“Aye, my chieftain. It is the finest MacKenna whisky. Gray and Trulie’s descendants have quite the successful distillery in this time.” Eliza deftly removed the sparkling top of the decanter and splashed a generous portion into the glass. “Here ye be. This will warm ye a damn sight better than that bit of Mairi’s tea.”
“I thank ye.” He accepted the glass with a polite nod then closed his eyes and enjoyed a healthy sip. The welcome burn seared down to his core, then spread its healing warmth through his body. Aye. Much better than the nasty tea.
Eliza toddled across the rich burgundy carpet to the massive mahogany sideboard situated in the corner between two floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with leather-bound volumes. She pulled a small wide-bellied glass from the cabinet and filled it with a ruby liquid. She took a sip, smacked her lips together appreciatively, then finished topping off her glass. “I prefer port myself. Never acquired a taste for the whisky.”
Ronan got the distinct feeling Eliza was working up to a speech. “Out with it, woman. I would ken yer thoughts.”
She stared down at the glass cupped in her hand, slowly swirling the ruby liquid as she meandered closer to the center of the room. “If ye move too fast with Mairi . . . if ye are not honest with the lass . . . ye will regret it.”
“Is that a threat?” Ronan downed the rest of the whisky, savoring the burn as he refilled the glass. “Ye ken she is the one I mean to marry. She is the one to break the curse.”
“I ken it well enough.” Eliza huffed out the words as though totally disgusted with Ronan’s insinuations. “I alsokenthat Mairi is a woman of this time. She will not blindly accept ye, marry ye, and then be perfectly content to toddle off and be an obedient Highland wife to a man she has just met.”
He rubbed a knuckle against his breastbone. Damned if the woman had not just voiced his silent fears. “How long must I woo her? Help me to know how best I should go about this.” Surely, Mistress Eliza would keep him from failing. Mother Sinclair would not have enlisted her help otherwise.
“How long must ye woo her?” She stared at him as though he had just sprouted a second head. “May the gods help us. Ye are worse than I’d feared.”
“What the hell does that mean?” He emptied his glass again then thumped it back on the table.
Eliza shook her head and huffed out a weary sigh. “A man should woo the woman he loves until she goes to the grave.” She set the round-bottomed glass on the small table beside a door matching the dark wood paneling so closely, it nearly made it invisible. As she rested her hand on the door’s brass latch, she turned and pointed a finger at his chest. “If men would woo their wives as they should, they would not be needing the likes of me to keep the excitement in their bed chamber. Their wives would keep them heated good and proper and so weary from mussing the sheets, they would not have the strength to stray.” She pushed the door open and waved him forward. “Come. I will show ye how to use the facilities so ye dinna run the risk of scalding the hide off yer arse.”
“I would never stray from Mairi. Never have I met another like her. She makes me feel . . .” He swallowed hard. “I would never stray.” He strode after Eliza, straining to make out what she was muttering under her breath. How the hell could he make the woman understand that Mairi soothed his soul? And how dare she insinuate he would treat Mairi in such a callous way?
“Then woo her and see to it that she is so smitten with ye she canna imagine taking a breath without ye.” Eliza pointed at an elaborate hollow of gold-striated marble built into the floor. “It takes a fair bit to fill the bath. Go ahead and twist all the knobs to start the water flowing.”
“Knobs?” Ronan peered from one end of the tub to another, searching for what might be considered a knob. Damnation, the great stone hole was big as a small loch.Golden pipes curved downward from three sides of the huge gleaming box of marble. At one end, the side of the tub sloped backward. The seat built into that side was wide enough to comfortably hold two bathers reclining back in the water.
“Knobs,” Eliza repeated as she nodded at an inset panel up on the wall beside the tub. “The three to the right give ye the cold water to each of the faucets. The left side gives ye water hot enough to boil yer arse. Turn all the knobs then test the water to see if it’s to yer liking.”
Ronan frowned at the panel then twisted the three sets of knobs on the left until they would turn no more. Water gushed from all three of the golden pipes pointing down into the tub and soon steam was rising.
“Ye best add some cold to the lot and test it like I told ye.” With an impatient huff, Eliza nudged him out of the way, twisted all three knobs on the right, then pointed down at the water. “Try it now.”
Ronan knelt and slid his hand beneath the streaming water. Intriguing.“Aye. It is quite pleasant.”
“Ye’ll find soap, sponges, and washing towels on the shelf inset on the other side.” Eliza pointed at the far wall above the tub filled with all the articles she mentioned and quite a few more containers of colored oils and jars. “While ye soak, I want ye to think about what I told ye about earning Mairi’s trust and winning her heart. I’ve put a change of clothes for ye in the wardrobe beside the bed. Breakfast at sunrise. Dinna be late coming down or ye’ll not eat again ’til the midday meal.”
Eyes locked on the rising level of the steaming water in the tub, he asked, “And what about tonight? Have ye a bit of bread? I’ve not eaten in two days.” The whisky had done a fine job of tricking his stomach for a bit, but it would not last long.
A wicked smile danced across Eliza’s mouth as she backed her way out the door and slowly pulled it behind her. “Mairi will bring ye yer supper.” She paused and gave him a stern look before closing the door completely. “Mind what I said. Woo her. Win her.” Before Ronan could comment, she firmly closed the door with a sharp click.
CHAPTER10
The intercom beside the light switch crackled and popped as though clearing its throat. The red light flashed above the button, bidding Mairi push it and activate the speaker. She tightened the towel around her wet hair and coiled it to her crown, then pushed the button and leaned as close as she could get to the ancient apparatus that only worked about half the time. “Hello?”
Eliza’s voice blipped in and out from the yellowed plastic box. The only two words Mairi made out were “dinner” and “guest.” She jammed her thumb harder against the button and put her mouth closer to the speaker. “You’re not coming through, Eliza. Just hold on. I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”
“Aye, well and good,” came through the speaker loud and clear.
Mairi donned her favorite pair of jeans, slipped a sweatshirt over her head, and scrubbed her fingers through her damp curly hair. There was no use bothering to blow out the wicked stuff. It tended to be a bit tamer when it dried on its own. Long, thick, and full of stubborn curls, it would take her a month of Sundays to get it dry with a hairdryer and a brush.
She flipped off the light and padded into the bedroom. A telltale warm dampness soaked into the bottom of her right socked foot. “Ugh!” Mairi hopped to one side, peeling the wet sock off her foot as she moved. “You’re supposed to pee on the papers.”
The gray fluff ball bounced from side to side, yipping happily at the new game of jumping to grab the dangling sock.
“No. no.” She scooped up the little dog and plopped it onto the middle of the bed. “And if you pee on my bed, you’re going to the garage.”
The puppy yipped then charged forward with a growl and latched onto the silky tassel dangling from the corner of a decorative pillow. He whipped his little head back and forth, tugging and rumbling with ferocity at the worthy adversary. The oversize pillow barely shifted as he yanked from side to side.
