Chapter 13
The silence told Madison it was well into the night. The fire had burned down to embers, casting the chamber in dim, flickering shadows.
Her mouth went dry, as she reached for the doorknob. Again. For about what felt like a thousandth time. Her hand trembled, hovering inches from the cold metal.
The moment her fingers touched the steel, she jerked back as if burned. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She clutched her hand to her chest, backing away from the door until her legs hit the bed frame.
The room closed in around her. She couldn't breathe—couldn't get enough air no matter how hard she tried. Her vision blurred at the edges.
She sank onto the bed, gasping.
Leave. Just open the door and step out.
It was a mantra she’d had playing in her head since she ran from Theodore in the great hall.
Her heart raced as she glared at the wooden door as if it were a traitor.
Her stomach twisted from hunger and nerves.
She cowered into the bedding, grasping the feathered filled pillow and squeezing it will all her might.
Madison’s raspy scream cut through the goose down bedding.
Fear mingled with terror as she collapsed defeated on the bed. Leave, he said. As if it was something she could readily do. Even now as the castle rested, she couldn’t even step out into the still hallway without inducing absolute terror to cripple her.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to think of something else. Anything else. Not the door. Not the cage. Not the hunt.
Hallie.
When was the last time she'd seen her sister's face? The market—Hallie laughing with her friends, ribbons in her hair. Before everything went dark.
Madison's throat tightened. Were they looking for her? Did they think she was dead? Her chest ached with the weight of questions she couldn't answer.
She could almost hear Hallie's voice—that indignant tone she got when Madison beat her at their games. "Yer legs are too long! Ye always catch me faster than I catch ye."
Madison had always told her the same thing: "Ye'll be big soon enough, and then there'll be nay stoppin' ye."
A sob caught in her throat. Would Hallie ever be big enough? Or would she stay small and afraid, wondering what happened to her sister?
Madison pressed her palms against her eyes, but the tears came anyway.
“Nothin’ to stop me,” Madison whispered as she pulled herself up.
She clung to the post of the bed, staring at the door as if she could wield it to become something else.
Running the back of her hand over her upper lip, Madison steadied her nerves.
Slowly, she rose from the bed, clinging to the post as if it were her life line.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” she muttered to the still room. The pop of the fire caused her to jump. Every nerve fired as if she were a canister of black powder. With her heart fluttering and no danger present, Madison started laughing.
With every emotion spent, she stared at the door once again.
Only this time, it didn’t look so imposing.
She took a deep breath and let go of the post. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she took a step forward, then another till she was at the door.
Confidence settled on her like a cozy blanket.
“The hunt is over. Theodore made certain of that. I’m safe.”
Madison turned the knob and pulled the door open.
To her surprise there was no guard standing post. Her ears perked as she tried to hear any resemblance of life.
She waited in the silent hallway for a moment and then she heard it.
Madison froze. There was no doubt in her mind that she picked up the distinct sound of steps on a stone floor.
Without hesitating, Madison bolted for her chamber door and closed it. Her heart pounded as she rushed to the bed and launched herself into the mattress. She threw the blanket over her head and waited.
“Idiot,” she grumbled lowly to herself as every muscle tightened as the anticipation grew. Maybe she wasn’t in trouble as she thought she was. Hope sprang up from her as she pried back the blanket.
The footsteps grew louder. There was no doubt in her mind that whoever was coming, was coming for her. A light rap on the door caused her body to tense.
“Me lady?” a small female voice rang out over the door’s groaning. Madison didn’t move until the scent of honey biscuits swirled about her nose. “Are ye awake?”
“Are ye sure ye have the right room?” Madison asked as she slowly peeled back the blanket to reveal herself to the servant.
"Aye," the servant said with a warm smile.
"The laird said ye might be hungry, seein' as how ye left before supper was served.
I'm sorry these arenae fresh from the oven—there was a lot of clean up in the kitchens after the feast ended, and it took me longer than I'd hoped to get everythin' together for ye. "
Madison’s eyes shifted to the tray and all the food she had piled on it. If it wasn’t for the smell, it was certainly the sight of it. Madison had never seen so much food piled on to one plate before. Jumping from the bed, she moved to the small table where the servant placed the food.
“Ye’ll find stuffed hen, some cheeses and the bread. Although, if ye’d prefer the scones, I can go fetch them for ye,” the servant said. Madison shook her head as the aroma of the honey made her mouth water. Just thinking of having the servant take the food away cause Madison to reach for the tray.
“That’s quite all right, ye dinnae have to do that on me account.
In fact, I’m more than pleased with what ye’ve brought.
