Page 10 of Sutherland's Secret
The door opened again and Eleanor jumped. Quickly she pointed the dagger at the door. Cecilia stopped short. Her eyes widened and a small “eep” erupted from her.
Eleanor lowered the dagger but remained watchful. For all she knew, Sutherland had sent this woman to do his work for him.
Eleanor never used to be this way. At one time she’d been trusting. Naive. Oh, how naive she’d been, not believing there was evil in this world.
She barely remembered that girl, and when a memory of her happened to slip through, she jeered at it. Stupid, naive idiot. That’s what she’d been.
So she wouldn’t trust this Cecilia any more than she would trust Sutherland.
Wide-eyed, Cecilia stared at her. “I’ve been sent to be yer lady’s maid,” she said. “I thought ye might want to bathe before ye ate. Am I wrong, my lady?”
The bath called to Eleanor. Her body ached to slide into the hot water and let it soothe her. She flicked a longing glance toward it.
Cecilia moved closer. Instantly Eleanor raised the dagger and pointed it at the girl.
Cecilia’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t seem the least bit cowed by Eleanor’s weak display of bravado.
“His lordship said ye were skittish.” Cecilia looked her up and down in curiosity. Eleanor knew she looked a fright; for once she was embarrassed by her appearance.
“If ye give me yer clothes, my lady. I’ll find ye something better to wear while ye bathe. I promise ye’ll feel much better after a hot bath and some warm food in yer belly.” With a swallow that indicated she wasn’t as sure of herself as she wanted Eleanor to believe, Cecilia took another step closer, keeping a keen eye on the dagger still pointed at her. “And if ye’ll allow it, I’d be mighty pleased to brush yer hair.”
Eleanor’s arm began to sag. Even the slight weight of the dagger was too much for her flagging strength. Who was she fooling? She probably didn’t have the strength to stab anyone. Let alone the courage. She lowered the tip until the dagger was hanging from her fingers at her side. Having her hair brushed sounded awfully good.
Cecilia smiled. “There, now. We’ll get along just fine if ye stop threatening me with that wee dagger of yers.”
Despite herself, Eleanor’s lips twitched in a smile.
“I’ll help ye off with the gown, and ye can soak in that tub as long as ye want. I’ve more hot water waiting for ye.”
Cecilia stepped behind her and Eleanor stood mute, closing her eyes as Cecilia’s deft fingers unlaced the back of her gown. The girl talked the entire time, not the least put out that Eleanor did not answer. “This was a fine gown at one time. I can tell by the material. But it’s seen better days, I tell ye.”
The ties loosened. The gown slithered down Eleanor’s body and fell in a disgusting heap at her feet. Tears leaked out from her closed lids as she tried not to remember the morning when her maid had laced her into the gown. She squeezed her eyes tight as if that would hold back the memory.
Behind her, Cecilia chattered on. “Ach, but everything needs to be burned. I’m powerfully sorry, my lady, but there’s no saving this gown, for sure.”
Cecilia removed the petticoats and there was silence. Eleanor held her breath.
“Oh, my lady,” Cecilia breathed. Her fingers danced across Eleanor’s back, over bruises that pulsed with pain and scratches and scrapes that burned at the touch. Eleanor could only imagine what she looked like, with scrapes on top of scars and bruises marring her once pristine skin.
“What have they done to ye?” Cecilia whispered.
Eleanor stepped away and turned toward Cecilia, crossing her arms over her bosom. She shivered.
Cecilia looked at her with tears shimmering in her eyes. “If ye tell my lord, he will find who did this and kill him.”
Eleanor looked away. She highly doubted that a Highland clan chief would kill her nemesis, for it would mean signing his own death warrant.
“Well, now.” Cecilia sniffed and blinked her tears away, becoming all business. “Do ye want me to wash yer back and hair?”
Eleanor shook her head. She preferred not to hear about her abused body. Besides, she wanted to be alone to enjoy her first bath in months.
“I’ll find ye some clothes, then. And I’ll check on yer food.”
Cecilia slipped through the door and Eleanor approached the tub. Steam still curled from its inviting depths, and she skimmed her fingers across the surface. Rose petals bobbed and dipped in the wake of her fingers. She looked to her right to find big towels and a bar of soap. She lifted the soap and sniffed it. Lavender. Cecilia had thought of everything.
Eleanor winced as she climbed in, her muscles protesting. With a deep sigh, she sank into the water, letting its warmth envelop her. The soothing fragrance of rose drifted up to tickle her nose.
She sank in all the way to her chin, and with a chuckle, she kept going until she was completely submerged. Oh my, but it felt so good.
