The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

“Tired. I know.” He gave her a stern look before his face relaxed into a smile. “Cade, I think yer vows can wait until Elsie has had a bath and a rest.”

  Although the sun had been up for nearly two hours, it was still very early in the morning when they reached Carraigile. Cade helped her off the horse, gave the beast to a stable hand to tend and walked with her into the keep. With most of the clan having only found their beds at sunrise, nearly everyone was still sleeping.

  She stopped just inside the doors. She wanted to bathe first, while everything was quiet. But as tired as she was, she didn’t want to climb the stairs to her chamber to get clean clothes.

  “What’s the matter?” Asked Cade.

  “Nothing. I’m just very tired and at the moment, climbing the stairs to get my things is more than a little daunting.”

  “Then don’t. Go on to the bathing room. Someone will bring yer things to ye.”

  “Nay, everyone’s still asleep.”

  “Not everyone. Go have yer bath.”

  She sighed. “I’m too tired to argue. Thank ye.” As she had hoped, the bathing room was empty. She built the fire in the hearth, hung pots of water over it to heat and partially filled the tub with cold water. In the four months she had lived at Carraigile, readying a medieval bath had become second nature. In the twenty-first century she would have been in and out of the shower in less time than it took to draw enough water from the well for a bath. She smiled to herself when she remembered what Gertrude had said about the powers that be stepping in to slow her down. Well it worked.

  She added the hot water to the tub, put two pitchers of warm water for rinsing her hair within reach, took off her clothes and eased herself into the water. Paradise. She washed quickly, then closed her eyes to relax for a moment. Maybe she’d just take a little nap in the luxurious warmth of the bath. She was just nodding off when someone entered. Opening one eye, she expected to see Deirdre or one of the other maids, but it was Cade who stood just inside the door, a bundle in his hand, devouring her with his gaze.

  She smiled to herself and closed her eye again. She was a twenty-first century woman and he was the man she loved. She wasn’t about to play the shy maid. “As I understand it, a couple should not consummate their marriage until after it has been solemnized by the Church.”

  She heard his low throaty chuckle. “Aye, I’ve heard the same thing. But as I went to get yer things, I imagined ye down here taking yer clothes off. Then I imagined ye in yer naked glory sinking into the warm water and that was a sight I simply had to see.”

  She heard him put the bundle down before moving behind her.

  “And then I remembered how very tired ye are, so I thought ye might need some help bathing.” His voice was low and sensual. He touched her shoulders, massaging them lightly.

  She groaned with pleasure as he slid his hands down her arms and back up, kneading her shoulders again.

  “Cade…” she whispered, relaxing into his touch.

  He leaned over her, capturing her lips in a tender, upside down kiss. Then he kissed the edge of her lips, moving to her jaw line and down the column of her throat. She arched her head back, granting him greater access. He planted kisses along her collar bone, and back up her neck, nuzzling behind her cheek.

  “Do ye?” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

  “Do I what?” Her voice sounded breathy.

  He chuckled again. It was a sound she thought she would never tire of hearing.

  “Do ye need help bathing?”

  She smiled dreamily. “Do I?”

  “Elizabeth, ye’re practically asleep.”

  “Because a very handsome man has enchanted me with his kisses and his touch.”

  “And I’d kiss ye more, but I fear when ye told my da ye were tired it was a gross understatement. Let me help ye finish yer bath so ye can go to bed.”

  “I just need to wash my hair.”

  He took her thick braid in his hand, removed the strip of leather tied at the end and pulled his fingers through her hair until it hung loose. “I’ve wanted to do that since the night we arrived at Carraigile and ye sat by the hearth drying it after yer bath. Yer tresses are beautiful.”

  “I’m glad ye think so.” She leaned forward, wetting her hair in the tub. Then scooping up some soapwort, she worked it into a lather. When his hands joined hers, she thought she had died and gone to heaven.

  After her hair was thoroughly washed, Cade picked up one of the pitchers of warm water. “Close yer eyes.”

  She did and he poured first one and then the other pitcher over her head, rinsing out the soap. Then he wrapped a linen towel around her and helped her out of the tub.

