“Ye are most perceptive,” Bryan replied with a smirk. “Aye, that’s true enough.”
“Very well. I shall count myself lucky, then, that I will find myself in such pleasant company during the remainder of my stay here. However long it may be.” She made a show of sighing wistfully. “Still, this arrangement does raise a question or two.”
“Such as?”
“Well, let us say that my fatherdoesremain obstinate,” she continued in a lilting tone as she perused the books on the shelves. “He is famous for his hard head, as ye well know. Perhaps he will stand his ground for months, perhaps even years. Will ye remain by my side that entire time?”
Bryan swallowed hard, wondering where this line of question was leading. “Aye, if those were my orders, I would follow them.”
“And what of when I sleep?” she went on doggedly. “Do ye intend tae remain in the room with me? Will ye watch me dress and undress, that ye may be sure I dinnae conceal some weapon upon my person, or secret messages tae be passed along tae my family? Or will ye take the risk of turning yer back to afford me modesty?”
He knew that she was playing with him as a cat does with a mouse, but still, he could think of no appropriate response.
“Suppose ye didnae choose tae take yer ‘observation’ of me quite so far, for reasons of propriety,” she giggled. “Would ye then be required tae stand guard outside the door of my chamber at all times? Would ye remain curled up in front of it all night like a dog?”
“If my laird asked such things of me, I would carry them out without the slightest hesitation,” Bryan retorted with a smile. “I dinnae believe it shall come tae that, though. Others may stand guard outside yer chamber in the hours when I slumber. They will ensure that ye dinnae escape, or have secret visitors without my knowledge. And should ye get the brilliant idea of shimmying down from the window, I have already instructed my guardsmen on the ramparts tae keep an eye on that side of the tower at alltimes.” He coughed nervously. “As for, er, watching ye disrobe and the like, I dinnae think that will be necessary. If I thought ye were hazardous enough tae carry a concealed weapon and attempt an assault on one of us, I would nae have vouched for ye.”
“Very trusting of ye,” she intoned with mock solemnity. “Not that ye necessarily have any reason tae believe me, but it just so happens ye are correct. I abhor violence. I always have.”
“If only the same could be said of yer sister,” Bryan muttered. “At any rate, I have shown trust in ye, both on our journey and upon our arrival. I ask that ye prove yerself worthy of it, all jests aside.”
“Again, I am flattered that ye would ask such a thing of me and choose to believe my response,” she told him, “but for what it is worth, I have every intention of doing precisely that.” She paused, then asked, “Although I am deeply appreciative of all ye have done for me thus far, may I ask another favor of ye? Nothing suspicious or sinister, I assure ye.”
Bryan had a feeling he already knew what she was about to request. “Go on, then, by all means.”
She turned her full attention to him, and he was once again struck by how dark and lovely her eyes were. They reminded him of Romilly’s, except that they seemed far more peaceful and hopeful, whereas her older sister’s gaze was always dripping with ire and venom.
Just as he thought, it was her sister that was foremost on Katherine’s mind.
“While I am here, might I be permitted tae visit with Romilly? I would like tae see for myself that she is safe and unharmed—not that I dinnae trust in yer words tae that effect. It would simply make me feel more at ease after being apart from her for so long.”
Bryan nodded. “That is a perfectly reasonable request, and one I certainly expected. Ye shall be allowed tae see yer sister, certainly. But ye must know,” he added quickly, seeing her face light up at this happy news. “I cannae permit ye tae be alone with her. I will be by yer side the entire time.”
“That is entirely understandable, and certainly acceptable.” Katherine was overjoyed, to the point that Bryan almost expected her to run forward and embrace him gratefully. “Oh, thank ye, thank ye! Ye are most kind and gracious!”
“Not at all.” He tried to sound dismissive, but he worried that he might be blushing. “Anyone in yer position would ask the same, ‘tis nae bother. We shall go down tae the dungeons together in a short while, after I have looked in on my guardsmen tae ensure they have nae grown idle in my absence.”
It was a joke, but hedidfeel compelled to conduct a quick circuit of the ramparts and have a word with his people. Part of it was because he had not left his regularly appointed post for days at a time in quite a while, and having done so left him ill at ease.
Another part of it, one he wished he could deny, was that he was simply putting off yet another unpleasant visit to the dungeons, the prospect of which still unnerved him grievously.
At least this time, I won’t have to go and return from there on my own, he thought. He had Lady Katherine for company. He could hide his anxiety by focusing on allaying hers.
“For now,” he went on, “ye ought tae go tae yer chambers and have some rest. I’m sure ye could use it, after all. Ye’ve endured quite a lot of excitement over the past two days.”
“That’s true enough.” She gave him a curtsy. “Again, Captain, thank ye for being such a gracious host. I feel as though my stay here shall turn out to be a pleasant one, despite the conditions that prompted it.”
“Think nothing of it,” he grunted. “Now, if ye will excuse me, I shall take my leave.”
Bryan departed, and though Katherine was tempted to remain in the library for a while longer, she decided that the best thing she could do as a show of good faith, to demonstrate that she did not mean to cause trouble during her stay, that she was willing to do as she was told, would be to go to her room as Bryan had suggested.
Besides, what he’d pointed out had been accurate. Shehadbeen through quite a dizzying ordeal over the previous night and day, and although the overall outcome was better than she had previously imagined it might be, the fact remained that it had left her feeling drained. She supposed a short nap would not be out of order.
Katherine found a servant, a young girl with a mop of curly red hair, and a smudge of hearth dust across the bridge of her upturned nose – and inquired after the location of her room. She had already been told upon her initial arrival, but she felt it would be a good idea to ask anyway so that people would know she intended to pass the time in her chamber rather than wandering around and causing mischief.
The lass led her there personally, and asked if she needed anything further. Katherine assured her that she did not, and the servant withdrew without another word.
Katherine looked around at her accommodations, and was surprised to find them far more cheery and well-appointed than her room at the McGregor Stronghold. There was a writing desk with quills and parchment, a table and chair for dining, and a four-post bed that was lovely and inviting. She sat upon its edge and bounced up and down several times, appreciating its softness.
