I wouldn’t have noticed until much later and by then probably wouldn’t have had a chance of finding it.”
“Yer welcome, miss.” The girl’s eyes were glued to little Elena. “How old’s yer bairn?”
“Oh, she’s not mine. She belongs to Donal and she’s… ten months old.” That seemed about right. “What’s your name?”
“Doreen,” the girl said, tickling Elena’s toes and making her laugh. “She’s verra sweet.”
“She is, isn’t she?” Tina said. An idea was beginning to form. “Do you like babies, Doreen?”
“I do, verra much. Some day I hope to have a house full of them, like me ma.”
“So you have lots of brothers and sisters?” Tina asked.
“Too many to count,” Doreen laughed. “I’m the oldest, so I help ma with the little ones when she needs me to,” Doreen said, seeming proud of herself.
“Doreen, how would you feel about watching Elena every now and again?” Tina asked, crossing her fingers that she would.
“I’d love to,” the girl answered.
“Could you start tomorrow? Donal would be happy to pay you for your services.” This was going to be the medieval version of babysitting.
“Do ye ken how to do it?” Donal asked, sounding concerned as any good Da should.
“Aye. Ye’ve nae need to worry. I’ve done it before.”
“Meet me here tomorrow morning then,” he said, seeming more relaxed.
The girl beamed with joy as she thanked them and spun away to join her friends, excitedly telling them what had just occurred.
“There, problem solved,” Tina said. “She can’t watch her all the time, so when she’s not able, I will.”
“Thank ye, lass. Me heart will rest easy now.”
“You should probably take her upstairs. She probably needs some sleep.”
They entered the castle and Donal left her to go up to his room. She entered the great hall where Ashley had just finished up with the afternoon lessons. Children scurried past Tina and out the door. “All done for the day?” she asked.
“I am. What have you been up to all day?” Ashley asked.
“I think I figured out who Edna had in mind for me,” she said.
“Tell me! I can’t wait to hear.” Ashley seemed quite excited at her news.
“I think it’s Donal,” Tina said and watched as Ashley’s face dropped.
“No. It can’t be,” she said.
“Why not?” Tina was feeling a bit defensive. “What’s wrong with Donal?”
“Oh, nothing. I just didn’t think he’d be the one. You know with the baby and all. It doesn’t seem like Edna would send you here to find a man who already has a family.”
Tina watched as Ashley danced around her initial reaction. No matter what she said now, Tina knew she wouldn’t be an ally as far as Donal was concerned.
“You should still just see if anyone else catches your eye. You might be wrong. You never know.”
“You’re right,” Tina said, knowing that she wasn’t, but not wanting to be judged. “I should keep my options open.”
“That’s probably the best idea,” Ashley said. “I’m going to enlist Cailin’s help. He knows all the men who would be eligible bachelors.”
“Thanks,” Tina said, filling her voice with feigned enthusiasm. What was wrong with Donal? Was there something she was missing?
Donal wasn’t surprised at the light tap on his door. Although he’d tried his best to quiet her, Elena’s continued crying was sure to wake Tina. He should feel bad about that but he had to admit he was glad to see her.
“Come in,” he said.
“Is she alright?” Tina asked, going immediately to the cradle.
“I’ve been rocking her, but she still cries.” How was a person to know what babies wanted when they just cry and cry? Every time she stirred he’d sat up and gently rocked the cradle. That had worked through most of the night, but now she was just crying for no reason and the rocking wasn’t working.
“Oh, you poor baby.” She reached into the cradle and rubbed Elena’s belly before lifting her into her arms. “Do you mind if I sit?” Tina asked.
He patted the edge of the bed to let her know he didn’t mind. He’d propped himself on one elbow and made sure he was covered from the waist down. Tina rubbed Elena’s back and gently rocked back and forth. In no time, Elena was snuggled into her neck and yawning, she was still fussing but the crying had stopped. So rocking did work, he was the one doing it wrong. Although truth be told, he was quite sure that if he was allowed to snuggle into Tina’s neck, he would find peace there, too.
“You must be tired,” Tina said.
Donal stifled a yawn. “Nae. I be fine.”
She shook her head at him and rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be the big, strong man around me, you know.”
She thought him big and strong, which pleased him. Tina placed Elena on the bed and continued to rub her belly. “I think she’s got a tummy ache.”
That made him sit up completely alert. “What can be done?” He hadn’t even considered that the bairn could be in pain.
“I don’t know, but this seems to be helping.”
There was magic in those hands, he thought. Elena’s fussing, turned to whimpers and then disappeared altogether as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Tina continued gently rubbing and Donal lay back in the bed feeling the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders by a wee lass from the future. He closed his eyes and felt the bed shift as Tina lay across the foot of the bed. His lips curved upward. Somehow she had taken all his worries from him, leaving him in a more peaceful place. What would he do when she left him… left them? It was something he didn’t wish to think about, so instead he pretended she was staying and saw himself in a small cottage with her at his side and his wee daughter playing at their feet. It was a pleasant thought and one he was determined to make come true.