  He befuddled her with kisses as he ran his hands over her whole body, drying her.

  Before she knew it, he had pulled a clean léine over her head and draped a plaid around her shoulders. He gave her one more kiss. “Now, go to bed.” As he said it, he pulled off his own léine.

  “What are ye doing?” she asked, bemused.

  He laughed. “There’s a tub of warm water and rumor has it, I’m to be married this afternoon. I figure I ought to take a bath.”

  She grinned. “Shall I help ye?”

  “As delightful as that would be, I fear ye’re practically asleep standing up. Go rest and I promise ye can see me in my naked glory later.”

  She blushed but smiled coyly. “I’ll hold ye to that.

  She left him in the bathing room and returned to the keep. People were beginning to stir. Slowly. Most of them hadn’t slept for more than four hours. A few had headaches from imbibing too freely in stronger drinks.

  As she made her way to the stairs, several people called, “Elsie, lass, could ye make me some of yer willow bark infusion?”

  She laughed. “It sounds as if an entire cauldron is needed.”

  “Ye’re a wicked lass to laugh at our pain,” teased Affric.

  “Nay, a wicked lass would brew ye a purgative instead of a pain reliever.” Her quip was met with both chuckles and groans.

  Affric put his hand over his heart. “Ah, lass, ye wouldn’t torture us so.”

  Lady Lilliana stepped in. “Ignore them Elsie. Go on and get some rest. I’ll tend to the sore heads this morning.”

  “Thank ye, my lady.”

  Elsie barely remembered climbing the stairs and was asleep as soon as she snuggled into bed.

  Chapter 30

  The persistent rapping at her door finally drew Elizabeth from her deep sleep. She tried to get out of bed but couldn’t quite manage it so she called “Come in,” groggily and curled back up.

  Deirdre came in radiating sunshine and energy, her arms piled high with what appeared to be garments. “Elsie, I mean, my lady, ye need to wake up now.”

  Elizabeth groaned. “My lady? What’s that about?”

  “Didn’t ye handfast with Sir Cade last night?”

  “Aye.”

  “And ye’re exchanging vows this afternoon?”

  “Aye.”

  “Well…”

  “Well what?”

  Deirdre gave an exasperated sigh. “Ye married Sir Cade. Ye’re a lady now. Ye’re Lady Elsie MacKenzie.”

  Oh. Dear. God. Elizabeth hadn’t thought of that. She had no idea how to be a noblewoman and knew nothing about the workings of a clan or how to run a castle.

  Her distress must have been written on her face because Deirdre frowned. “What’s the matter? Aren’t ye happy? Did ye not want to marry him?”

  “Nay Deirdre, I’m thrilled to be married to Cade. I just hadn’t thought the rest of it through.”

  “Ye mean about being a lady now?”

  “Aye, that, and everything that goes with it.”

  “Don’t worry. Lady MacKenzie and Lady Lilliana will help ye. In fact, they asked me to wake ye and help ye dress. And they sent these lovely things for ye wear. After ye’re dressed ye’re to go to Lady Wynda’s chamber.”

  Deirdre spent nearly the next hour helping Elizabet
h don the finery before working her hair into a series of intricate braids. When Deirdre was finished, she held up a looking glass for Elizabeth. “See what a beautiful bride ye are?”

  It still always surprised her a little to see Elsie’s reflection looking back. Dressed in a cream colored silk léine, under an embroidered blue linen surcoat with a sheer veil over the delicate braids, she did feel beautiful.

  “Thank ye, Deirdre, ye’re a good friend.”

  “Ye’re welcome, my lady.”

  “Don’t call me that. I’m just Elsie.”

  “I have to call ye that. It would be rude if I didn’t.”

  “Well, at least when we’re alone, please just call me Elsie.”

  Deirdre smiled. “All right, Elsie.”

  “Another thing, is it customary to have someone stand with ye when ye marry?”

  “Aye. I expect Sir Eric will stand with Sir Cade.”

  “Would ye stand with me?”

  “I don’t know if it would be proper.”

