Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5)(18)

Susanna glanced up at Robert, her heart racing. With the damage already done, she promptly explained. “My mother was from England.”

Surprisingly, Robert’s expression softened, and he nodded, as if a missing puzzle piece had been placed. An odd relief washed through her at his lack of judgment.

Distracted by having something in common with another soul, she shifted her attention back to Isobel. “Mama told me countless stories about England, sharin’ many things she missed greatly about her country.”

Isobel smiled weakly. “Uhhh...I come from a place of the English also—but not from your mother’s England.” Isobel’s gaze locked with Robert’s for a brief instant. “We’ll talk more about that later, though. Let’s get you into a hot bath.”

Another young woman, Susanna guessed Isobel’s sister, stepped forward. “Hello, Susanna. I’m Brigid. I’ll take her up, Isobel.”

Isobel sighed. “Not alone. I’m coming with. Iain will be back any moment, and I don’t need to catch a lecture or worse for straying one moment from your side.”

Brigid took Susanna’s hand and led her to the wide stone steps that lined the front wall. A gentle tug from Brigid made her pause as they waited for Isobel to start her slow ascent. Susanna watched as the woman in a soft-gray day dress took each step with poised grace, leaning one delicate hand on the wall for balance.

Isobel suddenly yelled out without turning around, “Robert, go straight to the apothecary before one more drop of your blood hits the floor.”

Robert’s laughter rumbled out behind them. “Aye, M’Lady.”

Once they reached the landing, Susanna was led down a hall, past several closed doors, to a room whose entrance stood at an angle in the hall’s bend. Brigid grasped the decorative iron handle and pushed. The sound of creaking hinges tickled into Susanna’s ears as they entered a spacious, bright bedchamber.

A maid stood over a sizable wooden barrel in the center of the room, pouring steaming water into the tub from a large pitcher. Another maid arranged garments on the bed: a chemise, a ruby gown, and a hair comb adorned with emeralds. Matching ruby slippers were deposited on the wooden floor.

“Would you like to bathe alone, or would you prefer our company?” Isobel asked.

Susanna blinked. No one had seen her unclothed body before, besides Mama.

She’d also never had any contact with other females her age; she’d never been allowed a single friend. And no one but Mama had extended any courtesy or kindness to her. In her dark and sheltered world, no one had been given the chance.

“I’d...like company, if that’s acceptable,” she said in a soft tone. As unnerving as it was to bare herself before others, she was more afraid to be left alone in a castle full of strangers.

Isobel nodded to both of the maids. They gave a polite nod in return and quietly left the room.

Susanna bent over, untied the laces to her worn leather boots, and stepped out of them. Weary from the day, she slowly reached leaden arms behind her back to undress.

“Allow me to help,” Brigid said. She circled behind and tugged at the ribbons tied at the back of Susanna’s gown. The dress was one of her mother’s—a gown she cherished, since Mama had often told her that its rich sapphire hue matched her eyes in the firelight.

Susanna held the bodice over her breasts as the material fell free. Bashful in front of the two women, she stood facing away from them as they helped her lift the gown and chemise over her head.

Cool air from the room danced over her skin, cascading goose bumps over arms and chest before she stepped into the tub. With one hand gripped on the wooden rim and the other holding Brigid’s hand, she gingerly lowered herself into the hot water.

She groaned, closing her eyes as soothing heat penetrated aching muscles, some of which she hadn’t realized were sore and others she hadn’t known she possessed. Although she’d snuck out on many an occasion to learn how to ride a horse, she’d never ridden longer than a stolen hour on any given day over the last few summers. Hours upon hours for a day and a half on horseback had taken a toll on her body she hadn’t anticipated. Knowing the result, however, wouldn’t have made any difference in her choice to escape. The price was small compared to the alternative.

Isobel’s soft voice interrupted her thoughts. “Lavender soaps are beside you on the table, Susanna.”

She opened her eyes to see Isobel waddling over to a wooden chair on the other side of the table. Brigid had grabbed the arms of another chair, and its legs scraped across the floor as she dragged it beside Isobel’s.

Once Isobel finally reached her chair, she turned, gripped its arms with her hands, and lowered her body down onto the seat. She moaned softly and closed her eyes, relaxing back against a black velvet, rectangular pillow with gold-braided edges and tasseled corners.

Susanna let out a soft laugh. Apparently, life had been rough for more than just herself.

Isobel opened a single eye and peered at her, snorting with a smirk on her face. “Iain forbids me to strain myself in my condition. I’ll not let that man govern my every finger lift and step. But on occasion, I’m grateful to take a much needed break and rest.”

Isobel dropped her head a degree and squinted at Brigid before she directed a severe look at Susanna. “Don’t either of you dare breathe a word of that to Iain.” She winked at Susanna.