Page 16 of Highlander's Caged Rose
Catriona looked at Glennie with an expression that was half-smile and half-frown, then said, “I am fine, Milady, but that other woman—Moira—she isnae.”
Glennie sat up in bed suddenly. “What’s wrong with her?” she asked anxiously.
Catriona sighed. Like anyone else, she hated to be the bearer of bad tidings. “She had a bad accident last night an’ fell in the river,” she answered. “The Laird pulled her out an’ brought her home but she isnae well.”
“I must go and see her.” Glennie scrambled out of bed and picked out her clothes, and dashed out of her door. She sprinted along the corridor and upstairs to Moira’s chamber, then knocked on the door more firmly than she usually would have done.
Her knock was answered a few seconds later by Sandie, who looked pale and tired. “Milady,” she said with a polite curtsey.
“How is she?” Glennie ashed, her voice hushed.
“Well, she had a bad fever a few hours ago,” Sandie answered, “but I gave her some willow bark tea an’ her temperature has come down a wee bit.”
“Do you think talking to her would tire her out?” Glennie asked.
“Will you two stop whispering about me?” Moira complained suddenly. “I’m fine.”
Sandie looked at her. “Ye can talk for a wee while,” she said sternly, “but if ye feel tired, Moira, ye must stop. I am goin’ for a wee rest.”
“I will be fine, Sandie.” Moira gave her a warm smile. “And you must rest as long as you need to. Thank you for everything.”
Sandie returned the smile then curtsied to Glennie before leaving.
“We are so lucky to have her,” Moira remarked.
“Indeed we are,” Glennie agreed, before turning to Moira again. “How are you feeling?”
She looked anxious, and Moira hastened to reassure her. “I am better now, thank you, Glennie,” she replied soothingly. “I will leave as soon as I can. I have taken up too much of everyone’s time already.”
She sighed, and Glennie, looking at her downcast expression, felt infinitely sorry for her. She took Moira’s hands in her own; they were so much smaller, and suddenly Glennie felt extremely protective. From what she had learned about this woman, she had endured a hard life before finding her way to Baltyre Castle. Niall had not believed her story of being abused, but Glennie had a feeling that he was beginning to change his mind, as she had.
Remembering the hostility she had felt and exhibited the first time she met Moira, Glennie had at first felt embarrassed and ashamed. However, as she came to know her, Glennie haddiscovered that underneath her wariness and distrust, Moira was someone she could happily befriend and value.
Moira’s white translucent skin had been rendered even paler, and Glennie felt anxious as she gazed at her, hoping that whatever ailed Moira was not too serious.
“You have not wasted anyone’s time,” she said gently, “and especially not mine. I do not want you to go away, Moira. I want you to stay here and be my companion, but not the kind of companion who is like a servant. I want you to be my friend.
Do you know what it is like to be the only woman among hundreds of men? There are maidservants, of course, but we don’t mix, and Niall has never had a circle of friends, so I cannot be friends with their wives or sisters.
I have no female company here at all, but that is not the only reason I want you to stay here, Moira. I like you, and I believe we could rub along very nicely together. I could even make sure that you have your own suite of rooms because I know that a person needs their own space sometimes.
We have a good library here, and a music room that our great-grandfather insisted on.” She laughed. “We are an interesting lot, if nothing else.”
“Can you play an instrument?” Moira asked. She was trying to divert the topic of the conversation away from her staying in Baltyre.
Glennie shook her head, smiling. “I have no talents in that direction,” she answered. “But I do not want to talk about me. I want to know about you, and I want to tell you about Niall.”
At the mention of his name, Glennie saw Moira’s expression change to one of wariness, and she took her hands out of Glennie’s grasp and wrapped her arms around herself.
Even hearing Glennie saying Niall’s name made Moira suddenly feel cold. She wanted to confide in Glennie because the burden of her secret was beginning to become too heavy, but shesimply could not bring herself to do so. What if Glennie told him, and he sent her back to Brodie McDonnell? No, she could not take the chance, it was too dangerous.
Although Glennie could see that Moira was beginning to get upset, she knew she had to persevere. “Listen, Moira,” she said gently. “My brother may look fierce and brutal, but her has suffered a lot. Our father was a cold and angry man, and our family had many fierce conflicts with other clans; as he grew up, he had to learn to fight, and it made him look tough and hard, but he is really not like that inside.”
Moira was about to say, “So have I,” but restrained herself at the last moment. The less Glennie knew about her, the better. She had no intention of going through her previous life experiences again. She would rather be dead.
Moira was still tired, but she needed to be alone to think and plan. She had no intention of staying at Baltyre any longer than she had to. Her previous attempts to leave had not succeeded, but she would not let that stop her from trying again.
Glennie sighed and stood up. “I can see that you need to rest, Moira, so I’ll go. But please think about what I said.”
