Seems my attempt had failed. ‘We usually don’t. Best if our whole energy is devoted to our craft. Besides, the work of a healer requires her to be often away from home, and calls for our help can come at any time of the day or night. Babies are born in their own time; old folk often pass away at dawn. Accidents happen when they happen. We must be able to drop everything and go.’

‘Not easy for a mother, then.’

‘As you say.’

‘But aren’t you and Grim . . . ?’ This was Mhairi.

I turned a level gaze on her. ‘Aren’t we what?’ I asked coolly, taking a certain pleasure in her surprise. She had expected me to blush, perhaps, and mumble an awkward response.

‘Perhaps I am wrong,’ Mhairi said, ‘but as you both live in the cottage, and as you’ve moved in here together, I assumed . . .’

I lifted my brows in query and waited for her to finish.

‘Mhairi,’ murmured Deirdre, frowning.

‘Assumptions can be dangerous,’ put in Lady Sochla, looking up from her handiwork. ‘They can lead us down pathways we’d be better to avoid. I’m sure Mistress Blackthorn has better things to do than answer a lot of personal questions.’

‘Blackthorn is a stranger among us, Aunt.’ Flidais’s tone was sweet. ‘We know little about her. Mhairi wants to fill in the gaps, that is all.’

Lady Sochla had provided me with time to gather my wits. ‘Why don’t we do it this way?’ I asked. ‘I answer your question, and then you answer one for me.’

‘I?’ Lady Flidais sounded shocked; clearly she thought this most inappropriate. Or she was afraid.

‘You, my lady, or Mhairi, whichever wishes to reply.’

‘Go on, then,’ said Mhairi.

‘Very well. The answer is, Grim and I met on the road here. We are travelling companions.’

‘But you’re not travelling now.’

‘Is that another question?’

The whole chamber had gone silent.

‘If I answer two,’ I went on, ‘then you must answer two as well.’

Mhairi tossed her head. ‘This is silly.’

‘It sounds perfectly fair to me,’ said Lady Sochla. ‘I would most certainly count that as a second question.’

‘I have stayed in Winterfalls because there’s a need for my services here,’ I said. ‘It helped that there was also a place to live: the old cottage. Grim stayed on to help make the cottage habitable. It turned out there was work for him in the district as well. There’s your answer, and now it’s my turn to ask. Mhairi, what does the work of a lady’s personal attendant involve? See, I am only asking you the same question you asked me. Absolutely fair.’

‘Surely you can guess the answer.’

‘Maybe so. But it’s for you to tell me.’

‘I look after Lady Flidais’s clothing. I help her dress and bathe. I’m on hand whenever she needs me.’