Once Jessie was in place, Elizabeth placed the other wooden blocks on either side of Jessie’s feet. These were to hold the hot spikes and keep them positioned near her little toes. “We’ll rest the spikes on these, with the hot part off the edge. Then we’ll move it as close to yer small toe as we can. I do not want it to burn you but I do want it to be as hot as you can comfortably tolerate.”
“I understand.”
When the spikes were hot, they started. The blocks were large enough to fully support the spike and they could move the whole block as needed to get the right position. When one spike cooled, they replaced it with a hot one to keep the heat as constant as possible. After about a twenty minutes, Elizabeth said, “I think that’s enough for tonight.”
“Now what?” asked Jessie.
Elizabeth showed her some of the positions that might help. “You can do these intermittently throughout the day. For now, just go to bed. You may notice the baby moving more and hopefully it will turn over,” said Elizabeth. “We will do this every night for a week or so. If nothing happens, when we’re a little closer to your due date, we will try moving the baby from the outside.”
“All right. This was easy enough.”
John picked up one of the blocks of wood on which they had rested the spikes. “I think if I carved out a groove, we could rest the spike in the groove and there would be less risk of it falling off and burning something. It might also make it easier to position.”
“I think that is an excellent idea,” said Elizabeth.
Morag nodded her agreement. “Elsie and I will come back tomorrow evening and maybe one more time after that. But if everything goes well, John should be able to take over.”
Elizabeth concurred. She and Morag bade the young couple good night and walked back up the lane towards Morag’s cottage and the castle gates.
“I’ve heard of healers and midwives using all sorts of bizarre things to treat one thing or another, but this may be one of the oddest.”
“Aye. I have to agree. And even if the baby turns, it isn’t necessarily because of this, but I figured it was at least worth a try.”
“Well, now we just have to stick to it and wait I suppose.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I’ve never been very good at waiting.”
“And ye’re a midwife? It seems we spend much of our lives waiting. But I suppose since ye know other healing arts, ye’re kept busy enough.”
Elizabeth nodded and simply said, “Aye.” She couldn’t tell Morag that in the twenty-first century, schedules are booked and over-booked and it is ever on to the next patient.
When they reached Morag’s cottage, Elizabeth bade her goodnight and continued on to the castle. The people who were beginning to bed down for the night in the great hall called greetings as she passed, lighting a glow within her. Each, “good night, Elsie,” or “sleep well, Elsie,” caused the light to grow a little warmer and brighter. By the time she started up the stairs, she was sure it had spilled out onto her face as a joyful grin.
Halfway up the stairs she met Cade coming down. He filled the stairwell—all broad shoulders and devastating good looks. She nearly stumbled over her own feet. “Ah, Sir Cade. Good evening.”
“Elsie, I was looking for ye.” When his eyes met hers, his face split into a megawatt smile that made her knees go weak. “Ye look very happy. What has pleased ye so?”
If anything her smile broadened. “Nothing in particular. It’s just been a very good day.”
“Has it?”
“Aye. At least I think it has.”
“Now, ye see, I was thinking my day could have been significantly better.”
“I’m sorry. Did something happen?”
“Nay, lass, something didn’t happen.”
Her brows drew together. “I don’t understand.”
“I haven’t seen ye all day.”
“Oh,” was all she could manage to say. She had never be so discombobulated simply by being in someone’s presence. Of course, she had to admit, her discombobulated years were spent with her nose in books.
He chuckled, moving closer to her. “Aye, lass. Over the last few days I fear I’ve grown quite used to having ye nearby.” He brushed her cheek with the back of one hand. “Very nearby.”
When he was this close, and touching her, she could barely form thoughts. “Well…I…” what had he said?
“Missed me too?”
“Aye,” she sighed. “Nay…I mean…I was busy today with Morag.”
“I see. However, I’m certain I was to begin teaching ye to ride right after the midday meal. But ye were nowhere to be seen.”
