Page 23 of Fire in his Highland Heart

“And...am I welcome here?” she asked timidly.

His lairdship rose from the chair, letter in hand, and helped Mrs. Kinney up with him.

“Aye. As Douglas’s kin, ye are an honored guest.”

Somehow Arguen doubted that statement, but at least he hadn’t put her in irons and thrown her in a dungeon.

“Thank ye, sir. Now I think ‘tis my turn tae be in yer debt,” she said as humbly as she could.

He regarded her with one last, authoritative gaze, nodded, and left.

As soon as he and Mrs. Kinney were gone, she sunk back onto the pillows and heaved a sigh. Finally, she was free.

Chapter Nine

Mrs. Kinney expertly attended to Arguen’s wound over the next few days, and it improved with every hour, it seemed. It was likely she’d have a scar there, but at least she still had her leg. Others with similar injuries were not always so lucky. After a little over a week, she could walk properly again, and it didn’t hurt nearly as much.

But she was starting to feel like a bird in a cage. It was rare that she left her little chamber, except maybe to visit the kitchens to find food or help with little things that she could do while sitting, such as chopping vegetables. Those two places were really all she had seen of the castle. She hadn’t seen his lairdship since his first visit. Was he really that busy? She imagined his tall and well-built form hunched over a desk with some parchment, a scowl upon that fine, handsome face. For, if nothing else, he was handsome.

As she minded her own business in the corner of the kitchen, chopping vegetables where no one would have to trip over her (or...have to look at her silver hair and blue eyes and be suspicious), Mrs. Kinney made an appearance in the kitchen. A popular figure in Ernmore Castle, Arguen was beginning to see, Mrs. Kinney stopped and greeted a few of the other women and girls kindly. Then she peered around as if looking for something before spotting Arguen in the corner.

Arguen smiled when Mrs. Kinney reached her. She had a comforting presence, with her kind face and red hair that was slowly graying in the front. She must have been a stunning beauty in her youth. “How d’ye find yerself gettin’ on, lass?” she asked.

Arguen nodded and shook her head to show her ambivalence. “I’m glad tae not be in a cell in the dungeons,” she quipped.

Mrs. Kinney chuckled. “I assure ye, Laird Blake had no such plans.”

“’Twas difficult tae tell with that cold greeting.”

“Och, lass. He doesnae open up tae everyone, and certainly not quickly. Ye’ll see, in time. Cold he may seem, but his heart is warm.”

“Did he put ye up tae this? Have ye come down here tae tell me how good he is, so I won’t run out intae the moors again?”

“Lass, ye are a cynical thing. Nay. I’m here tae tell ye he’s invited ye tae the feast tonight.”

Arguen’s eyes widened in surprise involuntarily. “The feast? Does he ken I’ve a leg injury an’ naught but rags tae wear?”

Mrs. Kinney cocked her head. “Ye never struck me as bein’ vain.”

“Nay, but would ye arrive at a ball in this?” Arguen asked, gesturing to her stained yellow skirt and the blue jacket she’d been wearing for nearly two months. It had been laundered when she arrived at Ernmore Castle, but it was still her only set of clothes.

“Nay, I wouldnae, but plenty of women live in this castle. I’m sure one can spare somethin’ for ye.”

At that moment, Arguen looked around the stone kitchen. Some of the women and girls minded their own business, adhering to their tasks, but some stole glances at Arguen and talked in whispers with each other, eyes darting back and forth.

“Mrs. Kinney, I dinnae think many of the women trust me. And I dinnae blame them. Mayhap I should stay down here, cook, and serve.”

The woman looked down pityingly at her. “Och, lass. Ye heard his lairdship. Yer an honored guest. An’ ye ought tae be introduced and treated like one.”

Arguen considered her words. She knew they had no double meaning, but it was likely Mrs. Kinney was keeping her best interest at heart. Arriving in tatters at the doorstep of a neighboring castle with naught but a rucksack and a letter of introduction was very suspicious indeed. No doubt the entire castle had heard of it already. And, what was more, to refuse a host’s hospitality was rude and would paint her in an unfavorable light. At this point, Arguen couldn’t afford any more unfavorable light. What she needed now were flattering angles and a good brush with which to construct her image in the eyes of Ernmore Castle.

“Still, it cannae be appropriate tae wear these skirts at a ball.”

Mrs. Kinney sized her up with her merry eyes. “Nay, but I have somethin’ in mind. Ye’ll look like polished silver taenight, I promise ye that.”

“There’s no hidin’ my looks, ye ken,” Arguen said softly, fearing she might make a fool of herself if she overdressed.

“Och, child. Not everyone is blessed wi’ looks such as yers.”