“If ye dinnae mind, I shall dress now.”
He nodded slowly and motioned to Anne who had been watching wide-eyed from one corner.She scurried forwards and even took Lorna’s hand.He noted Lorna seemed to appreciate the touch, and piercing guilt sliced through him.While she might appear strong and had shown little fear, she no doubt worried about what Gillean would do to her.The laird was ruthless but would he kill a harmless lass?
Well, almost harmless.
The tightness in his groin as he followed the women up the stairs reminded him of the effect she had on him.Seeing that small bottom nestled against linen as she ascended did nothing to quell an increasing desire for her.
Still, it had to be in Gillean’s best interests to ransom her rather than harm her surely?
He paused outside the entrance to her chamber and rested against the arched stone frame of the door.Grinding his teeth, he considered her as she stopped in front of the wash bowl and turned to peer at him over her shoulder.
“Is it not enough that ye have humiliated me?Do ye wish to watch me wash and dress too?”
He raised a brow.“Apparently I have seen it all already.”
“Ye have,” she answered emphatically.“But that man doesnae stand before me now.”
Anne skipped a puzzled glance between them and stepped forward to leave.“Shall I—”
“Nay, stay,” Lorna commanded as if she was the lady of the keep.
Anne dropped back and Logan suppressed a smile.
“Well?”Lorna asked.“If ye wish for a better view, mayhap ye should come closer.”
She had no idea how tempted he was.The top of a creamy shoulder enticed him, called to him to move near and slip the rest of the linen from her.He already knew there would be a fine figure beneath that chemise.He had seen enough of her these past two days and yet, he wanted more.
“Anne is likely more adept at helping lasses dress and bathe.I fear ye would find me too rough.So, I shall leave ye.Though...I did a fine job when I brought ye up from the donjon, did I not, Anne?”
Lorna gasped.“Ye bathed me?”
“Aye.”
She gaped for a moment before clamping her mouth shut.He spotted one small, clenched fist at her side and she turned completely from him to stare out of the window.
The triumph felt hollow.He had taken most of her dignity from her and yet she still appeared every bit the proud, refined woman.Why did he feel the need to rile her at every turn?Something about her exasperated him.
“Well, I shall leave ye to dress.There will be two guards outside yer door again so dinnae try anything rash.And, pray, no more attempts at burning down the keep.The laird shall not be happy with what ye have done.”
“I have little intention of burning down the keep.”She did not face him but he heard the words were uttered through clenched teeth.“But...”Lorna twisted and eyed him demurely, “I would ask that ye allow me some fresh air.I am still unwell.”
How true was that statement?Was she toying with him again?Her increasingly rosy cheeks and the way she held herself tall contradicted any claims of illness but could she have recovered so quickly?He had seen how sick she had been.
“Nay,” he said sharply.Ill or not, he did not trust her one whit.
“Pray, Logan, I cannae go far.Ye have guards everywhere.What could I possibly do?”
Much, he suspected, but nevertheless a fraction of his stony exterior softened and he sighed.
“She could accompany me to the gardens,” Anne added helpfully, garnering a glare from him.
“Very well, but I shall have a guard come with ye.Try anything,” he warned, “and I shall throw ye back in the donjon.”
Lorna nodded meekly but as he shut the door, he caught a glimmer of victory in her eyes.He groaned inwardly.Hell fire, he had just allowed himself to be manipulated.The sooner the laird returned and dealt with the woman, the better.
Chapter Six
Heat still burned Lorna’s cheeks when she glided through the Great Hall.The tables had been cleared away and it was not full of people like it had been at the morning meal, but several men-at-arms lingered and all eyed her as she went past.In spite of now being dressed—in one of her old gowns no less—and a borrowed mantle, it felt as though she might as well be naked.Everyone had seen enough of her in that thin chemise to have a fine idea of what she might look like undressed.
