AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Roselyn turned her face toward it, knowing at once she must ascertain the exact location of the blaze in this unfamiliar room. Her greatest fear was that she might inadvertently brush her skirts into the flames and set her clothing alight. She tended to avoid fires, preferring to endure the cool of the evening despite hating the cold, rather than take the risk of serious burns or even death.
As she debated whether she dared to get out of bed and explore further she was saved the trouble. Roselyn heard the lock scrape, then the sound of the door opening. She turned her wide, empty gaze in that direction.
“Ah, ye’re awake then. I brought ye some more food. It’s just a spot o’ porridge, but warming. Even though it’s still the height of summer there’s a chill in the air this mornin’.”
“Elspeth?” She was fairly certain she recognised the voice.
“Aye, it’s me. Elspeth Brodie. I look after most things hereabouts, including the laird’s prisoners now it seems. Did ye sleep well, lass?”
Despite her stark words there was no malice in the woman’s tone. Roselyn believed her to be well-meaning if somewhat blunt. She nodded. “Yes. I must thank you for the comfortable chamber. Is it morning now? Have I slept the entire night through?”
“Ye have nae sight at all then? Not even light and dark?”
“No. None, I am afraid. Please, is it daylight outside?”
“It is. Ye slept all night an’ half the mornin’ too. Ye do look a mite better for it, though.” The aroma of oats and warm milk reached her and Roselyn’s stomach growled. “Ach, ye’re famished. Here, let me arrange this tray on your lap.”
Roselyn sat still as the woman fussed to set her breakfast before her. She had rarely enjoyed the luxury of having food brought to her chamber, and considered it ironic that she had to become a prisoner of a Scottish warlord before being afforded such treatment.
Elspeth pressed a spoon into her hand and guided her other hand onto the side of the bowl itself. “There, ye can manage for yourself now, I expect. Is the room warm enough?”
“It is, yes, but I wonder, could you tell me just where the fire is? I need to avoid getting too close…”
“Oh, o’ course. Aye. Well, it be opposite the foot o’ yer bed, maybe three paces. The window is to your left. The door is on the wall straight across from that, though ye’ll not be needing to find your way out as ye’ll be confined to this chamber.” The woman paused. “How do ye normally manage?”
Roselyn took a tentative taste of her porridge. It was stronger and richer than she was accustomed to eating, but she enjoyed the earthy flavour. “This is good. Thank you.” She laid down her spoon. “I like to explore my surroundings, by touch mainly, and contrive to commit every detail to memory. As long as nothing is moved afterwards, I can get by. In a strange room though, or where there are a lot of people… I become confused.”
“I see. I shall arrange to have a screen placed before the fire so ye need not be afraid as ye move about in here. Then ye may set to exploring this chamber.”
“That is very kind. Thank you.”
“They said ye had something to do wi’ what happened. Over there at Mortain. Is that right?” The woman’s tone had hardened, the change barely perceptible but Roselyn’s hearing was acute, and she was sensitive to such subtleties. She had to be.
The porridge turned into a lump in her stomach as Roselyn nodded. The woman’s kindness would be short-lived when she learnt the awful extent of Roselyn’s culpability.
“An’ that’ll be why The McGregor has taken ye prisoner, then?”
“Yes. He… he will…”
“He’s a fair man, though ‘tis true that he adored his sister. We all did, she was a sweet girl an’ will be mourned by all here.”
“I know,” whispered Roselyn. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”
“Ye’ll have to tell your tale to our laird, it’s him you need to convince. But if you want to start by telling me how this all came about, maybe that will help. A chance to think through just what ye need to say to him.”
Roselyn was puzzled, and wary. “Why would you do that? Why would you wish to help me if you loved Lady Joan too?”
“Because I’m no fool an’ I reckon I know people well enough. It seems to me that all is not as it seems here, an’ I wish to know the truth afore making up my mind. Our laird will too, so the clearer that truth is to ye, the better your chance of makin’ him see it. I would nae wish him to make a bad decision in anger an’ live to regret it.”
Roselyn hung her head, desolate. “I do not believe it will make any difference, whatever I say to him. He will order me to be killed, might even do it himself. It… It is what I deserve.”
“Only the good Lord knows what each of us truly deserves, lass. If you wish to talk, I’ll be right glad tae hear your story.”
“Thank you.” Roselyn meant it. Already she ached to unload her story on someone who might actually listen, though she doubted that she could ever convince the fearsome clan chief to show mercy, even if she was minded to plead for such.
“So, ye’ll be finishing your breakfast then. I need to be getting on but I shall be back later, for the bowl an’ we can talk then if ye wish it. An’ I’ll bring ye some warm clothes to wear—your flimsy English gown will be nae use to ye here.”
Footsteps and the firm click of the door closing marked the woman’s exit. Roselyn returned to her breakfast with a heavy sigh. Despite the dire circumstances in which she found herself the porridge was still good and she ate the wholesome fare with an enthusiasm she had not experienced for weeks.
