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Chapter Six
Amelia’s heart was beating so rapidly as she left the main room arm-in-arm with Lady Kinnaird that she was afraid the woman could hear it.How could I have made such a mistake? So, that was Laird James, the “good boy” Mrs. Fletcher was talking about. She’s right about him not having any manners. He was savoring the moment when I had to curtsy and apologize to him. He is an utter beast.A new thought jumped into her mind.But Mrs. Fletcher didn’t say anything about those eyes, green as the sun gleaming off a Scottish hilltop. So green you could get lost in them. Stop that, Amelia!Her heart increased its pitter patter.He’s a horrible, disgusting, odorous man, fresh from doing his dark deeds! He hasn’t a redeemable quality about his person. I’m sure he’ll make my time here as difficult as possible.
Amelia was drawn out of her chiding thoughts by the excited voice of Lady Kinnaird. “And now, we’ll go to my chamber where my maid will help you get the clothes you need as well as make any adjustments to your hair that you’d like. Then I will show you your room, so you may put down your things, and then we will have some tea.” Lady Kinnaird was beaming, talking to Amelia as if they were old friends.
“My room?” Amelia’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Fiona chuckled. “Why yes! We want you to be as comfortable as possible. This is a strange new land for you, and I want you to have your own space. Is that a problem?”
Amelia shook off her surprise and smiled back at Lady Kinnaird. “Oh, no, Lady Kinnaird, thank you very much. But, will I be able to visit my mother?”
“Oh, of course, dear! I nearly forgot! Saturday’s you may go to see her. And if you’d need to visit her any other times, you are free to do so. This is not a prison, although it does give the appearance of one, especially in this dreary part of the year.” Fiona shivered, and drew her tartan shawl around her. “Oh, and please do call me Fiona. You are a companion after all, not a maid.”
“Thank you, Fiona.” Amelia stuttered out.
Fiona replied, “Excellent! Now, let’s get you comfortable, and then you can tell me all the news from London. These past months, I have been craving any bit of gossip I can find!”
Fiona and Amelia ascended the stairs to the upper rooms, and Amelia’s realization of her new fate slowly melted in.Perhaps this wouldn’t be so horrible after all.
* * *
A whole week had passed at Kinnaird Castle, and Amelia rose in the morning, rested and smiling, feeling a bit of her old happiness come creeping back. She was an independent woman now. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. She could take care of herself and her mother. She was free of the control of men. And if there wasn’t the matter of bringing her father back from prison to make her mother happy, then her own happiness would be complete.
And to make her even happier, she hadn’t seen much of Laird James in the past week, and only at a distance when she did see him. She was satisfied he would keep away from her. What does the laird have to do with his mother’s companion, anyway?
Lady Kinnaird had told her he was busy on a recent land project he was developing, hoping to make things more profitable for the clan and those that worked the land. Amelia often saw him and William and Mr. Fletcher discussing together out in the fields, carrying papers and pointing to different areas.
As for Lady Kinnaird, after that first cup of tea they’d shared together a week prior, where Amelia had told Fiona about how fat Lady Wilmington had torn her gown at the most recent ball in the London season, they’d become fast friends. Fiona collapsed with laughter and said, “That is the best news I’ve heard in months. She has always been a most pernicious woman. I can’t say I feel any pity for her.”
Her first week as a companion had flown by pleasantly, with Amelia waking every morning with time to herself to read and write by her small stone window before attending to her companion duties. She still hadn’t found that inspiration yet for her poems, but she was improving.
A fire was built for her each day, and she savored the morning peace she was given. It gave her time to think and plan how she could save the money and send it back to London when needed. It would be difficult and take time, but she was confident she would be able to pay it off in a year or two, what with the Parker belongings and home being sold to help shoulder some of the debt.
The lady of the castle was a kind woman who only needed a friend. They spent time reading together, writing letters, talking, and walking around the castle or in the forest.
Today was Amelia’s day to go visit her mother and bring her a book and what payment she had earned that week. She hoped her mother was faring well in this cold Scottish weather. Amelia peered out of her window, dressed in her white nightgown with a blond braid down her back. Being allowed to bathe as often as she pleased, Amelia felt so lucky to be where she was.
Outside, the sky was clear and blue, and the frost had already melted from the tips of the grass. She had hoped to walk to her mother’s house and enjoy the time outside and get some much-needed exercise. She would stay at the cottage for one night and return the next morning to resume her duties.
Amelia dressed excitedly, desperate to breathe that fresh air and let the blood start pumping through her veins. The maid, Emily, entered with a cup of tea and offered her assistance with her stays. She donned a blue work dress over top, which lightly brushed the tops of her shoes. And it was a little bit snug around the breasts. Fiona had let her use some of her old dresses, and the seamstress had yet to come by the castle to adjust the fit.
But Amelia loved the freedom even a few less inches in length gave her, and she knew it would be perfect for her morning walk. She covered the dress with a heavy tartan plaid and woolen cape to keep her warm on her sojourn.I’ve already turned into quite the Scottish lass, she thought with a smile.
Before Emily left, she said. “The lady requested a few rolls and tarts to be baked for ye tae take tae yer ma. The basket is in the kitchen for ye tae fetch.”
“Oh, thank you! Please give Lady Kinnaird my thanks and inform her I will return on the morrow.” Amelia drank her tea quickly and grabbed her poetry book and a book for her mother on the way out the door. “I just know this walk will give me some poetical inspiration!”
She wandered down the stone stairwell that wound its way to the ground floor. Humming to herself, she walked through the main hall and found her way to the kitchen. As she entered, it was empty but warm, it being too early for the cooks to be preparing the morning meal, but the fires had been lit. A basket was laid on the middle table, covered in a cloth. Amelia approached it and breathed in the tarts and rolls’ warm, fresh scent. She was about to turn and leave when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Aye, so this is what a companion does every morning. Comes to the kitchen to smell baskets before everyone awakes.”
Amelia’s back stiffened, and she tried to compose her features into an expression of calm austerity.
As she turned, she began to say, “I’ll have you know that these were baked for my…”Good God. For, even though she’d known it was Laird James’ voice, this couldn’t be the same man who’d grabbed her so forwardly only 7 days ago.
Before her, leaning against a doorframe, stood Jamie, with an impish grin on his chiseled face. His hair had been brushed and pulled back into a low, tight bun, and he wore no wig, looking so different from the London lords. He wore a loose linen shirt which covered broad shoulders, and the buttons were open at the top. His arms were crossed across his chest, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and the muscles in his forearms bulged. The man practically filled the doorway with his height, and his long, muscled legs covered in tan breeches were crossed at the ankles.
Jamie’s eyes never left Amelia’s face as he watched and enjoyed her look of surprise at his new appearance.
“Baked for your…? Ye didn’t finish yer sentence, lass. Perhaps ye’ve got that English tongue of yers in a twist?”
