Page 18 of Bride of the Wicked Laird
And then, there were the dreams…
CHAPTER EIGHT
Davina peeped out the door of the infirmary. It was rainingagain. The gray clouds hung heavily, and it seemed there would be no break in the steady rain this afternoon. While she had nothing against working in the tiny space she now shared with Broderick – who had proved to be a cheerful companion – she would much prefer to be in the outdoors, in the herb garden.
Compared to what she was used to, the garden was small, but Broderick was correct when he’d said he did not have a green thumb. There were more weeds than useful plants in the herb garden, and a shamefully poor selection of herbs. No wonder Broderick needed to head over the bay to the village so frequently to purchase herbs from the midwife there.
One day, Davina told herself, she would find the courage to sail with him. She’d find seeds and new herbs and wander carefree through the village, exploring her new surroundings.
Aileen had promised she would come and sail her across the bay and take her to the new house she was building with Maxwell. Together they would visit the machair which she had told Davina would be brimming with glorious wildflowers.
If only she didn’t go cold inside and her hands start to tremble when she so much as ventured as far as the beginning of the slipway.
But this was something she was determined to overcome. Besides, she wanted to make the infirmary much more self-sufficient. There were so many things it lacked, even though Broderick was a wonder with the creams and salves he mixed.
“Well,” he said, putting down the mortar and pestle he’d been using to make a fragrant past of honey, rosemary and parsley. He untied his apron and brushed his fair curls back from his forehead. “I am fair famished, Mistress Davina. Will ye join me in the kitchen to take some nourishment?”
Davina chuckled. “Of course.” She finished with the herbs she’d been hanging up for drying and walked outside, sheltering from the rain as best she could. After scrubbing her hands in the cistern, she waited for Broderick to join her for the walk to the kitchen.
Everard had departed two days prior for the Isle of Canna, a day after Aileen and Maxwell had set off on their journey to that same island. Davina had overheard enough to understand this concerned the discussions he had held with the Laird AlexanderMacDougall regarding attacks by the privateers on ships bearing MacDougall’s goods.
He’d been busy with preparations for his departure, but he’d found time to speak with her before he left.
“Mistress Davina, I’ll be away fer several days. I’ve instructed Mildred tae keep ye under her wing, and fer Ranald Dunbar tae keep watch over ye and make sure ye’re safe from any harm. If ye need aught, or if ye’re afeared, please speak with Mildred or Ranald.”
She thanked him, but couldn’t shake the heartsore feeling his absence created.
Ever since Everard and Hugo had sailed south, Davina had been dining in the kitchen with Broderick and Mildred. The food was good and hearty but without the special treats she’d enjoyed when she’d dined at the laird’s table.
She hated admitting it to herself, but she missed Everard’s larger than life presence at the castle. She’d become used to seeing his tall form striding across the courtyard, and the surge of delight she experienced when he stopped to wish her good morrow or good day. She did not doubt she’d be pleased to see him return.
Mildred, Broderick, and Davina were seated at the big timber refectory table in the kitchen under the nose of Ailis the cook. She was a large woman with pepper-and-salt hair, who mayhap enjoyed a little too much the tasty morsels she produced. Every day she complained the three of them were taking up too muchof her precious space, and every day she cleared room for them to sit and dine.
Today she served them first a hearty soup with vegetables and a smattering of chicken. They mopped up the last of the flavorful broth with oat bread fresh from the oven. Then they partook of sausages, boiled eggs, cheese, bannocks and raspberry jam. Ailis poured them each a tankard of ale to finish off.
Unlike the laird, who made his supper the main meal of the day, the servants ate their biggest meal at noon. All the better for them to take to their beds early so they could be up, ready for another day’s work, before the first grey streaks of dawn crossed the sky.
As they did every day, Davina and Broderick made an effort to stack their empty plates, offering to rinse them clean. But Ailis flapped a floury hand bidding them to begone and leave her to get on with making loaves of barley and oatbread.
They left Mildred at the door as she headed inside to continue her many duties as housekeeper-seneschal, while Broderick and Davina made their way back to the infirmary, ducking their heads against the cold spatters of rain.
For the rest of the afternoon, they continued with their tasks, speaking little.
Finally, there were a few words from Broderick who, she sensed, had been observing her as she worked with the herbs for drying.
“I see ye’ve learned a great deal of the healing arts, Mistress Davina. I wish I had yer skill and knowledge of growing herbs.”
“I have much tae learn from ye also, Master Broderick.” She nodded to him with a smile.
“Did ye learn from a village healer? Ye seem more adept than the village healers I ken?”
“Nay. I was sent tae the convent as a child. As I hated being locked inside in the gloomy walls of the nunnery, I was allowed tae work outside. I chose tae work with herbs. In that way I learned what time of the moon was best for planting and when tae harvest. I learned tae take seeds fer poultices and tae plant again.”
“There is much I would like tae learn from ye, if ye can allow me tae work wi’ ye in the garden.”
“And there is much ye can teach me Master Broderick.”
“Are ye able tae sew a wound and bind broken bones?”
