The woman thunked down her goblet, stretched her eyes open wide, then blinked twice. “The lovely Bella, is it?” She smiled and held out both hands. Her fiery cheeks reddened even more with the effort. “Come to me, child. Let me get a good look at ye.”
Bella cast a leery glance up at Lorna.
She understood exactly how Bella felt, but they needed to do this. “I am right here,” she said for Bella’s ears alone.
The hesitant girl edged closer, then offered an impressive curtsy. “Welcome to Thursa, m’lady.”
“Such a polite young miss.” Lady Murdina caught hold of Bella’s hands and pulled her closer still. “I am so happy to meet ye and become yer mama.”
“It is good ye are here,” Bella answered stiffly.
Lady Murdina peeled out a happy squeal and scooped the girl up into a tight hug. “Such a lovely child!”
Bella wriggled and twisted, fighting the bulging breasts about to swallow her face. She tried to push away, but the matron didn’t seem to notice—she only squeezed the child tighter.
Lorna couldn’t stand it any longer. She rushed in and pried Bella free of the lady’s embrace. “We thought we would walk with ye to yer rooms, m’lady. The hour grows late.”
Lady Murdina frowned, then jerked around and peered at the candelabrum on the table. “Does it? The first set of the feasting candles has only burned halfway down.”
“But that is the third set, m’lady,” Bella said. She backed up another step, pressing into Lorna’s skirt and holding tight to her hand. “Mistress Lorna is right. The hour grows late, and we are weary.”
Lady Murdina squinted at the lass, then lifted her gaze to Lorna. Puzzlement wrinkled her brow. “The third set, ye say?”
Lorna nodded even though she had no idea what feasting candles were or what they meant. “Aye, m’lady. The third set.”
The red-faced woman stole bobbing glances all around the room. “Where is my husband-to-be? I must bid him good evening.” Then a sly, calculating smile twisted her mouth. “Perhaps he would like to escort me to my rooms.”
“Forsy shall escort ye,” Gunn said from so close behind Lorna that it startled her. “As is proper.”
“Come, mistress,” said the burliest woman Lorna had ever met.
Lady Murdina puckered an unhappy pout as she tried to rise from her chair. She teetered to one side, then tumbled to the floor.
“Oh dear.” Lorna hurried to help her up, but it was as though the woman had gone boneless. “Help me out here, m’lady.” A grunt escaped her as she tried to lift the matron by hooking her arms under hers and pulling. “I canna carry ye.”
The inebriated lady responded with a howling wail. “No. I am staying here until I die, because he will never marry me now.” She cast a pitiful glance up at Lorna. “I dinna always drink like this. ’Tis nerves that have undone me. I am so afraid he willna like me.” More guttural sobbing made her flounder even more. “And I was right. H-he hates meee.”
“Oh bloody hell. Just what we need. A crying drunk.” Lorna turned to Bella. “If they have eaten their fill, can ye take Hesther and Frances up to yer floor? This is not going to be pretty.”
“I want to stay and watch.” Bella’s eyes flashed with mischief.
“Arabella.” Gunn bent to his daughter’s level. “Do as Mistress Lorna bade ye.”
“Aye, Da.” Crestfallen, the wee one turned to go, then paused and looked back. “Mistress Lorna?”
Still trying to drag Lady Murdina up from the floor, Lorna paused and twisted to peer over her shoulder at the child. “Aye?”
“Ye will come by and tuck us all in?”
Lorna’s heart swelled with a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long while. “Aye, my wee one. I promise.”
Satisfied, Bella skipped away.
Lady Murdina blubbered louder. “She likes ye better than me!”
“I have had more time with her,” Lorna said while renewing her efforts to get the woman upright. “Come on now. Ye are making a scene.”
“Nobody likes me,” Lady Murdina wailed.
