Leo instinctively raised his hand as if to touch her face but then thought better of it and pulled back with a little laugh.
“The whole world kens it, lassie, and yet ye came to me,” he said.
CHAPTER NINE
“Where am I?”
Beatrice awoke with a startled gasp. The night had not restful so far and she had barely slept, tired but disoriented from all the adventures of the last four-and-twenty hours.
In her confusion, she almost called out for Margo before remembering that she was in Castle MacSween and lying back on the mattress again. At least the bed was comfortable here, the mattress firm and the sheets fine and smooth.
Sleep still eluding her, Beatrice rose and went to the window.
“Three of the clock and all is well,” called out the faint voice of the watchman in the courtyard.
Three o’clock in the morning, and surely everyone else in this place was sleeping soundly but her. Indeed, aside from thewatchman’s lantern and those about the paths below and walls above, most of the castle was in darkness.
Light only burned on one window that Beatrice could see – the very window that Shona had pointed out to her as being the laird’s bedroom. Was Leo MacSween awake in there too? Or had he fallen asleep while reading and the lamp was burning pointlessly? Maybe he was even entertaining a guest in there, perhaps that woman on the horse who had called him a “beautiful beast”…
The thought of that scene made Beatrice feel quite indignant although she knew it was ridiculous. Laird MacSween had given her his hand in marriage and seemed happy to provide for her life here in the castle. He even wished her to know his precious daughter. But Beatrice could all too easily imagine how he would react to any claim on his affections.
No, not imagine. She knew, she had seen his reaction to even the implication of such a claim.
Oh, we are both ridiculous.
Sighing, she returned to the bed and lay awake until dawn.
“The Laird says ye are to join him for dinner today,” Shona announced as she flung open the curtains. “Ye may do as ye like until then, although it’s best I’m with ye for now. LairdMacSween says he doesnae want ye being bothered by odd men.”
“I met some of them on the council,” Beatrice admitted, to Shona’s dark amusement. “It was nae a pleasant experience.”
“Aye, well. We all ken who they are and they’ll feel the laird’s wrath if they even look at ye wrong, Beatrice. I’ve had me instructions and I hope the randy old goats and young bulls have more sense than to rile him. Leo MacSween is het up about this, but he always does hate to see women bothered.”
“His mother must have raised him well,” Beatrice remarked, going to the washstand and beginning to splash water on her face.
“Until his father killed her, I dare say,” Shona informed her, sifting through a pile of linen and stockings and setting out a choice for Beatrice.
“His father killed his mother?!” exclaimed Beatrice.
“So, they say, although ’twas hushed up at the time. Me uncle told me that when the old laird died, Leo MacSween refused to hold a wake or lead the mournin', so maybe there’s some truth in those stories.”
“Poor Leo,” Beatrice said with compassion, drying her face. “No wonder he…”
She stopped herself here, feeling it would be disloyal to discuss her thoughts on the laird’s mind and heart with a third party. He was a strange and unpredictable man, but he had been kind, and Beatrice badly needed his protection.
“Well, what shall we wear today, me Lady? Ye may choose yer day gown now, and then ye’ll bathe and change for dinner. I told the laird I’d get ye dressed up like the finest lady in Scotland, though we’re nae usually so formal in Castle MacSween.”
“Ye choose, Shona,” Beatrice laughed. “Everythin' ye pick is right.”
Everything Shona picked drew Laird Leo MacSween’s attention in one way or another. Was it foolish or wrong to enjoy that? Beatrice couldn’t see any reason why…
She spent her morning walking the galleries and then playing in the castle gardens with Effie and her nursery maids, finding that the little girl did indeed know all the best hiding places. At noon, a light meal of bread, cheese and fruit was served in her room.
“I’m sure ye’ll enjoy this part, though,” Shona said, directing her to a room at the far end of the east wing. “There’s nay lass in the whole world who doesnae like to be pampered.”
“Pampered?”
Beatrice pushed open the door and was struck by the sight of a gorgeous bath crafted out of stone and slate. Three maids were filling it with water being heated on a small fire in the corner.