Morning broke and Tina awoke to find herself back in her own bed. She didn’t remember falling asleep and she didn’t remember returning to her room. Donal must have carried her there. Her foggy memory suddenly cleared. He had. She could feel his strong arms as they lifted her from the bed. Her head had rested in the crook of his neck where she burrowed in. She heard the sound of a very manly groan close to her ear and felt a gentle kiss on her forehead as the blanket was lifted to cover her. “Goodnight to ye, lass,” he’d said before leaving her. She was happy she hadn’t forgotten and the memory of it aroused her in ways she hadn’t felt in ages. Ashley had to be wrong. He was the one. Why else would she wake longing to see him?
She hurried from her bed and ran downstairs to the great hall expecting to find him there, but instead she found Doreen playing with Elena. “Good morn to ye, miss.”
“Good morning, Doreen. How’s Elena this morning?” She felt Elena’s forehead and was rewarded with a smile. “She seems quite happy this morning.”
“Aye. She seems well.”
“She’s been having trouble sleeping,” Tina explained.
“I’ll see to it that she gets a rest later this morn.”
“Good. Where did Donal go?” She hoped the breathiness of her voice didn’t belie her interest.
“I dinnae ken. He said he’d be back later.”
“Hmmm…”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, Doreen. I thought I’d have breakfast with him.”
“He’s been gone for some time.” If she said she wasn’t disappointed, she’d be lying to herself. She’d been looking forward to seeing him and had rushed downstairs with that thought in mind.
“Come sit and have breakfast with us,” Jenna said as she entered the hall. “Ashley will be right down.”
“Alright.” She followed Jenna to the table and sat next to her.
“I see Donal found a babysitter for Elena,” Jenna observed, nodding towards Doreen.
“Yes. She seems quite capable.”
<
br /> “She is. She’s helped me and Ashley on more than one occasion.”
“Poor Donal really needed the help,” Tina said.
“I don’t doubt it. He’s not the most responsible man around,” Jenna said, rolling her eyes skyward.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Tina was irritated for Donal. He seemed quite responsible to her.
Before Jenna could answer, Ashley joined them. “I talked to Cailin last night and he has a few prospects for you.”
“Are we matchmaking?” Jenna asked.
“We are.”
“I’m curious to know who he picked. I’ve been talking with Cormac about the same thing. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ve come up with the same names.”
Tina wasn’t sure this was how it was supposed to work. “Isn’t Edna the matchmaker?”
“She is, but a little help from us wouldn’t hurt. Besides, if you don’t like them, you can tell us. We won’t mind.”
Tina carefully schooled her reaction. “Alright.” She didn’t care who they picked for her. She knew what she wanted and Donal was it. She only hoped he felt the same way.
“So, who did he pick. Names, please.” Jenna leaned her elbow on the table and peered past Tina to see Ashley.
“Tam, Jock and Marcas,” Ashley beamed.
“They were Cormac’s choices, too.”
“And good ones,” Ashley said, glancing at Tina.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Tina. We’ll arrange everything. You’ll get to spend some time with each of them and then you can make your choice.”
I’ve already made my choice, she thought. “I think I need some fresh air. I’ll talk to you later,” Tina said, rising to leave.
“Is everything okay?” Ashley asked.
“Fine,” she replied. How could she tell them this wasn’t what she wanted? They were just trying to be helpful.
“We’ll start working on this for you,” Jenna called after her.
She couldn’t walk out of the hall fast enough and was relieved when she reached the doors to the courtyard. If only Elle were here. She’d understand.
She descended the steps and headed for the gate. She needed to get away so she could think.
“Tina!”
She turned to see Donal hurrying towards her with a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. Her heart thudded in her chest at the sight of him and the closer he got, the louder it thundered in her ears.
“These are for ye,” he said, handing them to her.
“Thank you,” she lifted them to her nose and their sweet scent calmed her. “They’re beautiful.”
“As beautiful as ye,” he replied.
She felt the heat of his gaze as a flush of warmth penetrated her from head to toe. “And thank you for carrying me back to my room last night.”
“I would have left ye there. Ye looked so peaceful laying next to Elena, but I didnae wish to soil yer reputation.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” How could anyone think poorly of him? He was a good man and she was a good judge of character. One thing she prided herself on was her ability to read people.
“Doreen is with Elena. She seems to be in good spirits this morning, thanks to ye.”
He looked away and shifted his weight. Looking first towards the gate and then back at the castle. There was uncertainty in the movement and Tina realized he was nervous.
“I was thinking… that is… I wondered if ye’d like to walk with me to the village.”
Tina felt her smile spread across her face and down to her toes. “I’d love to,” she said.
“You would?” He seemed surprised, but caught himself and said, “It is nae too far and the weather is quite fine.” He took her hand and tucked it under his arm, smiling down at her with the most beautiful smile. She stared at his lips for a moment before raising her eyes to meet his. She saw there what she imagined was the same thing she was feeling. She licked her lips and gazed at the dirt path in front of them.
They passed others as they walked and Donal nodded a greeting to them. Tina felt she was in a bubble that muted the sights and sounds around her, leaving her fully aware of the man beside her. With every brush of his arm on hers, a tingle of excitement passed through her.
