“Do not cry. All will be well,” the boy repeated her earlier words.
They were a lie then, and they were a lie now. She looked into his imploring face, fat tears rolling down her cheeks, unable to correct him. She knew in her heart.
It will not, Finn.
* * *
Malcolm blew into his wooden flute yet again, filling the air with that terrible sound. Domelch stretched herself before the fire, the swell of her baby keeping her from falling forward. They were both drunk.
Uradech, Domelch’s brother, was not drunk. He’d arrived just after the morning meal, his hair still damp and smelling of pine, with presents for each of them. A dark green ribbon for his sister. A jug of ale for Malcolm. A sack with a game inside for Finn. And for Ethne, a spray of forget-me-nots. He must have bathed in the burn, hoping to make a good impression. He failed.
At present, he sat cross-legged and tossed the painted pebbles once more onto the ground between him and Finn. The boy, full of excitement to have someone new to play with him, studied the way the stones landed, even dropping to the ground with his bottom in the air to decide whose had landed closest to the center circle.
“Ha! I win,” Finn said.
But Uradech’s bright eyes remained on Ethne, watching everything she did. When she stirred the iron pot. When she dished the food. When she moved around the little circle, their family, to fill the empty cups. His gaze remained steady as he assessed her dressed in Domelch’s darkléine, the low top so loose on her that she had to be careful not to reveal too much as she went about her duties.
The man had come, but there had been no talk of a marriage contract. No talk of marriage at all. Instead, he had been welcomed in by his sister like a long-lost sheep coming home. And no one spoke directly to Ethne.
It was just as well since she was coiled tight enough to let loose her outrage at any moment ifanyonewere to speak directly to her. Not at all acceptable. She’d have to make a run for it or she would be quickly caught…and tied up if Domelch had any say in it. Which she, unfortunately for Ethne, certainly did.
It was well past mid-day when the sun finally broke through the clouds enough to warm the air in the cave.
“What was that?” Finn turned toward the opening.
“I dinna hear anything.” Ethne gave it little thought, keeping her attention on her stitching. Domelch had strained the seam of her gown far enough that it had shredded. It was a difficult repair.
A footfall outside brought Ethne’s head up. Malcolm was again playing so she moved closer to the door. Uradech’s eyes followed her.
“Greetings!”
She recognized Aidan’s tone, but it was a tall redheaded man standing there, and she jumped. Aidan stood just behind him.
“I am sorry to startle ye.” The man reached a hand toward her, stopping just short of touching her. “My friends and I are travelers and yer chieftain was kind enough to offer to put us up.”
Ethne was joined by Finn and Uradech, who stood close enough that his breath stirred the hairs on her neck, which sent a shiver of revulsion down her back.
“Who is this?” Uradech sounded far too proprietary.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I do not know.”
The redhead’s eyes lit up with humor as if he’d caught her irritated tone. She glanced at the two men with him: a blond, stocky man and the man with long black hair from the fair. Heat spread across her chest at the familiarity in his eyes.
Aidan pushed himself to the front. His face lit up when he spotted Uradech. “Ah! So ye’ve arrived.”
Uradech mumbled something inaudible, his eyes downcast. Aidan grimaced at the large man’s lack of response before shaking his head in dismissal and continuing.
“These men are visitors here. Malcolm invited them to stay with ye.” Aidan gazed around, picking up the condition of everyone with a single scan, before settling on her. “Please show them a warm welcome.” His gray eyes sparkled as if he laughed at some private joke. “And I will see ye all within a sennight for the celebration announcement.”
Ethnehumphed.When his eyes narrowed, she clenched her jaw tight. There’d be no such announcement if he referred to her wedding Uradech.
The men nodded, exchanged hand clasps, and Aidan was gone. The awkward silence that followed made her shift uncomfortably, that and the mention of the announcement and some impending celebration she’d not heard of before. She ground her teeth in irritation. Her brother should be seeing to this. When she turned back to call to him, she had to shove the massive weight that was Uradech aside to do so.
“Malcolm? We have visitors,” she said.
Visitors would make it impossible for any marriage talk. A spark of hope was lit, and she beamed at her rescuers. She pulled at the redheaded stranger’s arm, his friends following. She led them into the cave where Malcolm was just staggering his way to a stand. Domelch snored loudly but didn’t move.
The redheaded man approached Malcolm, not seeming to notice his drunken state, and extended his arm. “I thank ye for the offer to take us into yer home.” He had to catch Malcolm’s arm when it wavered past his hand, to grab his wrist in greeting, then turned to Ethne. “I am called Niall and these are my companions, Aldred and Lachlann.”
