Page 15 of Bound to a Highland Beast
“Naethin’,” she said. “It’s naethin’.”
Tiernan didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he didn’t say anything else before he left the room. Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on the door, and Isabeau opened it to find an older woman there with a tub and inside it, some clothes.
One look at Isabeau’s state was enough to confirm she was in the right room.
“Here,” she said and promptly dumped the tub in Isabeau’s arms. She barely had the time to register what was happening when the entire weight of the tub dragged her down to the floor for a moment before she let go, for she was not used to such weight. The tub clattered against the floor, the sound so loud and jarring in the small room that Isabeau couldn’t help but blush furiously with embarrassment, shrinking under the woman’s scathing gaze.
“Ye better nae destroy me tub,” she chided her. “I’ll bring ye water fer it.”
Without another word, she was once again gone only to return a short time later with the water. By then, Isabeau had taken the clothes out of the tub and had dragged it—as much as she could—farther into the room, where she wouldn’t be so close to the door.
By the time she was sinking into the water, she was regretting every decision in her life that had led her to that moment, but as she submerged her body in the steaming warmth, everything finally melted away and she closed her eyes with a satisfied sigh, wishing she could stay there until the water ran cold.
She couldn’t do that, of course. Tiernan had told her to hurry. She was not in her chambers, with all the hot water she could desire at her disposal.
Washing up as fast as she could, Isabeau made sure she was clean of grime and blood and then jumped out of the tub, drying herself in a hurry with a cloth the woman had brought her. Then, she dressed just as hurriedly, tugging at the laces of the dress she had been brought. It was a drab garment, a plain, dull brown, unlike all her colorful clothes, and it didn’t fit her very well. It was a little too large for her, but as she tugged at the laces, it settled on her body.
Still, in a hurry as she was, she hardly managed to fix it properly before she had to call Tiernan. She opened the door and peeked just outside only to find him there, sitting on the floor, waiting just as he had promised.
I shouldnae have judged him so harshly.
When Tiernan looked up at her, he didn’t immediately meet her eyes. In fact, for several seconds, it seemed to Isabeau as though he was staring at her dress and she couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious about it. She knew it was far from a good choice, but she hadn’t been the one to make it and considering they had far more important things to be concerned about, her dress was hardly of any importance. Still, she knew Tiernan wasn’t used to seeing her looking that drab with limp, wet hair, and she had the urge to apologize for it. If there was one lesson her governess had taught her was to never appear in front of company looking anything less than perfect.
But then Tiernan pushed himself to his feet and walked inside, and Isabeau followed him for a moment to put on her shoes.
“I’ll ask the innkeeper fer food an’ drink,” she said. Tiernan gave her no response but when she glanced up, he was staring at her with a look she couldn’t quite decipher. “I hope the water isnae too cold fer ye. I was as fast as I could.”
“It’s fine,” said Tiernan, sounding terribly distracted.
What could have gotten into him? Had something happened in the time it took her to bathe, Isabeau wondered? Was it just another thing she had failed to notice, just as she had failed to notice the innkeeper’s comment about her?
“An’ I think we should get some rest afore ye start askin’ fer information,” she continued, standing to make her way to the door. “Ye didnae sleep at all last night, did ye?”
“Nay,” said Tiernan.
Isabeau lingered by the door, waiting for him to say something else, but he never did. With a small shrug to herself, she opened it. It was then Tiernan decided to speak, stopping her.
“Me lady,” he said. “Perhaps ye should fix yer dress.”
So, the dress is the issue!
“It wasnae me choice,” she said. “I understand it is hardly fit fer a lady o’ me station but?—”
“That isnae what I meant,” said Tiernan and then subtly nodded his head towards her cleavage with a small smile.
Isabeau glanced down to see that most of the swell of her breasts was on full display, the loose bodice revealing much more than she would have ever dared. With a shriek, she covered herself with her hands as best as she could and turned around to face the wall, her cheeks feeling as though they were on fire.
“Why didnae ye tell me sooner?” she screamed, trying to resist the urge to hit her head against the wall. There was no looking-glass in the room and in her hurry, she had entirely missed it.
That’s why he was starin’! He saw it all!
“Forgive me!” Tiernan said. “I didnae ken how! I didnae wish tae make ye uncomfortable but… ye cannae go out like that.”
“O’ course I cannae go out like this!” Isabeau said. “I’m nae a bampot!”
“O’ course ye’re nae.”
“Get out!” she demanded. “I need tae fix this!”
