Anne gave her a warning look.“They may, but ye wouldnae wish to be caught gossiping would ye.The laird trusts him and should he get wind of ye tattling, ye’ll be in more than a wee bit o’ trouble.”
“Surely ye must know something.”
“I know nothing.‘Twas before my time here and I’ll no’ lose my job for the sake of a rumour.”She handed her a tray of food.“Now take this to the lady.With haste.”
Tèile thought of the man outside and the woman trapped in her chamber.She needed to get them together again.Surely if he spent time with her, he’d see the truth?Tèile released a high-pitched whistle and the two scruffy hounds lying in the corner of the hall perked up.She swiftly issued a quiet command, one only the animal would hear, and watched with glee as they made a great show of chasing one another.As they circled the table legs, they knocked into one, sending the table crashing over.Silver platters clattered to the ground and ale sloshed across the floor.
Anne muttered a curse.“Wretched dogs.Come, we’ll have to get this cleaned up with haste.”She shooed the animals out of the hall, and the serving girl placed the tray of food on the side table to help clear up.
Tèile released a triumphant grin.Now she had to ensure no one else took the food up.
***
Logan propped the bucket on the side of the well and scooped up a handful of cold water.Splashing his face and neck, he ran his fingers through his hair and grimaced.Not even a loch’s worth of frigid water could wash away his fatigue, nor his frustration.
A certain fair haired woman had plagued him for what was left of the night.Not that she hadn’t been running through his mind before, but now the feel of her soft cheek and pouted lips was burned into his memory.What had he been thinking?
He shoved his fingers into his hair again.In truth, he hadn’t.Could there be any fragment of truth in her lies?Surely he would remember loving a woman like that?Or recall touching her?Aye, the feel of her so close had made his skin prick and his blood fire like that of the flames.He had wondered briefly if they had not put it all out.But there had been cunning in her gaze.
Logan strongly suspected the woman’s veins—unlike his at the moment—ran with ice and it had all been an act.
Crooking his neck, he finger-combed his damp hair and took a moment to draw in a breath.He supposed he ought to check on her.He’d given up his night-time vigil shortly before dawn and assigned two other men to watch over her.
Stepping swiftly, he made his way across the muddy bailey and pressed open the heavy oak doors.The familiar sight of the hall, busy with the bustle of servants preparing for the morning meal, released some of the tension in his muscles.Familiarity.It had helped him through the past few months as he began to accept his memory might never return.Now it was up to him to forge a new life for himself and Gillean could help with that.
And he refused to let Lorna’s manipulations hinder him.
Intending to visit the armoury to sharpen his blade before he checked on her, Logan paused at the sight of a lone tray on the table, lining the edge of the hall.He scowled and glanced around.Someone had neglected to take the lady’s food to her.He could think of no other reason a tray of food should be left lying around.The prisoner was still frail and he could not see her succumb to illness.
For strategic reasons only, of course.Why should he care for the scheming woman’s health?But as Anne had pointed out, it would not do to draw unnecessary wrath their way—at least until Gillean returned and decided what to do with her.
Blowing out a heavy sigh, he snatched up the tray and traipsed up the stairs.In the light of day, the damage to the wooden banister was unsightly.Blackened wood and the bitter smell of smoke.Logan shook his head.Gillean would not be pleased.Logan was still unable to fathom how that slip of a woman had got the better of three men.
He paused outside her door and listened for several moments.Nothing.But a prickling sensation warned him to be cautious.For all he knew, she could be waiting behind the door, ready to strike.The tumultuous sensation in his stomach could surely be attributed to that and not to the brief kiss they had shared.
Logan opened the door gingerly and stepped into the gloomy room.The air left his lungs when he found her sprawled across the red blankets, a vision of white linen and golden hair.Her curls had come loose from the braid it had been in the previous night, and they spilled down the side of the bed.On her front, one arm hanging off the edge, he had a good view of the curve of her bottom pressing against the thin fabric and she had one leg lifted at an angle.The effect was strangely endearing and far too appealing.There was too much soft, pale flesh on view.With her face relaxed and scattered with strands of hair, the innocence of her appearance made his heart flex.
He shook his head.This was no innocent.A seductress, aye.A cunning, clever woman, certainly.Innocent?Nay.
Striding over to the window, he placed the tray down noisily and flung open the windows.A groan echoed against the stone and cold air drifted into the room, washing away the heat gathering inside of him.He took a moment to draw a long breath before facing her again.
Lorna shoved her hair out of her face and peered at him blearily.It seemed to take a while for her to remember him or at least recollect where she was.Now he had a better view of her face, he saw shadows under her eyes and that ghostly cast to her skin remained.The woman was still not well.
“I brought ye some food,” he said gruffly.
“Go away,” she grumbled.She slumped back onto her front and covered her face.
He had the strangest urge to smile.His lips twitched and he fought to control them.Her mood could be attributed to her illness or her status as his prisoner, but he knew with worrisome certainty that the woman did not rise easily in the morning.How he knew that, he knew not.Her farfetched claims could not be believed.
“Ye need to eat,” he said again, prompting another groan.
“Not hungry.”
“If ye dinnae get up and eat, I shall force it down yer throat.”
She jerked upright at this and glared at him.He failed to quash a triumphant smile.He was beginning to understand what drove this woman and a challenge always got a rise from her.
“Ye wouldnae.”
