“Never mind me.” She backed toward the door. “Would ye permit me to step out for a time? After all that churning, I reckon I need a wee bit of air.”

Cook hefted up the churn and cradled it in her sturdy arms. “Och, you’ve been working since daylight, lass. Take a slice of shortbread and go give your legs a good stretch.”

If there was one thing Divana couldn’t resist, it was Cook’s shortbread. She took a wedge and clipped off a bite with her teeth. Her eyes rolled back when the sweet, buttery pastry melted on her tongue. But as soon as she stepped outside and looked toward the stables, the pleasure vanished.

Gripping the biscuit in her fist, she stood in the shadows of the bathhouse and watched the hub of activity beyond. The men were busy loading barrels, carpenter’s supplies, baskets, and Lord knew what else onto wagons. They rolled up enormous pieces of canvas and coiled rope while oxen stood harnessed, stamping their feet as if itching to go.

“Finished with your churning?” Runner asked, approaching with an enormous grin. He was one of the few allowed in the inner courtyard. “There’s always excitement on the air when a ship’s about to set sail.”

She wanted to bat the feathered bonnet off his head. “Och, such a thing is easy for ye to say.”

“Whyever do ye sound so woeful?” The boy drew a dirk form his belt and stabbed it through the air, his eyes filled with excitement. “We’re heading on a grand adventure, and now I’m a full-blown mate, the captain will let me fight pirates for certain.”

“A laddie of sixteen?” she spat out.

“Nearly seventeen, mind ye.”

“Aye, that makes all the difference.” Divana didn’t hide the sarcasm in her voice. It burned her to the core to look at the proud young man, going to sea with Sir Kennan because he happened to have the right sex between his legs while she was forced to remain behind.

She eyed the lad. “Baltazar,” she said, using his Christian name, which always commanded his attention whenever she spoke it. “If ye had to make a guess, how long would ye say ye’ll be away?”