Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,59
Duncan would have my head if he knew I spoke to ye thus.”
Anna laughed and replied, “Not to worry, Iain, it will stay between us. Think about what else you appreciate about her, besides her…physical charms.” Anna couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Reassured, Iain considered her question for a moment.
“Her smell. I love the way she smells.”
“Now we are getting somewhere. Let us seek fragrant soaps and bath oils. No doubt she would use them if she knew she would see you afterward.”
“Aye, ’tis just the thing. Do ye think Nessa and Lady MacGregor would appreciate such gifts?”
“I doubt very many ladies would think poorly about such thoughtfulness. The trick will be to try to closely match fragrances they already use.”
Iain nodded in agreement and they made their way to the soap-makers. Finding a selection of soaps, oils and sea sponges, they made their purchases and wandered around before returning to the cart. Anna procured a number of dried herbs she hadn’t seen growing in their area and a few growing in pots to add to their collection. She was eager to see if she could get them to flourish in the Highland climate.
Vendors of all kinds lined the road. Anna bought the ladies colorful beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings, along with two more bound tomes of blank pages for Nessa to record their healing studies. As luck would have it, she found a few books for sale. With an eye on teaching Nessa, she purchased a haggard copy of Beowulf, along with well-made versions of Vita Columbi, and Historia Regum Britanniae.
They were all written in English, useful for their studies of her native language. Nessa would enjoy the stories, particularly the romance in many of them. If nothing else, she could share the stories with others during the dull winter months indoors.
They passed a booth of exquisitely embroidered linen goods. Anna begged Iain to wait out front while she searched for something very specific.
“How may I assist ye, milady?” asked a middle-aged woman dressed in black.
“I am looking for something to ignite a man’s…appetite.”
The woman shot a glance at Iain. Anna ignored the implications of her assumption and watched the woman pull a very soft and sheer night rail from one of the chests in the back.
It was a frothy thing with lace and delicately embroidered flowers, the lace and embellishments strategically placed to provide minimal cover. The narrow satin ribbons looked inadequate to the task of holding it on, and appeared designed to be taken off rather hastily. The woman gave Anna a knowing wink.
Anna stared at the garment. Scandalous. Wanton. Brazen. Perfect. Heat rose to her cheeks as she imagined herself in such a thing.
She bought the gift for Mairi in appreciation of their discussion on passion. Anna giggled when she imagined Mairi explaining to her husband how she came to possess such a garment. The woman bundled it discretely. Anna wrote “Lady MacGregor” on one corner so there would be no mistake if it were accidentally grabbed.
At a leather smith, she purchased two finely crafted leather belts with matching sporrans. They featured beautifully tooled interlocking designs she’d frequently seen on tapestries and other artistic objects since her arrival. She hoped Duncan and his father would appreciate them. Each sporran had an ornate, silver cantle on top, with the center left blank to carve one’s clan crest.
“How long will it take to carve two, sir?”
The leather smith stroked the stubble on his chin and clicked his tongue between his missing front teeth before answering. “’Twill take a sennight, m’lady.”
Anna placed twice as many coins on the counter. “I need them ready first thing on the morrow.”
The man smiled, flashing his remaining teeth. He nodded and pointed to her waist. “I will need yer dirk for the design.”
From the huge grin on Iain’s face, she knew she’d made a good choice. “Iain, you must promise ’tis our secret, and you will have to be the one to come fetch them.”
With a look of mischief on his face, he replied, “Aye. Ye will make the MacGregor men verra happy. I am glad to play conspirator, particularly since ye assisted me with purchases for my Colina.”
Anna took his arm and laughed in response. “So ’tis yer Colina now is it?” Giving him a sly smile, she mimicked his accent.
He looked sheepishly at her. “Aye.”
A commotion erupted not far from them. Barking and snarling rose above the noise of the crowd, and a whinny of terror pierced the melee.