“I was with Morag—we didn’t dine in the hall.”
“Are ye avoiding me for some reason?”
“Nay, of course not. I was just—”
“Then if ye had no reason ye must have simply chosen to defy me.”
“Defy ye? I didn’t defy ye.”
“Didn’t ye? Did yer memory fail ye? Do ye not recall our conversation last night?” The mischievous grin on his face suggested he was teasing.
“I didn’t think ye were serious.”
“Oh sweetling, I was very serious.” He leaned close, speaking low, “And I don’t like being defied.”
Her breath caught. Why did she find this so seductive? “Nay?”
“Nay.” He brushed his lips across her cheek, stopping at her ear. “I fear ye must learn not to do that,” he whispered.
She swallowed hard, too overwhelmed by his nearness to process what he had said.
“But how am I going to do that?” He pulled back a little and placing a finger under her chin tilted her head up to look at him.
“Do what?”
Cade laughed. “Oh little midwife, ye are a pure delight—for someone who was so certain she could resist my charms, that is. But to answer yer question, I’m wondering how best to teach ye not to defy me?”
Elizabeth frowned. “I didn’t defy ye.”
“Oh but ye did.”
“I just misunderstood ye.”
“Do ye think,” he kissed her lips lightly, “if I make myself very clear,” he kissed her again, “ye might remember to meet me after the midday meal tomorrow?” He captured her lips in a demanding, all-consuming kiss.
She wasn’t sure of much of anything at the moment; confident his kisses were more likely to leave her brain a complete blank than solidify any memory. “Cade, ye don’t need to teach me to ride.”
“Nay, lass, that was the wrong thing to say.” He kissed her deeply again.
She realized he had wrapped his arms around her and she was fairly sure she would have melted into a puddle at his feet if he let go.
“Let’s try this again. I expect ye to begin learning how to ride, tomorrow, after the midday meal. Is that clear?”
“Aye.”
“There’s a good lass. Don’t forget.” He kissed her again.
When he broke the kiss, Elizabeth sighed. “I’m not sure kissing me does much to improve my memory. Frankly, I fear the opposite is true.”
He chuckled. “Let’s hope not. While I quite enjoy this, I’m sure teaching ye to ride will be equally as entertaining. So, ye won’t want to forget tomorrow.”
Dear God, if it’s any more entertaining than this, Elizabeth didn’t think she could stand it. “Nay.”
“Excellent. Until tomorrow, then.” He kissed her one last time, slowly and more sensually than before. “Good night, Elsie.” He let go of her, stepping aside so she could pass.
She swayed slightly. “Good night, Sir Cade.”
He chuckled as he continued down the stairs.
It took Elizabeth a moment to compose herself and make her way up to her bed chamber.
Chapter 13
After a hard morning of training, Cade returned to the great hall for the midday meal. He frowned when he didn’t see Elsie among those gathered at the trestle tables. He continued to be out of sorts as he ate, until he saw her emerge from the tower stair
s just as the meal ended. He stood and crossed the hall to her. “When I didn’t see ye in the hall, I feared ye had defied me again.”
“Nay, ye made yer point well last eve. I was sitting with Lady Wynda this morning.”
He grinned at the memory of how he made his point. “Well, I’m glad my methods worked.” He was rewarded with her lopsided smile and faint blush. “Speaking of Lady Wynda, “Is she well?”
“Aye, she is. I fear lying flat in bed all day is much more difficult that she first imagined.”
“I’m sure it is. But even so, she is happier and more hopeful than she has been in weeks—years even.”
Elsie smiled. “It’s good to hear that. Though I would like her to have some meaningful distraction. I am trying to figure out ways that she can do some of the things she enjoys, like needlework, and still remain flat. I want to speak with a carpenter. Perhaps we can build something that will hold her tapestry frame above her, so she can work it lying down.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, Elsie. I know just the person to ask. Leave it with me.”
She shrugged, but looked pleased. “Thank ye, Sir Cade. Six months is a long time.”
