CHAPTER 5
It wasa typical cold and damp Scottish morning as Ava woke to the sound of rain outside her window. Not that she had slept much.
“I willnae claim ye until ye stop feeling hurt by other men’s actions, lassie.”
She kept repeating her husband’s words over and over in her mind. Why would she care? If anything, she should be happy that he did not pressure her. That’s what she had wanted in the first place.
And yet, the way he whispered that phrase, as if he already owned her…
Actually, he does.
Well, she would not let him to use it against it then.
She walked to the window, leaving the large four-poster bed that was draped with curtains behind her. The sun had been whisked away by the clouds and the moisture clung desperately to the land.
A normal person wouldn’t want to leave the wool and fur blankets that had kept her warm at night, but the misty morning fog called to her.
She was desperate to take her dapple-grey horse, Gowan, for a ride across the sprawling green grounds. Nearby there was a loch that looked like utter joy to ride around. She longed to feel the wind in her hair.
She made a mental note to ask Caden where the stables were. She was determined to keep as much of her freedom as possible. No man could tell her who and what she was. And certainly no man could keep her locked up in a cage.
The bustle of the servants preparing for the day echoed down the hall, when a knock sounded at the door.
“Me Lady, I’ve come to stoke the fire and help ye get dressed.”
Ava’s jaw clenched.
Nay one needs to help me do anything, especially nae gettin’ dressed.
She went to the door, intending to tell them off. But when she found a maid around her age waiting for her, she paused.
“Is everything all right, me Lady?” the maid asked, a bucket of logs dangling from her fingers.
“Aye, it’s quite all right. I’ve already dressed and stoked the fire,” Ava lied.
The maid looked down at the large robe covering Ava’s body. Then, she pointedly looked at the fireplace, which was definitelynotin use.
She raised an eyebrow, as if Ava were crazy. “All right, me Lady. Do let us ken if ye need any assistance.”
“Thank ye. Pray, what is yer name?”
The young girl was short and pudgy, with an adorable nose and kind blue eyes. Ava instantly liked her, and that was not easy for her to say.
“I’m Mary, me Lady. Welcome to MacCabe Castle. I’ll be yer maid, if it pleases ye.” The maid bowed her dark brown head.
“I’m sure we’ll get along just fine, Mary. Please, could ye tell the Laird that I’d like to speak with him at breakfast?”
The maid’s eyes went wide with apprehension and fear.
“What is it?”
Ava’s heart sank. Was the maid really so afraid of her?
“It’s just… Well, I daenae really speak to the Laird, me Lady.” The maid swallowed loudly, the bucket trembling in her hand.
“What? Why nae?”
Ava could not fathom what would inspire such fear in the girl. What did Caden do that made her react this way?
