She hardly saw the luxurious decorations of the beautiful bedroom, and hardly noticed that she was sinking into the softest bed she had ever known. All she could think about was that kiss…
7
When she woke the next morning Leana realized that she would have to wear the same grubby dress that she had worn the day before, but there was nothing she could do about it. She rubbed it down as best she could with the water in her washstand then tentatively went downstairs. The staff looked at her suspiciously. They could see that she belonged to the same class as they did, and they were sure that she was up to no good. Maybe the Laird had taken a mistress, but if he had, would he not have chosen one of his own sort? It was all very strange.
Determined not to be intimidated by anyone, Leana went downstairs to the dining room and sat down at one end of the long table, not quite sure what to do next. She folded her arms in front of her and sighed, and was just about to stand up and leave when a young woman of thirteen or so jumped in and plumped down into the chair opposite, grinning from ear to ear.
“Are you Leana?” she asked, holding out her hand. “My father told me you were here.”
Leana took it and found her hand being shaken by a surprisingly firm grip. “Aye,” she replied. “An’ whit is your name, mistress?”
The girl cast her eyes heavenward and sighed. “Abigail. Abigail Dubhgnall,” she replied. “But I hate it, so you can call me Abi. My father dislikes that, so don’t let him hear you.”
Leana laughed, and took a closer look at the young girl. She was slender and still short, but she was beginning to blossom into womanhood, with budding breasts and slightly curving hips. The light brown eyes looking into Leana’s were set in a pretty and mischievous face with a tip-tilted nose across which there was a sprinkling of freckles. Leana thought that when Abi grew to maturity it would be a beautiful face, and she would be highly sought after as a wife for a wealthy laird.
“Father says you helped him with the prisoner,” she said in an awestruck tone. “He says you talked to him and he told you where the candlestick was.”
“Aye. It wasnae very hard,” Leana replied. “Lachie is no’ really a thief. His harvest failed an’ his faimly is hungry. I talked your faither intae gein’ him a job an’ I hope he keeps his word.”
Abi nodded firmly. “He will. That is one good thing about my father. He has many faults, but he always keeps his word.”
“Good.” Leana was relieved. The breakfast of kippers, eggs, and porridge arrived, together with two mugs of warm spiced ale. Leana’s eyes widened. She usually ate porridge and a mug of milk for breakfast, so this was a feast.
Abi saw her expression and mistook it for an expression of disapproval. “May I get something else for you instead, Leana?” she asked anxiously. “Is this not to your taste?”
“Indeed it is, Abi,” she replied in disbelief. “It is jist mair than I usually eat.”
Abi smiled, pleased. “Eat as much as you can,” she said warmly. “The rest will not be wasted. We have very strict rules about waste here.”
“Good.” Leana took a sip of her ale and was pleasantly surprised at its warm, yeasty, spicy taste. The ale she drank at home had never tasted like this.It must be wonderful to live the life of a laird, she thought.
She finished her porridge and was just about to start on a kipper when Fraser appeared in the doorway. “Good morning, both of you,” he said politely. “I will be taking Lachie out so that he can retrieve the candle for me, as my men could not find it, and when I have done that his family will move into the servants’ quarters at the castle. I have given him a position as an under gardener—it is hard work but he will have a roof over his head, something to eat, and a little money. His wife can work in the kitchen and his bairns will be taken care of too.”
Leana’s face lit up. “Thank you, M’Laird!” she cried happily. “Ye’re sae kind.”
“It was your doing, Leana.” He smiled at her tightly and left, having spent less than a minute with them.
“He likes you,” Abi observed as they ate. “The way a man likes a woman, if you get my meaning.”
“Hmm.” Leana said no more. Abi picked up the look on her face and the tone of her voice at once, and wondered. She thought Leana was one of the loveliest women she had ever seen. She worked outdoors most of the time, so her skin should have been weatherbeaten, but it was creamy-white and smooth apart from a slight blush on her cheeks. Her features were perfectly proportioned and Abi would have sold her soul for those beautiful apple-green eyes.
Leana’s dark red hair cascaded down her back in shining waves all the way to her waist, but today she was wearing it in a practical plait. However, nothing could detract from its loveliness.
Leana and Abi became acquainted and began to like each other almost immediately. Abi was fascinated that Leana could make her own herbal medicines and asked to be taken on a walk to see if they could find any flowers they could use to make some.
“I get mony herbs fae the Lowlands,” Leana told Abi as they walked the bridge over the moat, “an’ they are bringin’ a’ kind o’ strange things in fae countries ower the watter that I hae ne’er heard o’.”
“What kind of things?” Abi asked, fascinated.
“Pepper, cinnamon, ginger,” Leana replied. “An’ some o’ that lovely wood in yer castle. Mahogany, ebony, that kind o’ stuff. We dinnae get such stuff growin’ here. Too cauld.”
“Rory says you know about herbs and fruit,” Abi said in wonder. “Will you show me?”
“If ye like,” Leana agreed.
They left the castle and began to take a straight path towards the village. As they walked they brushed through a patch of dandelions, and to Abigail’s surprise Leana began to pick some.
“Why do you want those?” she asked, puzzled. “They are weeds.”
