Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(29)

“I’ve been gone,” he said. “On me father’s orders.”

She liked the sound of that. A ripple of relief went through her, and she didn’t bother to question it. Beggars couldn’t be too particular, and she was starting to smile when she heard the squeaking of the mice as though they were companions.

“I did nae know me father put ye here, lass.”

But he sounded as if he was sorry. She did bristle a little, straightening her back and setting her chin. “I’ve weathered it well enough.”

He extended his hand. “Come, lass.”

She started to reach for his hand but stopped when she noticed how filthy her nails were. They were a testament to how she’d crawled around the room, testing every stone for loose ones that might lead to a secret tunnel. His jaw tightened when she folded her hands together instead of taking his.

“Truly, I did nae know, but I promise ye, I will be having words with me father.”

He’d stepped out of the doorway, and she took the chance to leave the cell behind her. Rolfe seemed larger than she recalled, and she shied away from his form as she drew in a deep breath, but froze when she noticed Angus was watching her.

The burly butler reached up and tugged on a tuft of his hair. “Do nae be cross with me for doing me duty.”

“Yer duty is finished.” Rolfe reached across and grasped her by the upper arm.

But now that she’d left the cell behind, she realized she reeked and pulled away from him. He stiffened but released her.

“I’m filthy.” She wasn’t sure why she spoke; it was just another one of those impulses that seemed to take command of her thoughts when she was near him.

Her admission earned her a softening of his features. He truly was a handsome man when he relaxed. Heat teased her cheeks as she walked beside him.

“Well, that is something I can remedy.”

He took her down the passageway and into the kitchens. She drew plenty of notice from the staff, who must have known what her fate was. The scent of food was strong, and her belly rumbled.

Rolfe frowned again. “I’ll feed ye better than Angus did.”

“I don’t want to be pitied.” There was a humph from one of the women working at a table near enough to hear. “I can make do when I must.”

That earned her another grin from him, but this one was more knowing. “Aye, I can see that ye do nae take delight in wielding yer gender like some sort of weapon against us poor men.”

“You’re so defenseless against me, after all,” she mocked him in return. But it stirred the memory of the last time that she’d seen him.

And felt his kiss.

Her pride was still tender from the encounter because she was not a match for him.

“Here.” He’d stopped in a doorway. “It’s the bathhouse. There will be soap, and I’ll set one of the women to finding ye some fresh clothing.”

There was a snap of fingers before an older woman came forward. She lowered herself before Rolfe.

“I’ll see to her.”

Rolfe nodded but locked gazes with Katherine. “I’ll be right here.”

It was a warning and a reminder of her plight. Katherine ordered herself to move forward and take advantage of what she might. It would be foolish indeed to shun a bath simply because she didn’t care for her circumstances.

“Having you waiting on me is a surprise I didn’t expect.”

Katherine caught the flash of surprise that went across his face before she disappeared through the doorway. The woman behind her was snickering and trying to hold her breath to muffle the sound.

“Lord, ye’ve a fine wit,” she said as she stopped in front of Katherine. “I’m Ceit, and I’ll tell ye straight that I did nae care to hear ye’d been locked in the cellar.”

Katherine shrugged. “I suppose I frightened someone.”

Ceit leaned her head back and chuckled. The sound was balm for Katherine’s lonely soul, bouncing around the room and lifting her spirits until she was returning Ceit’s smile even as her belly rumbled again.

“Well, now,” Ceit said as she rubbed her hands together. “Let’s get ye bathed so ye can get on to having some supper. It’s the truth that I was after Angus for taking ye naught but bread and water.” There was a splash as she emptied a bucket of water into a tub. “The brute claimed the laird gave instructions for ye to be tamed.”

“It will take more than that to break me.” It would likely have been wiser to remain silent, but Katherine didn’t much care. The tub was a large, round half of a barrel, coated with pitch on the inside to hold the water. The room itself was very warm, making disrobing a pleasure. They were behind the massive hearths the kitchens used to roast the meat for the tables in the great hall.

But there was another novelty that gained her interest. There was a long trough running along one side of the wall. Water glistened in it, and Ceit was refilling the bucket from it.

“A fine luxury, is it no’?” She poured more water into the tub. “There’s a longer trough outside that is fed from the water wheel. No fetching the water up from the river. Saves the hands.”

“It does indeed.”

Katherine hesitated and looked behind her, but Rolfe wasn’t in sight. He wouldn’t be.