would rather fatten my purse that way for all I have the freedom to choose what mon I play the whore for.”
“I was thinking that ye have a verra understanding master, verra lenient.”
“Oh, he isnae my master. Old George is my cousin. I own a wee piece of all this, ye ken. Nay enough to keep my purse full, but it means I dinnae have to grovel for a ha’penny every day.” She gave Elspeth a decidedly wicked wink. “I like a good tussle now and then. Soon decided I may as weel get a coin or two whilst I was enjoying myself. Now are ye close to that good knight, Sir Payton? I heard a dark rumor that he may be dead.”
Elspeth took a large drink of ale to still the unease she felt hearing that the rumor of Payton’s death was already spreading. “I dinnae think he is, although I myself saw him felled with an arrow in his back.”
“Oh, that such a bonny lad should be cut down by a cowardly attack from behind.”
After nodding a hearty agreement, Elspeth frowned. “Just how is it that my cousin is so weel kenned and spoken of?”
“M’lady, he is a bonny, bonny young mon. He but walks by and he rips a sigh of longing from the heart of every woman who sees him, young or old. And there is a sweetness, a kindness, in him. True, he rarely beds down with lasses such as I, but he doesnae scorn us, either. ’Tis already weel kenned that, if ye are playing the whore just to feed your bairns, Sir Payton has an open, generous hand.” Annie gave a sot snort of disgust as she chewed on a piece of bread. “Jane, a dirty slut who works at an inn in the next village, borrows her sister’s bairns and puts herself in Sir Payton’s way as he travels to and from court.”
“I will be certain to tell him.” She studied Annie closely and saw the sharp wit behind the woman’s eyes. “I shall also tell my kinsmen about your ability to gather information. Such things can be verra useful and weel worth a coin or two.”
“Can ye tell me a thing or two about Sir Payton now? I should love to have a tale or two about him that no one else kens.” Annie winced and scratched at her arm.
“What ails ye?” Elspeth asked even as she took Annie’s hand in hers and pushed up the sleeve of her bodice. “An ugly rash. Is it everywhere on your body?”
“Just on my arms and a wee bit on my chest. It comes and goes. ’Tis naught.”
Elspeth studied it closely even as she set her bag on the table. “Ye didnae catch it from anyone?”
“Nay. As I said, I choose my men most carefully. And this used to trouble me when I was a child, too, ere I ever kenned a mon.”
“Ah.” Elspeth took out a salve. “’Tis something ye are eating or touching that your body doesnae like. Watch what ye eat, when the rash appears, and ye will soon discoverwhat food is doing this to ye. If nay a food, something ye dinnae use each day. Just keep an eye on when it comes and goes and all that happens at that time or, rather, a wee bit before. Now I will tell ye a tale or two about Payton as I mix ye a salve for those spots.” With a smile, Elspeth began to relate a few humorous stories concerning Payton.
It was as Elspeth spread a little of her salve on Annie’s arms that she knew Cormac was there watching her. Annie glanced toward the kitchen door, then gave Elspeth a look full of laughter. Elspeth chanced a glance at Cormac and had to bite back a grin. He stood in the rear door of the inn, staring at her in dismay and anger, his fists on his hips. She wondered if he would have the audacity to try to fulfill his plans and almost wanted to dare him to try. Elspeth knew it would serve no purpose, would even make her road harder, but she ached to have a confrontation with him. She turned her attention back to Annie, suggesting yet again that she watch her reaction to things, particularly to several foods that Elspeth knew other people had problems with.
Cormac cursed and ran his fingers through his hair as he watched Elspeth chat amiably with
“I was thinking that ye have a verra understanding master, verra lenient.”
“Oh, he isnae my master. Old George is my cousin. I own a wee piece of all this, ye ken. Nay enough to keep my purse full, but it means I dinnae have to grovel for a ha’penny every day.” She gave Elspeth a decidedly wicked wink. “I like a good tussle now and then. Soon decided I may as weel get a coin or two whilst I was enjoying myself. Now are ye close to that good knight, Sir Payton? I heard a dark rumor that he may be dead.”
Elspeth took a large drink of ale to still the unease she felt hearing that the rumor of Payton’s death was already spreading. “I dinnae think he is, although I myself saw him felled with an arrow in his back.”
“Oh, that such a bonny lad should be cut down by a cowardly attack from behind.”
After nodding a hearty agreement, Elspeth frowned. “Just how is it that my cousin is so weel kenned and spoken of?”
“M’lady, he is a bonny, bonny young mon. He but walks by and he rips a sigh of longing from the heart of every woman who sees him, young or old. And there is a sweetness, a kindness, in him. True, he rarely beds down with lasses such as I, but he doesnae scorn us, either. ’Tis already weel kenned that, if ye are playing the whore just to feed your bairns, Sir Payton has an open, generous hand.” Annie gave a sot snort of disgust as she chewed on a piece of bread. “Jane, a dirty slut who works at an inn in the next village, borrows her sister’s bairns and puts herself in Sir Payton’s way as he travels to and from court.”
“I will be certain to tell him.” She studied Annie closely and saw the sharp wit behind the woman’s eyes. “I shall also tell my kinsmen about your ability to gather information. Such things can be verra useful and weel worth a coin or two.”
“Can ye tell me a thing or two about Sir Payton now? I should love to have a tale or two about him that no one else kens.” Annie winced and scratched at her arm.
“What ails ye?” Elspeth asked even as she took Annie’s hand in hers and pushed up the sleeve of her bodice. “An ugly rash. Is it everywhere on your body?”
“Just on my arms and a wee bit on my chest. It comes and goes. ’Tis naught.”
Elspeth studied it closely even as she set her bag on the table. “Ye didnae catch it from anyone?”
“Nay. As I said, I choose my men most carefully. And this used to trouble me when I was a child, too, ere I ever kenned a mon.”
“Ah.” Elspeth took out a salve. “’Tis something ye are eating or touching that your body doesnae like. Watch what ye eat, when the rash appears, and ye will soon discoverwhat food is doing this to ye. If nay a food, something ye dinnae use each day. Just keep an eye on when it comes and goes and all that happens at that time or, rather, a wee bit before. Now I will tell ye a tale or two about Payton as I mix ye a salve for those spots.” With a smile, Elspeth began to relate a few humorous stories concerning Payton.
It was as Elspeth spread a little of her salve on Annie’s arms that she knew Cormac was there watching her. Annie glanced toward the kitchen door, then gave Elspeth a look full of laughter. Elspeth chanced a glance at Cormac and had to bite back a grin. He stood in the rear door of the inn, staring at her in dismay and anger, his fists on his hips. She wondered if he would have the audacity to try to fulfill his plans and almost wanted to dare him to try. Elspeth knew it would serve no purpose, would even make her road harder, but she ached to have a confrontation with him. She turned her attention back to Annie, suggesting yet again that she watch her reaction to things, particularly to several foods that Elspeth knew other people had problems with.
Cormac cursed and ran his fingers through his hair as he watched Elspeth chat amiably with
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