It was only when she sank in, she felt her body crying out in agony even as the fragrant hot water felt like ecstasy. She had not realized the grueling trip had left her exhausted, and she was now acutely aware of muscles she never knew existed.
“I’ll leave you to bathe,” Rinalda giggled while handing her a rag and a sliver of soap. “Here are a towel and a dress. It’s an old one of mine. I’ll be outside.”
Mary wanted to linger but she knew she did not have the liberty. So, after enjoying a few moments of bliss, she washed from her head to her toes, washing her hair twice and sagged back to enjoy the last warmth. Reluctantly, she got up and dried off, tugged Rinalda’s old dress on and twisted her hair into a braid.
She left to see the woman, who she dared to term her friend, waiting. Smiling with the lovely feeling of being clean. “All is well?”
Nodding, Mary followed her out of the room and right into the outdoors. As the sun’s rays hit her, she spun to look behind her. The infirmary was a single building where it could be easily accessed by anyone. There were no cumbersome stairs to take.
Smart, the time it takes to climb stairs would allow an injured person to die.
“The Laird is handsome, isnae he?” Rinalda said and Mary tripped over her feet at the off-tangent question. Her heart was in her throat and her skin was burning. She did not need to look in a mirror to know that her face was scarlet.
She nearly choked out a frantic exclamation but bit her lip just in time. Her eyes were down and her mind was in a frenzy. Rinalda had seen it! She did not dare look up until her companion laughed.
“Ye dinnae have to be ashamed, Mary, we all ken it. He is a handsome man, just like his faither is,” Rinalda said as she guided Mary down the gentle slope and toward another building.
The mention of Leith’s father had her sobering. She had not seen the man, but then again, she had not seen much of anyone really except his mother, the other two women, and Rinalda.
She was taken to another building, a low one, with the same set up as the infirmary. Beds were lined up on the wall, some only having sheets on and others having footlockers at their sides. “This is the women servants’ quarters,” Rinalda said as they passed a window. “Over yonder is the one for the men. There are cottages for married servants too but they are in the castle.” At the very end of the line, she gestured to a bed, “That’s yers and this is mine.”
“Settle in for supper,” Rinalda advised. “We have our own living halls and washing rooms. Better than most clans who let their servants live in the stews.” A hand was rested on her shoulder, “Ye’ll be able to live here in peace, I promise ye.”
* * *
She had been placed in the castle for three days now and her station was in the kitchen as a scullery maid. Rinalda had been her strength in those days, scrounging up more dresses for her and taking her over like a baby bird under a mother hen’s wing.
With her hands still in the sudsy water, Mary used her shoulder to wipe some sweat off her brow. She had not seen Leith in three days but knew it was for the best. Her work was strenuous but not unbearable. She had made a few acquaintances but felt it best to not ingratiate herself too much. Rinalda was the only friend she would need.
Twice she had run into a man with a full head of silver hair and had blue eyes that had all the warm comfort of ice when he looked at her. She did not have to have the prophetic abilities of Jeremiah, but she knew that man hated her, but for what exactly, she had no clue.
Most of the other servants were kind to her when they heard she was mute and were ready to help her by pointing out a way she should go or bringing her supper when she was not willing to eat in the servants’ hall. There was, however, one washing-woman, who on Mary’s best days, did not even acknowledge her but on her worst, passed by with a dirty, scornful look. As if she was looking at a bucket of muck.
“Her name is Fiona,” Rinalda said one morning. “She doesnae like outsiders and has more desires than what is good for her.”
Mary had never gotten an explanation of those cryptic words but she did think she needed them. She was wondering when she would ever see Leith again when a hush ran through the kitchens. Her lips pursed, and she blew a strand of hair from her face when the servants around her parted like the parting of the Red Sea. Looking up she spotted Leith coming through. He was nodding and speaking to those who he met but he had his eyes on her.
Every muscle in her body tensed when he finally made his way to her. Reaching for a rag he held it out to her, “Mary, lass, dry yer hands, I’d like to speak to ye for a moment.”
As she dried her hands, she could feel looks digging into her skin…especially Fiona’s. She wanted to tell Leith that this was not the best way but she did not dare. With her hands dry, she followed him out, trying her best to not cringe under the looks.
14
Three nights and four days of hell.
Leith had faced many worries in the past three days which had stalled him from seeing Mary. His father had swung from one end of the mental stability rope to the other, being calm at one moment then becoming an untamable beast at the other. Leith had been forced
