Page 19 of The Highlander Steals a Virgin
The corners of Amara’s mouth tilted upward. She’d said much the same thing about her own wayward tongue. It was comforting to know she wasn’t the only one who had a runaway mouth.
“I suffer from the same affliction at times,” Amara said, then paused. “Ye ken who I am, then?”
Nina nodded, then spread the gown across the bed. Her hands went to work trying to smooth out the wrinkles. “Aye, weallken.”
Amara watched the maid work, a frown tilting the corners of her mouth down. “And ye daenae hate me… like the others? Resent me bein’ here?”
Nina turned and looked at Amara, then shrugged. “I daenae ken ye, so I cannae form a judgement on ye.”
That was not the answer she’d expected. By the cold and even hostile reception she received from the other women as she and Rhys had entered the castle, Amara hadn’t expected to find anyone who would talk to her, much less show her an ounce of kindness.
“This chamber is usually saved for special guests.” Nina walked over to the corner of the room where a dark green drape hung suspended from the ceiling. Pulling it aside, she revealed a tub and disappeared behind it as she took cloths and started wiping out the inside. “Leighton complains the chamber is too drafty, but nay one else has made such complaints.”
“Leighton?” Amara asked.
“Aye. He’s one of the elders, a councilman.” She paused to look over the rim of the tub at Amara. “That’s where the laird is now, talkin’ to the council. I suspect they’re makin’ plans to get Finn free.”
Amara winced even though it wasn’t her fault her father was holding the man prisoner.
“Leighton, he’s the peacemaker.” Nina continued, shaking her head with a laugh. “Some say he’d negotiate with a ghoul, if he had the chance… or even the devil himself, is what I say.”
Amara smiled at the image that popped into her mind, of an older man talking his way through a conversation with a spirit. What would he offer it to stop haunting? A chamber of its own? A promise that it could haunt certain nights?
“’Leighton is pretty much the only person who can calm our laird,” Nina said, jerking Amara from her fanciful thoughts. “Leighton and the young lass, Daisy.”
Amara, finished eating her food, walked over to the bed and sat down. “Does the laird get angry often?”
Nina’s head tilted to the side in contemplation. “He rarely smiles, except for when he’s around his daughter. He’s like a different man, then. ‘Tis enough to make a lass’s heart skip when the laird smiles, though, I tell ye.”
Amara hadn’t seen Rhys smile yet. When he’d met with his daughter after they’d first arrived, his back had been to her, but she didn’t doubt Nina’s words. He was a handsome devil already, she could just imagine how much more so he would be with his expression softened.
Finished with cleaning the tub, Nina stepped around the curtain and walked over to the bed. She fussed with the clothing again and Amara figured she did so just as an excuse to stay there and talk with her.
“Sometimes, we see the laird riding on his big, black stallion late at night.” Nina paused and wrapped her arms around her chest, letting loose a shudder. “’Tis a bit frightenin', me lady, if I’m speakin’ truthfully. He looks like the demon of death, hauntin’ the land.”
“But he isnae,” Amara said, smiling at the maid’s overactive imagination. “He’s just a man out for a ride.”
“Aye,” Nina agreed. “I ken he’s nae, he justlookslike one. Nay one says anythin’ to him, of course. He’s the laird. But we also think those late night rides may help him with his temper.”
“Is it reallythatbad?”
She nodded. “I heard he once broke a man’s nose for touchin’ a silver comb that belonged to his late wife.”
Amara felt her gut tighten.
He must have loved her very much.
When Amara remained quiet, the maid blushed slightly then changed the subject as she went around the chamber straightening things and wiping away dust here and there.
“The steward, Tomil, is sweet on one of the dairy maids, but he’s too careful with his coin to purchase a brooch to show his affection and intentions.” Nina chuckled and shook her head.
“Does she return his feelin's?”
“I think so, but I daenae ken for sure.”
Nina’s hand lifted to her lips, and she tapped the tip of her finger against them thoughtfully. “Let’s see… Och! Last week, Leighton’s youngest grandson tried to sneak into the army, but got caught.” Nina laughed again. “He tried to pretend he was a soldier, as if any O’Donnell wouldnae ken it to be a lie. The lad’s barely ten years old.”
Amara smiled. It was nice to be around someone so cheerful and relaxed. It had been too since she’d heard someone else laugh. Aside from William and Myles when they were being silly with each other. Until now, with this maid, she hadn’t realized just how dark and depressing Murdoch Castle was. She couldn’t even recall the last time she’d seen one of her own clansmen laugh with ease or tell a joke. Her father’s ill temperament had spread to the rest of them.
