She frowned, realizing there was one thing Saber and Odran did share—they both had lied to her.
“Excuse me, my lady.”
Elysia turned a smile on Lendra standing in the open doorway, though it faded fast seeing her eyes rimmed red and her cheeks wet from crying. She went to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Bram is leaving,” Lendra said on a sob.
Elysia eased the upset woman into the bedchamber with a hand to her back and closed the door. “Leaving for where?”
“Clan MacBridan. Lord Odran has ordered that he serve there.” Lendra shook her head. “I will never see him again. It’s foolish of me I know, but I can’t help it. My heart has been lost to him.”
Elysia didn’t believe Bram worthy of Lendra. She was a good-hearted woman and deserved better than a man who thought more of himself than anyone else.
“Bram says it’s punishment for talking with you that day you warned Lord Odran that it was unwise of Bram to use his injured arm. He believes someone told Lord Odran about him confronting you and he is being made to suffer for it.”
Bram had been right about someone telling Odran about the confrontation. It had been one of the two warriors who followed her that told him and was the reason he had showed up at the cottage that day. Odran had been angry when she had told him how Bram had stopped her and what he had said to her. She feared he would somehow make Bram suffer for it and what better way than to see his wife’s warning adhered to.
Elysia didn’t convey that to Lendra. It would only upset her more.
“I’m sorry, my lady, I shouldn’t trouble you with this,” Lendra said, trying to stop her tears.
“Friends help friends, Lendra, and you have been a good friend to me and my sisters. I am glad you came to me with this, though I’m not sure what I can do to help you.” Her eyes spread wide, an idea striking her. “Would you consider leaving Clan Loudon and coming to Clan MacBridan as my personal servant? I don’t actually know if I am to have one, but if so I would prefer it be someone I know and someone I can trust. You keep a keen eye and ear to what goes on around you and that would help me greatly in my new surroundings.”
Lendra wiped at both her wet cheeks as if certain no more would fall. “I know well the duties of the lady of the keep. I could help you with that as well. And I would keep you apprised of all I hear and see.”
Elysia reached out and squeezed Lendra’s arm. “I will speak to Odran about it. I doubt he will deny me since I will speak truthfully to him and let him know how pleased I would be to have a friend go with me to my new home.”
“You are a generous soul, Elysia.” Lendra shook her head. “Lady Elysia.”
Elysia corrected her. “You refer to me as always—Elysia.”
“It is best I call you Lady Elysia for fear of my tongue slipping in front of Lord Odran,” Lendra said. “Besides, it is only proper and you well deserve the title.”
As far as Elysia was concerned she had not wed a tilted man and was not deserving of it, but it did little good to argue the point. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Lendra.”
Worry creased Lendra’s brow. “Is there time for this to be done. You leave in a couple of hours.”
Elysia smiled. “Then I better speak to my husband posthaste.”
“I will finish whatever needs doing here,” Lendra said.
“I was just seeing that I didn’t forget anything. You go gather your things and be ready.”
Lendra hesitated. “Are you sure of this, my lady?”
“Most definitely, Lendra. Now go get ready.” She shooed the smiling woman out the door, waited a moment, then after one last glance at the room to make sure she had left nothing behind went to find her husband.
She found Odran in the Great Hall, speaking with Chieftain Neil and to her surprise, Cybill, the chieftain’s daughter, barely two years, was in Odran’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder. She was also surprised at how content he was holding the bairn. It was obvious he enjoyed holding the little lass and it made her realize that he would enjoy having children if it weren’t for the curse, and her heart ached for him.
Her hand went to her stomach. She’d been so busy with other things that she hadn’t given thought to the bairn growing inside her. Or perhaps she hadn’t wanted to. She feared telling Odran and intended to wait as long as possible before she let him know he was going to be a da.
Roanna entered the room as Elysia approached where the men stood near the large fireplace.