“We went through a lot tae be able to get married,” Catrina said now, a little apologetically. “Douglas is a good man, but he doesnae ken how hard it is tae be a woman in this war. That is his only flaw. He bears ye nae ill will.”
Alistair walked to her and untied her. “You will be treated fairly, but you will always be watched.” He handed a key to Catrina. “Lock it once she is in,” he said.
And with that, he turned and walked away. “Come,” Catrina said, her voice ringing with forced cheerfulness. “Ye must be in a hurry tae get out of those clothes. They began to walk, and the child followed behind.
“I didnae ken that ye would be tied,” the boy said. Jane turned. She saw that he was holding the rope that had been around her wrists only moments ago. “I did not.”
Jane supposed that was as good an apology as she was likely to get, and so she said, “It’s quite alright, really.”
The child looked pleasantly surprised at her words. Jane turned away. Soon, they came to a room and stopped in front of it. Catrina turned the key that Alistair had given her in the lock. The room was the size of three rooms in Marsh House. It had huge windows and a small bed encased in wood.
“I somehow knew that the laird would want ye tae be placed in this room, and so I had it cleaned by the maids. Very fortunate, is it nae?” Catrina said.
“Is this where he keeps all his prisoners?” She paused. “Is this where he keeps all hisfemaleprisoners?”
Catrina laughed. “The laird has never had any female prisoners. Ye are the first.”
“How fortunate,” Jane remarked drily. And then she caught herself. The woman had been nothing but kind to her since they met. “I am sorry; I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Oh, it is alright,” Catrina said. She then bit her lip. “I have never seen the laird look at a woman the way he looked at you.”
“Oh.” Jane tucked that away to think about later.
“I doubt that there is anything to the look,” Jane said, “and if there were, it is most unfortunate because I am promised to another.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. You see, I… am betrothed… for my family’s sake. To keep our honor.”
“Oh, Jane,” Catrina said, “I ken exactly what ye mean. I have been in yer shoes, ye see. Years ago, I was promised tae a man in another clan, from birth. I had nae say in the matter. And I would have married him, too! But then Douglas became…available and I kenned I could marry nae one else. Love always works in the end.”
Tasgall made throwing-up noises, and his mother smacked him on the head so that he actually choked. She looked at him in worry, but he was fine. “Ye can pretend tae be disgusted all you want, lad, but one day, ye will find a nice lass tae settle down with. Ye will think the sun and moon rest on her shoulders, and ye will carry on as though you were a babe again. And I’ll be there tae remind ye of this day.”
“That will never happen, Maither,” Tasgall protested.
“Just ye wait, lad.”
Jane wanted to ask what ‘available’ meant, but she just gave a weak smile instead. “Alas, there is no place for love in my heart, Catrina, only duty.”
Catrina shrugged. “Tasgall and I will leave ye tae it, then,” she said, and herded her son out of the room. “There is a bell right above the bed. Ring it and I will be at yer door. If ye need help with a bath, just let me ken. The bathing room is right next to this room. Please make yourself comfortable, Jane Marsh of England.”
This made Jane smile. “Thank you, Catrina.” She turned to the boy. “And thank you, Tasgall.”
The boy smiled at her and said nothing. In an instant, mother and son were both out of the door. Catrina shut it, and Jane heard the telltale click of the door being locked from the outside.
Oh. She’d quite forgotten about that.
She suddenly felt exhausted. She noted, with gratitude, that the room had a mirror. She walked to it. She knew that she must look bad, but nothing prepared her for the sight before her eyes.
She looked like something the earth had spat out of its bowels.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Jane decided on the bath that Catarina had mentioned and she rang the bell. In mere minutes, Catrina came through the door. She gave her some soap, which smelt like a wonderful flower that Jane knew but could not quite remember, and then she accompanied her to the bathroom and helped Jane prepare a bath. Jane hated the idea of Catrina waiting on her, but Catrina did not mind one bit. She seemed even to enjoy it. She really was a kind woman, the complete opposite of the notion that had been impressed upon her about Scottish women.
“I will lock the door,” Catrina said as Jane stepped into the bath, “so that ye can stay here as long as ye want, undisturbed. I shall check in on you in twenty minutes or so. Is that amenable tae ye?”
“Make that thirty,” Jane said, and luxuriated in the feel of the warm, fragrant water.
