Desiring The Highlander by Michele Sinclair

Author:Michele Sinclair
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2009-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Ellenor opened the door to Laurel’s day room and grimaced as all four of the women gathered immediately went silent. Only old Hagatha, Laurel’s midwife and unusual friend, dared to look her in the eye. The woman was built like a cauldron, round in the middle and made of iron. No effort was made to tame her wild, slightly graying red hair. She wore a man’s leine underneath her plaid arisaid, which was tied off with a large leather strap. Living several hours north of the castle, she came down once a week to check on Laurel’s progress. Five days ago, she had decided to stay until the next of the McTiernay line was born, which could be any time.

Laurel grew larger and more exhausted every day, enjoying only snippets of rest before being roused again by little kicking feet attacking her rib cage. Hagatha was not as nervous as the first time Laurel was pregnant, but the midwife was taking no chances. Lady McTiernay was ordered to rest often, and the old woman kept a tight rein over who visited and when. Laurel practically had to order her to allow Ellenor to be one of those deemed acceptable.

Ellenor guessed Hagatha was more bark than bite, but didn’t want to put it to the test. She suspected that if the midwife was pushed, her bite could be deadly. Still, the two had made a truce of sorts. Hagatha called her stìorlag, hinting she was excessively thin, and Ellenor let her, even though it was only true by comparison.

The relationship went from hostile acceptance to welcomed ally the day Hagatha accidentally—or so she had said—witnessed a contest of wills between Ellenor and Fiona. Fiona lost and the midwife had decided that maybe another English exception could be made.

“So what is the topic of the afternoon?” Ellenor asked lightheartedly to all four women. Brighid, Aileen, and Laurel glanced elsewhere, guilt shadowing their expressions. Hagatha was the only one of the four who refused to look away. The damn old woman had the nerve to stare blatantly back, happily acknowledging what everyone knew. The topic of the afternoon, day, night, and week had been Ellenor. More specifically, Ellenor and Cole.

Since the night of Laurel’s small party and Hamish’s arrival, there had been only one conversation buzzing about the castle. Too many guests and servants had witnessed Ellenor run into Cole’s arms and his returned embrace. His disappearance to the training fields had not helped squelch murmurings either. Ellenor had had no choice but to ignore them and continue to swear that nothing should be read into what had happened.

At night, however, when she was alone, she stopped pretending and cried. Only when her eyes could make no more tears could she finally fall asleep. However, slumber was not her friend. Dreams would shift between those with happy endings where Cole declared his love and those of her old and alone, still wishing for him to hold her once more. Every morning when

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