'I know for certain he never came to England to get us,' Judith argued. Her hand instinctively went to her bosom. Her father's ring was nestled between her breasts on the gold chain, hidden beneath her gown. She should have left the ring at home, but she hadn't been able to do that. She couldn't understand why. Lord, it was a confusion.
She let her hand drop back to the tabletop. 'Promise me that if a way doesn't present itself, you'll let this go. All right?'
Frances Catherine agreed just to placate her friend. She could tell this was a painful discussion for Judith. She decided to change the subject, and began to reminisce about some of their adventures at the festivals.
In no time at all, both women were laughing.
Patrick could hear the sound of his wife's laughter outside. He smiled in reaction. Her friend was already helping. Brodick walked by Patrick's side. He also smiled. 'Frances Catherine is pleased to have Judith here,' he remarked.
'Aye, she is,' Patrick replied.
He was still smiling when he walked into the cottage. His wife remembered her manners this time. She immediately stood up and walked over to her husband. Judith also stood up. She folded her hands together and called her greeting to both warriors.
Brodick carried three of her satchels inside. Patrick carried two. The men dropped the baggage on the bed. 'Exactly how long are you planning to stay, lass?' Patrick asked.
He sounded worried. Judith couldn't resist teasing him. 'Just a year or two,' she answered. He tried not to blanch. She laughed. 'I was jesting,' she told him then.
'Brodick, you must stay for supper,' Frances Catherine said. 'Judith, don't jest with Patrick. You've made the color drain from his face.'
Both women thought that fact was vastly amusing. They were still laughing when Alex and Gowrie appeared in the opened doorway. The two warriors looked a little sheepish. Frances Catherine immediately invited them to supper too.
Patrick seemed surprised to have visitors. Judith helped her friend finish the preparations for the meal. Frances Catherine had made a thick lamb stew and had baked round loaves of rich, black bread.
The men crowded around the table. Judith and Frances Catherine served them before squeezing in next to Patrick to eat.
Neither Judith nor Frances Catherine had much of an appetite. They talked to each other all through the supper. Alex did more staring at Judith than eating, Patrick noticed, and when he realized Gowrie hadn't touched his food, either, the reason for their spontaneous visit became clear.
They were both taken with Judith. Patrick had to restrain himself from laughing. The ladies were oblivious to the men. They excused themselves from the table and went over to the bed. Judith gave her friend all the presents she'd made, then blushed with pleasure over Frances Catherine's joy. All but one of the gifts were for the baby, but Judith had also made her friend a beautiful white nightgown with pink and blue roses embroidered along the neckline. It had taken Judith a full month to finish the garment. The work had been worth the effort, for Frances Catherine thought the gown was exquisite.
Since the women weren't paying the men any attention, the men didn't find it necessary to hide their interest. Their gazes were centered on Judith. Patrick noticed that whenever she smiled, so did the soldiers. Brodick's interest surprised Patrick the most because he was usually quite good at keeping his emotions under tight rein.
'What are you grinning about?' Brodick suddenly asked him.
'You,' Patrick answered.
Before Brodick could take exception to that honest reply, Judith called out, 'Brodick, I've forgotten to take the sweet biscuits over to Isabelle.'
'I'll see she gets them,' Brodick said.
Judith shook her head. 'I want to meet her,' she explained. She stood up and walked over to the table. 'I have messages to give her from her mother.'
'I'll be happy to show you the way,' Alex volunteered.
'I'll do it,' Gowrie announced in a much firmer voice.
Brodick shook his head. 'Isabelle is my sister-in-law,' he snapped. 'I'll show Judith the way.'
Iain had opened the door, and stood there listening to the argument. He was having difficulty believing what he was hearing… and seeing. His warriors were acting like lovesick squires while they argued over who would escort Judith.
She didn't have a clue as to their real motives, however. Judith looked confused by all the attention she was getting.
Alex drew Iain's notice. He planted his hands on the tabletop and leaned forward to glare at Brodick. 'Isabella's cottage is close to my uncle's and I was going to stop by there anyway. Therefore, I'll see to this chore of showing Judith the way.'
Patrick did laugh then. Everyone seemed to notice Iain at the same moment. Judith's reaction was the most telling to Patrick's way of thinking. The joy in her expression was more than evident.
Iain looked irritated. He barely spared Judith a glance before turning his full attention to his brother. 'Now do you understand my reasons?'
Patrick nodded.
Judith and Frances Catherine shared a look. 'What reasons, Laird Iain?' Frances Catherine asked.
'Laird Iain?' Judith repeated before Iain could answer the question. 'Why don't you just call him Iain?'
Frances Catherine folded her hands together in her lap. 'Because he's our laird,' she explained.
'He's still your brother,' Judith countered. 'You shouldn't have to be so formal with him.'
Her friend nodded. She looked up at Iain and forced a smile. The warrior was intimidating to her and it took a great deal of effort to stare into his eyes. The man took up the entrance. He ducked under the door overhang, and once he was fully inside, leaned against the corner of the wall and folded his arms across his chest, his stance casual.
'Iain,' Frances Catherine began again, grimacing inside over the shiver in her voice. 'What reasons do you mean?'
Iain realized his sister-in-law was actually afraid of him. He was quite astonished by that revelation. He forced a mild voice in an effort to ease her fear when he answered her. 'Patrick asked that Judith be allowed to stay in the vacant cottage. I've denied his request. Your husband understands my reasons.'
Frances Catherine immediately nodded. She wasn't about to argue with her laird. Besides, the arrangement suited her just fine. She wanted Judith to stay with her and Patrick.
'Your guests are leaving now,' Iain told his brother.
Alex, Gowrie, and Brodick immediately filed out of the cottage. Iain moved out of their way, then resumed his place near the door. He'd said something to the warriors as they walked past, but his voice was so low, neither Judith nor Frances Catherine could overhear. Patrick heard, though, and his sudden smile indicated he was amused by his brother's remarks.
'Iain, may I please speak to you in private for just a moment?' Judith asked.
'No.'
Judith wasn't daunted. There was more than one way to flay a fish. 'Patrick?'
'Yes, Judith?'
'I have need to speak to your laird in private. Would you arrange it please?'
Patrick looked as though she'd lost her senses. Judith let out a sigh. She tossed her hair back over her shoulder. 'I'm following the chain of command around here. I'm supposed to ask you and you're supposed to ask the laird.'
Patrick didn't dare look at Iain. He knew his brother was already riled. The look in his eyes when he'd seen Alex, Gowrie, and Brodick gawking at Judith was one
Patrick had never seen before. If he didn't know better, he would think his brother was actually jealous.
'Iain-' Patrick began.
'No.' Iain snapped that denial.
'Lord, you're difficult,' Judith muttered.
