The lass shook her head again. Finally they were getting somewhere. After asking several more questions, he discovered that the lass was not married and not from the Highlands. That left him with two remaining options: she was either a stowaway and arrived here by boat, or she was English. Still, it left him with many questions. He had to find a way to make her feel safe and to determine who she was. To do that, he would have to spend time with her. He decided to skip his plan to go to the market today and spend the remainder of the afternoon here with her.
“I am no’ a mon of great conversation. I do no’ talk about myself, other than what people need to know, and it is no’ up for discussion either. As ye can no’ speak, that rules out any form of conversation as to who ye are and where ye hail from, which makes for a verra dull afternoon.”
Galen uncomfortably looked around the room as he noticed the lass taking interest in the platter of food. She had not eaten the meal brought to her this morning, and he had hoped that she would feel comfortable enough around him to eat.
The awkward silence was as unnerving as taking a dip in ice-cold water. Galen desperately searched for something quick-witted and clever to say, but nothing came to mind. Just beyond the far end of the wall, Galen noticed an old wooden bookcase in desperate need of repair. Behind a cluster of cobwebs, he noticed three books standing on end on top of a broken shelf.
“Do ye know how to read?” he asked, breaking the silence.
The lass shrugged her shoulders. Galen took that as a yes, but perhaps she did not read very well. Pushing himself up from the chair, he made his way across the room and picked up the three books, blowing the dust off their pages.
The first book was a ledger of the estate accounts of Ashbury written in his uncle’s handwriting; useless information written decades ago. Flipping through the pages of the second book, it appeared to have been written by a Spanish monk. The pages spoke of Christianity and prayer. Not the most appropriate read unless he was back at the priory. The third book, however, caught his eye. The cover was stained and the words faded. It read: Water of Life. He remembered the story well. It was a mythical legend of a man who fell in love with a selkie.
Placing the other two books back onto the shelf, Galen returned to the chair next to the bed. The lass’s eyes followed him. As he passed by the bed, he noticed the lass firmly holding onto a small black satchel that was resting on her lap. The fierce way she held it told him that it must be of some great importance to her. If he could find a way to acquire it, perhaps that would answer this mystery. Galen sat back in the chair and held the book up in the air.
“Perhaps a story?” he suggested, to help pass the time.
Galen opened the first page and began reading the opening line.
“The songbird beauty called me to the sea…”
Lying in bed, Ella tentatively listened to every word. His brogue and the elegant language he spoke enhanced the character portrayed in the story. He had a way of speaking that made her feel the emotions of the characters. By the time he was half way through the story, she had found herself creeping toward the edge of the bed wanting more. ‘Twas a love story like no other, and Ella inwardly smiled, feeling the passion and love between the two characters.
Before Ella knew it, the sun had long set and the story ended all too soon. Noticing that Galen had stopped reading in the middle of the book, she eyed him curiously. Why did he stop? What happened next?
Galen placed the book down upon the bedside table and glanced in her direction. His gaze was impassive and hard to read.
“I will continue the story tomorrow. It is getting late,” he said as he stood and left the room.
Once the door closed, Ella adjusted herself on the bed and looked back at the book. Though she could barely read the human language she was familiar with a few basic words. Picking up the book she began flipping through the pages. Trying to remember the words Galen spoke, she tried to sound out the letters for the words that were not familiar.
As Galen closed the door behind him, he reflected over how the lass inched closer toward him as he read nor could he have missed the entertained look upon her face. He had baited her like a fish. He could see his plan already working. He may not have learned much but it was a start. Tomorrow he would try again.
Chapter 12
Galen woke early to visit the lass before making his trip to the market. As he had hoped, the lass was beginning to respond to him. He had asked several more questions, but tried to be less invasive. Each time, he shared a little something more about himself. As he had done the night before, he only read a few chapters, leaving her wanting more.
The journey to Stonehaven was uneventful at best but most profitable. He managed to obtain several more weapons, spices for Moira, and new linens and fabrics for Jenny. Stonehaven was several hours north, and the journey took up most of his day. But it was necessary.
He had hoped to return to check on the lass before nightfall. Now that her ankle was practically healed and she was no longer confined to the bed, he had hoped she would join him tomorrow in the great hall for supper.
As soon as he returned and the supplies were taken care of, he finished his duties and went to check in on the lass. On his way to her room, he bumped his arm against a nail sticking out from the wall. The nail head dug deep across his skin, leaving a long gouge along his forearm. Using the end of his tunic, he wiped the blood clean and knocked on the door.
Stepping inside the room, he found the lass sitting in the chair near a roaring fire. The warmth of the room felt like a hot summer’s night. The lass looked at him awkwardly until he noticed that blood had dripped down his arm and begun dripping onto the floor, creating a small puddle beneath him.
“Awe, dinna mind that, Lassie. ‘Tis only a wee scratch.”
The lass stood and reached for his hand, dragging him to the chair. Galen sat as she began digging through the bag Evelyn had given her. Moments later, she kneeled down in front of him with a handful of bandages scrunched in her hand. Grabbing his arm, she dipped one of the bandages in the basin of water and cleaned the wound. Her touch was as gentle as a whisper, the softness of her fingers like daisy petals.
