Chapter 51

Isobel brandished an imaginary sword and shuffled about as she retold a tale that she had made up to entertain some wee lads when her father had locked them up for some foolishness and forgot them in the pillory overnight. Eliana was laughing so hard she fell from her chair, gripping her sides.

“Oh! Stop Izzy! Do stop! If you continue making me laugh we will have to remove my corset. I can’t catch my breath!”

“Did you know, husband, that aquae vitae has many different names?” Izzy spun on her heel to face the door, alarmed to realize that she hadn’t noticed the large man open the door or enter the room, but there he was, standing with his hands loose at his side and an odd look on his face as he scanned the room. “Or that it is not nearly so hard to swallow if you warm it a wee bit and dissolve lots of honey in it?”

“You’ve been experimenting I see.”

“Oh yes! Honey is the best so far, but we’ve got the berries soaking in a glass over there and that is promising too. The results afte