him vulnerable. If he didn’t catch the man targeting Evina and the bastard succeeded in killing her . . . Conran didn’t think he could bear that. They had to catch him, he thought as he started for the head table and the women seated there.
“He didn’t?” Evina gasped the words with disbelief as he approached, stirring his curiosity.
“Aye. He did,” Saidh assured her, and then suddenly glanced around as if she’d noticed his approach out of the corner of her eye. Smiling when she saw him, she said, “And here he is now.”
Evina turned then, and saw him as well. He watched the smile of greeting that bloomed on her face and marveled again that she would soon be his wife. It made Conran wonder how he had got so damned lucky, and then he smiled wryly as the answer popped up in his mind that it had been purely by accident. Evina had set out to fetch Rory Buchanan, a Highlander known for his healing, and ended up kidnapping and dragging him home instead. It made him the luckiest bastard in Scotland, if not the world.
“Yer mood seems much improved,” Conran commented as he paused behind and to the side of her.
“Aye,” she said, her smile sobering a touch. “Well, ’twas a relief to learn Cormag will be well, and to see him up and about.”
“Oh?” He glanced around. “Where is he?”
“He had a drink with us and then went to lie down,” she explained. “While he sustained only a flesh wound, it doesn’t make it pain less and that can take a lot out o’ ye too,” she pointed out.
“Aye,” Conran agreed, his gaze settling on her again. He stared at her for one moment, and then announced abruptly, “Niels and Edith have arrived.”
“Oh!” Saidh beamed at the news and turned to Evina. “Edith is a dear. Ye shall like her too.”
The other women agreed enthusiastically with her words, and then Saidh added, “And this means we can have the wedding tonight.”
“‘Twill be sooner than tonight,” Conran assured them. “The priest is being fetched as we speak.”
“What?” Evina looked alarmed at this news. “But—”
“Nonsense,” Saidh said, interrupting her, and then patting Evina’s hand, she added, “It can no’ possibly be held until we’ve bathed and readied Evina. And ye must bathe too.”
“Bathe?” he echoed with surprise. “There is no need for us to bathe. We—”
“O’ course ye must bathe,” Saidh said firmly. “’Tis yer wedding day. Ye should both be bathed and pampered and made pretty for the bedding ceremony. We could probably manage all that just ere the sup if we get started quickly,” she said firmly, and then glanced around. “Where did yer lovely Tildy get to, Evi? We should have her order the water to be prepared fer ye both.”
“We only have the one tub,” Evina said with a frown.
“Nay,” Gavin corrected her. “There are two tubs. One is kept for the servants to use in the kitchen as they wish, but we could cart both up for the two o’ ye to use.”
“To use where?” Evina asked with a frown. “I can have mine in me chamber, but Conran gave up his room to Dougall and Murine.”
“He can bathe in yer father’s room,” Tildy suggested, appearing next to Conran. He had no idea where she’d come from, but she’d obviously heard at least part of the conversation.
“Hopefully, he’ll no’ mind joining Gavin and the others in the barracks to sleep this night too,” Tildy said now with a frown. “Otherwise I’ve no idea where I’ll put Laird and Lady Drummond.”
“Oh.” Evina smiled suddenly at Saidh, and then turned to the maid and said, “There’s no need to put Da out like that, Tildy. Edith and Niels may have me room.”
“What?” Conran gasped with shock. “Where are we to sleep, then?”
“Aye,” Tildy said with some concern of her own. “If they’re in yer room, where will ye and Lord Conran spend yer first night as husband and wife?”
“Ne’er fear,” Evina said, smiling mysteriously. “The ladies and I have come up with a plan.”
“Aye, they have,” Alick told him, and then warned, “They got to thinking while the rest o’ ye were busy with yer hunt.”
“What is this plan?” Conran asked with concern, but before anyone could answer, the keep doors opened and the woman all jumped up squealing and rushed away to greet Edith as she entered. Conran stared after them, narrow-eyed, knowing that while they were happy