The lass tightly wrapped the bandage around his arm, securing it with a double knot. Once finished, she raised her head and looked at him. For the first time, he saw a side of her he had not thought was possible. She suddenly went from being the lioness to the innocent lamb. From behind the façade she used to mask her fear, she was beginning to come out of her shell.
“Thank ye,” he said.
The lass smirked. Her smile made her even more beautiful. Nervously, she stood and sat back down on the bed, keeping her distance. Galen found himself not wanting her to run away from him.
Ella sat back down on the bed. When she’d seen the blood dripping down his arm she feared he was severely injured. When he claimed it was a mere scratch, she knew better. Over the past two days, he had visited her several times throughout the day. Her feelings toward him were changing from utter irritation to respect. She started to find herself anxious for his visits, but convinced herself it was only because she wanted to hear more of the story. With only a few more pages left to read, she wondered if he would continue his daily visits.
As night was already upon them, Galen wished her goodnight and excused himself.
~ ♥ ~
Eager to spend his morning meal with the lassie to see how she fared, Galen grabbed a tray of food, enough for the both of them, and headed up to the tower room. He was starting to enjoy their quiet visits. On his way, he instructed his men to send up a tub and several buckets of hot water for his guest. It would be a kind gesture, and one that would ensure her trust in him.
Reaching the top step in front of the door, he softly knocked and waited, though it was foolish to think the mute lass would openly respond. Turning the iron handle, he pushed the door open and stepped into the room to find the lass was still sleeping.
Quietly, he lightly
tiptoed to the side of the bed to place her tray onto the table. Not wanting to wake her, he began to turn and head back out the door until something caught his attention. Turning back to take a look, he noticed the lass’s brown leather satchel resting upon the floor. He couldn’t help but notice yesterday how she had clutched it in her hand.
Galen looked back at the lass, making sure he had not awakened her. When he was sure that she remained fast sleep, he bent down and picked up the bag. The lass was a mystery he wanted to solve, and perhaps this bag contained the answer. This satchel became the focus of his curiosity. What if this purse contained more than mere coins? What if it contained a hidden clan medallion or sacred jewels? Both would give him some idea, some inclination as to who she was.
Unraveling the straps, Galen emptied its contents out onto the palm of his hand. Six small unpolished grey stones with deep etched markings fell into his hand. These were not coins at all. There was no mistaking it; they were runes. It was evident that these reading stones were ancient from their worn appearance, and surface scratches made the images depicted on each one hard to see. Glancing back at the lass, Galen would not have guessed that she was a Seer.
These stones were just another puzzling clue. Galen placed the stones back into the bag and secured the straps so they looked as they had when he had found it. Gently, he placed the satchel onto the bed next to her hand. As he headed for the door, he heard the lass stirring in the bed behind him.
Turning around, he saw Ella sitting up in the bed smiling at him.
“Good morning, Lassie. I did no’ mean to wake ye. I was just checking on ye and wanted to see if ye were ready fer a bite to eat.”
The lass nodded her head.
“I have also asked for a tub to be brought up here. The warm water should be a great comfort,” Galen said, hoping to make her smile.
Sitting in the chair near the bed, Galen picked up the book and continued the story where he’d left off. Once he finished the story, he glanced up at the lass. Her eyes widened, and he could swear he saw a half smile. It warmed his heart to see the lass so content. Her transformation was exciting to see. More than anything Galen wanted to learn more about her, but the speech barrier stood in his way.
As Galen looked at her, Ella could see his hardened wall coming down. From the moment they’d met, she had only seen him restrained and domineering, but now he seemed much more relaxed. He spoke of the castle’s history and that of his clan, but kept himself a secret, never speaking of his past or his future. She wondered why he kept his life so private. Perhaps he had a dark past or had experienced something tragic, and talking about the memory was too much to bear.
Over the past few days, she had spent more time with him than anyone in her whole life. She found herself beginning to care about what he thought of her. From the time she woke up, she eagerly waited for him to return and regale her with more stories about himself and his clan. Her view of humans slowly started to change. Little by little, she began to realize that they were not the savages she had always thought them to be. Galen had been patient and very kind. With him, she was not afraid. He made her feel comfortable and safe.
Shortly after, a few men entered the room with a large wooden tub and six large buckets of hot, steaming water. They poured the water into the tub and laid out a towel. Steam from the water rose in the air. Ella inwardly smiled, not wanting to show too much excitement. The large men finished preparing the bath and left.
“Now that the lads have brought ye in a bath, will ye be needing anything else?” he asked, searching her eyes for an answer.
The lass shook her head.
“If ye are up to leaving this room, I would verra much like ye to join me fer dinner.”
Standing stoically in a docile fashion, she nodded her head in acceptance.
“Well, I will leave ye to bathe,” he said as she looked between him and the tub. Without warning, the lass yanked at her dress. In a blink of an eye, the dress pooled to her waistline then dropped down to the floor. Galen’s eyes widened with embarrassment.
