Page 22 of Her Highlander's Darkest Temptation
Maisie had mentioned to Corvin that the lass seemed untrained, or poorly trained at the very least. Linen was usually folded in the laundry, or outside in the sunshine after it had finished drying, so that it was filled with the scent of fresh grass and heather. It appeared, however, that Lydia had borrowed some of the linens in an effort to practice and improve her skills in such tasks.
“Such a diligent lass. With such a will tae learn, her former mistress or master must have been a fool indeed.” Donall startled at the voice and whirled to face the speaker, his dirk half drawn before he recognized the voice.
He scowled and straightened out of his defensive crouch. “Alex. What the devil are ye daein’ sneakin’ up on me?” He took a deep breath, and his scowl deepened. “Nae that I cannae guess. Yer breath reeks o’ whisky. Ye’ve been down at the tavern again.”
“Aye, I have been. But as fer what I’m daein’ now… looking fer a little light readin’ same as ye, I expect.” Alex looked down at the young woman curled near the hearth. “This was nae a sight I expected tae see, however.”
“Aye. An’ keep yer voice down.” Donall gave his friend a half-hearted glare, then bent to lift a blanket from the basket of unfolded things. “Ye’ll wake her.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “An’ ye dinnae think she’d be better off sleepin’ in her own bed than on a hard stone hearth?”
“I think some o’ us tak’ rest where we can find it. Besides, she’ll likely wake soon enough, when the fire goes cold, or when her neck an’ back begin tae ache.” Donall made sure Lydia was well covered, then straightened. “Come on. Let’s go, afore ye wake her an’ embarrass the lass with yer antics.”
“I would never.” Alexander swayed, blinked a little, then sighed. “Or mayhap…”
“Come on.” Donall grabbed a book at random from the shelves and waved for his friend to join him, and the two of them made their way to his study. Alexander collapsed into a chair, while Donall prodded the banked embers back to life.
Alexander watched him through bleary eyes. “That lass… ye really like her, I can see it. Ye’ve been payin’ more attention tae her than ye have any other lass tha’s crossed yer path since…”
“Dinnae bring tha’ up. Nae right now.” Donall shook his head.
Alex’s brow furrowed, then relaxed. "Och… nightmares again?”
“Almost every night. Cannae remember when I last slept well.” Donall heaved a sigh and sank into the chair opposite his long time friend. “I’ve tried. ”
“Aye. I ken,” Alex nodded. “I only wish I kent some way tae make it easier on ye.” Alex’s voice was soft with sympathy, but not pity, and that made it bearable.
They sat in silence, watching the fire for a time, while the book he’d claimed sat unopened on the table at Donall’s elbow. Finally, Alex stirred. “The lass… why was she foldin’ linens in the library, o’ all places?”
Donall shrugged. “I dinnae ken. She’s a strange one. Ignorant in some matters every servin’ lass would usually ken, and well-versed in other skills that most servin’ lasses would never learn. She was likely practicin’, if what Maisie told me about her willingness tae learn is true. As fer the library… I think she can read. Mayhap she likes books?”
“A servin’ lass who nae only can read, but enjoys it?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Ye’re right, ‘tis passin’ strange.” He frowned. “Can she write as well?”
“Dinnae ken fer certain.” Donall shrugged his shoulders.
“Ye should find out. The more I see o’ the lass, an’ the more ye tell me o’ her, the stranger she seems. An’ with all else tha’s happening, an’ what might be trouble on yer borders, she’s a mystery ye cannae afford tae indulge fer too long.” Alex’s expression had taken on a solemn cast, and Donall nodded in agreement.
The advice was sound, as Alex’s advice usually was. Even drunk, the man had a well of good sense, and once confronted with a problem to solve or a question to answer, he was usually quick to begin working through a solution.
Donall’s eyes strayed to the papers on his desk. He’d seen Lydia sort them, and found them to be sorted by topic and to some degree, urgency. If he only could test her further… and that was when an idea formed in his head.
I dinnae have a dedicated manservant at present. I’ll tell Corvin tha’ since he hasnae found anyone fer me at present, Lydia will dae until he daes. Especially since she says she was a lady’s maid afore she came here - she ought tae have some idea o’ the sort o’ duties a personal attendant o’ a laird or lady performs.
‘Twill be a good reason tae keep her close an’ under watch - she can work with Evelyn or Maisie when I dinnae need an attendant, an’ they’ll watch her fer me. If she’s tellin’ the truth, ‘twill dae nae harm. An’ if her words are false, then I’ll have far more chances tae discover the lie, afore she places me clan in danger, or brings harm tae me people.
“Lydia. Lydia! Waken up! Ye’re needed!”
Lydia blinked open sleep-crusted eyes to find Maisie standing near her bed. The serving lass was staring down at her with an odd expression. As soon as she saw Lydia’s eyes were open, she took her hand and all but dragged her from the cot. “Come on! Dress, an’ be sharpish about it! The laird has sent fer ye.”
Icy fear jolted Lydia awake even more thoroughly than the cold water she splashed on her face. “What? Why?”
“Corvin told him ye were familiar with the duties o’ a lady’s maid. The laird daesnae have a manservant - he’s decided that since ye ken some o’ the work, ye’ll be servin’ in that capacity.” Maisie gave her a thin smile. “’Tis a rare opportunity - an’ so soon since ye came tae the keep as well! Ye’d best be makin’ the most o’ it.”
“I… ye-aye.” Lydia nodded and turned away to dress, as well as to hide the conflicting emotions that filled her.
On one hand, there was relief. She’d feared that Maisie’s abrupt awakening and the laird’s summons meant that she was about to be dismissed and turned out, without a copper or any clothing to her name. The fact that she was still safe, for the moment, was enough to make her feel nearly faint with gratitude.
On the other hand - serving the laird directly in the capacity she might serve a lady meant she would be close to him for much of the time. It meant there was more risk she might make a mistake that would reveal the truth of her identity to him. Besides that, while she had some idea of the duties Elswith had performed for her, she had no idea if Laird Ranald would require the same sorts of services.
