Page 14 of The Highlander's Virgin Nun
“That will do, thank ye.” She stopped one of the maids as another queue of bucket carriers filed into the room.
“Are ye sure, Ma’am? We have boiled plenty by the fire for ye.”
“Nay, really, that’s more than enough,” Rosaline insisted. “Thank ye, again.”
The maids left the room, leaving her alone with the water.
She considered just dipping a cloth in and hand washing her body as she did on most occasions. At the convent, the bathtub she was offered was minuscule, and even when it was filled, the water barely reached her knees. This elaborate tub was half her height. But she was dirty after her run, the ride, and her injury. There was dirt on her arms, legs, and hair. She wanted to look presentable, and she certainly did not want to soil Alexandra’s beautiful frocks.
She stepped closer to the bathtub, and her heart sped up. Goosebumps rose all over her arms, and she tried to control her breathing.
“Ye have overcome worse than a bathtub, Rosaline. Come on.” She tried to talk herself down from her panic, but it was instinctual.
She gripped the lip of the tub and dipped a hand into the water, letting her skin get used to the sensation.
Eventually, after a few excruciatingly long moments, she removed her tattered tunic and dropped it to the floor. She closed her eyes and pulled as much air into her lungs as she could. Then, she dipped a toe in and, clenching her fists, lowered herself into the water.
CHAPTERSEVEN
“Ah, me bride-to-be.”
Caelan rose and introduced Rosaline as she entered the Great Hall. He kept his expression neutral to convey the strictly convenient nature of their marriage to his clansfolk.
She looked radiant in her fresh clothes, with her hair brushed and her skin glowing. He thought for a moment that her dress looked familiar, but he was ultimately distracted by her eyes as they rose and met his.
Caelan felt a shiver run down his spine. He hadn’t realized how much he craved her attention until she gave it to him, and then he wanted it more and more. He began to question why—he had known this woman for a day, and the point of their partnership was for themnotto fall in love. He could resist, though. It was likely just lust.
She walked towards the table, and he continued the introduction.
“This is Rosaline.”
At that point, he realized he did not even know her surname, while he had already vowed to change it to his own.
And yet he continued, “She saved me life today, and she will be me bride. Ye are all to introduce yerselves.”
His clansfolk rose and greeted her with smiles and welcomes, some joining their hands in a few celebratory claps. They were clearly impressed as they took in her beauty and acknowledged her heroic deed. She blushed softly at their praise.
Caelan observed her expression as she crossed the hall and walked around the table, towards the empty seat beside him that he had indicated. She had started with a polite, shy smile, but it had since dropped, and her eyes widened slightly.
She looked uncomfortable, nervous. He couldn’t blame her; for her, the hall was full of strangers, and she was walking in as their future lady. It should be intimidating.
“Ye look well,” he said to her quietly as he pulled her chair out for her.
Rosaline nodded her head in thanks and gave a small smile.
“Do ye have everythin’ ye need?”
“Absolutely, thank ye. The view of the village is lovely.”
“Aye, the folk have built a lovely community. Everyone helps one another. They’re great people—ye should get to ken them.”
Rosaline smiled at him once again, nodding, and then turned to the food. She was likely exhausted, he thought. He should let her relax and eat.
“Any more info on the attackers, Jayden?” Caelan turned to his man-at-arms.
Jayden had been studying maps and trying to identify any neighboring clans with the tartan Caelan had described to him. Caelan knew many, and the tartan was one he had never seen before. Of course, it could have been a decoy, something to throw them off and confuse them, but he had asked Jayden to look nonetheless.
“Nay, Me Laird. There are a few tartans with orange thread, and each one I could find either belongs to one of our allies or a clan further up north. I doubt it could have been any of them.”
