from Lachlan yet?” Keevah asked, masking her concern with an air of nonchalance. Both Aeschene and Marisse were convinced there was a budding romance happening between Keevah and Lachlan.
“Nae as yet,” Aeschene replied. “I swear I am goin’ daft from nae kennin’ anything.”
“Ye worry over everything of late,” Marisse said.
“And have my worries proven wrong yet?” Aeschene said with a quirk of her brow.
Marisse refused to admit she’d been correct yesterday and again last night. Ignoring her friend, she turned to Keevah. “So, tell me, Keevah. Should we begin planning’ a wedding’ feast for ye and Lachlan?”
Keevah nearly choked to death on her cider. Aeschene was appalled at Marisse’s behavior. “Marisse! Wheest!”
“What?” she asked, feigning innocence. “Anyone can see they like each other.”
Keevah’s eyes were as big as trenchers. Twice, she tried to speak but the words were lodge firmly in her throat.
“Be that as it may,” Aeschene began. “Ye cannae just blurt out whatever it is ye’re thinkin’.”
Marisse rolled her eyes. “I would rather talk about Keevah and Lachlan that sit here wringing’ my fingers and worrying’ myself to death.”
“Fine, then let us discuss ye and Rory,” Keevah challenged.
Aeschene quashed the urge to laugh out loud.
“Me and Rory? There is no me and Rory.”
“That is nae what I heard,” Keevah said as if she had a tremendous secret.
“What? What did ye hear?” Aeschene asked, leaning forward in her chair.
Keevah shrugged her shoulders, feigning ignorance. Aeschene of course, couldn’t see her expression or the murderous glower in Marisse’s eyes.
“Well? Tell me?”
“I heard that Rory has spent the last few weeks begging Marisse’s forgiveness for thinkin’ she was with child.”
“I am still quite angry with him over that,” Aeschene said.
“I also heard that Marisse has forgiven him.”
Aeschene turned to look at Marisse. This was news to her. “And have ye?”
Marisse picked invisible lint from her skirt, affecting a composed air of indifference. “Mayhap I have,” she said. “But ’tis no one’s concern but my own.”
“Marisse!” Aeschene exclaimed. “Why did ye nae tell me?”
“Because I ken how yer mind works. If I had told ye I had forgiven him, ye would have had Hattie start readyin’ for a wedding’ feast.”
She wasn’t insulted, for she knew ’twas nothing but the truth. “And what would be wrong with that?”
“Because mayhap, just mayhap I dunnae want to be married.”
Aeschene blinked in stunned incredulity. “Nae want to be married?” she was astounded by this revelation. “But why nae?”
“Because, quite frankly speaking’, I like my independence.”
Keevah nodded in complete understanding. Aeschene, however, was dumbfounded and told her so.
“I can come and go as I please,” Marisse told her. “And I get an entire bed all too myself.”
Keevah smiled in agreement. “Och! I do believe that is my favorite part of nae bein’ married. No man lying next to me, snoring’ or grinding’ his teeth, or takin’ all the blankets.”
“Aye, that is true,” Marisse said. “And there be no one tellin’ me what I can and cannae do.”
“Or where ye can and cannae go,” Keevah added.
“Precisely,” Marisse replied. “I like nae havin’ a man to answer to.”
Certainly they were just jesting with her. But the more they discussed the joys of not having a man in their lives, the more she began to realize they were speaking the truth.
“Wait,” she said, holding up a hand. “Ye mean ye are truly happy being alone?”
Both women said ‘aye’.
“But do ye nae get lonely?” she asked. “Do ye nae wish there was someone to share yer hopes and dreams with?”
Marisse leaned over and patted her hand. “I share my hopes and dreams with ye. As for lonely? Nae, I dunnae get lonely.”
“But what about,” Aeschene leaned in and lowered her voice. “What about things of a more intimate nature?” The idea of not being able to join with her husband was downright terrifying.
“Ye ken ye dunnae have to be married to enjoy things of a more intimate nature with a man.”
Aeschene’s eyes grew wide again. “’Tis sinful!”
Keevah giggled heartily. “If it is done right, then aye, ’tis.”
Marisse laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks. Aeschene didn’t find this conversation nearly as amusing as her two friends. But she was ever so thankful they had taken her mind away from her worry, if just for a little while.
’Twas the middle of the night when Aeschene received word that Raibeart had been found and he was grievously injured. She sent for the healer at once, and with Marisse’s help, they prepared Raibeart’s room for his return. She called for linens, hot water, blankets,