  “Please, Deirdre. Ye’re my dearest friend. I don’t have a father, or any family member to give me away. Please stand with me.”

  She smiled shyly. “Aye, I will.”

  Elizabeth hugged her. “Thank ye.”

  Deirdre blushed but looked very pleased. “Ye’re welcome. Now, ye need to go see Lady Wynda.”

  “Aye, I’ll go straight there.”

  When she reached Wynda’s chamber, Lady Lilliana greeted her at the door. “Elsie, ye’re a radiant bride.”

  “Thank ye, my lady. And thank ye both for the lovely garments. I’ve never worn anything like them.”

  Wynda smiled from the bed. “I suppose not. Ye do look stunning, dear.”

  “Thank ye, my lady.”

  “I think we can dispense with the ‘my lady’s’ now. As Cade’s wife, ye bear that title too.”

  “Ah, well, I’m glad ye brought that up. Ye see…” she glanced at Lilliana, “I suppose I…uh…have some questions.”

  Wynda nodded. “I thought ye might. I wonder if ye would mind if Lilliana stayed. I expect there are a number of things ye’ll need to learn and it will help if she knows.”

  “Ye mean…ye think I should uh…”

  “Aye, lass, if ye’re comfortable with that.”

  Lilliana looked a bit confused. “I can give ye privacy if ye like.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Nay, I think ye should stay. There’s something I need to tell ye.” Elizabeth launched into the tale.

  Lilliana seemed to consider things for a few moments after Elizabeth finished. “That’s a very difficult tale to believe.”

  “I know it is.”

  “If ye had told me this when ye arrived, I think I would have doubted ye. But with Wynda doing so well, and all the other things ye’ve done, not to mention Gertrude’s involvement, I can only believe ye’re telling the truth.”

  “Lilliana, the reason I wanted Elizabeth to tell ye her story is because I suspect she’ll need help learning what to do—as a noblewoman. Of course Cade and Angus know, but with me here in bed for six more weeks, I wanted her to have a woman to turn to who wouldn’t be shocked by her questions.”

  “Of course Wynda, I’d be happy to.”

  For the next few minutes Elizabeth answered Lilliana’s questions about time travel and the future. But soon Alice arrived.

  “My ladies, the Laird sent me up. He says it’s time for the wedding.”

  “Well, Elsie, I would dearly love to be there, but ye’ll have to accept my apologies. However, I will ask ye one boon.”

  “Aye, anything.”

  “Come here tomorrow morning and allow me to tie yer kertch on ye.”

  The kertch was a triangular white head covering that all the married women in the Highlands wore. Elizabeth had learned it was a symbol of the Holy Trinity and as important a symbol of marriage to Highlanders as a wedding ring. A bride’s mother was usually the one to present her with her kertch.

  Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes. “I’d be honored. Thank ye.” She leaned down and kissed Wynda’s cheek.

  “My darling lass, go now and receive God’s blessing on this union.”

  “Aye, thank ye again, for everything.”

  Elizabeth left with Lilliana. “I hope it’s all right, I asked Deirdre to stand with me.”

  Lilliana smiled. “I assumed ye would.”

  When they reached the hall, only Hamish and Deirdre were there. “Where is everyone?”

  “They’ve all gone on to the church, lass,” explained Hamish. “I was waiting to escort my lovely wife there.”

  Lilliana smiled at his complement. “The Laird, Cade and Eric will be waiting on the steps of the church. Hamish and I will go ahead of ye. The rest of the clan are outside and will fall in behind ye as ye pass.”

  Hamish frowned. “Is that not the way the Macraes do it?”

  “I’m just making certain,” said Lilliana. “We should go now, Hamish.”

  As soon as they had left, Deirdre handed her a bouquet of what appeared to be herbs. “Oh my, what is this?”

  “It’s yer bouquet. It contains lavender for devotion, myrtle for everlasting love and…uh… marital bliss.” Deirdre blushed profusely, causing Elizabeth to stifle a smile. “There’s also sage for long life, rosemary for remembrance, parsley for happiness, and mint. I can’t remember what it’s for, but it smells nice.”

