Elaine shrugged. “It’s just a hobby, really.”
“I see.” Duncan made no more comment about it as he looked further around her chamber. A bath had been prepared, the steam rising from the hot water in the metal tub. “Well, I will leave ye tae tak’ yer bath. Come tae my chambers after dinner.”
CHAPTERSEVEN
Elaine turned to face Duncan as he exited her room. She ran quietly to the door, just in time to see him enter his own chamber. As dusk fell, she grabbed a shawl and made her way down the corridor. She needed to get to the castle walls before it got completely dark. The mysterious man in the horrible mask would be expecting her. And with Rhona in his grasp, she didn't want to do anything that would irritate him.
Duncan had startled herwhen he grabbed her from behind. His strange expression indicated that he had not anticipated her defensive reaction. The story about the brothel women was not a good one, but he seemed to swallow it, thankfully.
Elaine walked through the castle, thinking about all the lies she'd told in the past two days. She had never been so dishonest in her life, and it bothered her. It wasn't just that she was afraid of being caught; of course she was. More than that, she was filled with dread when she was forced to think of yet another lie. Shame and guilt were uneasy bedfellows for her, and neither pleased her.
When she stepped onto the cobblestones outside, the air was cool. Elaine was relieved she had remembered to bring a shawl. While most people passing through the courtyard didn't give her a second glance as she rushed by, one or two did. They were probably unaccustomed to seeing a woman dressed in such garb running around. Ignoring them, she proceeded to the gate, where a guard was stationed,givingher a suspicious look.
“I’m meeting my friend,” Elaine said. “She has some things I need.”
He gave her another look. He opened the gate and let her pass through, assuming she posed no threat. She looked one way and then the other outside the walls, but she couldn't find the mystery man. She had walked a short distance when she heard a soft call.
“Over here.”
Turning toward the voice, she strained her eyes and finally saw him standing on the edge of the forest, waving toward her. Elaine hurried across the damp grass in the dulling light, careful to watch her footing, until she eventually reached him.
“I nearly thought ye were nae going tae bother.”
“It’s nae easy leaving the castle when all eyes are upon ye,” Elaine defended. “But I’m here now.”
“Here,” he said, holding out his hand.
Elaine took the small piece of cloth and looked at him, frowning.
How was a piece of cloth supposed tae help her retrieve the laird’s ring?
“Unfold it,” he demanded.
She complied, straining to see amid the darkness, and finally seeing a lock of hair inside.
“I wanted tae give ye a wee bit o’ motivation,” he growled, still clearly disguising his voice. “That’s a lock of yer sister’s hair tae prove tae ye that I have her. Ye’ve been in there two days and I’m running out o’ patience.”
“I’m trying,” Elaine pleaded. “Please, dinnae hurt her.”
“I’m going tae mak’ it a little easier. I’ll create a diversion. Then ye can search for the ring. The laird keeps it in a red velvet box beneath his bed. He takes it off when he bathes, so that’s when I’ll cause the distraction.”
It shouldn’t have been important, but Elaine could not help herself but ask.
“How dae ye ken all o’ this?”
“Never ye mind,” he spat. “Ye carry on asking questions like that, it’ll be yer sister’s finger instead of a lock of hair the next time I see ye. Now, away with ye.”
* * *
At dinner, Elaine entered the Great Hall with trepidation. Except for Duncan, she knew no one in there. But she wasn't about to walk up to the top table and sit next to him and his mother. She assumed the man on the other side of him was Keir, and she quickly recognized Finn, who sat beside him. She suddenlybecame aware of the derogatory stares from the other servants seated around—their scowlingexpressions lyingbeneath theirhooded eyelids.
They hardly hid their whispers as they glared in her direction. Elaine felt isolated and uneasy knowing she was clearly disliked. Of course, she shouldn't have cared. What did it matter if the servants couldn't stand her? Shewas there to get Rhona back safely.Yet, it did matter. It hurt her to be despised by people she had never met.
From the whispers she had overheard, the laird’s mother had no love for her either, which was likely what inspired the servants to feel the same way. Elaine could hardly blame the woman. Having a lady of pleasure living in the castle was hardly her wish.
After she took a seat away from the others, a plate was placed in front of her and food was slopped onto it. The maid who served her muttered some unspeakablewords under her breath and hurried away. Elaine ate her bread from the plates already left on the long wooden tables, keeping her head down and trying not to look at anyone else.
“Ye’re looking a wee bit lonely there, lass.”