All of the fault for the shaming she had endured lay squarely upon Rowen’s shoulders, which made Sheena’s hatred flare so hot that the covers felt suffocating to her now, though she didn’t dare remove them.
Not yet. Mayhap Alec would even reach for her in his sleep and thrust himself into her body without knowing it was her, and not his wife…which made her shiver with longing, though it didn’t need to happen tonight.
Soon enough, when Rowen was gone forever, Sheena would take her place as Alec’s new wife and share this bed with the man she adored—och, she couldn’t wait!
CHAPTER15
“Lady Mackay, wake up! This isn’t a place where you should be sleeping.”
Rowen felt so drowsy that she found it hard to open her eyes until she felt another gentle shake upon her shoulder. Dazed, she stared up into Simeon’s concerned face and then glanced around her, realizing some of the villagers bedded down in the great hall were already stirring.
“Och, lass, it’s nearing sunrise. Go upstairs with you and join your husband for a few hours more of rest. I canna believe that he didna come looking for you when he found you missing, the stubborn fool.”
Stubborn fool? Now Rowen did struggle to sit up at the healer’s surprising words, her body aching from sleeping upon the straw-covered floor. She remembered giving her cloak to a small family to cover themselves and then, feeling so exhausted, she had sat down against the wall for only a moment—but now it was morning!
“Here, let me help you.”
Nodding gratefully at Simeon, Rowen rose to her feet with his assistance and found those around her staring with surprise—men, women, and sleepy-eyed children alike. Murmuring at them with some embarrassment that they should get more rest, too, she walked stiffly with the healer to the entrance of the great hall, where she glanced at him with concern of her own.
“Simeon, have you slept?”
“Och, there’s been so much tae do. Go on now, dinna worry for me. You have a kind heart, indeed, with all you’ve done for these unfortunate folk and I hope you earn some well-deserved praise from your husband.”
Again, Rowen was struck by the healer’s tone as if vexed at Alec, which made her wonder as well why he hadn’t come looking for her—och, was there no pleasing the man? She had done what he’d bade her and helped his kinsmen deep into the night, and now look at her.
Stiff and sore, she made her way to the tower steps while Simeon went back into the great hall, most likely to see if any of the villagers needed his attention.
Now there was a kind and caring soul, truly, Rowen’s thoughts flying back to when she had last seen Alec…in the kitchen, no less. She had gone to fetch a fresh bowl of warm water to wash the children’s faces, so intent upon what she was doing that she had nearly run into him when she had turned around—Alec quickly sidestepping her.
His gaze locking with hers for only an instant and then he was gone, leaving the kitchen through the door leading out to the bailey.
Why had he left with such a scowl upon his face? How could she believe that mayhap he loved her when he acted so coldly toward her?
Och, there was no understanding the man, Rowen pausing at the top of the steps to rub her neck as Gaira’s gentle admonishment rushed back to her.
Dinna waste another moment on thinking the worst of each other...
Aye, admittedly Rowen was thinking the worst when mayhap his mind had been so filled with the cruelty of those Orkney raiders that he couldn’t help but scowl. It wasn’t an easy thing being a laird with so many responsibilities, and all of these people to care for and protect.
Sighing, Rowen went to the door of their bedchamber…a kinder thought that Alec must have surmised she was helping still with the villagers and then he had fallen asleep for a few precious hours of rest.
Hewasa good man, just as Gaira had said, and Rowen longed to tell him so—and more as well.
Och, sweeting, as soon as you can…tell him you love him. Nothing else will help the two of you as much, I promise you.
Rowen felt her heart quickening as she quietly pushed open the door—only to be greeted by a high-pitched feminine squeal that made her stop in place and stare in disbelief as a naked woman suddenly jumped from the bed.
Not just any woman, either, but Sheena MacBain in all of her full-breasted, tousle-haired glory while Alec lunged out of bed, naked as well, and ran to grab his sword from a nearby chair.
“What?” he shouted, his voice hoarse and his expression confused as if he had just been awakened abruptly from sleep. “Is the castle under attack?”
Wholly stunned, Rowen could only gape at him and slowly shake her head while Sheena grabbed up her servant’s gown from the floor.
A pleased smirk on her face that made Rowen’s heart seem to plummet to her toes while Alec looked stunned now, too, glancing from Rowen to Sheena.
“What is going on? Why are you here?”
Sheena gave no reply to his bewildered query, only pulled the garment over her head and hastened toward the door.