“Aye it is, and it might take that long to have ye sitting a horse properly if we don’t get started.”
She laughed. “Well lead on then.”
They went together to the stables and he saddled Edda, the palfrey he had taken to Macrae for her to ride. “Today we’ll stay in the rear bailey and just review basic skills.”
Elsie cast a wary glance towards the horse. “Are ye sure she’s the best horse for me to learn on? She didn’t seem to be all that easy to ride.”
“The problem was the rider—not the horse. She is a well-trained, gentle mount. Any other horse might have dumped ye on yer soft round backside that day.”
She frowned. “What do I need to do to get yer mind off my backside?”
He grinned salaciously. “Any number of delightful things, lass.”
She huffed and shook her head. “Forget I asked.”
Cade laughed. She was fun to tease. “Ah well, then, I suppose I’ll have to settle for teaching ye how to stay on this beastie’s back.”
She rolled her eyes at the innuendo causing him to laugh again.
When they reached the rear bailey, he helped her into the saddle and asked her to ride in a wide circle around the bailey. He had assumed she would know a few basic skills but as soon as he told her to urge Edda into a trot it became evident that she didn’t. As hard as it was to believe, it seemed as if she’d never been on a horse in her life. She bounced stiffly, pulling every which direction on the reins causing Edda to toss her head irritably. Then Elsie compounded the problem by leaning forward and digging in her heels.
He stepped in. “Whoa, Edda, easy there lass.” The horse, clearly aware that she had an incompetent rider, followed his command. He took her reins. “Elsie do ye have no experience at all?”
“I told ye I didn’t.”
“Nay, ye told me ye didn’t ride much. It’s as if ye’ve never sat a horse.”
“Well, I have ridden before…a long time ago…and only at a walk.”
He shook his head, but couldn’t keep from smiling. He had to start at the beginning and this was going to take much more time than he had expected. This thought actually pleased him. It was a perfect excuse to spend time with her. “Well I suppose we should start with the basics. I told ye Edda was a very well trained horse. She will respond to the slightest command.”
“What does that mean? What commands do I give?”
“Elsie, ye give commands with the reins and yer body. Her mouth is extremely sensitive. When ye yank the reins it is as if ye’re screeching at her. To make matters worse, ye’re pulling them first one way and then the other so she has no idea where ye want her to go.”
Elsie looked both shocked and contrite. “I’m sorry.” She patted Edda’s neck. “I’m sorry, lass, I didn’t mean to confuse ye.”
Her instant compassion for the beast was sweet and told him she would put an effort into learning, as much for the sake of the horse as anything else. “So, I think today we will just work on what ye’re telling her with the reins…I’ll teach ye how to whisper.”
He spent the next hour and a half teaching her the absolute basics while only walking. Elsie did learn quickly and had improved tremendously but he couldn’t resist needling her a bit. “We’ll call it a day now, lass. Edda has served valiantly and deserves a bit of peace.” He lifted her off Edda’s back.
Elsie frowned. “Was I that bad? I was trying as hard as I could. I don’t want to hurt her.”
Her concern for the beast was admirable. He lifted her chin to peer into her eyes and saw sincerity there. “Nay, Elsie. Ye did well.” She gave him her sweet, lopsided smile and he simply couldn’t resist. “And never fear, Edda cares much less about yer lovely backside than I do. She’d have dumped ye on it before she suffered mistreatment.”
She huffed but the smile didn’t leave her face. “Ye’re incorrigible.”
He grinned. “Nay, lass. I simply have good taste in bonny backsides.” He captured her lips in a quick kiss before she could react, and was delighted to see how it knocked her off balance.
“I—I—I need to go find Morag. Thank ye for the lesson. Hopefully I’ll be able to ride back to Castle Macrae when the time comes.”
“Oh, nay lass, ye haven’t improved that much. Ye’ll need quite a few more lessons before Edda will be able to stand ye on her back for three days. We’ll do this again tomorrow. Meet me here after the midday meal.”
