Page 15 of Dark Side of the Laird
“Behind every man who’s made the right choice is a woman who made the choice for him. If he’s in the wrong, he likely came up with the idea himself.” Cook nodded as if her words were fact—and I couldn’t help laughing in turn.
“Cook!” I couldn’t believe what she was saying. I had a lot more confidence in Logan than that. He was smart, tactical, loyal, sensual, caring… Oh, I could wax on about him all day, but that wasn’t going to do me any good. “Logan—I mean, Laird Grant, is extremely intelligent.”
The woman looked suddenly contrite. “I meant no disrespect, honest. I was but suggesting ye push him along in making his decision to confront… ye know who,” she ended on a whisper behind her hand.
Judging from the way Cook shifted on her feet and was suddenly wringing her hands I had a good idea I’d made her nervous, and now she felt she couldn’t speak freely.
I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. Sending her a friendly smile, I said, “I do greatly appreciate your advice, and trust me, I will take it to heart. I need to talk to him about this situation. He needs to make it right for the clan, and I pray he’ll choose the best option.”
“Which is ye.” Cook looked back to her old self.
I smiled, hating seeing that sudden break in her smile. “I think so.”
She smiled back at me. “Good. Now finish up with those onions and quit looking off into the distance like ye think your life is over.”
* * *
Ifloppedonto the chair in my room, back a bit sore from bending over for hours in the garden and then trekking basket upon heavy basket into the castle and down the cellar stairs. No wonder the women of the Highlands were so robust. Every muscle ached.
There was a soft knock at the door and then Agatha popped her head in. Damn, I’d forgotten to lock the door. I needed to get into the habit of doing that…
“Cook said ye might like a bath, my lady.”
The thought of submerging my sore body into a tub of steamy water almost had me crying out Hallelujah. I nodded and smiled. “Thank ye.”
She opened the door wide and servants rushed in with a wooden tub, buckets of steamy water and all the supplies I’d need to wash. After the bath was set up, Agatha started to help me undress, but I brushed her hands aside.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone,” I said.
Agatha gave me an odd look. “But, my lady—”
“Please.”
She bowed her head. “Some wine, then.”
It was her job to serve as my maid, and I was grateful to have her, but sometimes, being fawned over, was a little much. And I wanted to enjoy the peace and relaxation of the bath without having to chatter with Agatha who loved to talk my ear off. I wanted to wash my own hair. I used to love going to the salon and having my hair washed and blow dried, but now… Now it was a task that had been taken away from me, and there was enough things taken already.
I nodded and she poured me a glass, handing it to me on her way to the door.
“Call out for me if ye’re in need, my lady. I’ll be just beyond the door.”
I shook my head. “I can’t stand the idea of you just sitting outside my door. Why not go do something for yourself for the next hour or so and then come back?”
Agatha looked as though I’d asked her to climb to the top of the battlements and leap off.
“Go on. That’s an order.”
A twinkle came into her eyes. “Well now, lass, if ’tis an order, I just may go and rest my feet a bit.”
“Good.” I smiled and waved her out of the room. Following behind her, I barred the door and feeling slightly guilty for pushing her away. But, I was also pleased she’d go and have a little rest for herself. She deserved it.
I shucked my clothes, shivering at the draft that swirled around my ankles. There was a fire lit, which did a good job warming the room, but even still, nothing beat modern furnaces. The wine helped a little, but mostly just to heat my cheeks.
I hopped from foot to foot, the wooden planks of the floorboards like ice against my toes. Once I made it to the tub, I nearly leapt into the warm water—a stark contrast to the temperature of the room.
Sinking down into the steamy bath, I closed my eyes and let the water cover my ears, until the world ceased to exist. Black behind my eyes, and silence in the water. I could imagine that I was anywhere, anyone. And yet, I imagined being here at Gealach and that I was myself. I smiled, realizing that for the first time, I was proud to be me. I’d finally found a place I belonged. Funny—and sad—that it was five hundred years in the past. I should have been born in another time.
With a sigh of resignation, I sat up in the tub and grabbed the bar of soap Agatha left. It smelled of lavender this time. The clan made their own soaps, and every time a different scent was used. The last one had been rosemary, and while it was a heavenly scent, I couldn’t help but feel a little like I was preparing myself for the oven like a turkey.