He shied away, quickly diverting his eyes, looking anywhere but at the naked lass standing in front of him. Raising his hand to the nape of his neck, he rubbed his tense muscles as he was left speechless. He had not expected that to happen.
In just one glance, his eyes had taken in more details than if he had stared at a painting for an entire lifetime. How could he have not noticed her creamy-looking skin, the slender curve of her hips or her well-rounded, ample breasts? How would he ever get this image out of his head? Bloody hell!
Without looking at her, he managed to stutter out, “Lass, I would be more than happy to send up one of the maids to assist ye.”
In the corner of his eye he saw movement. Watching her shadow on the wall, he could see that she moved from the middle of the room nearer to the tub. He heard the sound of water splashing onto the floor as she stepped in and sat down. Once he was certain she was fully submerged, he took a chance and glanced back. Her green eyes somehow glistened in the candlelight. The tips of her long hair floated above the water like seaweed as it clung to her chest. Galen was more than mesmerized. He was downright bewitched. Why the hell am I still standing here like a bloody fool?
“I will see ye this evening,” he said, as he hurried himself out the door.
Ella chuckled at Galen’s odd behavior. Had he never seen a woman’s body before? She found it quite amusing how he stumbled all over himself. There was much amusement watching a man so strong and stern stammer like an idiot. Perhaps he had a weakness after all. If only she could use that weakness to her advantage.
Ella felt herself melting down deeper into the tub. The warm water worked in an instant, relaxing her muscles and calming her senses. She had felt nervous about joining him for dinner. But she did not want to pass up the opportunity to spend more time with him. He invaded her thoughts from morning to night and every moment in between. From the way he looked at her, to how he made her feel, she felt a fire within her whenever he was near. A fire she desired, just as a moth was attracted to a flame.
Ella lay in the tub until the water had long cooled. She stood, and with the towel wrapped around her, she moved next to the fire to dry herself. The soft warm glow was as comforting as a soft blanket safely wrapped around her keeping her warm and protected. As she brushed her hair the natural curls began to twine around each other as they lay across her shoulders and spiraled down her back. Next to the chair, Ella noticed the bag Evelyn had provided. Unlacing the ribbon that held it closed, she pulled out the deep blue gown to wear.
Chapter 13
Galen sat in the great hall with his fellow clansmen as Moira and the other kitchen maids filtered out of the kitchen serving the evening meal. On the high table next to Galen sat Alex, Brandon, his longtime friend and second in command, and master archer James.
Speaking to his men about his plans to bring the war with McGregor to an end, Galen noticed their eyes flickering away from him. Something distracted them, and apparently it was more important than discussing the matter at hand.
Turning his head to see what had caught their eyes; his mouth was left agape at the breathtaking image nervously standing at the top of the stairs. Draped in a dark blue gown, the dazzling beauty on the top step shined down like a midnight star.
“She is a fair beauty,” Alex said in a lowered tone. “I have a mind to introduce myself to the lass.”
“Oh nay, Alex, no’ again,” Brandon whined. “Ye do remember what happened the last time ye became fond of a lass? Ye almost started a war with the MacLaren clan. Paid thirty silver for that debacle, and I believe some cattle as well.”
“Aye, but I dinna have intentions of marrying the MacLaren’s daughter.”
“Aye and that be the reason we had to save yer arse last time, if I recall,” Brandon reminded him.
The men at the table laughed at Alex’s folly, but Galen kept his eyes fixed on the lassie as she glided down the staircase. Like a soft
wind blowing against a delicate flower, she moved gracefully. Her tiny waist and hips swayed in perfect rhythm when she walked. It reminded him of church bells on Sunday morning as they swung back and forth. For a lass who couldn’t talk, she had away about her that could light up a room. The thought of the lassie with any man, even Alex, strangely angered Galen. He thought her to be too vulnerable for a man to be pining over. At least, that’s what he told himself.
“This lass will be different. Women love my charm,” Alex continued.
“Aye, they be lovin’ something, but I dinna think tis yer charm,” Brandon joked.
Ella stood on the top step. The open hall allowed her to see the many people in the room below. As several took notice of her, the room seemed to fall silent despite the loud chatter she’d heard upon her advance. She felt as if all eyes were on her. The muscles in her stomach began to flutter like a swarm of tiny butterflies. She felt she had no guard against these people, no shield to hide behind.
She spotted Galen sitting at the far table, smiling up at her. When they were together she felt a sort of peace only felt before in her dreams. Somehow they were linked, connected in this life as if they were two halves to a whole. It was most certainly not love at first sight, though she would not deny her attraction, but something deeper, more powerful; as if fate had brought them together. But she had yet to know why.
Sitting next to Galen were three other men. To his right, an unshaven man with black hair and a maroon-colored tunic flashed a smile in her direction. The two blonde-haired men on Galen’s left paid her no attention.
With a deep breath, she lifted the skirt of her gown and descended the stairs. Her eyes locked on Galen. Food had already been served; the tables were full, and people had already begun eating. Walking toward the head table, she stepped up on the dais where Galen had pulled out the chair next to him.
Highland Charm: First Fantasies Page 53