“I aim to be such to ye, Lady Kali.”
“Just Kali.”
The maid shook her head. “Master Adam was very careful to tell me to keep the ways of respect with ye.”
“Why?” There would have been no point in demanding the maid treat her in a special mannerbeforehe’d met her.
“Well…”
“Let us not start our relationship with secrets or lies, Heather.”
“’Twas said ye were verra unattractive, and Master Adam wished to make ye as comfortable as possible. He said if God marred ye with ugliness on the outside, then ye must be beautiful on the inside, and we must honor that rare gift with respect.”
Had she ever heard anything so poetic—though Adam had believed her unattractive, he had made accommodations to keep her comfortable? It touched her heart and explained much about the handsome man she had met, how very honorable he truly was. Or perhaps it was a ruse to keep her silent and happy. Pacify her in order to keep her away from the clan. Did it even matter? After all, she was about as far from home as she could get, stuck in an abandoned tower, forbidden from keeping company with her kin, however unknown and distant they be.
She couldn’t withhold her laughter. “Am I marred by God?” She turned to Heather, meeting her gaze.
“Nay,” she said. “But ye doona need me to say so. Why did Master Adam think such a thing about ye, if I may ask such?”
She combed her fingers through her unbound hair, a nervous habit. “Do ye wish me to answer that question?”
“Aye.”
“Ye may not wish to serve me once ye know the truth.”
Heather stepped closer, curiosity in her eyes. “I fear little.”
“My father has accused me of witchcraft.” There, she had said it, and now she expected the sweet maid to run out of the tower and never come back.
To her shock, Heather grinned and waved a hand at her dismissively. “Men throw that accusation about in order to bridle their women. I have seen it often enough meself.”
“The Highlands is a complicated place, isn’t it?”
“Aye. Cruel. Magical.”
They shared a genuine laugh together.
“I am no’ a witch,” Kali assured her.
“I woulda never guessed ye were.”
“Then ye will risk yer good reputation by serving me still?”
Heather wiped her hands on the linen she was holding and nodded. “I like ye, Lady Kali. And I know Master Adam already feels the same. Ye have spirit, and that is rare enough around this castle.”
“Why? Are the people no’ happy? This seems to be a prosperous clan.”
“We are verra well provided for,” Heather said. “’Tis the laird. Lately he is given to fits of anger. Violent even.”
Kali understood violence better than anyone. “I am truly sorry. Has anyone been hurt?”
“Not overly much. But the children…”
“Who has taken me chamber? Cleared away me vials and bottles? Stolen me books?” a voice called from the stairs below.
Kali jumped up, her heart racing. Heather rolled her eyes and held a finger to her lips to hush Kali.
Kali nodded.
