Page 5 of Highland Renegade
“Could we have some water brought to tidy up a bit?” Lorelei asked.
“There’s water in the pitcher there.” Maggie pointed to the dresser. “And a basin beside it.”
Again, Emily gave her sisters warning looks. “That will be fine.”
The housekeeper gave a curt nod, then stepped back and shut the door, leaving the three of them alone. Emily looked around the room. Besides the dresser, there was a small table and two chairs by a very narrow window—probably an arrow slit, she realized—a single bed, a wardrobe against one wall. There was also a screen behind which, she hoped, was a chamber pot. A large hearth took up most of the remaining wall. Logs had been laid, but not lit. At least, she wouldn’t be cold later.
“That woman is horrible,” Lorelei said, interrupting her thoughts.
“She certainly would not find herself employed in any London household,” Juliana added.
“I doubt that she would want to be,” Emily retorted. “And we were warned that Scots could be taciturn, so we will just have to adjust to her personality.”
“And what about the men?” Juliana asked. “They were rude as well.”
Lorelei giggled. “But you have to admit, they were all very good-looking!”
Juliana rolled her eyes. “Is that all you ever think about? They wererude.”
Her sister stuck out her tongue. “You are just angry because you tripped and one of them caught you.”
“Caught me? Heheldme…and wouldn’t let go.”
Lorelei grinned. “I would not mind beingheldby an attractive man.”
Juliana frowned. “I felt like his bloody captive.”
Emily frowned, too. “You might want to check your language. I am sure you have already created quite an impression with the litany you loosed in the bailey.”
“Hmph.” Her sister folded her arms defiantly.
“Please, Juliana. For me. Forus,” Emily said. “From what we witnessed outside, the MacGregors did not seem to have been warned that King George had actuallytransferredthe deed instead of holding it. That had to have been a shock. We do not need to be alienating our reluctant hosts.”
“I can try.” Juliana lowered her arms, looking somewhat mollified. “Just do not expect me to act like some sweet, demure,biddablelady.”
“I…” Emily began but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Maybe the housekeeper sent up some hot water after all!” Lorelei went to open the door, only to stare at the girl who’d been in the courtyard earlier.
“May I come in?” she asked.
“Certainly.” Emily moved forward, but not before she pinched Juliana’s arm. “Please.”
“We have nae been introduced, since my brothers are alleejits… Idiots.” She smiled at all of them. “I’m Fiona.”
They reintroduced themselves and Juliana, taking care to stay out of Emily’s arm’s reach, added, “I agree with your assessment of your brothers.”
Fiona laughed. “Och, well. Ye took the wind out of their sails, had them in irons, ye did.”
“Irons?” Lorelei asked. “None of them were shackled.”
“Not thatthatwould have been a bad idea,” Juliana said.
Fiona laughed again. “Sometimes I would like to see it as well—they can be a wee bit bossy, all of them—but I meant, when ye take the wind out of sails suddenly, the boat stops dead in the water and canna make headway. ’Tis what ‘in irons’ means.” She looked at the puzzled faces. “We do a lot of sailing on Loch Awe.”
“I am afraid we have not had experience with sailing.”
“I’ll be glad to teach ye, if ye plan to stay.”
