Chapter 71

Isobel and Teárlag went to check on the status of the dress first. Jinny diligently toiled on the garment and she happily showed Isobel how far she'd come.

"It should be done well ahead of time, Lady Isobel."

"Jinny, I knew how long this would take to get done. Have you been working on this all night?"

"Not all night, Lady. I did get up early this morning so I could get an early start. I want to make sure it's ready, you know, to make up for tearing your dress yesterday and your strapping."

"I earned that strapping, Jinny. I knew the rules and broke them. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You even had the dress repaired and ready for the Festival. You didn't have to go without sleep for me."

"Maybe not, my Lady. But you pregnant and with the baby and all and me so clumsy. Tis a shame someone as fine as yourself should get a strapping. Lady Ailene is a fine mistress, I'd not complain in the slightest about the Cameron's, but you've taken so much time to demonstrate how fine needlework can be. I've learned things no one's ever shared before. My work is twice the quality and less time with what you've shown me. I cannot thank you enough."

"I didn't blame you, Jinny. You're an apt student and take what you've learned to heart. When you've finished, please put the dress in my room. That way, it will be there when I need to put it on."

"Of course, Lady Isobel."

Isobel thought a moment.

"Jinny, may I ask you something?"

"Yes, Lady Isobel?"

"I'm going to need a head housekeeper at Lady Luck Farm. Is this a position you would like to undertake? I would have to check with Ailene and Stuart, of course, make sure they don't need you here. But I won't ask them unless it's something you want to do. Shall I ask them, Jinny?"

"You don't mean it, Lady Isobel? Me, head housekeeper?"

"Absolutely. You are very diligent and eager to perform your duties well. I think you'd do very well in the position. Some people don't want the responsibility, but if you do, I'd be lucky to have you."

"I would like that very much, Lady Isobel."

"Do you have a husband, Jinny?"

"I do. He's one of Thorburn's men-at-arms."

"I shall inquire about him as well. Your position comes with a room, and board of course. Your husband is welcome to come with you. He would do much the same for Frang as Thorburn. Frang will need good men to support him. He won't have any problem leaving, will he?"

"As long as he can stay with one of the Cameron's, he'll have no problem. Oh, Lady, thank you."

"Don't thank me until after I've spoken to the Cameron's. They may need you here."

"Aye, Lady. Just to be considered is more than I expect."

They left to address their other tasks.

"Would you really take on someone who earned you punishment?" Teárlag asked as they walked.

"What I said to her was true. I earned the strapping. She didn't force me to strike her. I did it of my own volition. She is a very hard worker. She must have gotten up at three last night to have that much of the dress done; the morning after a festival that went past midnight last night. She didn't deserve to be struck. It was an accident and I overreacted. Believe me, I know what it's like to be beaten upon the whims of another without justification. It shouldn't have happened."

"So you agree with the Cameron's way of doing things?"

"I'm still getting used to it. All but Stuart and Ailene are probably getting used to it as they've lived with it the longest. I know I don't agree with the way McTavish did things. He treated everyone poorly. When I told the Cameron's McTavish would let people starve, once he knew he was leaving, they didn't allow it to happen. They could have; they had no obligation to do so. They chose to help. Not only did they choose to help, they had the wherewithal to provide. Food, cloth, whatever was needed. It's clear to me their way of doing things is very successful. More successful than McTavish's way. Their methods appear more humane than what others do, more like the priests tell us we should be and not how they are. I've no problem with it thus far, despite the momentary pain and embarrassment I suffered yesterday. To be truthful, the pain of the punishment was less than being bared in front of you and Ailene."

"I'm sorry for the shame you experienced. I was so surprised by what happened, I had to see for myself. I could not believe that Thorburn was allowing himself to be punished."

"It was a noble and kind gesture on his part, was it not?" Isobel asked. "To share my punishment with me?"

"You know he did it on purpose?" Teárlag asked.

"Not immediately. I figured it out fairly quickly, before he'd taken all ten strokes."

"You didn't say anything."

"It was not my part to make less of his gift. I thanked him for it this morning."

Isobel started going through the flowers picked yesterday. She decided to go with pale blues, light purples and violets for her bouquet to mesh with the pale gray of her dress. She chose Crocus, Violets, Foxglove, for the bouquet; and for the chapel, mixtures of yellow and blue flowers, Forget-Me-Nots, Scottish Bluebells, Mountain Avens for the blue blooms and Broom, Daffodils, Buttercups and Primrose for the yellows. Teárlag helped tie the stems together for the various arrangements. It took several hours. Isobel nodded in satisfaction when she observed the results of her efforts.