Chapter 8
“Are ye hungry?” Donal asked. They’d been walking for a while now. He’d shown her around the village where he’d purchased a small doll for Elena and some ribbons for Tina’s hair. She’d protested, but he could see she was touched by his gesture.
“I am,” she replied.
He took her hand and led her into the village inn. Finding an empty table in a back corner, he pulled out a chair for Tina and then sat next to her.
“I’ve really had a nice day. Thank you, Donal.”
“’Tis been a pleasure to be at yer side.” A bit of pink tinged Tina’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’ve embarrassed ye.”
“You’ve been so sweet to me today. I can’t remember the last time someone thought it was a pleasure to be with me.”
“I don’t believe it. A lass as lovely as yerself? Ye must have many men vying for yer attentions.”
“I don’t,” she replied, and when his expression told her he didn’t believe her, “Really.”
“The men where yer from must all be daft then.” That earned him a smile and he felt ten feet tall.
“Donal, we haven’t seen ye of late,” Tess said as she approached the table. “Where have ye been?”
Donal wanted to shrink into nothing. Tess had been one of his many conquests. He hadn’t thought of that when he’d chosen to bring Tina here. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea. It seemed no matter where he went he ran into someone who knew all his secrets. He was going to have to get better at not revealing them. He hoped Tess would keep her mouth shut. “I’ve been busy,” he heard the gruffness in his voice, but there was naught to do about that.
“He’s usually here most nights,” she said to Tina, who didn’t reply.
“Well, I won’t be from now on. I’ve other things to occupy my time,” Donal stated.
“This one?” she said, nodding towards Tina. “She looks to be too good for ye.” Tina was staring at the table, avoiding him and Tess, pretending she couldn’t hear a word they were saying. Just when he was making progress. He had even picked flowers for her. Tess was going to wreck everything, he had to get rid of her.
“We’d like some food if ye dinnae mind,” he said.
“Of course,” she said, turning to walk away.
“And ale,” he called after her. “I’m sorry about that,” he said to Tina.
“Why?” she asked.
“She’s a bit troublesome, if ye ken my meaning.” With any luck, he could keep Tess from ruining the rest of his day with Tina.
“She was trying to make you look bad,” she said.
“Aye. That’s it. She was.” Luckily Tina didn’t know him well enough to understand that she wasn’t trying to make him look bad. He simply was bad. He’d brought many a lass to this very tavern and now he’d brought Tina to this place where everyone knew him and knew his womanizing ways. Why hadn’t he thought of that? It would have been better to take her back to Breaghacraig instead.
“Maybe she thinks it odd that you’re spending time with me so soon after your wife passed.” She reached for his arm with a comforting touch.
“That could be it.” He was going to have to tell her the truth sooner or later, but she was looking at him with such sympathy in her eyes that he thought much later would be best. “Yer beauty is only surpassed by yer kindness,” he said, wishing to see if he could pinken those cheeks once again.
Her eyes misted over as she looked down at her hands. He had touched her heart. He could see it. The strange thing was that he found he truly meant it. He’d never met a lass like her and doubted he ever would again. He‘d never taken much time to get to know them, except for what would get them into his bed.
Tina could be so strong and sure,
like when she yelled at him during practice yesterday. But now she seemed so delicate, like the wildflowers that were wilting in her pocket. He wanted to know everything about her.
Tess brought their food and ale. Tina once again poked through it before deciding to eat. The ale didn’t seem to be to her liking either, so Donal drank it. As they ate, his leg brushed up against hers beneath the table. He was pleased when she didn’t move it away, but he was surprised by his own reaction. Every nerve ending tingled with those brief touches as both his pulse and desire quickened. Tina was different. He had to take his time with her. She wasn’t just a quick roll in the hay. This would take patience on his part. He tamped down the desire that was causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat. “We should get back. Doreen will wonder where I’ve been.” He got to his feet and held out his hand to Tina, who took it as she rose. He was in uncharted territory with this lass. He only hoped he was up to the challenge.
As they approached the castle, Tina saw Ashley, Cailin, Jenna and Cormac standing together with another man she hadn’t met.
“Tina,” Ashley called to her.
“I’m sorry. I should go see what she wants. Thank you again for a fun day.”
“Yer welcome, lass. We’ll do it again soon.” Donal took her hand and placed a lingering kiss upon it.
Her legs felt weak beneath her. No one had ever kissed her hand before. She liked it. She watched as Donal walked away, enjoying the sight of his strong back and legs as he made his way to the castle doors.
“Tina,” Ashley called again.
“I’m coming,” Tina hurried over to the group. “Sorry about that.”
“I wanted to introduce you to someone. Tina, this is, Tam.”
“I’m enchanted to meet ye,” he said with a bow of his head.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she answered. Darned if they hadn’t gone ahead with their matchmaking scheme. She should have shut them down this morning, but she hadn’t. Now, she didn’t feel she had much choice but to go along with it. They were her hosts after all. It would probably be a good thing. A chance to confirm that she had made the right choice. Yes, that was it. She wouldn’t feel anything for this man and then she’d know for sure that Donal was the man for her.
