Breckin raised his brows at that. “Seems she has been busy.”
“Aye, indeed she has. There is more. Och, I should let her tell ye about it.”
He nodded. “I wish she would have told me all this. She should be the one telling me about her accomplishments. Och, I deem her to be humble and free of vanity. She does not realize how beautiful she is or how kindhearted.” Breckin chuckled to himself.
“Perhaps that is why many of the women here have kept their distance—because of her beauty. She might be unassuming but the women are envious of her and fear their husbands might stray if she shows any interest in them. We both know that she wouldst not betray ye like that, though, because she seems devoted to ye. Besides that, ye will have some decent meals for I showed her how to make your favorite foodstuff.”
He recalled her saying that she didn’t know how to cook or light a fire. The lengths that she went to in order to please him, brought forth a heavy sigh. He didn’t know how to begin to thank her. “Did ye teach her to light a fire too?”
“Nay, but I think Lawrence might have, or perhaps it was Aymer. She has spent the afternoons at the longhouse and kept busy whilst ye were away and kept to herself. Your brothers sometimes attend to her,otherwise, she’s been alone.” Clare rose and busied herself tidying the kitchen. “Eva told me to tell ye to meet her at the longhouse later.”
Breckin nodded to his aunt, muttered a farewell, and left.
On his walk to the longhouse, he wondered what she’d done to it. It was time they began their life together as man and wife, in their own home. This night, he planned to spend it with Eva so he could show her how much he’d missed her, appreciated her efforts, and how much he cared. Admittedly, in the short time she’d been part of his life, he couldn’t see himself without her.
The closer he got to the cottage, the quicker his pace. On the approach, he noticed the new wood that covered the walls, the new thatch on the roof, and the solid steps leading to the door. Other than early morning insect sounds, it was quiet. He opened the door and stepped inside. Breckin stopped short at seeing the hearth, where she’d placed an elegant carpet on the floor, chairs, and tables. Near the kitchen sat a work table and a smaller dining table with benches on each side. There was a useful porcelain pitcher in the center with cups situated around it.
He ambled closer and smiled at the hominess of the abode. Eva had worked hard and made the place a home for them. Upon entering, he found the openness of the longhouse had been sectioned off and doors led to private chambers. As he made his way through the longhouse, he stopped at a closed door and opened it. Inside the room were what appeared to be parts of furniture that hadn’t been put together. Breckin wondered if the items had belonged to Eva, and surmised they did.
A knock came and he turned to find Gideon standing in the opening of the doorway. “Laird, I thought I would find ye here.” He took a step inside and looked around. “The place looks good.”
“Aye. Can ye believe she accomplished all this whilst I was away?”
“Women can be skillful when they set their minds to it.” Gideon chortled. “Aye, and it looks like Eva certainly put her skills to use.”
“Come and help me…” Breckin returned to the bedchamber and gestured to the pile of wooden furniture pieces. “I want to put this together.”
“What is it?” Gideon asked, gazing at the various pieces of wood scattered on the floorboards.
“’Tis a bed. At least, that is what I think it to be.” Breckin found the dowels that held the wood together and with Gideon’s help, pieced the parts until they made the platform for the mattress which was rolled up in the corner, waiting to be filled with feathers or straw. “Help me get that filled. This night, I shall sleep in a comfortable bed. I only hope my wife is not too irked with me and joins me.”
His comrade laughed. “Aye, all heard that she was miffed with ye because those that were at the loch spread the tale. Is she still irked with ye over your mishap with Caden?”
“I think she might be, ’tis likely,” Breckin said testily.
“Well, she cannot be irked with ye when she sees what ye are doing here. Come, there’s a large wardrobe in the hallway, shall we bring it in for her?”
Breckin helped Gideon carry the over-large piece of furniture inside the bed chamber. “’Tis hard to imagine that all this fits on the carts. She has some good pieces.”
“Ye be fortunate that she furnished the longhouse and ye need not spend your coin to do so.”
A noise came from the front of the longhouse and he left the bedroom to meet Eva as she entered. She set down a pail of water on the table she must’ve just retrieved. Without a word, Gideon gave a wave and departed. His brothers were nowhere to be seen and he wondered if they’d returned to his aunt’s cottage.
“Ye came. Clare said ye wanted me to meet ye here but I thought ye still might be ireful with me and would not come.”
“No, I understand that you were only concerned for me.”
“Where have ye been all day?” He ambled toward the kitchen areaand snatched the pitcher from the table. Breckin retrieved cups and dunked one in the pail of clean water on the worktable. “Are ye thirsty? The day has grown warm.”
She nodded and accepted the cup that he offered. “Just walking about and visiting Willa but she’s often busy.”
“Eva, the longhouse is…looks homey. Well, ye made it a home. I have not had a home since my parents passed… What ye have done here is remarkable…” His voice pitched with emotion because he hadn’t anticipated to have such a place or even what it would mean to him. It was a place he hadn’t ever expected to have—a place which could be filled with his family, a sanctuary of sorts that offered privacy from his needful clan.
“I hope you do not mind, but I used some of my belongings to furnish it.” Eva set her cup down on the table and meandered through the longhouse.
Breckin followed her and she entered the sleeping chamber. “Of course, I did not mind, Eva. I hoped ye would make use of your possessions because this is your home too.” He stood back watching her reaction. “I put together the bed with Gideon’s help.”
“Oh, you even put up the canopy. I had thought not to use it but it looks elegant, does it not? It might be out of place and too much for the size of the room. Perhaps we should remove it.” She left the room and returned with a sack filled with fabrics. “I shall make the bedding up after I have it restuffed with fresh straw and feathers.”
