to see Edith, they were also taking advantage of her arrival to avoid answering his question. At least Evina was. She didn’t even know the woman but was rushing away from the table too, at least as fast as she could rush. Scowling, Conran turned to his brothers and ordered, “Tell me.”
“There.” Tildy finished fiddling with her hair and stepped back to survey her handiwork with a smile that turned into a frown as her gaze dropped over the gown Evina was wearing. Shaking her head, she sighed with regret. “I’m so sorry, m’lady. We kenned this was coming and should have made ye a fine new gown for the occasion. Most o’ yers are frayed and old, and this is the best o’ the lot left that does no’ have an arrow hole in it, or is filthy from rolling in the dirt today.”
Evina glanced down at the pale yellow gown she wore, and plucked at the frayed cloth a bit fretfully. She’d never been much concerned with what she wore. So long as it covered her decently, ’twas good enough to her mind. Until now. She would have liked a beautiful gown to marry in. Something that would have made Conran proud to claim her to wife. Forcing a smile, she shrugged. “Well, if this is the best o’ the lot, then ‘twill have to do. ’Tis fine,” she added the lie bravely. “I’m sure Conran’ll no’ even notice what I’m wearing.”
Tildy was peering at her pityingly for the obvious lie when a knock sounded at the door. It opened without the caller waiting to be invited.
Evina watched wide-eyed as Saidh, Murine, Edith, Jo and Jetta rushed in in an excited cluster, all of them chattering at once.
“’Tis done!” Saidh announced triumphantly as Geordie pulled the door closed behind them.
“Aye, and ’tis beautiful,” Jo told her happily.
“It is,” Murine assured her. “I did no’ think it could be, but it truly is.”
“Aye,” Jetta agreed with a grin. “We pilfered furs and pillows and bolsters from every room in the keep, and filled it with candles and torches, and even a table fer the two o’ ye to sit at.”
“And the chests, o’ course,” Edith said meaningfully.
“It sounds wonderful,” Evina said, her face relaxing into a true smile. “I can no’ wait to see it.”
“Ye’ll be pleased,” Saidh assured her, and then added solemnly, “Now we just have to hope the trap works.”
Silence fell briefly in the room as the women all nodded solemnly, and then Murine moved forward, her smile returning. “Ye look lovely, Evina. Tildy, ye’ve done wonders with her hair.”
“Aye,” Edith agreed, moving closer as well to get a look at the braid Tildy had woven around her head and set flowers in. “She looks like a fairy princess with the flowers woven through her braid like that.”
Tildy beamed at the compliments, until the women turned their attention to Evina’s gown. Sighing then, she said, “I should have made something special for the day, but with all the company, I didn’t think on it and this is the only gown that is clean and without holes or terribly frayed to an indecent degree. I fear m’lady has ne’er troubled herself over much about such things as fashion.”
“’Tis fine,” Evina repeated, forcing another smile. “Tildy did such wonders with me hair, no one will even notice me gown.”
“Hmm.” Jo moved up to stand beside her and glanced from Evina to herself and then asked the others, “She is about my size, is she no’?”
“Aye, she is,” Murine said, a smile beginning to curve her lips. “Pray, tell us ye have something she might wear for the wedding.”
“I believe I do,” Jo said with a nod, and headed for the door. “I shall be right back.”
“Whatever she brings back’ll be wondrous,” Murine promised with a grin as the door closed behind Jo.
“Whether it is or no’, ’tis kind o’ her to trouble herself so,” Evina said quietly. “She seems a very nice woman. ’Tis hard to believe she’s English.”
“Only half-English,” Saidh corrected her firmly. “Her father was a Scot. Most like that’s why she ended up kind and good. By all accounts her mother was a right English bitch.”
“Saidh!” Jetta said with dismay. “Ye might hurt Jo’s feelings did she hear ye say that.”
“But she did no’ hear, did she?” Saidh said with a shrug, and then added, “Besides, she’d tell ye that herself. She’s no love for her birth mother. Ne’er even kenned her and was as