“A fine garment and a fine figure of a woman.” Aldred said, smiling brightly and sounding as if he meant every word.
“My thanks, kind sir.” Domelch smiled at him, dropping into a quick curtsy, then accepted the crying babe from Ethne and settled beside her husband.
“Do ye not agree?” Aldred asked, elbowing the sleeping man none too gently.
Malcolm awoke with a start. “Ah, aye. Aye! Of course. My Domelch is a beautiful woman. Ripe breasts that beg…”
The words drifted off as he did the same. His cheek pressed against Aldred’s shoulder made Malcolm look near dead instead of asleep. Aldred raised his shoulder with another sharp jab at the man. Malcolm jerked awake again. “And how well she is adorned by her generous husband.”
Leaning against the cold stone wall, right above the picture of the bull pierced with a feather tipped arrow, Lachlann laughed to himself. He didn’t expect any information to be gained with these questions. Malcolm seemed to be drinking even more since they’d returned from Aidan’s to find his daughter had been born in his absence. Surely it should be a source for celebration.
“How goes it?” Niall’s whispered words came as he was about to take a drink.
“Think ye I was up and searching about? I was bedridden! Ethne’s orders.” Lachlann’s face heated at Niall’s disgruntled look. “Where is the great warrior that laid me so low?”
“He was sent off to ask Aidan for a postponement to their announcement.”
Lachlann swallowed hard against the disappointment. He’d hoped this celebration was not intended as some type of marriage announcement. A ridiculous hope after all. He squared his shoulders. They needed to find the silver and be gone.
He spoke in the same hushed tone. “The walls along the pictures have a few crevices, but nothing large enough to store a treasure.”
“Since we don’t know the size of the treasure, how large would it have to be?”
He shrugged, forgetting his irritation for the moment. “Not even big enough for a small stash of coins. I’ve not searched further.”
“Returning to Aidan’s will gain us more time here if one of us can remain behind to search.” Niall stepped away. After refilling his mug, he sat down beside Aldred.
“And yer own lovely child at her…bosom.” Aldred never grew tired of laying it on quite thick. “Does that not make her more beautiful in yer eyes?”
Malcolm’s pained expression was so fleeting that Lachlann questioned his own sight. That would be an odd reaction even from a drunken man. Then again, both he and his wife had shown little interest in the babe. Just the opposite of Ethne.
His gaze sought her out. As expected, her bright eyes were on the child. But Lachlann was alert to Ethne’s every move ever since their kiss. That sweet kiss left him wanting so much more. He cleared his throat.
“Mongfind.” Domelch whispered the name in the child’s face before resting her against a shoulder for a jostling burp, which came quickly.
“Will there be a naming ceremony?” Niall had been showing a keen interest in everything about this group since their return from Aidan’s.
“Aye! She is named for a princess and will be offered at the solstice observance.”
Offered? Odd way to refer to a naming ceremony.
Uradech chose that moment to return and announced that Aidan would wait no longer for the celebration to begin.
Domelch turned a wistful gaze on her child, gently stroking her tiny head, then handed the babe back to Ethne and sat up straighter. She pushed against Malcolm. His narrowed gaze spoke of his disgruntlement.
“Are ye certain ye should be going to Aidan’s?” Discontent laced his tone as well. “Mayhap ye need rest.”
Domelch groaned before answering. “I can rest no more. I have little pain and do not want to miss the celebration. Think ye Aidan is a patient man? The babe will be fine for a short while without me. Is that not right, Ethne?”
Lifting her eyes from the babe, Ethne frowned. Lachlann would swear she’d not been listening. She’d had all of her attention on Mongfind. Ethne had been quiet since the others returned, but it could be simply because the babe required so much of her time.
Only Finn had been able to rouse much of a response from her whenever the child was in her arms.
“Ethne seems capable,” Lachlann offered, receiving a quick smile from her.
“Are ye ready?” Malcolm staggered slightly before finding his footing.
“We best not be late.” Domelch rolled her eyes. “I have but a few hours to myself.”
