Violet paced her chamber for nearly an hour. She’d made progress with Callum, and rejoiced that he kissed her. The way his body pressed hers against the wall, nearly sent her to a needful place, a place where only he could lessen the intense desire. Yet he left her when she told him she wanted more. Had she scared him away? Then the thought of him being scared made her want to laugh. Callum didn’t seem to be the sort to fear anything, least of all, her plea of wanting more. From the way he kissed her, he certainly wanted her. She definitely desired him. Violet hoped she hadn’t chased him away.
Gussy returned from her sojourn to the kitchens and brought a light fare for their supper.
She barely ate with all the contention of the day giving her woeful thoughts.
“What has you distressed?”
She explained what transpired between her and Callum earlier that morning, “…and what if my rashness caused him to flee? I’m trying to be confident, and constantly consider the rules when I’m in his presence… He left me and said not another word.”
Gussy collected the trenchers to return them to the kitchen. “Maybe he acted with chivalry. You said you wanted more and he probably had to flee before he acted dishonorably. Perhaps, he had other things on his mind. Laird Sinclair left the holding. Clive is worried for him because he deems he was the one who sent him on the reckless mission.”
“What reckless mission?”
“The rift between Laird Sinclair and Laird Sutherland… It needs to be remedied or else there will be a war between the clans. Clive berated himself for forcing Laird Sinclair to go to Sutherland to make peace. Apparently, Laird Sinclair left the holding without telling Clive he was going and he hadn’t taken anyone with him. Clive doesn’t hold hope Sutherland will forgive Laird Sinclair’s offense at the celebration the other day.”
Violet stood and resumed her pacing in the chamber. “Oh, this is entirely my fault. Keith spoke fondly of Callum. Surely he won’t harm him. I shall send a missive right away. Is there someone who can take my message to Keith?”
“I shall find a stable lad. Write your missive and I’ll make sure someone takes it. Give me a coin for their service.”
She collected a piece of parchment and the ink and quill and wrote:
Laird Sutherland, Keith, my friend, I write because Callum seeks peace. He deems you won’t forgive his disparaged words when you were here. I ask that you not hold him accountable. As you said we must have patience with Callum and I beg you to hear what he has to say. Pray, do not war against your friend because of me. Your grateful and true friend, Violet
Violet flapped the parchment in the air to dry it. She folded the missive and handed it and a coin to Gussy, and she left straight away. As she waited for Gussy’s return, she tidied the chamber and sat back in the chair. Minutes of agony trickled by, to which she considered the discourse between Callum and Keith. Men easily took to blows, even over such a simple matter as her talking to Keith. She never should have instigated Callum by asking about his friend.
Finally, Gussy entered the chamber, and her breath rasped from her errand. “Your missive is on its way. The stable lad said that Laird Sutherland usually spends his time in the tavern in the village. He’ll take it to him. Oh, and you received a missive from Lord Henry.” She handed the secured missive to her and collected the launder. “I’ll see about getting these garments cleaned.” Gussy once again left the chamber.
Violet held Henry’s missive and broke the wax seal, keeping it secure. She gently unfolded the parchment and hoped it didn’t bear ill tidings.
Dearest Violet, I write to you from the desolated Isle of Mann, where I exist at the edge of nowhere. There is nothing but isolation here. My wife is pleased to have me in her care, and our children prosper with the air and sea near. I find family life rather dull compared to the king’s court and the political dealings. Richard’s wrath keeps me here, and yet, my father has his ear, so hopefully, I will rejoin the living soon. I have several emissaries searching for Cora and have yet to find her location. Still, I persist, and shall not end my search of her. Be assured, sweet Violet, that I shall endeavor to keep my promise. When I learn something about your daughter, I shall write again. Until then, it is my wish you find happiness with Sinclair and that your relations have given you both peace. Ever your servant, HB
Violet sat for a good time and reread Henry’s missive. She despaired and tears gathered thinking of Cora, and where she might be. Prayers crossed her lips and she sobbed at the thought of never seeing her sweet baby again. Evening came, and she couldn’t stay in her chamber another moment. As she stepped into the hallway, she heard Dela’s cries. At the end of the hall, the door to her chamber was open and she flailed against Hawisa’s hold.
“You will cease being daft, lass. The bath awaits and you won’t refute me this night.”
Violet scowled at Hawisa’s treatment of the girl. “What’s going on?”
“This doesn’t concern you. Be gone.” Hawisa shook Dela’s garment and tried to pull her free from the bedpost.
Dela held tight and screamed.
“You’re distressing the child. Release her.”
Hawisa flung Dela and caused her to release the post. “The lass is filthy and needs a bath. I’ve tried to do so for weeks. She refuses to listen and is a haughty thing, just like her mother was.”
“You weren’t friendly with Callum’s wife?” she dared to ask.
“Friendly, hah. The woman was a shanty and they deserved each other. I do what I can to care for their child, but only because of my relation with Callum. Otherwise, she should be sent to the kitchens to tarry over the cinders by the cooking pits.”
“You shouldn’t detest the child because you’re not fond of her parents. It’s not her fault she was born to them, and I thought you appreciated your laird and his wife.”
Hawisa laughed derisively. “Appreciate him? I tolerate him. You’re but a guest here, soon to be gone. You interfere in matters that don’t concern you.”
“Don’t concern me? Dela matters to me, and I have every right to make certain she is unharmed. Since you are so troubled, I shall see to Dela’s bath.”
