She would take over her duties and carry them on until Craig was grown and laird himself. Then she would pass those responsibilities on to Craig’s wife and train her as she should be. Anice would never marry again; she would not need to now that she had done her duty and produced this heir to the clan. She would be content in her life as mother to the heir and as chatelaine of Dunnedin, caring for the people, and overseeing the village.
Anice straightened her skirts and lifted her son onto her lap. Still sleeping, Craig made soft gurgling noises as she placed the sling around her and then placed him within the sturdy folds of plaid. She cradled him while she regained her feet and then let his weight sink into the carrier. Turning back, she felt refreshed by her time out of the keep, but she was still troubled by Robert’s response to her thanks.
Walking towards the kitchen door, she decided that she would have to show her gratitude to him before he left to return to Dunbarton and the MacKillops. Since he was so obviously uncomfortable with her expressing her thanks, she would have to figure out how to thank him in other ways. And the ripped sleeve she’d noticed in his tunic gave her an idea.
15
She knew, not from her own experience on the subject, but from the many ribald and candid comments from the women of the clan, that the physical joining of a man and woman could actually bring some amount of pleasure to both participants. She suspected the same from her own vague memories of the tingling anticipation that had filled her once long ago when she’d thought that their distant cousin was really Sandy. And she even knew from the way men pursued women and from the well-worn path before her, that men sought those pleasures more often and with more vigor than women did. Somehow, though, knowing that could not explain her sense of betrayal and disgust as she watched Robert take his leave of the village whore.
Anice was on her way back from an early morning visit with Moira when the door to Robena’s croft opened and Robert stepped onto the path. Still laughing and sharing some words of parting, he nodded to the woman inside and pulled the door closed behind him. He had not been in the great hall for dinner or after, so it was obvious even to her that he had spent the night here.
She stepped back into the shadows of the tree-lined path until he had made his way towards the keep and then she approached the cottage. Anice had thought that early in the morning would be a safe time to visit the woman, never considering that one of her customers would be there after a night’s... activities. Pushing open the low wooden gate in the stone fence surrounding the house, she walked up to the door and knocked.
“’Tis much too early in the morn for...” The woman’swords trailed off as she realized who had come to call on her. “Pardon me, milady,” Robena said with a slight curtsy, “are ye looking for... someone?” Anice noticed the hesitation.
“No, I was actually trying to visit when you had no... visitors,” Anice offered as an explanation. “I did not want to see anyone.” She glanced at the path where Robert had been a minute before.
“Och, so ye saw Robert here then, did ye? Did ye want to speak to him?” The woman leaned out of her doorway to look in the direction Robert would have taken, “Should I fetch him for ye, milady?”
“Nay. Please do not,” Anice said, placing her hand on Robena’s arm. “’Tis you I’ve come to see. May I enter?”
Robena nodded, backing away and pulling the door open as she did. Anice entered the small cottage, not quite knowing what to expect. Everything there looked as it did in any of the other crofts in the village: there was a table, some benches, and the dirt-packed floor was neat and tidy. If she’d thought that some sign of the woman’s sins would be present, she was mistaken.
Anice noticed the slight trembling in Robena’s hand as she pointed to one of the benches. Was she afraid of Anice? Anice walked slowly to the seat and lowered herself on it.
“I have only cold water from the spring or some cider to offer ye, milady,” she said with another curtsy.
“Cider would be fine, Robena. Then please sit.”
After a minute of gathering cups and pitcher together, the woman sat across the table from her. Robena poured two cups full of drink and then waited for Anice. When Anice did not begin immediately, the woman stood nervously.
“If this is about Robert, milady, I assure ye I have no’ visited him in the keep. I follow yer orders, milady. I swear I do. I only go to the kitchen door and never inside. Never inside.”
Robena’s trembling had grown to shaking as she stood fidgeting and never meeting her gaze. Anice remembered giving the orders that no whore from the village should ever enter the keep or be in her sight. Sighing, she waited for Robena to look at her. Then she motioned for her to sit.
“No one haes said that you have, Robena. If you... see Robert, ’tis your own affair and not mine. I have come to ask you something.”
“Me, milady? Ye have to ask me something?” The woman’s complexion took on a paler shade.
“Is there anything that you need? Anything that you are lacking? Clothing? Food?” Anice glanced around the croft looking for clues. “Someone to bring you peat or wood for the fire?”
Robena followed her gaze and looked around her home. “Nay, milady. I need nothing. Truly.”
“I have realized that, although I see to the needs of everyone else in the clan, I have been remiss in seeing to yours.”
“Mine, milady?” Robena whispered.
“Aye. I have never asked after you or made certain that you were well fed or clothed. I apologize for that now.” At the sight of Robena’s mouth, dropped wide open in astonishment, Anice continued, “So, do you need anything from the keep’s stores or supplies? Any help to make your cottage fit for the next winter? Anything?”
Robena’s mouth opened and closed several times but no words came out. The woman’s surprise was not lost on Anice. She knew that this action, approaching the village whore in the woman’s own cottage, was out of the ordinary. But her decision to try to make the rest of Robert’s stay in Dunnedin comfortable had led her here. Robena finally shook her head in response and Anice rose from her seat.
“If you find you have need of something, see me for it.”
“But, my lady...,” Robena began to argue.
“Oh, aye, I see the problem. I will not refuse you entrance into the keep so long as you do not shame any of the married women before the clan. Keep your attentions on the unmarried men and you are welcome to join in the meals at the keep, if you wish.”
Believing she had accomplished the task she’d set out to do, Anice walked to the door. One thought did bother her. Well, there were many things she did not understand about Robena’s choices but one thing that she truly wanted to know.Reaching the door and pulling it open herself, Anice turned back and saw that the woman still stood by the table.
