“Ihave begun to think so, too.”
“Good.Now, I have come to drag ye along to a fair.”
Margaretsat up and frowned at Sorcha. “Ye cannae expect me to go and be frivolous whenmy heart is crushed, can ye?”
“Idinnae expect ye to dance through the town, singing and flirting—nay. Howbeit,I insist ye leave this room, something ye have rarely done all winter.Cloistering yourself in here willnae mend your heart or bring Beatham back.”
“Neitherwill going to a fair.”
“Nay,but at least ye will be getting on with the business of living instead ofhuddling in here wondering why ye cannae die.”
Ittook a lot more arguing than Sorcha felt was reasonable, but she finallyconvinced Margaret to go to the fair. The girl was not going to be goodcompany, Sorcha decided as she hurried to ready herself for the journey, butsome time away from Dunweare could only be good for the girl.
Pattingher hair to make sure her braid was tidy and secure, Sorcha started out of herbedchamber only to come face-to-face with a very solemn Euphemia. She prayedthe child was not going to try to play upon her sympathies in order to go tothe fair.
“Iam sorry ye cannae come with us today, Effie, but there will be other fairs,”she said.
“Aye,I ken it. I didnae come here to argue Dougal’s decision. I thinkyeought not to go, Sorcha.” Euphemia grasped Sorcha by the sleeve to stress herwarning.
“Iwould agree to stay and keep ye company, although I think there is plentyabout, but I have convinced Margaret to go. I really think I should accompanyher.”
“Nay,ye dinnae understand. Something told me to tell you not to go.”
“Haveye had some vision? Ye wondered if ye were to gain some gift. Mayhap it is thesight.”
“Ihavenae had a vision really.” Euphemia lightly bit her lower lip as shestruggled to say what she was compelled to say more clearly. “I just ken thatye will only find trouble at the fair, and mayhap ye shouldnae go.”
“Therehas been no sign of the English, and we have no enemies amongst the Scots whousually attend this fair. Ye say trouble. Do ye mean danger? Do ye sense thatmy life is in danger?” Sorcha wished she had the skill to help Euphemiaunderstand her premonitions so that she could relay them more exactly.
Fora moment Euphemia frowned in thought then shook her head. “Nay, your life isnaein danger. I just sense, weel”—she shrugged—“trouble.”
“Weel,I thank ye for the warning and I shall keep a close watch, but that reallyisnae enough to make me stay behind. I have to go or Margaret willnae go, and Ithink this fair will lift her spirits.”
“Oh,aye, a day at the fair will make Margaret verra happy,” Euphemia declared andstrode away.
Sorchasincerely began to doubt Euphemia’s prediction when, as they all gathered inthe bailey, Margaret arrived looking as if she were being dragged to thefuneral of someone she had heartily disliked. Margaret was clearly not going tocooperate with everyone’s efforts to cheer her.
“Therewalks a black cloud,” murmured Neil as she mounted her horse and edged up nextto Sorcha who sat astride a dappled mare.
“Atleast she is out of that room,” Sorcha said as she checked to be sure herpanniers were secured.
“True,although she acts as if she goes along with us under threat of torture.”
“Thatwas the next thing I was about to try.” Sorcha smiled faintly when Neillaughed, and they nudged their horses to follow Dougal as he rode out of thegates.
“Ine’er thought she would remain so upset.”
“Yethought her love a passing fancy?”
“Aye.Margaret has never shown much hint of stubbornness or even steadfastness. Ididnae think her heart would remain broken for so many months. She and Beathamwere more weel matched than even I guessed.”
“Thatassumes that Beatham suffers as she does.”
“True.I cannae say why, but I am inclined to believe that he does. Mayhap thatfeeling is born of her unexpected faithfulness. If she can remain so firmly inlove, why cannae he?”
“Aye,why cannae he indeed.” Sorcha sighed and glanced toward Margaret who rode in acart with her aunts. “I dinnae expect her to be cured by this trip, but mayhap ‘twillprove to be a step toward putting the worst of her grief behind her.”
“Asye have done?” Neil asked quietly, watching Sorcha closely as she waited for areply.