  “Thank ye. It’s lovely.”

  “I’m glad ye like it. Are ye ready?”

  “I was ready weeks ago.”

  Deirdre laughed. “Well, we’ll hurry then.”

  Just as Lilliana said, the bailey and the entire route to the church was lined with people who fell in behind Elizabeth as she and Deirdre passed. As they approached the church, Father Henry, Cade and Eric waited in front with the Laird, Hamish and Lilliana nearby.

  When she and Deirdre reached them, she was surprised that they all stayed outside.

  Before he started the ceremony Father Henry asked, “My child, is yer given name Elsie or is it a diminutive for Elizabeth?”

  She smiled broadly, thrilled to be able to use her own name. “It’s a diminutive for Elizabeth.”

  He nodded. “Very well. Does anyone know of any reason why Cade and Elizabeth cannot be married?” The question was met with silence so he continued. “Cade MacKenzie, will ye have this woman to thy wedded wife, will ye love her, and honor her, keep her and guard her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should a wife, and forsaking all others on account of her, keep ye only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

  Cade answered, “I will.”

  “Elizabeth, will ye have this man to thy wedded husband, will ye obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other on account of him, keep ye only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

  Obey and serve? Is he serious?

  Cade looked amused, as if he knew the part of the vow she struggled with. “Elizabeth?”

  She leaned towards him and whispered, “I’m not sure I’ll be very good at obeying.”

  He winked. “Don’t worry, I’ll help ye.”

  She rolled her eyes. Ah well, she chose the thirteenth century, she’d have to make it work. “I will,” she answered.

  “Is there a ring?” asked Father Henry

  “Aye, Father.” Eric handed him the ring. The priest blessed it and gave it to Cade, who placed it on the third finger of Elizabeth’s left hand. “With this ring, I thee wed, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

  Father blessed them and led them into the chapel, followed by Deirdre, Eric, Laird MacKenzie, Hamish, Lillian and the rest of the clansmen and women present.

  As Father Henry said the nuptial Mass, Elizabeth thought back to her first day here when she had been so moved by the sense of community. She quickly grown to love them with everything in her. As Ruth said to Naomi: whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge, t
hy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.

  When the Mass was over, Father Henry gave the couple a final blessing, announcing loudly, “Sir Cade, ye may kiss yer bride.”

  Cade needed no urging. With a hand behind her neck and one at her waist he kissed her soundly. A deafening cheer went up. As ever, she was momentarily lost in his kiss.

  ~ * ~

  Cade could scarcely believe the lass he adored was finally his. The story she had told him the previous evening, the secret which made her unique, was too astonishing to believe—except he did believe it. It explained every inconsistency that had puzzled him for weeks and at the same time, was too fantastical for her to have made it up. And this inimitable woman, from the distant future, had just become his wife.

  They turned to face his cheering clan. He leaned down, kissed her one more time and whispered, “We have a wee feast to get through and then, my love, my virtue is yers.”

  She laughed and he let the beauty of it simply wash over him.

  As it turned out, the “wee feast” wasn’t so very “wee.” It was, after all, the Feast of St. John the Baptist and thus had been planned for days. Finally, late in the evening, Cade pulled her to the stairs. He called, “My wife and I bid ye all a good night.” Then he scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

  When they reached the second floor, he said, “I had Father Henry bless the bed earlier today.”

  “Which bed?

  “What do ye mean, which bed?”

  She flashed him her lopsided smile. “Did he bless my bed or yers.”

  “Well ye were in yers most of the day.”

  “An exaggeration.”

  He chuckled. “Aye. But I had him bless my bed. Ours now. It is much more comfortable.”

  He carried her to his chamber, entered and with her still in his arms began kissing her. Her fingers threaded through his hair and tightened, holding him to her. He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. “Ye’re mine.”

  “And ye’re mine.”

  “Aye, I am. Now, I want to see the lovely vision ye treated me to earlier.” He stood her on the floor, and divested her of her léine and surcoat, leaving her standing in only her shift.

  She cocked her head. “I think ye’ve done this before.”