Page 19 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
As she made her decision an older woman entered the room, curtsying to MacLennan before glancing at Maisie.
“That’s Mrs. Murray, she’ll take ye to yer quarters,” James stated.
“I’m stayin’ here?” Maisie exclaimed. She knew others who had traveled a fair distance would be staying as guests for the night, but she had expected to go home until they were wed.
“Aye,” James said shortly, with no warmth or humor. “Now off with ye.”
“I’ll show ye the way, Miss Brown!” Mrs. Murray said. She had a buxom, homely figure. And an easy smile—Maisie had not had many people smile at her since she’d arrived at the castle.
Maisie picked up her pace to follow her, the whole world moving too fast for her mind to comprehend.
“My, yearea bonnie lass” Mrs. Murray cooed, admiring Maisie from top to bottom. “Ye’ll make a fine lady of the castle.”
Maisie forced a smile, wondering whether that had been some of the reason MacLennan had picked her. She would not expect anything less from a man so vacuous that he based his choice of bride on her answers to justthreequestions.
As Mrs. Murray guided her through the castle, it grew even bigger in Maisie’s mind. The long corridors and stone walls boxed her in, making her feel like a prisoner. It was a cage, no matter how big and beautiful it might be.
Her bed chamber, when they reached it, was far grander than she expected. It had a large bed with fine sheets. The furniturelooked old and well cared for and included an armoire for all her clothes.
It is a shame I only have the dress on me back to fill it with.
“Miss Foster, yer maid, will be up shortly to help ye change,” Mrs. Murray said.
“Och, that’s?—”
“I’ve supplied ye with a few dresses until we can have yer things sent for,” Mrs. Murray said.
Maisie wondered just how many children she’d cared for, women she’d clothed, and people she’d fed.
“Thank ye,” Maisie said automatically. Mrs. Murray was the first person to be kind to her all day.
“If I may say so,” Mrs. Murray continued, “I’m glad he chose ye. Ye seem a good lass with a good head on yer shoulders.”
Just then, a young woman with raven hair burst into the room, tripping over her skirts. She looked up with an expression of horror when she caught sight of Maisie.
“Sorry I’m late, ma’am,” she said to Mrs. Murray.
The housekeeper shook her head affectionately. “Ye’re here now, ye can help the lady out of her gown and into something more suitable for bed.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the girl said with a slight curtsy.
“This is Jean Foster,” Mrs. Murray said to Maisie, indicating the bright young maid. “Let her ken if ye need anythin’, all right?”
“Where are Laird MacLennan’s chambers?” Maisie asked tentatively, hoping they might be in another wing of the castle.
“That door there, miss,” Mrs. Murray said, gesturing to a dark oak doorway only five feet from the side of Maisie’s bed. “There is a corridor between the rooms, and he is just at the other end of it.”
He could reach out and touch me in his sleep if he chose to.
Maisie felt her head swimming again, just as it had in the gardens. The reality of her situation descended on her so violently that she found it difficult to breathe.
“Are ye all right, Miss Brown?” Mrs. Murray asked, coming forward looking deeply concerned.
“I need to see Laird MacLennan,” Maisie said desperately. “Now!”
CHAPTER 8
One weekand I’ll be wed, and then I can focus on what truly matters—me clan.