"I'm finally feeling I can eat something. Join me for lunch and and then we need to work on my hair," Isobel said.

"Of course."

Teárlag had decided Isobel would be a fairly good source of information about them. She had lived with them for several weeks and was going to marry Frang today. She knew more about them than Teárlag could learn in a few days. It was the reason she'd volunteered to assist with the wedding today. It gave her opportunity to ask about them. Probe what their weaknesses may be.

After a quick meal, they went up to Isobel's room with a quick stop for some of Teárlag's things in Thorburn's room. Isobel removed her heavy dress and sat down in her light shift in front of the mirror. Teárlag stood behind her and started running her hands through her hair, piling it first on top, then the sides, the back, looking to see where the most pleasing combination doing the most for Isobel's face occurred.

"Your hair is lovely. Very long, thick and healthy. I see a couple of interesting possibilities. If you don't mind a suggestion, I would like to put your hair up in some intricate braids with some curls here on the sides." She indicated where with her fingers on the side of her face. "You don't normally wear it that way and the difference may be a nice touch from the usual."

"Would we have time to change it if I'm not fond of it?"

"To something simple, yes. We could not do another intricate design."

"Let's try it then."

"I don't want you looking until I'm done. Turn around so you're not facing the mirror."

Isobel did as she asked and Teárlag began braiding. While working she kept up a continuous stream of questions, asking first about her early life, her marriage to McTavish and gradually working to the present and the Cameron's.

"You've lived with the Cameron's for several weeks now. What do you think of them?" Teárlag asked.

"They are the best people I've ever known. More family than my own. I believe any one of them would gladly give their life for yours if you were their friend. They are loyal, hardworking, kind and considerate. I could not ask for more than I received."

"I heard you say when Frang first suggested marriage about having problems sharing a bed with another man. What was that about?"

"You are aware of how McTavish treated me?" Isobel asked.

"I am."

"It left me reluctant to share another man's bed. I'm not fully sure I can completely trust another man," Isobel said. "Frang has given me no reason to doubt him, but I'm afraid I'll flinch at his touch. It is not fair to him, who has done nothing to ever harm me and treated me always with respect and affection, but I'm afraid. I've undergone so much brutality. McTavish seemed kind when he courted me, but turned into an animal after our marriage. Was it unique to him or do all men change after marriage? Frang offers to let me come to him at my own pace, that he won't force himself upon me, but I wish him more than I feel I can give. I'm damaged goods. Pregnant, afraid of his touch, yet he has treated me like a queen."

"And it bothers you he gambles like McTavish?"

"Aye, was McTavish the way he was because he was a poor gambler or was it his nature? I find it hard to separate the two. Frang wins often when he gambles, so he has little reason to change, but I wonder if he should hit a streak of bad luck. Will he whore me to settle his debts? Will he become angry and bitter and find fault with me? Will he blame me for his luck; begin beating me? If he should turn into McTavish, I would kill myself. I could not tolerate it again, yet I will have a child now. What would I do then?"

"I see your dilemma," Teárlag commiserated. "All your experiences argue against marriage to Frang, but you must trust him based upon his behavior and what you know of his family and how they treat others."

"Yes. I worry both he is not the man I believe him to be, or that he is and I shall disappoint him because of my damage. I don't deserve the one, and he doesn't deserve the other. I have explained my fears to him. That I may not be able to be the wife he merits. He says it's the gambler in him which causes him to risk it. He thinks if I can find it in my heart to love him, he could not ask for more in a wife."

"I understand. I suppose I would agree with him. You will be a wonderful mother and a good wife if you can let go of your fear. So you go through this strictly because of the bairn."

"It's definitely forced the issue."

"I don't know them as well or as long as you do, but my experiences with Thorburn show me he's a very considerate, understanding and gentle lover, notwithstanding my need for a cushion this morning." They both laughed. "He is much better than either of my husbands. He ensured the pleasure I received was equal to his own. It was no accident I cried out as I did this morning. Never have I experienced such ecstasy. If Frang is half the man his brother is, he will make you forget McTavish ever existed and crave to enter his bed as I crave Thorburn's. For what it means to you, both Ailene and Frang volunteered to take punishment with you yesterday before it was decided Thorburn was the better choice," Teárlag said. "It is obvious they all love you and would do anything they can for you. I envy you; to know they all care so much for you. I would happily surrender all I have to know what you have."