Page 6 of Highlander's Secret Heiress
If Alyth had thought her lie about becoming lost would subdue the man, she was wrong. If anything, it seemed to inflame him more; he pushed her shoulders harder against the wall and came so close to her that they were almost nose to nose.
Alyth turned her head to avoid the penetrating gaze of his eyes, but her effort was futile, since he grabbed her chin and turned her to face him again.
He pulled away a little to focus on her better, then said, “If you do not want your first day to be your last day, then do as I say. Stay away from my daughter. Do you understand?”
Alyth nodded frantically, but then something extraordinary happened. The Laird took a step backwards and looked as the little girl tugged at his kilt, and for the first time Alyth saw an expression of tenderness cross his face. This, and the protectiveness he had shown towards his daughter, told her that he loved her enough to kill for her.
“What is it, Davina?” he asked gently as he squatted down beside her, a fond smile on his face. As he stroked the girl’s hair and kissed her forehead, Alyth suddenly saw a different man, or perhaps another side of the same one.
Davina pointed to Alyth, smiling softly. “Friend,” she murmured, then enfolded herself into her father’s embrace.
The Laird looked up at Alyth, astonishment written all over his handsome face. Gone was the terrifying frown and the intimidating closeness of his body to hers. Now he was just a loving father, and she was merely one of the servants who made his house run smoothly.
In a few days—or more likely a few hours—he would forget about her, and she would become invisible to him, then she could do what she had to do without interference.
“May I go now, my Laird?” Alyth asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The Laird looked at her closely for what seemed like an age, and Alyth saw a strange expression in his eyes. He looked puzzled. After a few moments, he nodded, then stood up and walked away, carrying Davina in his arms.
Alyth looked after him and saw Davina looking over his shoulder at her, smiling. She smiled back and gave a tiny wave, which Davina returned, then she picked up her broom and began to sweep the floor again. She felt so shaken that it took her a very long time to calm down.
Alyth decided to go to see Maisie to ask if there was any more work for her to do. She had no real desire to do anything else; she merely wanted to be in her older lady’s company for a while, since she found her company so calming. Every time she saw her, Alyth felt like smiling.
As if she had conjured her up, Alyth saw Maisie walking towards her. She went to meet her, and just as she reached the older lady, her stomach gave a mighty rumble.
Maisie laughed and said, “Well, I was just about tae ask ye if ye were hungry, hen, but I suppose I’ve had my answer!”
“I don’t mind admitting I am ravenous,” Alyth replied. “This kind of work is much harder than brushing a lady’s hair! And although I feel a bit silly saying it, I got lost.”
Maisie patted her on the back, laughing. “Well, dinnae worry about gettin’ lost, hen, because a’ the lassies dae it in the first few days, an’ ye will soon find your way around. As for the work, ye will soon get used tae it,” she assured Alyth. “After a wee while it will be second nature tae ye. An’ remember when things get hard, ye have a roof over your head, food in your belly, an’ a wee bit money comin’ intae your pocket. An’ if ever ye have a problem, come tae me. I am a good listener, an’ I can usually help my girls an’ boys.” She laughed softly. “I might no’ have any bairns o’ my own, but the Laird’s young maids an’ manservants are my children. Now you are one o’ them.”
“Thank you,” Alyth breathed, giving Maisie a beaming smile. “That is so good to know.”
“Now, let’s get ye fed,” Maisie said. “They feed us well here, unlike some other places I could tell ye about. Ye will no’ be hungry for long!”
She led Alyth down to the lowest floor and into the kitchen. It was one of the biggest rooms she had ever seen, even bigger than the one at Cairnloch, with a huge oven on one wall and a long worktable running down the centre.
Barrels and crates lined the walls where there were shelves full of dried herbs and hooks where pots, pans, and kitchen utensils hung ready for use. Alyth smiled as she entered it.
She had always loved being in the kitchen, where the air was warm and fragrant with the mouthwatering aromas of roasting meat and baking bread. She had many happy memories of going there as a child and begging for sweetmeats from the cook, who always indulged her and gave her what she wanted.
This kitchen was no different, and Alyth closed her eyes and inhaled the scents she loved so much. Her mouth was watering, and she thought she might faint if she did not eat soon.
“Sit down at the table, hen,” Maisie instructed.
Alyth did as she had been told, and a moment later she was joined by a few other young women, all of whom greeted her in a very welcoming fashion. As she looked at their friendly faces, she reminded herself that these were ordinary women who likely felt no special loyalty to the Carricks or any other clan. They were simple people who were living their lives as best they could; they were not her enemies.
“Who dae we have here?” The first to greet Alyth was a short, plump woman with dark hair and a friendly smile. Alyth liked her at once.
“Jeannie,” she replied, returning the smile. “And you?”
“Flora,” the young woman replied. As the others came in, she introduced them as Catriona, Morag, Elise, Heather and Alison. “We are a’ housemaids, an’ there are at least another couple o’ dozen o’ us. We are an army, in fact!” She laughed, and the others joined in.
“Mistress Maisie knows we could probably manage wi’ a few less o’ us, but she has such a soft heart she cannae turn anybody away.”
The others laughed again, then Alyth asked, “Do you like working here?” She was surprised when she heard that the answer was an enthusiastic “yes.”
“Aye,” Morag replied. “Mistress Maisie is very kind. Some housekeepers can be witches who treat their maids like dirt, but no’ ours. We are very lucky.”
