“I’d rather we kept it a secret.” Though she knew it had to be revealed sooner or later, she wasn’t quite ready to show everyone else. It made her nervous to think of everyone staring and whispering about her.
“Why? You said you wanted to prove yourself to them. This would be your chance to show them what you’ve done.” Alex let go of her and she walked alongside him towards Nairna. “Once we deliver the finished panels to the abbey, they’ll have to know where they came from.”
“Not yet,” she said, increasing her pace. If she told them now, she was certain the people would come to watch her work. She didn’t want curious eyes interfering with her concentration.
The further she moved away from Alex, the more the cold bit through her garments. She huddled with the edges of her mantle pulled around her. With no other place to go, she moved toward the crowd of people.
But to her misfortune, Nairna saw her. “I was hoping you’d come,” she exclaimed, with a wide smile. “Now, we need a few more women. Vanora, you should join us.”
“What do you need?” Laren wondered if there was more food to be distributed or something to do with the children.
Nairna wouldn’t answer, but kept gathering women until she had twelve in a line. “Now, then.” She turned back to the men. “Which of you thinks he’s man enough for one of these women?”
Vanora’s hand clamped over hers to keep Laren from fleeing. In her worst nightmares, she couldn’t imagine why Nairna would do this to her. Everyone was watching and she wanted to die with all the eyes upon her.
A number of husbands stepped forward, thankfully, including Alex. Most men looked curious, rather than outraged.
“What is she doing?” Laren whispered to Vanora.
“Wait,” the older woman said. “Watch and see.”
When the men had come to stand before them, Nairna asked, “What gift will you give to a woman of your choice? Go and fetch it.” While the men had gone, Nairna arranged for each of the women to be blindfolded.
Laren didn’t like the sensation of being sightless in front of so many people. As each minute dragged on, she felt more and more uneasy about standing here. After a time, the darkness made her dizzy and lightheaded while she imagined everyone watching her.
But a moment later, her blindfold was removed. Laren blinked as her eyes adjusted, then she saw an array of small gifts within a basket.
Nairna walked to each of them, showing them the contents, then directed each of them to choose a gift for themselves. Laren saw them select dried flowers, a clay container, lengths of wool and even a barley cake coated in honey.
When the basket came to her, the only gift remaining was a flask containing a fermented liquid. Possibly mead, she guessed. But she knew from Alex’s stiff expression that he had not given the gift.
Vanora opened her clay container and found it full of ashes and sand. “What sort of man would offer up such a terrible gift?” The matron shook her head in disgust. “A fool, I’d wager.”
But Laren knew. Her husband had given it, for she was the only woman who would understand why. They were her tools, the ingredients needed for glass.
As Nairna bade each woman to try to choose the man who had offered the gift, there was teasing as the men denied or agreed that they had brought it. When Vanora’s turn came, she held up the container of sand.
“Whoever gave this must have been a man who wanted to tease his wife. I’ll guess that Ross gave it.” With a smug grin, she added, “He never did like to spend his hard-won coins.”
But Ross shook his head, grinning that she’d guessed wrong. “You should know me better than that, woman.”
When it came Laren’s turn, her hands were trembling as the eyes of the others stared at her. She held up the flask and said, “I believe Ross gave the mead.”
Nairna turned a questioning look to the older man, who nodded in agreement. “My own wife doesn’t know what’s closest to my heart,” he sighed. Then he puckered his lips to Laren, making kissing sounds while the others roared with laughter.
“Will you take his kiss and the mead, or another gift of your choice?” Nairna asked.
Laren shook her head, feeling the nervousness starting to take hold. “I’ll take the container of sand. And the man who gave it.”
The laughter of the crowd fell silent when Alex came forward. Though Vanora pressed the container in her hands and took the mead in exchange, Laren hardly noticed. She saw only her husband coming for her and, in his eyes, there was fierce desire.
He took her hand in his, leading her away from the others.
Thewindwasbitterlycold as they walked along the edge of the loch. Alex held Laren’s waist, his cloak draped over both of them. Laren had grown quieter, but he hoped her tension would ease when they reached the cavern with the furnaces. One advantage was the intense heat when they were lit.
When they reached the entrance she stopped him. “Let me send Ramsay home. Wait while I speak with him.”
He heard her quiet tone as she talked to the lad. Within a few minutes more, the boy left the cavern, his gaze still fixed upon the ground. His skin was flushed with heat—at least he would be warm enough until he reached Glen Arrin.
