He flicked back the covers and stood. The two maids yelped and left the chamber. Neville quickly scanned the floor then grabbed the discarded tunic and handed it to Magnus.
“My lord, I do believe you may wish to have a care around the maids as they are not accustomed to seeing a man about without his clothing.”
“Then the maids should not enter a man’s chamber while he is still abed and especially on the morning after his wedding.”
Magnus came over to her and kissed her on the head then on the lips. He motioned to the red stain on the bed sheets and winked at her.
“Enjoy your bath, wife,” he said. “I believe I may take you up on the offer of a bath,” he said to Neville. “My wife did not let me sleep much last night.” He quickly stepped out of reach of Elspeth as he made the last comment. The look on Neville’s face was almost comical and she had to lower her gaze in mock embarrassment, though she absolutely felt none.
Once they were gone, the maids came in again and stripped the bed. One giggled and quickly stifled herself when Elspeth caught her. They would surely know the stain was not her virgin’s blood, but the priest would not. They bundled all the clothes up and remade it with the fresh linens.
“We will be sure to alert Father Fothad that the marriage has been properly consummated,” Sheona said.
They returned a while later once the water arrived and proceeded to scrub every inch of her and wash her hair. Elspeth had to admit, the heat from the water was soothing the ache in her joints and between her legs from the vigorous night she’d spent with Magnus.
Her maids, normally chatty little birds, were thankfully quiet this morning. The quiet gave her time to think about the occurrence at the feast the night before. Magnus had done a superb job of eliminating all thoughts from her head except those that directly related to their physical enjoyment of one another, and their future life together.
The maids left with the promise to return in a little while to brush dry her hair. Elspeth took advantage of the quiet and rested her neck on the edge of the tub. Steam arose in tufts and between the lavender and rose scented water and the crackling fire, her eyelids drooped slowly until they remained closed.
When she awoke, the maids had returned with a small platter of food and a fresh pitcher and goblets.
“’Tis a good thing we came back when we did,” Sheona said. “You fell asleep and your head was almost in the water.”
Elspeth sat up and rubbed her eyes. She was a little disoriented for the moment and had to look around a little to remember where she was. She blinked a few times and asked, “How long was I asleep?”
“Almost an hour,” Sheona said.
An odd, unsettling feeling washed over her. For as long as she could remember even the smallest of naps resulted in a vivid dream that could be about nothing, but more than likely was something that she later related to something real. Now she thought about it, she hadn’t dreamed when she’d slept with Magnus earlier that morning either. Did the salt on the floor have anything to do with it? Had Freydis somehow blocked her mind from dreaming or receiving whatever messages entered her mind when she slept?
“Is the Viking seer belowstairs yet?”
“Aye, she has been up since dawn broke.”
Elspeth stood and reached for the cloths to dry her skin. “I must speak to her,” she said to Isobel. “Go and ask her to join me here while Sheona brushes my hair.”
“Aye, my lady,” she said and left the chamber.
“Are you unwell?” Sheona asked her.
“Nay, I am well, Sheona. You need not worry about me.”
“I cannot help it,” she said. “I have known you for so long and I find that you are different since you went away with your brother.”
Elspeth was more than sure she had left the lass she once was somewhere along the road of her adventures. She would scarce recognize that lass any longer and though her adventure was far more outlandish than she could have ever imagined, she would not change one second of it because it had put her on a path leading directly to Magnus.
“I have seen much since leaving here all those weeks ago,” she said. “And I am happier for it.”
“Your husband is an imposing man,” she said.
“You do not have to worry about him,” Elspeth said. “His ways may be different from ours, but he is honourable and would not harm one hair on anyone he considers unable to defend themselves. Did you know his sister has trained the maids at Castle MacDomnail?”
“My cousin works there,” Sheona said. “I love my work here, but I would love to know how to keep groping hands at bay.”
“Then we will have to be sure we can make that happen. I am certain when Vigdis becomes lady here, she will ensure everyone is properly able to defend themselves.”
Elspeth was glad the topic of conversation had steered away from her specific adventures. She trusted her servant, but was not prepared to share the incredible happenings that offered little to no viable explanation. Nay, she would keep the details of her journey closely guarded. She was even hesitant to ask about Kenneth, lest Sheona be inclined to gossip. She would have to wait for Freydis’ explanation and Magnus’ observances.
Elspeth sat by the fire waiting for Freydis as Sheona brushed her hair until almost dry. The door opened quietly and for a moment, Elspeth couldn’t make out who it was. That is until Freydis stepped over the salt threshold and her head was filled with dozens of images from the evening before and right up to her climbing the stairs and standing outside the chamber door.
