Page 11 of Heather and the Highlander
“We’ll take two rooms,” he told the innkeeper.
The innkeeper looked chagrined. “I can offer only one, sir.”
“One?” Heather echoed, glancing at Niall, clearly wondering what he would do. What could he do? Demand someone else give theirs up? Offer a bribe?
“We’ll take that one, then,” he agreed.
“Very good, sir. Fine room, one of our biggest. Your luggage?” the man asked, looking puzzled.
“No luggage, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, well, if you’ll follow Maisie up then…”
A maid had appeared in the foyer as well. She bobbed a curtsy. “This way, sir, ma’am.”
No one questioned Niall’s and Heather’s presence. No one asked what he was doing with a poorly dressed woman without any accouterments.
Everyone assumed they were husband and wife, he realized.
Maisie opened the door to a room at the end of the short hallway. “Fire is laid,” she said. “Will you take dinner downstairs, or would you prefer it to be brought up?”
“Brought up!” Niall and Heather said simultaneously.
“Aye then. About an hour, it will be.” Maisie scooted out of the room.
Left alone, Niall looked around the room, peering in corners, examining the window. “Looks quite acceptable,” he said. “You should be able to sleep secure in the knowledge that neither your uncle nor his man will come crawling in to take you back.”
Heather swallowed. “Um, about sleeping….”
Niall looked over, one eyebrow raised. “What about it?”
“It’s just that…there’s just this room. And one bed. And two people.”
He just stared at her for a moment, not comprehending the problem. Then he realized all at once what she thought he meant to do. “I’m notstaying,” he said, offended. “What do you take me for?”
“I don’t know you,” she returned in a level tone.
His eyes narrowed, but then he saw her side of things. “You don’t know me, that’s true enough. This room is yours, Miss Hayes. I’ll sleep elsewhere.”
“Thank…thank you,” she replied, her expression softening. Those big brown eyes were locked onto him, and he had to look away. So Niall walked to the door and leaned out into the hall. As he’d hoped, the maid was still nearby, coming out of another room with an empty pail.
“Maisie, is it?” he asked. “Come here.”
“Sir?” she asked, polite but wary.
“A small task, I hope. If you can find a gown and shoes that will fit the lady, bring them to this room as soon as possible, I will pay their cost, and more for your trouble.”
“Ain’t got nothing suitable for a proper lady in this place,” the maid said doubtfully. “Only such as women like me wear.”
“That will be perfectly suitable. She doesn’t need to impress the King, she just needs to be warm.”
“Very well, sir. Let me see what I can find.”
He handed her some coins to help her quest, and she hurried off.
* * * *
Inside the room, Heather looked over at Niall after he returned from his conference with the maid. “What was that about?” She asked, thinking that the maid wasverypretty.
