Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I could not sleep another wink,” Fiona admitted. “The sun hit my face and that was that, so I went to your room—”
“Found me gone and panicked.”
“What did you expect me to think, the sun barely risen and you are not in your bed?”
“What made you come here?” Erin asked.
“After panicking, I thought I better find out if perhaps Aliss had been summoned to help someone. The village was stirring and the few who bid me good morning had not seen you. Then I caught sight of Kirk, and he pointed to his cottage.” Fiona shook her head. “I almost fell to my knees in prayer.”
Aliss patted her sister’s hand. “I am not foolish. You need not worry so much.”
“Someone tried to kill you. I need to worry.”
“I do not blame your sister for worrying,” Erin said, and looked down at the babe sleeping in the cradle beside her. “I do not know what I would do if my son went missing.”
“I am sorry. I was so concerned with Aliss I forgot to inquiry about your son. How is he?” Fiona asked.
“No more than a tummy ache,” Erin said with relief. “I feel terrible about disturbing your sister when she still recovers from her wound.”
“I am fine and I am glad to be out of that room. I could not bear another day’s confinement. Tarr promised me a cottage, and today I intend to find one that will suit me.”
“You cannot leave the keep yet,” Fiona ordered.
Aliss understood her concern for she worried for Fiona as well. They both still were at risk, but soon, two days to be exact, Fiona would wed and begin a new life, and Aliss wished to begin her own.
“I know, Fiona, but I would like to prepare so that when this culprit is found and dealt with, I can move to my cottage.”
“Are there any empty cottages close to the keep?” Fiona asked Erin.
“I think there is one, though it is small. There is a good-size cottage that borders the woods and has plenty of land for a garden.”
“It sounds like it is a distance from other cottages,” Fiona said.
“It does sit off on its own, but it is not completely removed from the village.”
“We will look at the one closer to the keep, and if it is too small I will have Tarr build you a bigger one,” Fiona said.
Aliss realized her sister wanted her close, and she did want to be close. But she was also eager to have a cottage all to herself so that she could work with her herbs and tend the ill.
“I would like to see if the one nearer the woods suits me.”
Fiona shrugged. “If you want to we will look at it.”
Aliss smiled at her sister’s reluctant surrender, though she had far from capitulated. Fiona would find reasons why the cottage would not suit Aliss, when it was Fiona who it did not suit. She would be patient with her sister as usual, and if the abode were to her liking she would have Fiona agreeing in no time.
Fiona smiled and perked up when she said, “You know there is much to do for the wedding celebration, perhaps the cottage should wait until afterward.”
“I heard your mother has everything well in hand,” Erin said, to Fiona’s dismay.
Aliss kept her smile steady, though she wished to chuckle at her sister’s obvious attempt to delay her move. It would have been an excellent excuse to keep her busy at the keep. But Erin was right. Anya did have everything well in hand, which was why she was so exhausted and needed rest, though it would not surprise her to find Anya right now in the kitchen seeing to the food preparation or with the women who volunteered to stitch the wedding dress or with the women who gathered the garlands and berries for the decorations.
“Mother is tenacious like you,” Aliss said teasingly.
“And you are not, wanting to find a cottage now when there are other important matters to consider?”
“I but take a look, Fiona,” Aliss said and stood. “Let us go now.”
Fiona hurried out of her seat and wrapped herself in the cloak. “Good then we can be done with it.”
“It sits at the end of the village, on the side that borders the woods,” Erin explained. “It has been empty some time and needs repairs.”
That bit of news seemed to make Fiona happy. “It may be beyond repair.”
“We shall see,” Aliss said, and out the door they went, Fiona bumping into Tarr as they turned the corner.
Tarr grabbed her arm anxiously. “Never go off without telling me where you go.”
“You were sleeping.”
“And I woke to an empty bed with no one in the keep able to tell me where you had gone. And imagine my shock when I could not find your sister, or your mother.” He sent Aliss a look that warned he had yet to deal with her.