Page 14 of A Highlander Bound by Oath
"I've brought ye something tae eat," he gestured to the table where a loaf of bread, some cheese, and a pitcher had been placed. "Ye will have to eat with yer hands. I could nae get away with sneaking any cutlery."
"That's fine," she answered, her stomach rumbling again. She would have eaten the bread from his hands at that point if it would make the hunger pangs leave.
"Ye can eat while I go and get an extra blanket and pillow," he paused for a second and looked at her with a devilishly handsome smile that made her stomach flutter with something other than hunger. "I'll gently knock three times on the door when I return," the corner of his mouth lifted in a mocking smile.
"I'll appreciate that," she said thankfully, waiting for the door to shut behind him again before rushing to the table. She barely sat before she'd broken off a piece of the bread and shoved it into her mouth, almost swallowing without chewing. The plainness of the freshly baked loaf tasted like heaven as she ate. Reaching for the pitcher, she sniffed the foamy liquid before gingerly taking a sip and washing the bread down her throat.
The taste was bitter but not entirely unpleasant as the liquid's warmth swished down her throat. She reached for the cheese next and took a bite directly from the wedge. Shutting her eyes, Charlotte sighed in relief as the hunger began to dissipate. The richness of the cheese and the freshness of the warm bread were a welcome blessing after the hunger she had endured. She ate for a few minutes until the bread was almost gone.
A gentle knock at the door made her pause; turning to the left, she eyed the cupboard. A second knock came, followed by a third, before the door gently swung open on its hinges.
Owen stood in the doorway with a bulging belly wrapped under a cloak.
She cocked her head in astonishment and stared at the comical figure he cut. "I…" she began but stopped.
"Yes?" he raised an eyebrow as he entered the room and shut the door behind him.
"Never mind," she returned to her food and decided to leave him be. She wanted to ask how he thought he would get away with stuffing a pillow and blanket beneath a cloak when it was so obvious that he was up to something. But she decided that the conversation was not worth the time.
"I apologize if the food is nae enough," Owen said as he pulled the linen and pillow from the cloak and laid it on the bed. "I could nae take any more than that without anyone asking questions. I'll be able tae get ye some more later when the kitchens are completely empty."
"This was perfect for now, thank you," she smiled at him. She was quickly starting to see him as a rather caring man, hiding his feelings behind a rough exterior. He seemed to want to take care of her needs even though she had bribed him into helping her, which made her feel guilty.
"I've asked for a bath to be brought tae the room; they asked why, and I said I was nae feeling tae good. So, ye will have tae hide when the men bring in the tub."
"I appreciate everything you are doing for me," she said kindly, reaching behind and scratching her back. Her skin still itched in places no matter how much she tried to scratch. One spot, in particular, seemed to move around beneath her dress.
"Dinnae mention it," he watched her as she tried to scratch her back with her elbow thrust into the air.
Why won't it stop itching?Charlotte wondered as she struggled to reach the spot. It seemed to shift just out of reach every time she got closer.
"That will be the bath," Owen turned to look at the door when someone knocked. "Get in the cupboard and try nae make a sound this time. The other monks already think I'm off me guard because of ye."
Doing as she was told, Charlotte quickly climbed inside the cupboard and hid between his robes. Light streamed through a crack in the door, allowing her to see the men who stood at the threshold with an overly large tub of water suspended between them.
"Thank ye kindly, brothers." They brought the tub into the middle of the room and placed it down, allowing some of the water to slosh over the side by accident.
"We hope you feel better soon, Brother Owen," one of them said before bowing politely with his hands clasped in prayer. "We will be praying for you. I know a few of the other monks have comedown with a cold. It's spreading through the monastery like wildfire."
"And I'm sure yer prayers will be heard," Owen turned his head and coughed into his fist to illustrate the fact that he was feeling ill.
The monks both took a step toward the door.
Owen coughed again with added vigor this time. "Ye better be on yer way now, I would nae want tae give ye what I have."
"We wish you a speedy recovery, Brother Owen," they hurried from the room, shutting the door tightly behind them.
Owen laughed to himself and shook his head with his hands on his hips. "Ye can come out now, lass," he said as he turned and walked over to the cupboard door, pulling it open.
Charlotte almost toppled to the floor but quickly grabbed his legs and steadied herself. An awkward silence ensued during which they stared at each other as she clung to his legs with half her body hanging out the door.
"Why were ye against the door?" he eventually asked.
"I was trying to listen to what was being said."
"Curiosity killed the cat, ye ken?" he helped her up by the arm. "Or the lass on the run, in this case."
Charlotte allowed him to help her up before looking at the tub of fresh water in the center of the room. "Do you have any soap?"
