Page 147 of Historical Hotties
“It was not my idea to displace ye last night,” she was immediately on the defensive, more than likely not a good way to start out a conversation. “If ye’re thinking of berating me, I’d hold my tongue. None of it was my doing.”
The taller blond girl spoke quickly. “We know,” she had a soft, sweet voice. “Lady Anne told us. We came to see if you required any… ummm… assistance this morning.”
Carington lifted a dark eyebrow. “Assistance with what?”
The girl shrugged, looking at her companion for support. “Dressing, I suppose. And your bath. But we see that you have already taken care of everything.”
Carington studied the tall blond. She was pretty and young. “Which lady are ye?”
“I am Kristina,” the girl replied.
Carington’s gaze moved to the second girl; then this one was Julia, the problem that Creed had warned her of. She was short, thin, with not much health about her. She had light brown hair and blue eyes, nothing spectacular about either feature. Carington sensed a great deal of animosity from her.
“Well,” Carington averted her gaze and indicated a chair near the hearth. “I suppose we should all become acquainted considering we are to share this chamber. If ye have a mind to sit, I’ll not stop ye.”
Kristina was definitely the more timid of the two. She looked hesitantly at Julia, who was still fixed on Carington. It was clear that she was sizing her up. But the girls did manage to sit a good distance away from their Scots counterpart after some serious indecision. It seemed that no one wanted to get too close. Carington appreciated the distance, feeling Julia’s strong stare as she finished her meal.
“What is it ye wish to know about me?” Carington asked, tearing at her bread. She looked up at the two girls as she poppeda piece in her mouth. “Surely there is something ye wish to know.”
Julia folded her hands meekly in her lap, her unspectacular face intense with curiosity and hostility. “Aye,” she said slowly, her tone low and coarse, surprising for such a small lady. “There is something I have always wished to know about Scots. Is it true that they eat their young?”
The blood rushed to Carington’s head but she surprisingly kept her cool. “Nay, lady,” she said, putting another piece of bread in her mouth. “Just our enemies. I’d wager to say we’ve had a few of your kin in our time. I probably cooked them myself.”
While Kristina’s eyes opened wide with shock, Julia’s pale cheeks flushed. “No doubt,” she replied smoothly. “There is something quite barbaric about you.”
A thin smile came to Carington’s lips. “Push me too far, skinny wench, and ye’ll find out just how barbaric. I’m a laird’s daughter, an instrument for peace. Ye cannot touch me without bringing yer lord’s wrath upon ye. But I can do what I please with no punishment. So think twice before tangling with me, lassie. I’ll smother ye while ye sleep.”
“My lady,” Kristina boldly interrupted, seeing that the conversation was plummeting. “Is… is there anything you wish to know about Prudhoe? We have been here for several years and can answer any of your questions.”
Carington tore her gaze away from Julia and focused on the young blond. “There is nothing I wish to know about the castle, but thanks to ye for asking.”
An unstable pause followed. Kristina piped up again with nervous conversation. “My home is in the south of England. Until I came north, I had no idea there was such snow. And I have never even met a Scots until yesterday. Are there big cities in Scotland, my lady?”
Above her hostile posturing with Julia, Carington could see that Kristina was genuinely attempting to make conversation. Perhaps she was even genuinely trying to welcome her as much as she dared with Julia present. She attempted to soften her manner with the girl.
“Aye,” she replied. “There are big cities. My da took me to Edinburgh once and it was the biggest city I have ever seen. There is even an enormous castle in the middle of it.”
Kristina smiled timorously. “I went to London with my father when I was a child, although I do not remember much of it. I do, however, remember my mother buying fine jewelry and my father becoming angry with her for spending so much money.”
Carington felt comfortable conversing with the girl; her guard was gradually slipping. “My da is frugal also. He doesna believe in spending money on anything foolish.”
“Surely he does not mind spending money on his daughter. Would he not buy you whatever you wish?”
Carington laughed, a beautiful gesture that lit up the room. “Hardly; sometimes we have traveling merchants that stop and seek shelter for a night and my da acts as if I am torturing him if I want to buy the smallest trinket. Why, only last month we had a man who had traveled all over France and Italy. He had the most marvelous oils and pastes. I wanted to buy one that smelled of flowers, such a wonderful smell, but my da pretended to take sick and took to his bed until the man left. As soon as the merchant departed, he was miraculously healed. What a deceiver he is!”
Kristina giggled as Carington continued to snort at the memory. Julia, seeing her companion warming to the hostage, suddenly leapt to her feet.
“Since you have no need for us, we will return to Lady Anne and tell her so,” she grabbed Kristina by the arm and practically yanked the girl to her feet. “You should be mindful that Chapel isat mid-morning. Lord Richard expects everyone to attend; even you. I would suggest you prepare yourself.”
The warmth that Carington had felt for Kristina vanished when addressing Julia. “I will be ready,” she said evenly. “I will thank ye both for your offer to assist me this morn.”
Julia did nothing more than nod her head and turn away, heading for a large wardrobe that was against the opposite wall. Kristina lingered, still smiling hesitantly at Carington.
“We must get dressed for Mass,” she said. “I hope we will not disturb you.”
Carington could see that Creed had been right; Kristina was a sweet girl. She was close enough to put a hand on the girl’s arm.
“Ye couldna disturb me if ye tried,” she assured her.
