She’d tell him after supper.
When a knock came at the door, she rose and opened it to find her brother-in-law Colin on the other side.
“You look lovely,” he said perfunctorily, without even looking her over.
Which was fine with her.She didn’t want anyone noticing her expanded bosom before she found the mettle to tell Jason the truth.
“Thank you,” she said just as perfunctorily.“Jason is downstairs already.”
“I’m not looking for him.”He followed her inside.“Did you bring any herbal remedies with you?”
“Of course.What’s ailing you?”
“It’s not for me.I’m hoping you might have something to help Aidan sleep.”
“Why can’t he sleep?”She crossed to the wooden case she always carried with her.“Griffin and Adam both slept like the dead at fifteen.”
“The poor lad is so worried about being shipped off as an apprentice that he’s waking with nightmares every hour.”
“Oh.I heard about this from Amy.”In the middle of opening the case’s lid, she paused to glance up at him.“Your promise.”
“Yes, my cursed promise.Which I should never have made.”He looked downright miserable.“I certainly wasn’t anticipating condemning my son to a life he’d hate when I made that promise.”
“I’m sure you weren’t.And Aidan shouldn’t be forced.”She began pulling out various vials.“It’s his life, not Amy’s.”
“Will you tell her that?Because I can talk to her till I’m blue in the face, but—”
“I’ll talk to her.I’m not sure she’ll listen, but I’ll talk.Ah, here it is.Valerian.”She uncorked a vial and grabbed a tiny drawstring bag.“You’ll need only a wee pinch,” she said, putting a bit of the ground dried root into it.
“How is Aidan supposed to take this?”
“Add it to a hot drink and give it to him before bed.”She pulled the drawstring closed.“Does he like ale?”
“What boy his age doesn’t?”
“Indeed,” she said with a little laugh.“Then put it in some warmed ale, because hops increase valerian’s effectiveness.You could also add a little sugar and some ginger, nutmeg, and milk, to disguise the taste of the herb.That will make him more likely to finish it.Here.”She handed him the valerian.
He sniffed at the little bag, grimaced, then opened it and sniffed again.“It smells like something died.”
Caithren chuckled.“That’s a fair enough description.And why I suggested sugar, ginger, nutmeg, and milk.”
“Sugar, ginger, nutmeg, and milk,” Colin repeated as though trying to memorize the list.“Can you give me some more?That way I won’t have to bother you about this again tomorrow night.Actually, perhaps you should give me enough for use at home afterwards, until this matter is settled?”
“Sure, I have plenty.”She uncorked the vial and dumped a little pile into the bag he held out.“Only one pinch per night, though,” she warned.“A wee pinch, or else he’ll sleep through the night and half of the next day, too.”
His eyes widened in alarm.“It won’t have any bad effects, will it?He’ll be fine once he wakes up?”
“Of course.It’s a harmless herb.”She slid him a sharp glance.“I would never suggest you give your son—my nephew—anything at all dangerous.I was just cautioning you to use it responsibly.”
“I understand, and I will.”He slipped the tiny bag into his pocket.
“The others must be waiting downstairs for us by now.Shall we go?”Closing her wooden case, she licked her lips.“I hope they’ll be serving plum pudding.”
Eleven
Jewel
“WOULD YOUlike onion sauce on your venison, Lady Jewel?Or prune sauce?”
