Page 89 of Edge of Yesterday

She stepped aside and Julianna ducked under the low stone lintel, Cailean following close behind her. In the far right hand corner, Barbara sat up in a recess bed, the babe suckling at her breast.

Julianna hurried toward her while Cailean—she couldn’t help noticing with a laugh—hung back like most men who encountered the presence of a newborn baby.

Barbara started to struggle from the bed, but it was built deep into the wall, posing a difficult scramble. Julianna reached her in time to put out a staying hand, and eased the new mother back into the comfort of her cushioned bed. “Nae, Barbara, stay there, please. I only wanted to come and see the wee bairn.”

The child was Barbara’s first and the young woman smiled a shy smile. “He is a lusty eater.”

“I am glad to hear it.” Julianna beamed down at the babe. “He will someday be as strapping as his da.”

“That would please us.” Barbara peered at the lad, her eyes misting. “We are blessed.”

“You are indeed.” Julianna made a silent note to herself to arrange for Farmer Muir to send baskets of food and a cartload of peat to the cottage. She’d instruct him to say that the supplies were a bonus for Barbara’s husband’s hard work in the Muirhead fields.

“Ye may sit at the table, if ye like, Cailean,” Lucy said.

Julianna sat down on a low three-legged stool beside Barbara’s bed, while Cailean seemed very happy to sit at the table near the hearth where the peat bricks burned red hot. The babe suckled contentedly, as he stared up at his mother. “He is a bonnie lad.” Julianna laughed. “What have ye named him?”

Barbara looked at her, her eyes lighting. “Daniel, after Matthew’s father.”

“A fine name.” Julianna reached to touch his cheek. “He is beautiful.”

Barbara fussed with the blanket tucked around his arms, but Julianna could see the girl was pleased with the compliment.

“Would ye and Cailean like some wine, my lady?” Lucy asked.

Julianna glanced at Cailean.

“Aye.” He nodded. “That is kind of ye.”

Julianna hid a smile. Despite his obvious discomfort, he had manners and wouldn’t insult the ladies by refusing their hospitality.

Lucy took two tin cups and a jug from a shelf, then went to the table and filled the cups with wine. She set a cup in front of Cailean, then hurried to Julianna with hers. Julianna sipped the wine.

“This is very good.” Cailean glanced at his wine, then drank more.

“Barbara makes the wine.” Julianna smiled.

“It’s the best I’ve ever had.” Cailean finished his cup with a flourish.

“I thank you, sir.” Barbara shifted inside her recess bed. Even in the shadows of its cupboard-like confines, Julianna saw the pleasure in her eyes. “But I cannae take full credit. The wine comes from Farmer Muir. He brings us a supply, generous as he is.”

“And you make it even better,” Julianna finished for her, knowing Barbara wouldn’t mention praise herself. Turning back to Cailean, she explained, “Barbara is a master at adding herbs and spices to wine, so creating her own specialties. She will tell you her honeyed wine is her best, but I am fond of this wine. It is spiced with violet petals. Could you tell?” She smiled. “Violet wine.”

He grinned and lifted the cup to his nose, sniffing. “Aye, I can now.” His eyes shifted past Julianna to Barbara. “Brilliant.”

Barbara blinked. “Brill-e-ant?”

Julianna hid a frown at the strange word. “He means you are very clever to make such good wines.”

Barbara smiled. “Oh, thank ye.”

“Would ye like more?” Lucy reached for Cailean’s cup.

He smiled and she blushed again. “Just a little more,” he said.

Before she took his cup, she glanced over her shoulder at the row of earthenware jugs lining the shelf. “Would you like to try the rose petal wine?”

“Another day, lass.” He gave her his cup. “I’d love more of the violet, now that I ken its secret ingredient.”