Page 36 of At the Highlander's Mercy
Daft man, then. But had she told her parents of her marriage’s failure? Was that why she returned home? Did anyone know the truth?
But now he’d not only taken her virginity, he’d spilled his seed within her. That changed everything...or did it? In the way in which this whole situation would play out over the coming weeks? He just did not know. Did it make him want to claim her and keep her? He wanted to scream out the words now.
But could he? Chances were that the most likely outcome would be Lilidh’s return to her family and his alliance with the MacKenzies—hopefully without losing too many of his kin. The worst? Well, his clan dead anddecimated and his body hung in pieces on his wall as a warning to others not to cross the MacLerie.
She stirred in his bed,in his bed where he’d always dreamt of having her, so he finished the wine and went back to her. As he moved behind her and drew her close, his body reacted. Instead of waking, she just wiggled back against him, nestling beside him.
* * *
Rob had many questions to ask and things to think about, but when the dawn came, he was no closer to resolution than before. Lilidh slept through the knock on the door and never moved as he left. His questions would have to wait until this night.
Chapter Fifteen
Lilidh heard the knocking on the door, but her body resisted the call to wake. As she pushed the covers back, she discovered herself completely naked. She tried to gather her hair into a neat queue, but it was wildly loose all around her shoulders. Sliding to the side of the bed, she glanced around for something to use as a bedrobe. Finding none, she pulled her gown over her head and tugged it into place.
Before she could find the brush needed to conquer the tangles in her hair, the door opened and Beathas led a cadre of servants in behind her. Two men rolled in the wooden tub and placed it near the hearth. In this bigger chamber, there was more room to move around it. Buckets of steaming water followed. Other bathing supplies as well as bedclothes were delivered before everyone turned and left—except for Beathas, who stood by the door giving her a very knowing look.
‘Let me check your head, dearie,’ Beathas said as she walked over to Lilidh. ‘Rob said it might have been bleeding last night.’
Bleeding? Her head had not bled...
But that would explain away any signs of blood on the bed, if any was there. So she sat and let Beathas have her look.
‘The stitches look fine, but they will need to come out soon,’ the woman declared, still watching her with a strange expression. ‘Here, now, let me help you into the bath. Rob was quite insistent that you have one this morn.’
‘I can manage on my own, Beathas,’ she said, rising from the chair where she sat and walking over to the tub. She turned back to dismiss the woman when she found her frowning.
‘Did no one ever see to you, lass? I’ve seen your leg, so there’s no reason to try to hide it from me.’
Ah. When she was unconscious. She should have known.
‘Did Rob also see it?’ she asked. Beathas tsked as she moved around the chamber, gathering up dirty clothing that needed washing and pulling the used sheets from the bed.
‘Anyone who has seen the injuries of a battle would think it tame in comparing it.’
‘Only Isla has seen it recently. Before that the healer and my parents when it happened. ’Tis not something I wish to show others.’ If her tone was a bit sharp, surely Beathas would understand the private nature of her injury.
‘Isla is your maid?’ Beathas asked. Walking towards her, the older woman motioned towards the gown she wore and Lilidh nodded allowing her approach.
’Twas true. The healer had seen her leg before so there was no use or purpose to be gained by hiding it from her. And having help in her bath would be a luxury. She stood as the woman lifted the gown off and then held her steady as she climbed into the tub. Sliding down, she noticed that the soreness in her leg was not the only one in her body.
‘She was. Until she was killed when Symon attacked me.’ It simply did not feel real to her that Isla could be gone.
The woman continued to help her wash, untangle her hair and see to her needs.
* * *
Some time later, as Lilidh sat by the fire dressed and brushing her hair out, there was a quick knock on the door and it opened. Rob walked in and she waited to see if matters between them had changed now that he knew her truth.
‘Can you come down to the kitchens?’ he asked. ‘There is something I think you should see.’
He stood with his hand out to her and she could not tell much from his expression or words. Knowing her difficulties with the stairs, he would not have asked this of her on a whim. Beathas handed her a plaid shawl and she followed Rob to the steps. It took some time, but he did not rush her at all. When they reached the main floor, he waited for her catch her breath.
‘I should have ordered the bath after you did this,’ he offered, smiling at her.
‘No, I had a good long soak and it feels fine.’
She wondered if he would speak of more intimateissues between them. They walked in silence, though he let her walk on her own as they passed through the great hall and headed for the kitchens. This was much different from the last time she walked this path. Though there were many within the hall, none seemed to bother with her for now. Escorted by Rob, she made her way into the kitchen area where Siusan stood waiting.
