Page 18 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
“Very seriously, of course,” she replied. “Why would I nae try me best with anythin’ I set me mind to?”
“Aye, ‘tis a good way to be, but it willnae be yer mind that ye are settin’ to this task, but yer body, Miss Taylor.”
Elias couldn’t help but smirk when he saw the horror in her eyes.
“Me Laird, I’ve only just met ye,” she gasped.
“Aye, and what has that got to do with it? Are ye claimin’ that I’m so monstrous and beastly that ye willnae take a second look at me? That ye dinnae want to see me body?”
“Nay, I’m nae sayin’ that,” Holy blurted.
“Then ye do want to see me body and fulfill yer wifely duties withyerbody?”
Elias couldn’t help himself. Not that it was hard to talk in such a way to a woman he would very much like to get into his bed.
“I… I mean, of course, I will do the best I can with any of me duties, and I shall do whatever is expected of me, but I would very much like to get to ken ye first, Me Laird.”
“And ye will,” Elias said. “Ye are in me castle now, and ye are promised to me, and ye will get to ken me very well.” He leaned in closer to her. “And I ken ye will enjoy it very much.”
Holly breathed heavily through her nose, unable to respond. Her cheeks were a perfect pink tint, and her cherry lips were slightly parted.
Elias grunted in satisfaction and walked her back.
Holly was already up, refreshed, and ready to tackle the day when a knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” she called out, then watched as the door opened slowly.
A few seconds later, Eliza, the maid from yesterday, walked in.
“Me Lady,” she greeted with a curtsey. “I was sent by the Laird to help ye get dressed for the day. He also wants ye to meet him in his study.”
Holly nodded, then gestured toward her light blue gown. “I’m mostly ready, but if ye’re willin’, I could use some help tamin’ me hair.”
She reached up and ran her fingers through her red hair, wincing when they caught in some tangles.
“Of course, Me Lady,” Eliza said. “Ye just sit right there”—she pointed at the chair in front of the dressing table—“and I’ll have ye ready in nay time.”
True to her word, Eliza had all the snarls and snags brushed out of Holly’s long tresses in a few minutes. She then weaved the mass into one long braid that she left hanging down Holly’s back.
“I can pin it up for ye if ye prefer,” she suggested.
Holly shook her head. “‘Tis perfect, thank ye, Eliza. Now, if ye’d be so kind as to show me to the Laird’s study?”
Eliza nodded but didn’t move right away. Instead, she stood there, wringing her hands.
“I apologize for oversteppin’ yesterday, Me Lady,” she said. “I shouldnae have spoken about the Laird the way I did.”
Holly gave a nod but didn’t respond. She should not have had to tell the maid not to talk behind her Laird’s back, especially to someone she didn’t know, and even more especially to the woman who was soon to be Lady McAllister.
Servants gossiped, everyone knew that. In fact, Holly knew she could get the best information by going to some of her servants. But most knew their boundaries and wouldn’t dare insult their masters so openly.
“If ye’ll take me to the Laird’s study now?” Holly said.
Eliza nodded, turned on her heel, and walked to the door.
Holly looked around her luxurious bedchamber for Ollie. For the first time in she couldn’t remember how long, the gray cat was not curled up on the bed with her when she woke up. But then he wasn’t used to new places, especially one as big as this castle, so he might be a little nervous. If she had time, she’d look under the bed, but right now she needed to meet with the Laird. The man who was soon to be her husband.
A thrill of nervousness and excitement shot through her as she followed Eliza out of her chamber and into the hallway. Light filtered through the windows, casting golden beams on the floor.
