Page 46 of Captured By the Highland Devil
Stilling her moves, Norah kept her head down, “What do ye mean?”
Tentatively, Paige pressed, “Maybe step out of the castle again, or attend a festival? Maybe find a man to love and who will love ye? How about?—”
“Nay,” Norah said sharply, while yanking up another root.
Quickly pulling from her approach, Paige said, “I apologize. I dinnae mean to push ye so hard. I cannae dare imagine what ye’ve been through?—”
“Nay one can,” Norah said sharply.
The girl's tone crackled with old hurt and Paige felt her soul clench with sorrow. She breathed in deeply, then asked, “I ken I cannae rewrite the past, but I want to help ye move from it. Will ye come with me to the orphanage? I think the children would like ye.”
Norah did not speak and focused only on jabbing the spade into the dark ground, yanking out rocks and pulling out roots with a vengeance.
Dropping her eyes to the plants before her, Paige allowed Norah all the time she needed to decide if she would reply. She did not speak for another about half an hour or so , but when she did, her voice was quiet.
“I used to go to the orphanage frequently,” Norah said. “I’d go at least three times a sennight. I was returnin’ to castle from there when I was abducted.”
The spade fell from Paige’s hand. “I am so sorry.”
“Nay need to be sorry,” Norah stood and took her basket of herbs with her.
Following her, Paige hoisted her basket as well and they both turned to the path leading to the kitchen. The clang of metal on metal was almost deafening as they moved towards the tiltyard. Paige’s steps faltered as she caught sight of Ruben.
He was shirtless this time as well.
To Norah she asked, “Do ye watch yer brother practice often?”
A shadow passed over Norah’s face before she answered. “Nay. I have seen him practice, and I have seen him fight more than once, but I abhor violence, and I hate death.”
Paige tilted her head towards the training men and admired Ruben as he wielded the weapon in his hand, an ax this time.
“I see ye are duly impressed,” Norah said.
“I’ve seen him fight before,” Paige said. “But not this close.”
She began to more to the men when Norah shook her head. “Nay. We cannae go over there,” she hissed. “We cannae disturb or interrupt their training. I daenae want to cause a fuss.”
Taking a long-lasting look to the large field where at least fifty men were in various stages of the mock battle. Ruben was moving through them, correcting some of the younger men.
They headed back to the castle, Paige waited until they were inside and heading up to the healing hall. They handed the baskets over the healers who hung the plants up to dry.
As she was about to leave the room, Paige beseeched Norah one last time. “I ken ye feel it is too painful for ye to go to orphanage, but I do think it might help ye to heal.”
“I cannae tell ye, me lady,” Norah said.
“Please daenae call me that,” Paige said. “Me lady, I mean. I daenae want to hear it from ye.”
“T’is only proper,” Norah frowned.
“Still,” Paige shook her head, “I’d prefer if ye dinnae.”
“Excuse me,” Norah muttered as she turned away.
Watching her go, Paige feared she might have done more harm than good. She feared that if Ruben found out about it—that he might never forgive her for it.
Stepping into his rooms, Ruben smelled vanilla oil and lavender soap. The soft steam coming from the bathing chamber, paired with the almost inaudible humming, drew him closer to the door.
Paige was in the tub, her head down on a table, a stark white chemise was on a chair next to it. He tried his best to avert his eyes but… well, he was a red-blooded man and did not deny himself for too long.
