After four years of being out in the open, the bath in which Amhuinn was given was like heaven on earth. She would've never admitted it to anyone, but she had missed the little luxuries in life she had been allowed when she still resided on Kincaid land, amongst her clan members. The hut she and Tamhas had built for themselves had been serviceable, and the food, when procured can be quite delightful. She had managed to figure out a way to roast gamey meat, turning them impossibly moist and succulent over a simple fire and wild herbs they gathered. But nothing could replicate the feeling of soaking your whole body in a tub full of hot water.
Fiona, the maid the first in command had asked to settle her had left with her clothes, saying she would get them washed and dried before returning them. In the meantime, Fiona had taken some of the clothes from someone she had called young miss Gillian. Amhuinn assumed she was either one of, or the only younger sister to the laird, but had not questioned much.
She wasn't even sure how long she stayed soaking in the hot tub, until the water had significantly cooled down. Steam had dissipated before Amhuinn clambered out of the bath. Her body which had been aching from the arduous mile she's had to trek to get to the MacKenzie Keep, but the warmth had done a good deal in soothing them. Grabbing the towel Fiona had left for her, Amhuinn marvelled to herself at just how soft the material was. After the years of living with rough linen and patched up clothes, she had almost forgotten just how soft some material could be.
The warmth in the room from the fire they had stoked was a world of difference from the cold which she's had to endure each time she took a dunk in the river the both of them had set up their home next to. Pulling on the champagne red kirtle, the feel of cotton sliding on her skin was a marked difference in Amhuinn's mind. Beginning to realize just how much she had taken her life within the clan for granted, the girl looked in the mirror, lacing it up till her chest, and buckling the belt around her waist. Looking at her reflection, she was amazed at how a good bathe and looking refreshed could change how someone looked. Her streaked blonde hair hung limply around her shoulders, but just as she was beginning to wonder what should she do with it, the room's door opened, and in bustled in a very pregnant redhead, and another younger one, whose red hue in her locks was much dimmer compared to the pregnant lady.
"Fiona told me about you as she escorted me back to my room, and I simply had to come and take a look. You remember me, Miss Amhuinn?" the pregnant one asked.
Amhuinn squinted an eye at the rotund figure as she took a seat on the sparse bed next to the vanity table which she stood in front of, and then her blue eyes widened. "Sassenach!"
The younger one bristled immediately, but the English bred lady laughed, and patted the younger's hand soothingly. "Tis what she called me last time, Gilly. Do calm down, I don't think she means any harm."
"Still, tis nae something nice. Ye love the Highland's as much as any of us, Evie." the girl Evie had called Gilly answered.
Giving the younger one a smile, Evie returned her attention to Amhuinn. "I am pleased to see you here. I have wondered sometimes, how you and your brother are doing. Is everything alright?' she first asked, and then turned to the other young lady. "I'm Evie, if you remember. Evelyn Gilroy. This one here is Gillian MacKenzie, Hammond's younger sister and my cousin as well."
Amhuinn, out of habit, nodded a greeting at the younger one who looked more mollified now, and then turned to the pregnant one. "Tamhas has gotten himself in a bit of an issue. I came here to get the help of ye laird." she frowned, and then asked blatantly. "Yer a sassenach, how come ye to a Highland name?"
"She's Connor's wife, so ye would do well to address her appropriately." Gillian bristled, obviously protective of her friend and cousin. Evie laughed, nodding. Amhuinn was beginning to see the clear difference in character, with Gillian being more protective, while Evie was more easy-going and relaxed. "I am verra much Connor's wife, as you can see. He's staked his claim quite viciously." Evie proudly murmured, patting her rounded stomach.
"But that's not the point. I've come here to see if you need anything. Have you settled everything? You look better now after a bath. I was quite worried when I saw you looking so pale and cold in the hall. Fiona's on the way up with your meal now. You must be hungry." Evie went on. Caught a little off guard by the blatant friendliness and kindness offered the moment she had stepped foot in the MacKenzie lands, Amhuinn seemed quite at a loss of how to react.
The opening of the door to signal Fiona entering with the tray of food provided a welcome break for Amhuinn's mind going on overdrive. As the whiff of roasted haddock, root vegetables and corn bread assaulted her nostrils, her stomach gave a growl, as if hunger long forgotten was awoken again. Standing like a statue as Fiona drifted in with the tray, the blonde would not have moved had Evie not nudged at her with her toe. "Go on, take some food. Fiona will do yer hair for you."
"You sound like us already, Evie." Gillian chirped happily. Her cousin laughed. "I'm picking up nuances, but you know when I go back at the end of the month it'll all disappear again."
"Yer gonna travel like this?" Amhuinn asked, slightly horrified.
Evie immediately looked doubtful, as she splayed her hands on her belly and looked down at her unborn child in worry. "You don't think it's safe?"
