"Nay. We women are born with what is called a maiden's veil, and--"
"A maiden's veil?" Seonaid echoed, then raised her hands to feel her head and said, "What is that? I doona think I have one."
"Aye. You do," Lady Wildwood said firmly.
"Where's me daughter?"
Blake sat up straight in the chair he had been lounging in and scowled as Angus paused before him. "She is in the kitchen with Lady Wildwood."
"Hmm." Angus glanced at Aeldra and Helen, who were sitting at the trestle table. When he glanced back there was a thoughtful look on his face. "I've been thinkin' on what ye said about the attack."
Blake arched an eyebrow. "Aye?"
"Are ye sure 'twas the women they were after?"
"Aye. Why do you ask?"
"Because there must be a reason Seonaid lied about it being Camerons. And Allistair said that Greenweld had sent men after ye, and I was wondering if it might no be them and you were the true target."
"Me?" Blake sat up a little straighter. "Why would Greenweld send men after me?"
"For Allistair. To kill ye so he could marry our Seonaid," Angus explained, then shook his head. "But ye did say they attacked the women while they were bathing. So they couldna have been after you, could they?"
Blake said slowly, recalling the attack, "I had gone down to the loch to be sure the women had not made another run for it. I had just stepped out into the clearing when the men attacked."
"So, you were there too, and it could have been Greenweld's men after ye."
Blake shook his head. "But Greenweld is English, and these men wore plaids."
Angus shrugged. "Plaids are easy enough to find, and a smart Englishman would have his men don them if they were a smaller party and wanted to be able to travel the land without trouble. English dress is reason enough to stop and find out what they are about."
"Hmm." Blake considered the matter. The men had attacked after he'd stepped into the clearing. It could be that they were after him, not the women. In truth, if they were Greenweld's men, they might have thought the women little danger to them. "Are you sure it could not have been Camerons?" he asked now. "I do not understand why Seonaid would lie about it. I could understand had her lie delayed arriving here or allowed them to escape, but to lie to get here more quickly when she had been fighting the wedding as she had?" He shook his head, trying to make sense of it.
Angus again glanced toward the women at the table as he considered the question. Blake followed his gaze. Aeldra and Sister Helen were huddled together, having what appeared to be a serious talk.
"Who is she?"
Blake glanced with surprise at the Dunbar laird. "Who is whom? Sister Helen?"
"Aye. Who is she and how did she come to be a member of yer party?"
Blake glanced back to the women and shrugged. "She is ... Sister Helen," he finished helplessly. "Seonaid said she promised to see the sister to her home in England."
"Where in England?"
Blake glanced at him with surprise but had to admit, "I do not know. All I know is she is Sister Helen and left the abbey with Seonaid and Aeldra."
"Hmmm," the Dunbar said again, then turned away and headed to the trestle table. Blake watched him for a moment, then curiosity got the better of him and he stood to follow.
Seonaid's head was awhirl with information as Lady Wildwood led her back into the keep and through the kitchens. If she had been confused about Blake and her feelings about marrying him before, she was even more so now. Lady Wildwood had assured her that while the first time might be painful, it would not be due to his size, and in fact she might come to appreciate his size afterward. She had also assured her that--from all she had heard at court--Blake would probably make the bedding part of marriage very pleasurable for her.
Then there was his dallying about collecting her, the source of all her anger with the man. Unfortunately, she found unarguable the lady's suggestion that she should let go of her anger. Lady Wildwood insisted that it couldn't possibly have been a personal slight on his part since they hadn't yet met. With that in mind, Seonaid didn't know what she felt or thought about anything. All she knew was that she had made promises to Helen and felt she should keep them. And no doubt the other two women were waiting to hear what the next step would be, now that the chance to slip out through the secret passage was gone.
Seonaid wasn't sure. Storming off to her father's room after finding the secret passage blocked hadn't been the brightest move. They would be watching for an escape attempt now. Not that Blake had ever stopped watching for one, she conceded.
"Seonaid, dear?"
"Aye?" She glanced at Lady Wildwood curiously as she followed her out of the kitchen and into the great hall.
