“It does matter. No one should mistreat ye.” He took the steps faster to keep up with her.
She halted at the landing and gave him a sad smile. “I appreciate the offer. But trust me, he is not worth the effort.” She rested her hand on the door. “Is this the right one?”
“Aye.” He moved up beside her and pushed it open. “After ye, m’lady.”
She snorted a laugh. “Ye best not call me that in front of yer future wife.” She halted partway down the hall and frowned at the doors. “I dinna remember which room I found them in.”
“Come, I will show ye a way to remember.” He pointed at a small image carved in the upper left corner of the door. “What do ye see there?”
She moved closer and studied it. “It looks like the sun.”
“Aye, it is. And this room is the solar for this floor.” He moved to the next door and pointed at its upper left corner. “Just as this carved rose shows this to be one of the doors to Bella’s room.”
“One of the doors?”
“Aye. When we built the keep, I wanted to ensure that many of the rooms had more than one way out. Lives could depend on it.” He never wanted those he loved trapped anywhere.
The solar door flew open, and a grinning Bella joined them in the hall. “I knew I heard ye!” She caught hold of Lorna’s hand and smiled up at her. “Did Mrs. Thistlewick tell ye?”
Lorna didn’t answer, just turned to him with a confused look.
“Bella wishes for ye to look after her as well as Frances and Hesther,” he said.
Relief flooded Lorna’s face, and she smiled down at the child. “I would be honored, but ye will have to explain what exactly a nursemaid does. I’ve taken care of wee ones before, but none so as mature as yerself.”
“I am no trouble at all,” Bella assured her with feigned innocence. “Is that not so, Da?”
Gunn eyed his daughter. The wily glint in her dark eyes concerned him. “She bears watching, Mistress Mouse. Never let down yer guard.”
Bella perked like a cat about to pounce as she glanced from her father to Lorna. “Ye let him call ye Mistress Mouse?”
“I have been called worse,” Lorna said while shooting him a narrow-eyed glare that he found immensely pleasing. She pulled in a deep breath and swallowed hard. “How long do we have before we must go down to the feast?” Eyes closed, she rubbed her forehead. “I would like a lie-down, if that is possible.”
“Plenty of time,” Bella said before he could answer. “And I shall make sure we all behave whilst ye rest. Ebby’s already come back up with some clothes for ye. She can mend on them while ye have a wee nod.” She hopped in place, making her braids dance across her shoulders. “Frances and Hesther are already asleep. I can watch them, if ye like. Although I dinna think they will be any trouble. I have a book from Da’s library I can look at. It even has pictures.”
Lorna held up both hands in surrender. “It appears Bella has everything well in hand.” She appeared to start a curtsy, then grabbed her head. “Bloody hell. That’s out.” She took hold of his hand and shook it. “I shall see ye at dinner, aye?”
He held his breath to keep from laughing. ’Twould be rude indeed to glean pleasure from her misery. “Aye, Mistress Mouse. I look forward to seeing ye again.” And he did. A great deal more than he should.
After a warning shake of his finger at his canny daughter, he left them. Bella concerned him. The wee minx missed nothing, and it would not bode well if the wily lass chose to make trouble.
“God help me,” he muttered, meaning the quick prayer with every ounce of his being.
Chapter Six
Lorna followed Bellathrough the solar, the adjacent study room, then halted in the middle of the small sitting room she recognized as the one connected to her bedchamber. “Bella?”
“Aye?” The child paused with her hand on the bedroom door.
“I passed through scores of rooms before I found all of ye earlier.” Or had she? Lorna rubbed her pounding temples. Perhaps the ill effects of the whisky had scrambled her mind.
Before Bella could answer, Ebby opened the bedchamber door. “There ye be, mistress!” She eased forward with her head bowed, cowering like a pup guilty of peeing on the floor. “Forgive me for leaving ye earlier. I didna wish to do anything wrong.”
Still trying to hold her splitting head together, Lorna shooed the maid’s apologies aside. “Dinna fash yerself.” She turned back to Bella. “How many rooms on this floor?”
“Ye passed the long way through, I think. Prolly went through some rooms more than once. There’s not that many, but all connect in a windy-bout sort of way. Da wanted the place for his bairns to be like a puzzle. Keeps us safe, ye ken?” The lass’s dark eyes filled with concern as she slightly tipped her head to one side. “Are ye ailing? Ye dinna seem well at all.”
“She needs a lie-down, some willow bark tea, and a nibble of fried bread to settle her stomach,” Ebby said. She ducked closer and whispered, “Mrs. Thistlewick told me about yer visit to the library. I have everything waiting in yer room.”
