Page 36 of Captured By the Highland Devil
“Thank ye,” she told Ceana.
Relieved washed through her and she and she looked straight into Ruben’s eyes. They were steady but Paige thought she glimpsed a rare moment of vulnerability on his face.
Galan said. “I’ll clear the room for ye to have some privacy.”
She gave him a slight smile, “I’d appreciate that.”
As his second in charge ushered the unneeded people out of the room and when the room was quieter, she went to the side of his bed.
“Ruben…” she hesitated. “Are ye?—”
She did not know how to frame that question, clearly he was not well, clearly, he had had worse injuries than the laceration on his arm. She paused. “Is there anythin’ I can get for ye?”
His eyes opened to slits. “Water, please.” He swallowed. “With ice.”
Ice? He truly is a wealthy man!
Without hesitation, she ran her hand over his other shoulder in soft comfort, then left the room, seeking the kitchen. A few kind servants pointed her the way and two even offered to get the water for her, but she refused.
I want to do this for him.
Entering the kitchens, she paused at the feel of the heat washing over her, Paige swiveled around, aware of the enormous amount of activity in this kitchen.
Her father had employed about five kitchen workers for their home; there were at least three times that number here. All of them, from the young girl to the lanky kitchen lad, were hard at work in a room that was as large as half her old home.
Along the inner wall, a long hearth stretched the length of the room. The fireplace was tall enough for the beast—no, not the beast, Ruben—to stand upright inside.
The kitchen boasted many different sections for the various cooking implements, including racks, roasting spits, and hooks to hang tin and copper kettles. There was a long table with bowls and pans galore, rolling pins were stacked in a pile, and an array of pots and trays stood ready for the daily baking.
Where do I even look first?
Paige felt the curious glances aimed her way and she raised her chin, intent on looking assured while meeting their searching looks.
“Me lady?” Maisie asked, coming in from a wide backdoor. She was holding a basket of ripe fruits. “Is somethin’ wrong?”
“Nay,” she said. “I daenae ken if ye have heard, but me husband was injured this evenin’. Where can I get iced water, please?”
“I shall fetch it for ye.” Maisie said, hastily putting her basket aside and grabbing a bucket and chisel. “We have ice in the cellars.”
She followed Maisie out into the outbuildings and to one far away from the last out-jutting terrace. The icehouse was circular and made of brick with a domed roof.
Entering the icehouse, she saw large blocks of ice insulated by straw and watched as Maisie chipped away at the blocks. “Have ye ever seen Rub—his lairdship get grievously injured?”
“I couldnae say,” Maisie said, while flickering her hair from her eyes. “He is usually three steps ahead of any enemy he has. But he has been in skirmishes and incidents before.
“There was a time when the Northern Raiders came and he joined with other lairds to quell them from the land,” She stood. “It was brutal. The northerns are kenned for their horrible torture and they captured one of his men.
“His lairdship volunteered to take his place and be the prisoner.”
Paige took the bucket from her. “Was he?”
“Aye, but nae for long,” Maisie said. “He fought his way out, killed twenty Norsemen and injured four. There were lashes on his back that took a while to heal but he wears his scars with pride.”
Trudging back to the castle, Paige felt another sliver of understanding fall into place. Ruben was not the mindless beast she thought him to be.
He is barbaric in killin’, but…is that because he had to do so and nae because of who he is?
Inside the kitchen, Maisie handed Paige a jug of water, then said. “If ye need anythin’ else, please send for me, me lady.”