"Where is Sister Helen from? She looks terribly familiar to me. Perhaps I know her family."
Seonaid stumbled to a halt and opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure what to say. It suddenly occurred to her that she had no idea where Helen was from. Not that she would have told Margaret anyway.
"Where exactly are ye from, Sister?"
That question from her father made her glance sharply toward the trestle tables where Helen, Aeldra, Blake, and her father were all seated. Helen's expression was a picture of panic. Excusing herself, Seonaid picked up speed and left Lady Wildwood behind as she hurried forward to forestall her father from asking anything else. Until she knew if they were going to try to sneak Helen home, it wasn't good to give them too much information. Although, after her conversation with Lady Wildwood, Seonaid was starting to think that she should let the men in on the actual events surrounding Lady Helen and let them help. But she would never do it without talking to Helen first.
"She is from St. Simmian's," Seonaid announced, pausing at the table to catch Helen under the elbow and urge her to stand. Aeldra was immediately on her feet as well.
"Aye. But where was she born, Seonaid?" her father asked. "Where is this family she wants to visit?"
"England," Seonaid answered succinctly, then rushed the women away before he could ask any more questions.
"Where are we goin'?" Aeldra asked as they started across the bailey.
"I am no sure. We need to go somewhere we can talk."
"That may be difficult. We have company."
"Aye. I ken," Seonaid admitted, aware that Blake had followed them out of the keep and was trailing them across the bailey. A moment later she glanced back to see that Little George had joined Sherwell. At this rate, it would soon be a parade. There would be no chance to talk.
The sight of Little George reminded Seonaid that earlier in the day Aeldra had run out of the cottage and disappeared, along with Little George. She glanced at her cousin curiously. "Did Stupid George bother ye this morn after ye left Giorsal?"
"Little George," Aeldra corrected, then blushed when Seonaid glanced at her sharply. The nickname Stupid George was one Aeldra had suggested for the man just days ago. It seemed she no longer felt it suited. Interesti
ng.
"He didna bother me," her cousin added, her face still flushed. "He--we talked. He was verra ... er ... kind."
Seonaid's eyebrows rose. Judging by the way her cousin was blushing, his kindness had probably not been dissimilar to the kindness Seonaid had enjoyed with Blake. She felt her own cheeks flush at the memory of his kiss.
"He is the strongest yet gentlest man I have ever met," Aeldra announced suddenly, and Seonaid peered at her in horror. She had never heard the smaller woman talk like this about any man. She sounded almost moonstruck.
Aeldra caught her expression and flushed further but said defiantly, "He is nice."
"Aye," Seonaid agreed quickly to soothe her, but was thinking with alarm that her tiny cousin was falling for the great brute. Of course, she was in danger of falling for Blake too. At least, his kiss seemed to plague her memory an awful lot. While Lady Wildwood had been explaining about the bedding that would follow the nuptials, Seonaid had been picturing Blake in her mind, remembering him naked, remembering sleeping pressed up against his chest, with his arm around her and his hand cupping her breast, and remembering his kiss and the way her body had reacted, the excitement, the budding passion, the--
"Seonaid!"
Slowing her steps, Seonaid glanced around, her face lighting with pleasure at the sight of the handsome dark-haired man walking toward her from the practice field. Ian McInnes, the son of their nearest neighbor, was about the same age as Duncan. He was also a friend, and she smiled happily at the sight of him.
"Ian," Seonaid greeted him with a laugh as he caught her up in a hug and swung her around before setting her down. Then he did the same to Aeldra. "What are ye doin' here?"
"I brought the men to help rout Greenweld," he explained, then grinned. "Ye ken I can never pass up the chance fer a good fight. No that it was much o' a fight." He shrugged. "I sent most of the men back after they helped clear up the worst of the mess, but I am staying until tomorrow morn. Mother will be put out if I return without the full tale, and I've yet to hear it all. Duncan and yer father havena been out of their rooms since shortly after it all ended."
"Ah." Seonaid smiled, then noted the way he glanced at Helen and introduced them. "This is Sister Helen. Helen, this is Ian McInnes, our neighbor and friend."