them, no’ one o’ me brothers has retaliated in kind and hurt me back.”
Evina’s eyebrows rose incredulously. “Ye punched and kicked them?”
“I’ve done worse than that,” Saidh assured her. “Someone had to keep those big idiots in line.”
Evina just stared at her, thinking she believed she might like Saidh a good deal.
“And I’d do it again if I ever heard one o’ them had hurt their wife or any other woman,” she assured her. “I promise. If Conran ever missteps, ye tell me, and I shall take care o’ him fer ye.”
“Or help me take care o’ him,” Evina said quietly because, really, she wasn’t the sort to stand by and take abuse without fighting back.
Saidh grinned. “I think I’m going to like ye, Evi.”
Evina smiled, the first true smile she’d given her since the woman had arrived in her room. She glanced to the sword at her waist, noting that, like hers, it was a true sword made to suit her size, and asked, “Are ye really wearing braies under yer gown?”
“Aye,” Saidh admitted, looking slightly surprised at the question.
“Tildy mentioned she thought she saw braies peeking out as ye got up from the table,” Evina explained, and then admitted, “I wear them too. ’Tis much easier to ride astride with them on.”
“Oh, aye,” Saidh agreed enthusiastically. “And riding astride is much better than riding sidesaddle.”
“I agree,” Evina assured her. “Besides, ’tis hard to engage in battle practice in the yard in a skirt. I usually—”
“Tie it up around yer waist to keep it out o’ yer way?” Saidh suggested, and then grinned when Evina nodded. Shaking her head, she breathed, “Oh, Evi . . . we are going to be grand friends.”
Evina beamed back and nodded. “Aye, I believe we will.”
They were still grinning at each other when a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Evina called as they both glanced toward the door. She wasn’t terribly surprised when Conran entered, followed by two servants, one with a tray of food in hand, and one carrying a pitcher and two mugs. He’d had dinner with her each night since the attack, and this was the routine.
“Sister.” Conran didn’t appear surprised to see Saidh there, and smiled at her as he held the door for the maids. “They are serving the sup below and yer husband is fretting ye’ll miss it.”
Saidh rolled her eyes and then turned to Evina and advised, “Be prepared, once ye’re with child, ye’re husband will become a fretting Fiona. At least me Greer is. All he does is natter at me to eat more, sleep more, ride less and stay out o’ the practice yard. ’Tis most annoying.”
Evina blinked, her hand moving unconsciously to her stomach.
Fortunately, Conran quickly drew Saidh’s attention, saying, “Fretting Fiona? I can no’ wait to call him that.” And then he blinked and asked with dismay, “Ye’re no’ with child again, are ye?”
“Shut it,” Saidh said with a scowl as she got to her feet. Moving past him toward the door, she announced, “I like Evi. Ye’d best be good to her, else I’ll come to Maclean and kick yer arse.”
Conran just shook his head with irritation and muttered, “Go eat yer sup.”
“I mean it,” Saidh assured him as she sailed out the door with the maids following.
He grimaced, but merely waited until the door had closed behind them and then turned to offer Evina an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I tried to prevent her coming up, but she was determined.”
“’Tis fine. I like her,” Evina said honestly.
“I suspected ye would,” he said wryly, moving to the table by the fire where the maids had set the trays. Conran stopped at the tray with the pitcher and mugs on it and poured the golden liquid into both mugs. Setting the pitcher back, he then turned to carry the mugs toward the bed, but Evi shook her head and pushed her furs aside. “Why do we no’ sit at the table tonight?”
Conran paused, uncertainty crossing his face. “Are ye certain?”
“Aye,” she assured him as she wrapped the plaid Tildy had set on her bedside table around herself. “I am growing heartily sick o’ being stuck in this bed. I think I’d like to sit at table, if only up here.”
“Wait. Let me help ye, then,” he said, hurrying to return the mugs to the tray and then moving back to the bed just in time to take Evina’s arm as she got to her feet. “Take it slow,” Conran cautioned. “And