The horrid woman harrumphed, left, and slammed the door behind her. Violet was glad to see her back.
“Come, Dela, I’ll help you with your bath. You’ll feel better once you’re clean, and your pretty hair is detangled.” She held out her hand and hoped to soothe the girl.
“Nay, I don’t want a bath.” Dela shrieked and retook the bedpost, and her eyes widened with fright.
She pressed her hand on Dela’s cheek. “There’s nothing to fear, sweeting. I promise, the bath won’t hurt you, and nor shall I.”
Dela nodded. “Aye, it will. Please, don’t make me go in the water…”
Violet didn’t understand what troubled her. “Why do you fear the bath? My daughter loved to bathe. She’d play and frolic in the tub or stream for hours. Is it because you cannot swim? Because if that’s the case, you need not swim to bathe.”
“I cannot breathe under the water.”
“Of course you cannot. Why would you try to breathe under the water? You don’t have to go under the water if you don’t want to.”
“But Hawisa holds me under and sometimes I get scared.”
Violet’s breath hitched at the rage of the woman’s audacity. Did she hold the child under the water? What kind of soulless woman was she? To harm a child went against all that was good and holy. “Come, trust me. Sit in the bath and we shall discuss this. I won’t force you under the water. You have my promise.”
Dela reluctantly agreed and hesitantly ambled to the tub.
She pulled her tunic free and lifted the slight girl into the tub. “There, you see, there’s nothing to fear. Unless you go under, then you shall hold your nose. Like this,” she said and pinched her nose. “Does the water not feel good?”
Dela giggled. “You look and sound funny. Tell me about Cora.”
She took the cloth, lathered it with soap, and began the chore of washing the child while she distracted her. “My daughter is a sweet girl, just like you. One day, perhaps you will meet.”
“I hope so,” Dela said and giggled when she splashed water over her shoulders.
“Cora likes to help me garden when the weather warms. Do you spend time in the garden?”
Dela shook her head.
“Perhaps you would like to help me? Your father permitted me to tend his garden. We’ll go to the village on the morrow and get seeds to plant, and we shall plant the most beautiful flowers.” She washed her hair and found a cup to rinse her locks of the soap.
“I would like that. Will you tell Da, that I don’t want to be with Hawisa?”
“You should tell him.” Violet rinsed her small body and bid her to stand. She covered her with a drying cloth and put another over her damp hair.
“I was going to, but Da left. He said he would visit me this night, but he hasn’t come.” Her small face pouted and she appeared to weep. “Did he forget me?”
She sighed wistfully at the woe of her question. “I’m sure he hasn’t. We shall get you dressed then and ready for his visit.” Once she dried her, Violet found a clean nightdress and put her in it. “Your father left the keep on important business and I know not when he shall return. It’s getting late. Perhaps you should rest and seek him on the morrow? Shall you settle in bed and I’ll tell you a tale? Cora likes tales, do you?”
Dela nodded. “If Cora likes them, then I shall.”
“No one told you tales? They’re just stories made up for amusement. I will tell you the story of the Grasshopper and the Ant.”
The girl clapped her hands with glee and smiled.
Violet took a comb and started on the tangles of her hair. “You see, there was this Grasshopper… He loved to frolic and play in the fields all day. He’d jump on the highest stalks and lay in the open meadows. One sunny afternoon, he came across an ant that pushed a heavy pinecone along a barren strip of the field. ‘What are you doing?’ he asked… The ant said, ‘I’m collecting food for winter.’ ‘Oh,’ the Grasshopper snickered. ‘But it’s summer. Why should you care about winter?’ He didn’t wait for the ant’s answer and danced away.”
Dela squealed with laughter. “The Grasshopper sounds like fun. I want to play in the fields with him.”
She finished detangling her hair and was surprised at how long it was. “Oh, he was fun and spent his days reveling in the meadow. He danced and played, while the ant worked and tarried to ready for the cold weather. Come get in bed and I’ll tuck you in.” Violet pulled the covers to her chin and sat beside her. “Now close your eyes and rest and I shall tell you the end of the story on the morrow.”
“Don’t leave. Please, tell me the rest now.”
Violet smiled and pressed her hand on her clean locks of hair, still damp from her bath. “When winter came, the ant crossed paths with the grasshopper again. The grasshopper shivered and looked cold and hungry. He asked the ant for food, but the ant shook his head.”
“Oh, nay, he wouldn’t share?”
“No, he wouldn’t. He was angry that the Grasshopper danced and played all summer and fall, while he worked and tarried. He told the Grasshopper to dance his way through winter and left him to his hunger.”
Dela pouted. “He wasn’t a good friend.”
“No, he wasn’t. But still, the Grasshopper should have worked for he knew winter would come. Never put off tomorrow what you must do this day.”
The girl nodded. “Do you think Da will come soon? I want to see him. I miss him.”
“I am certain he will return soon. Now, close your eyes and if I see him, I’ll tell him to come. Dream happy thoughts.”
“I shall.”
Violet retreated from the chamber when the girl appeared to be asleep. She entered her chamber and sighed. What a dreadful existence Dela endured under the care of that horrid woman Hawisa. Never put off tomorrow what you must do this day.
With that in mind, she dressed in her nightrail, pulled on her robe, and hurried to Callum’s chamber. There, she’d await his return and would alert him to his daughter’s mistreatment.