“Och, lass,” Leith exclaimed, “Ye see very well. Aye, there are posts under the water but ye cannea see them because of the peat. If they were visible, the clan’s enemies would use it to invade them.”
They passed over the bridge to enter the wide courtyard and the circular castle beyond. She looked over to the wall, seeing the impenetrable barrier from the other side. The walls, even without the iron-spiked girders, were ominous.
A touch to her side had her looking to see Leith at her side; his hands held up expectantly. His eyebrow ticked up just as a corner of his mouth did, “Are ye coming down, lass, or do ye plan on sleepin’ there?”
“Has anyone told you are a bit tiring at times?” Mary huffed playfully.
“I have been told once or twice,” Leith said as he helped her down, “But water over a duck’s back, lass. It doesnae bother me much.”
As her feet touched the ground, Mary realized the stark height difference between them. Leith was at least five inches over her modest five-foot-six. Warming inside, Mary turned away to see Laird Robasdan coming toward them with a knowing smirk on his face.
“I expected ye back, Lenichton, but nae Miss Thompson,” the Laird said. “What happened?”
“My friend’s Aunt was not there,” Mary said dejectedly. “She gave her house away and moved off to where no one can tell. Leith said the best choice was to come back here before venturing to his home.”
Deep green eyes shot over to Leith, “It’s Leith now, eh?”
“It is,” Leith replied, biting back his grin at Mary’s dark blush. “Are ye going to give us shelter or nae?”
Laird Robasdan clapped his large hand on Leith's shoulder, “No fear, me friend, ye are always welcome here. Miss Thompson too. I’m sure me wife would love to see ye again.”
“Thank you, Laird Robasdan,” Mary said with a curtsy. A wave of unexpected tiredness washed over her but she gave no sign of it. “I’ll be happy to see her as well.”
The Laird’s head cocked to the side with his eyes narrowing slightly. Mary stopped herself from squirming under his gaze until he took his gaze away and called for some women to come to her side, “Give her one of the eastern rooms.”
They curtsied, “Aye, Me Laird.”
The two men were looking at her but then turned to speak between themselves. Spinning, she managed a smile at Leith before she was whisked away. Inside the castle, she was taken back up a few flights and then into the room Laird Robasdan had offered her. It was not as magnificent as Lady Robasdan’s chambers, but she had not expected it to be.
It was small but cozy, with a bed pushed up to the corner and piled high with fur blankets, a pair of wooden chairs, and a small table rested in the middle above a dark carpet. The stone walls held a single tapestry and a copper sconce on the wall. There was a thin carpet on the rock floor to keep her feet from the cold. The fireplace had a flickering blaze and a single tallow candle was on her nightstand.
“In the morrow, we can send up some water for ye to bathe,” one of the women said kindly. “Will ye like that, Miss Thompson?”
“I’d greatly appreciate it,” Mary nodded.
“Good day then,” they both curtsied, before one said, “A meal will be sent up for ye soon if ye would like, or ye can come to the great hall for supper this evening. His Lairdship gives ye his best regards.”
They left and Mary moved to the large window where the wooden shutters were already pushed open. She stood as the sun rendered the land below a spectacular vista. Her eyes ran past the moat toward miles upon miles of green land, rolling meadows and thick forests.
I imagine the sunsets here would be magnificent.
She could just imagine the sky darkening to a deep-blue twilight hue streaked with dark gray and purple, while the brilliant pink and orange rays still lingered in the sky.
As she was about to turn away, she spotted the messy, wind-blown head of Leith, but he was alone. He was walking toward what looked like a garden with a dejected hunch to his shoulders that concerned her.
He did not look well at all. Marking the direction, he was going, she turned and left the room, praying that she could find herself back. Halfway down the corridor, she paused to think if what she was doing was right? She had parted from him in less than half an hour, mayhap he needed time to himself?
Mary lingered and even spun to look back toward the direction she had come from with indecision. I’ll give him this to be by himself. I’ll see him at supper later this evening.
With a heavy heart, Mary went back to her room and closed the door after her. She went to the same window but then doubled back and took one of the chairs over to it. Bracing her arms on the sill, she rested her head on the cradle her arms provided. Taking care to not look at the sun, nor down at Leith, she admired the countryside.
The breeze wafting up from the forest was cool and smelled of heather. The perfume on the air lulled her to sleep and she slipped off to dreamland. It was the cold that woke her just before a knock came to her door. Clouded in darkness, the landscape was totally different. The lands were covered with dark mounds of trees and the moat around the castle was pitch black.
“Miss Thompson?” a calm but concerned voice said from her door. She sat up and wiped her face.
“Yes?” Mary said while standing and closing the shutters. She went to the middle of the room and met the woman
