She plucked the cloth from Lizzie’s hand and began to wash her back. “There is something about the way he looks at ye. I dinna think he truly believes ye are the prowler.”
Resting her hands on the sides of the tub, she rolled her head from side to side to ease some of the tightness there as Mary washed her back. “Mayhap no’. But I believe he still sees me as a nuisance.”
“Ye fash overmuch. He didna have to go to all this trouble to prove ye are’na the thief. There were other ways for him to do so. Nay, I think deep down he’s enjoying the time spent with ye.”
Lizzie scoffed as she leaned back in the tub. “He has a funny way of showing it.” She bit her lip and thought about the coming night. “I canna have him sleeping in the hall tonight. “’Tis bad enough he did last night when I was unawares. But now that I ken? I refuse to allow the earl to sleep on the floor in the hallway.”
“What do ye propose, then, miss?”
“He will have to sleep in here.” She nodded her head, mind made up.
“Miss?”
“I ken this trip has been unorthodox, but so far I have managed to ensure piety. I dinna ken how easy that will be if we share a room. ’Twould be most improper.”
“On the contrary, I think he believes he hasna ensured propriety. That ’twould be putting your honor and reputation in question. He doesna seem the type of man to do that.”
Mary held out a towel and Lizzie stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in its warmth. “Mayhap ye are right. I dinna ken what to think anymore. He confuses me. One minute he’s kind and caring, and the next he’s cool and dismissive.”
A knock at the door made her jump.
“Ladies?” Malcolm called from the other side. “May I enter?”
“Nay!” they both called out at the same time.
“Um, verra well. I shall return in a bit.”
“Come on, Miss. Let us get ye dressed before he returns,” Mary giggled. “We mustn’t make him wait twice. He is an earl after all.”
“Fine. But dinna forget, earl or no’, he is still my captor.”
Mary harrumphed as she laid a dress out on the bed. “Ye canna lie, miss. If he is your captor, then I am the queen.”
“Shush, Mary. Do ye think we would be on this journey on our own?”
“Nay.” She held up the dress for Lizzie to step into. “Howe’er, we would still be on our way back to Stonehaven, one way or another.”
Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Why must ye always make sense?”
“Sit, and I’ll brush out your hair.” She pointed to the chair and Lizzie obeyed. “’Tis a tangled mess after the trials of the day.”
Lizzie watched Mary through the reflection of the looking glass as she brushed then braided her hair before finally twisting it onto a knot at her nape.
She handed her maid pins one by one as she secured the bun, ensuring it would stay in place.
“There, ye are all set.”
“What of ye?”
“Och, dinna fash about me. When ye and Lord Kennedy go down to sup, I will go with the other servants and clean up then.”
She felt a bit guilty that Mary couldn’t enjoy the same comforts she did.
But before she could think on it any longer, Malcolm knocked asking for entry.
His huge frame seemed to take up all the space in the room as he stood there. For a moment he said naught. Just looked at her as if he wanted to devour her and she couldn’t help the shiver that crept up her spine.
He cleared his throat and looked away.
