“I’ll bring up some mead, and mayhap some pastries fer the two o’ ye if Cook has any, shall I?” Tildy suggested as she watched Evina rearrange her furs to cover the tunic she’d redonned just before Tildy had arrived.
“Aye, I suppose,” Evina murmured, frowning as she felt an unusual nervousness beginning to creep over her. She had no idea why she was suddenly nervous. Evina had never before been a shy lass when it came to meeting people. But then this was Conran’s sister, who might actually become her sister-in-law if things continued as they were going. Conran’s “kisses” had gone a long way toward convincing her that perhaps the marriage bed was not the trial and chore she’d thought it must be after her experience in the field. She wasn’t completely convinced, but truly, she was leaning that way.
“I’ll go tell her ye’re awake and happy to see her,” Tildy announced once Evina was situated.
“Thank ye.” Evina managed a smile, and watched the woman leave, then sat and watched the door anxiously. She didn’t have long to wait. Conran’s sister must have been waiting in the hall, for it seemed that Tildy had barely closed the door behind her before it opened again and a beautiful, dark-haired woman swaggered in. That was the only way to describe it. Saidh Buchanan MacDonnell did not take mincing, little, ladylike steps as most noble females did. She strutted into the room, hips swaying, and the sword strapped to her waist swaying with them.
“Ye must be Conran’s Evina!” was her greeting, and it was accompanied by a wide grin. “I’m here to give ye all the dirt on him, so ye can blackmail him as needs be.”
Evina’s eyes widened at the words, and she reached up weakly to pat the other woman’s back when she stopped at the bedside and bent to hug her.
“Welcome to the family, sister.”
“Oh.” Evina forced a smile and nodded as the woman straightened. This didn’t seem to be the time to tell her that she hadn’t totally made up her mind to marry Conran. Not that she’d probably tell her anyway. She wouldn’t tell anyone if she decided not to marry him. She’d pack her few belongings in a bag, saddle her horse and leave. Evina had no idea where she’d go, but she wasn’t going to marry if she wasn’t ready and if she wasn’t sure the man would not abuse her. She’d cut her hair, bind her breasts, dress as a man and work as a mercenary if she had to. She could handle a sword as well as every man here at Maclean.
Well, if she was pregnant that could be a problem, but she’d worry about that later. At the moment, she just had to get through this visit.
“I ken ye’re no’ sure about marrying Conran, and are no’ convinced o’ the pleasures o’ the marriage bed, but I promise, while the first time is painful, after that ’tis much better.”
Evina stiffened, her eyes shooting to Saidh’s face with shock.
“Ye can no’ keep a secret in a castle, Evi,” she said gently, and then asked, “Is it okay if I call ye Evi?”
“Aye,” she muttered, wondering if she’d heard Conran refer to her as Evi. He was the only one who called her that.
“Good.” Beaming, she dropped to sit in the chair next to the bed, and added, “I also understand ye’ve some fears about the husband’s right to beat ye and such, and I want to assure ye, Conran would ne’er beat a woman. None o’ me brothers ever would. And I can say that with complete certainty, because if they were o’ the temperament to beat women, I’d ha’e been beaten long ago, several times over.”
“Conran said the same thing,” Evina told her with amusement.
“Well, then, ye ken ’tis true,” Saidh assured her. “I promise, no matter how hard I punched or kicked them, and how badly I hurt them, no’ one o’ me brothers has retaliated in kind and hurt me back.”
Evina’s eyebrows rose incredulously. “Ye punched and kicked them?”
“I’ve done worse than that,” Saidh assured her. “Someone had to keep those big idiots in line.”
Evina just stared at her, thinking she believed she might like Saidh a good deal.
“And I’d do it again if I ever heard one o’ them had hurt their wife or any other woman,” she assured her. “I promise. If Conran ever missteps, ye tell me, and I shall take care o’ him fer ye.”
“Or help me take care o’ him,” Evina said quietly because, really, she wasn’t the sort to stand by and take abuse without fighting back.
Saidh grinned. “I think I’m going to like ye, Evi.”
Evina smiled, the first true smile she’d given her since the woman had arrived in her room. She glanced to the sword at her waist, noting that, like hers, it was a true sword made to suit her size, and asked, “Are ye really wearing braies under yer gown?”
“Aye,” Saidh admitted, looking slightly surprised at the question.
“Tildy mentioned she thought she saw braies peeking out as ye got up from the table,” Evina explained, and then admitted, “I wear them too. ’Tis much easier to ride astride with them on.”
“Oh, aye,” Saidh agreed enthusiastically. “And riding astride is much better than riding sidesaddle.”
“I agree,” Evina assured her. “Besides, ’tis hard to engage in battle practice in the yard in a skirt. I usually—”
“Tie it up around yer waist to keep it out o’ yer way?” Saidh suggested, and then grinned when Evina nodded. Shaking her head, she breathed, “Oh, Evi . . . we are going to be grand friends.”
Evina beamed back and nodded. “Aye, I believe we will.”
They were still grinning at each other when a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Evina called as they both glanced toward the door. She wasn’t terribly surprised when Conran entered, followed by two servants, one with a tray of food in hand, and one carrying a pitcher and two mugs. He’d had dinner with her each night since the attack, and this was the routine.
“Sister.” Conran didn’t appear surprised to see Saidh there, and smiled at her as he held the door for the maids. “They are serving the sup below and yer husband is fretting ye’ll miss it.”
Saidh rolled her eyes and then turned to Evina and advised, “Be prepared, once ye’re with child, ye’re husband will become a fretting Fiona. At least me Greer is. All he does is natter at me to eat more, sleep more, ride less and stay out o’ the practice yard. ’Tis most annoying.”
Evina blinked, her hand moving unconsciously to her stomach.
Fortunately, Conran quickly drew Saidh’s attention, saying, “Fretting Fiona? I can no’ wait to call him that.” And then he blinked and asked with dismay, “Ye’re no’ with child again, are ye?”
“Shut it,” Saidh said with a scowl as she got to her feet. Moving past him toward the door, she announced, “I like Evi. Ye’d best be good to her, else I’ll come to Maclean and kick yer arse.”
Conran just shook his head with irritation and muttered, “Go eat yer sup.”
“I mean it,” Saidh assured him as she sailed out the door with the maids following.
He grimaced, but merely waited until the door had closed behind them and then turned to offer Evina an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I tried to prevent her coming up, but she was determined.”