Free Enchantress Mine by Bertrice Small Page B

been in herself, and what she considered her own. Eada, she would quickly find, was a stern but loving mother who was interested in everything that her children did. That first afternoon, however, Mairin was frightened as the tall woman with the dark red braids held out her hand to her. She strove to hide her fright, but Dagda knew her every expression.
    “Go with her, my little lady,” he gently encouraged Mairin. “She will be the mother you never had. A female child needs a mother.”
    “I need no one but you, Dagda,” she bravely affirmed.
    He smiled. “You need a mother, and here God has provided you with what appears to me to be a very fine one. Put your hand in hers, my child. She needs you every bit as much as you need her.”
    Mairin, shyly glancing up at the woman from beneath her lashes, placed her little hand in Eada’s big one. They entered the house and Eada immediately called for a small oaken tub to be brought to her in the solar along with hot water sufficient to fill it. Then she led Mairin upstairs, and the child turning an anxious face saw with relief that Dagda followed. Reaching the solar, he handed Eada the small bundle he had carried from Landerneau.
    “It contains her mother’s jewelry,” he said, “and the child’s personal grooming items. The rest is of no importance, and is better disposed of, mistress. There is no need for my little lady to be reminded of what has been. It is better she face the present, perhaps even look to a happy future.” Then with a courtly bow he departed the solar.
    Eada spoke no language but her own and the Latin tongue which Aldwine had taught her in the early days of their marriage. She sometimes envied her husband his easy command of other languages, most of which sounded like so much gibberish to her. Nonetheless she now spoke to Mairin as if the little girl understood her perfectly.
    “Gracious, child, you are simply filthy! I shall give you a good bath, and wash that wonderful mop of hair you possess!”
    Lifting Mairin up onto the table she began to gently strip the clothes from her. Seeing the perfect and sturdy little body before her brought back sharp memories. Eada’s eyes filled with tears which quickly spilled down her rosy cheeks. Still she did not cease in her task, and taking Mairin’s garments she threw them into the fireplace where the flames caught them up with a whoosh, and quickly devoured them. The tears continued to run down her face though she struggled hard to master her emotions.
    Mairin, who could understand Eada no more than the older woman could understand her, nevertheless comprehended grief. “Do not cry, my lady,” she pleaded, attempting to brush away Eada’s bitter tears. She was unaware that tears flowed from her own eyes as at last she was finally able to release her own sadness.
    Seeing the child’s sorrow Eada hugged the little girl to her heart. “Ah, my little one,” she whispered, “my Edyth would have liked you even as I see that I am going to like you. She, too, had a good and tender heart.” Then wiping the remainder of her own and Mairin’s tears away, she lifted the little girl from the table, and set her in the tub.
    Kneeling down she pushed up the sleeves of her gown. She first washed the glorious hair, then soaped the little body and rinsed it clean. Taking the child from the tub she put her back upon the table, and quickly toweled Mairin dry lest she catch a chill. Lifting Mairin again from the table she sat her upon a low stool before the fire. Then sitting in her own chair Eada brushed Mairin’s marvelous red-gold hair until it was soft and dry, and floated like a halo of thistledown about the girl’s head.
    For a long moment Eada stared in amazement. Now that she was cleaned up, the child was a glorious beauty. “Sweet Jesu,” Eada breathed softly. “I have never seen anyone like you before in my entire life!” Eada took one of Mairin’s long curls and fingered it gently. “No wonder your