Apleasurable sighcame when she was roused by Breckin’s hand caressing her thigh. His hand meandered to her center and his fingers magically awakened her desire. Eva got swept up by his enthusiastic love play. She wanted to caress him in return, but he pulled her back against him and held her in place. His breath was a promise in her ear of what was to come.
A knock came at their bedchamber door, stopping them momentarily.
Breckin gritted out, “Bloody hell, this better be important.”
“Laird, ye received a message, and ’tis of some import,” came Aymer’s voice.
He rolled away from her and glared at the door. “We will never have privacy or peace. I should go, though. Och, I make this vow, lass, that we will pick this up when I come to bed this eve.”
Eva rolled onto her back and watched him garb himself. Looking at his brawny body made her pout with disappointment. She had hoped to be pleasured and wanted to make him as desirous as she could. Nevertheless, it was time to rise and begin her day.
“I will find out what the message is and return for our morning fare.” He turned and gave a quick wave before disappearing behind the door.
Eva threw her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. There was achill in the air and she hastened to close the shutters to the window casement. After, she rummaged through her garments and chose a heavier underdress and then pulled over it a blue gown. Once she’d finished her morning routine, she hurried to the kitchen area.
Breckin’s brothers sat at the table and snickered. She wondered what they were up to, but it didn’t take long for her to figure out what. Their cheeks puffed out and it appeared they had something in their mouths.
“Tell me you did not eat that entire basket of blackberries.” She glared at them but they gave her innocent looks with blackberry juice staining their teeth until she groaned at their affront. Then they gave her guilty looks and their gazes lowered.
Eva waggled a finger at them. “How could you? I had intended to make a blackberry pie for after supper. Well, now, you will go with me this day and help me fill that basket again. And maybe we can get in a little practice. I want to learn how to wield a dagger.”
The lads’ eyes widened.
Connor chortled, “Och, Milady, ye might get hurt and then…”
“Breckin will blame us,” Caden finished.
“I shall not. I promise to take care but I need to be able to protect myself when I go for walks on the other side of the bridge. There are boars there and they are dangerous creatures. Now, have you eaten anything else for your morning fare or just all my blackberries?” Eva tidied up the kitchen area and ate a quick bite of bread.
“We had the leftover pottage from yestereve’s supper, Milady,” Caden said.
“It was good,” Connor said.
“Well then, let us get outside and find those blackberries. And then we will practice. Can you bring an extra dagger or two?” She grabbed the empty basket and then retrieved another. Maybe she could make more than one pie if they were fortunate to find more than one berry bush. With the colder season coming, the bushes were full with anabundance of berries.
The lads hastened from the kitchen area and when they returned, they had covered themselves with a heavier tartan and Caden was shoving daggers inside a pouch that he’d wrapped around his waist.
Eva pulled her cloak around her shoulders, certain she would need it because the day, it seemed, was much colder than the previous days. Autumn was close, so much so that the days grew shorter and the sun sank earlier.
Outside, the air was misted with a fine bit of fog but it was early, and hopefully, it would wear off as the day progressed. Eva followed the lads across the bridge and they foraged the woodland for the berry bushes.
“Let us make a contest of it. Whoever wins shall forgo their chores on the morrow.” She laughed when they each approached her and snagged a basket for their collection. They hurried away, running through the thickets and jumping over the shorter yew bushes.
She heard their shouts of triumph and moseyed along in the woods, enjoying the peacefulness of the outdoors and the lad’s enthusiasm. How many times had she taken such walks at home but without company? It suddenly struck her that she hadn’t thought much of her home lately. She didn’t miss the loneliness even though she had few friends here on Buchanan land. With the lads’ company, Clare’s, Breckin’s, and some of the other clansmen, she was beginning to think of the Highlands as home.
“I filled my basket,” Connor said with glee as he bounded from behind a large pine.
“Not fair,” Caden bellowed. “He cheated.”
“Let us see what you have found.” She took Connor’s basket and nodded. Then she took Caden’s and glanced at it forlornly. Caden had only filled his halfway whereas Connor’s basket was almost overflowing. To appease them, she nodded. “I deem you both can forgo your chores on the morrow, except I shall still need you to fetch water inthe morning. Then you can have the rest of the day to yourselves.”
“Breckin has yet to give us our punishment and we might be stuck inside,” Connor said.
Caden grumbled. “Do ye think, Milady, that he forgot?”
Eva was certain Breckin had not forgotten but she didn’t want to spoil their afternoon with thoughts of what he’d make them do. She shook her head and waved them onward. “Whatever it is, you would do well to be thankful he cares enough to punish you. If you are stuck inside, you can always use the rings I made for target practice. Come along.”
“I know the perfect spot where we can practice dagger throwing.” Connor walked ahead and she followed.
