When he turned to her, she mouthed the words, “Thank ye.”
His chest tightened, and despite his dismissal of Niall’s wild accusations, Lachlann knew he was in trouble.
* * *
Ethne kept to her work within the cave and waited for a chance to make her way back to the fair unnoticed. It would be there another sennight, but the rains were coming. The clouds were even now heavy on the horizon and the ocean full of foaming swells. Many merchants might choose to move farther south to their next stop where the weather would be dryer, rather than tolerate these coastal storms. If that happened, the castle would be the only place she could seek help, and they did not like the “pagans” coming too close. She doubted she’d even be able to make it through their gates.
“Ethne, I canna find my brush.” Domelch whined in a loud voice, showing her true colors since it was only her and Ethne in the cave.
“’Tis where ye left it.” She brought it to Domelch.
The woman was having a harder time sitting down and getting up now that the babe had dropped, although Ethne doubted she had noticed. Even her favorite stool could only accommodate by Domelch spreading her legs so the bulge that was her child could hang unobstructed between her thighs.
“Do ye need me to see to yer hair?”
“Aye.” Domelch gave her back to Ethne, who settled to her knees to work through the tangled tresses. The puffiness of the woman’s face was only getting worse, as were the dark circles under her eyes, and Ethne was concerned about the babe.
“I’ve seen to yer dress if ye’d care to wear the green one today.”
Domelch mumbled something incoherent.
“Did the babe keep ye awake again?”
Domelch had not mentioned the child’s movements lately. She did love to complain about every little ailment. Mayhap the constant attention from their guests kept her mind too busy to complain, although Lachlann preferred to play with Finn. They were inseparable. The lad would miss him when he was gone.
“’Twas the pains here.” Domelch rubbed her lower back, stretching slightly.
With a firm hand, Ethne rubbed the tight area. “Does that help?”
“Aye,” Domelch said. “I hope I am able to make the celebration.”
Ethne stiffened. This was the first time the woman had mentioned the event that was to mark her own marriage to Uradech. Since the outburst, no one had spoken of the marriage. Or the celebration.
“If the green dress is ready, that would be the perfect time to wear it.” Domelch turned to add, “Wash it well.”
Theléinehad been washed, but Ethne said, “I’ve nothing to add to the water. We were to get that at the fair.”
The large woman sighed in disgust. “Nothing?”
Keeping her voice unconcerned, Ethne assured her, “It will be fine. I will use the fresh water.”
“It will not. It will stink,” Domelch barked her unhappiness.
Ethne kept at the tangles even when she noticed Domelch glancing toward the opening where Malcolm sat out of ear shot. He was working at repairing the tears in their fishing net.
“Ethne?”
The whisper was unexpected, and she moved in closer. “Aye?”
“Ye could go yerself. Get the flour and the lye. And anything else ye need.”
Excitement tingled all the way to the tips of her toes, but she forced her breath to remain steady. She didn’t want to reveal her excitement. “I dinna believe Aidan will be pleased with that. Did he not say we were not to return?”
Domelch batted at the air. “Yet he leaves his wives there.” She snorted, glancing again toward the opening. The men moved about, helping Malcolm to spread out the material as they searched for more holes that needed mending. “No one needs to know.”
Their eyes met. Ethne dared not breathe. It was exactly what she had been hoping for, a chance to get to town and find someone to help her get away from these people. What would she do? Where would she go? She squared her shoulders. “If ye wish me to go for ye, Domelch, I will go.”
The woman’s green eyes rounded and she tsked. “But ye’d need protection. Aidan would beat me if anything were to happen toye.”