“Ye can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am. Be here tomorrow afternoon.” He grinned. “Or there will be consequences.”
“Consequences?” She asked incredulously.
“Aye, lass. Shall I demonstrate?”
“Uh…nay…that won’t be necessary.” She stepped away from him. “I’ll see ye tomorrow.”
~ * ~
Although Cade imagined it would have been fun to teach her the consequences of ignoring his requests, Elsie did meet him every afternoon just as he’d asked. When she had a better understanding of the basics, he moved on to trotting. That was an entirely new challenge and for a while he wasn’t sure which one of the three of them was more frustrated. As soon as Edda began to trot, it was as if everything Elsie had just learned flew from her mind.
“Elsie, how many times do I have to tell ye not to lean forward. Ye can grip the saddle, or Edda’s mane—she won’t mind that—but when ye lean forward and dig yer heels in, she thinks ye want to run.”
“Oh, dear God, nay. I don’t want to do that.”
“Then stop leaning forward.”
“But, I don’t like bouncing—I’m afraid I’ll fall off.”
“Edda doesn’t like ye bouncing either and it’s worse when ye hold yerself so stiffly. Relax a bit; keep your back and pelvis supple. Your body will absorb the shock better and it will be easier on both of ye. Now try again—just a slow, sitting trot. Ye need to give a very subtle signal—a little click of yer tongue is all she needs. Any more than that and she’ll think ye want to go faster.”
She tried again, but after Edda’s first few steps, Elsie tensed, leaned forward and let the reins go slack. It took nearly an hour for her to be able to progress from a walk to a sitting trot and stay relaxed enough to remain upright.
Cade decided it was best to stop while they were ahead. “That’s enough for today,” he called.
Elsie gave a gentle, “Whoa,” and Edda stopped smoothly. The lass smiled, looking inordinately pleased with herself.
He helped her down from the saddle but kept his hands on her waist. “Ye’re getting better.”
She blushed. “That isn’t saying much, is it?”
He chuckled. “Aye, ye still have a fair amount to learn. But ye’re not going anywhere for a while—so there’s time.”
An odd expression that he couldn’t quite read crossed her face briefly bef
ore she answered, “Aye, I suppose there is time.”
He leaned down, catching the lavender scent of her hair. She was intoxicating. “That’s a very good thing.” His voice sounded low and husky even to his own ears. It pleased him to hear her breath hitch. He was certain she felt the same attraction he did.
“Aye…uh, well…I…”
“My thoughts exactly,” he whispered.
She blushed profusely. “Excuse me, Sir Cade. I…I…must check on Lady Wynda.”
She twisted sideways, and hurried across the bailey to the keep.
She might feel the attraction, but she was doing an extremely good job not giving into it.
He led Edda back to the stable.
Eric was there saddling his own horse. “Since when have ye taken to riding palfreys?”
“I wasn’t riding her. I’ve been teaching Elsie to ride.”
Eric barked a laugh. “I know that, Cade. Everyone knows that.”
Cade arched a brow. “And ye find it amusing?”
“What’s amusing is how days ago ye assured me ye were, what was the word? Intrigued. Aye, that was it. Ye said ye were intrigued by her and that ye were in no danger of losing yer heart.”
“By the saints, Eric, I’m just teaching her to ride—so she can ride back to her home…when the time comes.”
“Keep telling yerself that each time ye can’t take yer hands off her.”
“Ye’re an arse.”
“Ye’ve said that before but it doesn’t stop me from being right. What’s remarkable is her ability to resist yer charms when she is equally as attracted to ye.”
Cade sighed. He really couldn’t deny it. “Aye, she’s a challenge.”
Eric laughed. “A challenge is good for ye.” He sobered. “But I’ve warned ye—pursuing her will have a price. One that could be hard for both of ye to pay. Perhaps she has considered that and is simply being sensible.”
The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Page 12