"Don't fash her e'en more, Amhuinn." Gillian immediately stepped in, sitting on the single bed next to her cousin, and wrapping an arm around Evie's shoulder. "Dinna worry so. Connor will make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Connor isn't a midwife. And we don't have one here either, Gilly." Evie voiced her concerns now. It had been a worry all through her pregnancy, but she's managed to push it to the back of her mind. Now that her date for birth got nearer however, Evie couldn't help but worry, especially since her mother had suffered during her pregnancy and after her birth. In a way, Evie still felt mild guilt at being the cause of her mother's worsening health, from an already weak constitution.
Fiona had walked up next to Amhuinn, about to guide her to sit in front of the vanity so she could eat as Fiona presumably did her hair. Amhuinn held a hand up to pause Fiona however, and then turned to address the two ladies on the bed. "I could help. If I could go out around the area tomorrow, I can offer you some herbs to help strengthen the womb and prepare you for your birthgiving."
"You know the herbs well, Amhuinn?" Evie asked, mild amazement glittering in her eyes.
Amhuinn nodded, smiling for the first time since she had entered the Keep. "I used to be the healer to Kincaid clan, until..." she trailed off, a little uncertain if she should continue her story. As if sensing her discomfort, Gillian who was now seemingly bought over when Amhuinn offered her cousin kindness, took her hand now. "Dinna fash, Miss Amhuinn. We dinna need ter know yer story until ye be ready to tell it to us. Fer now, do have some food and let Fiona do up yer hair. The rest of the clan is clearing the hall fer some music."
"Music? Why?" Amhuinn echoed in question. Kincaid clan had never had any festivities whatsoever. In fact, the fact that most of the clan were in the Keep having their evening meal was already a shocker for her.
"Oh, tis just a tradition we have whene'er a baby turns six months. We call it a half-birthday, and a congratulations to the parents and the baby, and a night off for the mother as we take turns nannying the baby and the parents can have some fun. Tonight, tis for Feguson and Hilda MacAlister, and their son Finlay MacAlister." Gillian explained. Amhuinn took in all the information, eating the food given as Fiona wound her hair together in a long braid, and then let the thick length fall in front, across her left shoulder. Shorter tendrils which escaped being braided fell on the sides of her face, which Amhuinn unconsciously tucked behind her ear, thanking Fiona as she got up.
"So every one gathers belowstairs?" she asked the two cousins, who nodded.
"Indeed. You should join us. It's fun." Evie announced, trying to get up. Gillian immediately headed to help her, just as a knock rang on her door, and Connor's dark head popped in.
"There ye are. I was worried, gealbhan." Amhuinn could hear the tenderness in his tone as he entered, approaching his wife to take her from Gillian, before realizing just whose room he had entered. To his credit, he did look appropriately apologetic when Evie admonished him. "My apologies, Miss Amhuinn. I dinna realize, I had been caught up looking fer me wife."
"Why did you want me?" Evie asked, turning her head to her husband. The tenderness between the husband and wife was palpable, from the way Connor held Evie tenderly, to the way Evie leaned in to Connor's chest, placing her entire trust on him. Watching them converse, Amhuinn's heart caught.
"They are sweet, are they not?" Gillian's whisper surprised her. Turning, Amhuinn could only nod in response. "Their marriage wus hard fought. Evie was wit' her father, whose a Viscount back in London."
"How did she end up coming here?" Amhuinn asked in curiosity.
"Her mother was me father's sister, my Aunt Mailie. Aunt Mailie fell in love with the Viscount, but her stories of her childhood had enchanted Evie. When me father died, he made Hammond promise to check on Evie, and he did. Except that he brought Connor with him, and when they met... well, the rest is history, as people say." Gillian explained, chuckling as the two murmured their apologies and headed abovestairs.
"Do join the singing and dancing downstairs, Amhuinn. Gilly, make sure she haves some fun, would you not?" Evie reminded before heading up.
"Does she no' join?" Amhuinn asked Gillian, once they were gone. Gillian shook her head. "Connor has been worried since Evie got pregnant. Aunt Mailie died after childbirth. Not from childbirth, but her constitution grew weak once she gave birth. Evie was just a wee lass when Aunt Mailie passed away. Connor's just being his overprotective self." Gillian laughed, falling back to sit on the bed again.
"Why did yer brother agree to go find Evie? Ye have ne'er seen who she is before, have ye?" Amhuinn asked, still perplexed at the lengths they would go for each other.
Gillian raised a brow, and than responded. "Tis family. Hammond would do anything fer family. It's what oor father raised us to be."
It struck a chord in her heart, Gillian's choice of words. Watching as the younger MacKenzie leaned back on the bed, Amhuinn couldn't help but compare the MacKenzie's to the clan she grew up with. A vast sea of difference lay between the warm hearted, welcoming MacKenzie's to the cruel and cold Kincaid's who gave no room for mistakes or rulebreaking. And it was displayed very clearly in their laird.
"Are ye ready ter go?" Gillian asked, breaking her train of thought.
Looking at the warm smile the youngest MacKenzie offered her, Amhuinn took a deep breathe, and nodded with a wan smile. "Let's go."