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experience with marriage. “Why then are you already worried about a babe?”
    She glanced around as if more people might pop out of the woods. “I have no monthly flux. Never have. I must be barren.” She began to cry all over again.
    Dory trudged across the creek and touched the woman’s arm as if to comfort her. With a quick pulse of her power focused on the woman’s abdomen, she could sense the problem. Aye, her women’s organs felt… stuck. Otherwise she seemed of fine health, but without intervention her women’s organs would remain dormant and she’d never have her courses or conceive.
    “I might be able to help you,” Dory said tentatively. She wasn’t about to expose herself to another hysterical female, nor could she let Ewan know what she was doing. But the woman’s tears squeezed at her heart. She’d never been able to leave someone in need. Captain Bart grumbled about it all the time.
    “Will you use magic?” the woman whispered, eyes wide.
    Dory shook her head, an easy lie. “Not at all. I’ve learned of a drink that helps a woman’s cycle start. I can make it for you if you’d like.”
    “Yes.” A real smile lit her face and she looked rather pretty. “I will pay you.” She glanced at Dory’s ruined clothes. “I have many dresses from last season that should fit you.”
    They did look about the same shape and size. Dory’s mind churned. She had to get to London soon, but she couldn’t show up at Hampton Court looking like a beggar. King Henry wouldn’t even see her dressed like this. And she still wasn’t certain what she was going to say to him.
    “Pandora!” Ewan’s voice cut through the gurgles of the brook just before he appeared. “There ye are. We need to move on if we’re to reach London by nightfall.”
    Nervousness pinched the happy face of the lady. Dory squeezed her hand and yelled back over her shoulder. “I must help someone first.”
    “Good day, m’lady,” Ewan said and bowed to the young woman. “I’m sorry if we have trespassed. We are leaving.”
    “Nay,” the lady said and giggled. Dory watched her bat her eyelashes at Ewan. Irritating, though understandable. The man had a dangerous way of making serious thoughts break apart in a woman’s head. The lady pulled Dory close to her with a strength she hadn’t expected, and Dory smiled at Ewan’s frown. He was fun to irritate. “The lady Pandora—”
    “Dory, please,” she answered.
    “The lady Dory has agreed to make a drink for me, one I need greatly. She will accompany me back to Wulfhall, my home.” The woman pointed behind her where Dory could just make out a large manor surrounded by gardens. “You are very welcome to come along.”
    “Forgive us, please, but we really must be on our way,” Ewan said and the lady tugged Dory even closer.
    “Ewan, I think she will fight you for me,” Dory said and the lady twittered like a songbird. “And she has a gown for me.”
    “Several,” the lady added.
    “We wouldn’t have to stop to find me a new costume.”
    Ewan looked between the two of them, his face stiff. “Very well. A short stay, an hour, perhaps.” He waved them toward the house. “I’ll tell Searc and we’ll be along with our… burden.”
    “You are traveling with two Scotsmen?”
    “Yes.”
    “Alone?” The woman looked aghast but then smiled. “Oh, you are wed.”
    “Nay,” Ewan replied immediately, fast enough to feel irritating.
    She looked at Ewan. “You are not Dory’s kin, as you sound nothing alike. She is English but with an odd accent.”
    “I’ve traveled extensively since I was a babe.” Dory supplied a true answer. “’Tis how I found this remedy,” she whispered. She put on a sweet smile even if her eyes glared at Ewan. “And what my dear Ewan means is that we are not recently wed, but have been for a year now.”
    His jaw tensed and he swallowed, but didn’t say a thing. Was pretending to be attached to her so difficult?
    “Oh.” the woman