Read Online Tangled Hearts by Heather McCollum - Free Book Online Page B

penetrating into the praying woman, through Jane’s back down into her abdomen, filling the ovaries with blue light and imagining the tubes open and healthy. Jane’s uterus felt normal, though thick with stagnation. Dory imagined it clean and ready to house a growing baby. She certainly couldn’t create life, but she could prime Jane’s body for growing it.
    “What mischief are you about?”
    Dory’s eyes snapped up to see Thomas Seymour striding close. He stared at her hand as she snatched it into the folds of her skirts.
    “We were but praying, brother,” Jane answered smoothly. Dory felt her shove the remedies past her foot farther under the bench.
    “I thought…” He pulled on his beard and rubbed his head. “A trick of the sunset, perhaps.”
    “Aye, the sun can deceive the eye.” Ewan’s voice, from the other side of the alcove, brought Dory’s head around. His hard eyes bored into Thomas. Definitely hostile.
    “Which is why I was recalling the ladies before the twilight made the garden paths uneasy,” Thomas countered with clipped politeness. He held out his arm and Jane stood dutifully.
    “Don’t forget the fragrance I made for you,” Dory said and pressed the clay vial into her hand.
    “Oh,” she said. “Thank you.”
    “No, thank you for allowing us this evening at Wulfhall.” She looked at Thomas and retrieved the fertility paste. “Which is why I made the perfume and this mask for the skin. It makes it so very soft.”
    “I had no idea you were so endowed, my lady,” Thomas said with genuine appreciation.
    “My wife has a vast array of talents,” Ewan said. Even though it had been a compliment, his eyes narrowed at Dory. He obviously suspected her of using magic. Bloody hell, had he seen her hands glowing in the evening light?
    They walked back together, two pairs linked arm in arm to the great hall where Jane and Thomas said goodnight. Either they went to bed remarkably early or they had family business that didn’t include entertaining near strangers.
    Dory could tell Ewan’s head and neck ached, probably from the tension, as they walked slowly toward their room. “Are you… is something wrong?” she asked.
    “Aye,” he said and her stomach knotted. “Seymour has been sniffing around ye far too much.”
    “Sniffing?” She stopped at their closed door and drew in a breath. Maybe he wasn’t angry with her.
    “Like a dog after a juicy bone.” He frowned. Barring her way, he glanced inside the room to ascertain that whatever could strike was not there. He stepped back, waiting.
    “After ye,” he said.
    He must be playing the part of husband or gallant knight. She’d never been treated so. Did women always walk into a room first? Captain Bart never let her be first or last, preferring her to stand between two loyal brutes.
    Inside the fire was lit, giving the room a glow and warmth. She moved to the bed where several costumes were laid out.
    “Jane bade me take the gowns,” she said, running her fingers along a satin ribbon. The woman had been very generous even though she said the gowns were last season and not to be missed. She’d even passed on two chemises and a night rail. Dory had never had such bright gowns, or a night rail. Captain Bart had made her wear a long tunic at night as soon as she started getting curves, but nothing as delicate as the white linen gown embroidered with rose buds. Will would probably laugh if he saw her in it, but it would feel lovely against the skin.
    She turned and found Ewan staring at her. “Yes?”
    He swallowed. “I… need to check on Searc. Tell him that we will leave just after breakfast. Ye took care of helping Jane?”
    She nodded and held her breath. Would he ask her if she’d used magic? She’d lie of course, but the thought felt unpleasant. “Things will work much smoother now.”
    He shook his head slowly, jaw tense. “I will leave ye to disrobe then. Do ye need help?”
    The hooks and ties down the back would take