Thank ye,” Madison said as she snatched one of the soft biscuits off the plate.
She sank her teeth into the soft, buttery biscuit.
Honey oozed from the sides as Madison closed her eyes.
She couldn’t remember the last time she has something taste so good.
Instantly she was transported to her home.
She wasn’t in the chambers of the castle MacLeon, but next to the hearth of her family’s bakery.
Just as soon as she swallowed, the memory vanished. She opened her eyes and smiled back at the servant.
“These taste amazin’,” Madison mumbled as she scarfed down the rest of her biscuit before reaching for another.
“Thank ye, spent all day collectin’ the honey. Luckily for ye, I’ve been cravin’ them for days. I was pleased to find the hive when I did,” the servant said as Madison offered one of the biscuits from the tray.
“Oh, thank ye. I cannae seem to stay full. Suppose that’s how it is when ye’re about ready to drop,” the servant said. Madison glanced at her a moment, confused by what she said until she noticed the servant’s belly. It looked as if the baby could come at any moment.
“Ye look like ye could give birth any day now,” Madison said as the servant rubbed her stomach.
“Aye, been that way for a while. And I can tell ye, I’ll be ready for when it comes. I’m Eliza by the way.”
“Madison.”
“Aye, everyone kens who ye are. Ye’re the talk of the castle.
Everyone has been talkin’ about ye since ye arrived,” Eliza said with a cheerful smile.
All Madison could do was roll her eyes. She should have known that she would be the talk of the town.
But hearing the truth was different than just believing it.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Madison reached for some of the cheese.
Nibbling on it like a mouse, Madison tried to brush off the fact that she was the most interesting thing to have happened to the castle in some time.
But in the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help but notice Eliza’s sideways glances.
“Oh, my,” Eliza said as she started moving about. “I swear this wee one likes to kick whenever I sit too long. Poor thing hasnae got much space in there to move.”
“And ye’re still workin’? Shouldnae ye be restin’ or somethin’?”
“Aye, the laird lets me rest when I can. But for the most part, it’s the little one that’s keepin’ me up.
Cannae get comfortable to save me life. But as soon as he finds someone to tend to the kitchen, the laird said he’d let me have a good rest. I think it has more to do with the fact he doesnae want me givin’ birth on his floors. But I’ll take what I can get.”
“He said that ye?” Madison asked as she nibbled on the chicken.
“Aye, he did. The man might be a bit rough about the edges and such. But deep down he’s a gentleman. He’s got his heart in the right place.”
Madison glanced to the fire, as her chest tightened. Eliza’s words settled on her like the dark settles on the night.
“He’s an honorable man, one many women would love to have for a husband,” Eliza interjected. She spoke with such admiration for her laird that it pained Madison.
“Ye speak kindly of yer laird.”
“As I should,” Eliza answered. “He upholds his oaths. He’s never been cruel. Well, I take that back. There’s been only a single moment I can think of when he was cruel. But I promise it was due.”
“What happened?” Madison asked, as she felt the prick of curiosity jab at her. Eliza shook her head as she grabbed a cube of cheese and started nibbling.
“I apologize,” Eliza said with a shake of her head. “That is nae me story to tell ye. If that’s somethin’ ye want to ken, ye’re goin' to have to bring it up with the laird. I ken better than to get myself involved in other’s affairs.”
Madison watched Eliza for a moment, trying to find the right words.
Everything about Theodore confused her—his roughness one moment, his gentleness the next.
The way he'd ordered the entire castle made welcoming for her, yet couldn't seem to look at her without that intensity that made her pulse race.
"What can ye tell me about him?" Madison finally asked. "About the laird. I cannae figure him out."
“What do ye mean?” Eliza picked a strip of the chicken, her expression curious.
Madison hesitated a moment as she chewed on the words she wanted to say. “He… kissed me.”
Eliza’s eyes widened with shock as her smile widened. “Is that so?”
“It was just once. But it came on so abruptly and ended just as fast. But I daenae understand why. I believe he did it out of pity, or some strange sense of duty. But the thought of that makes me heart ache. When I see him, when I even get around him, I daenae ken what happens. It’s like I cannae think.
He steals me wits if that makes any sense. ”
"Aye." Eliza's knowing smile made Madison's cheeks warm. "That sounds like attraction, lass."
Madison blinked. "What?"
"Ye're drawn to him. And from what I've seen, he's just as affected by ye." Eliza leaned closer, her voice softening. “The laird’s a man who carried much on his shoulders. He’s nae one to give his heart away so easily or without thought. If he’s shown ye kindness, lass, then it’s genuine. He’s nae one to play games.”
“So, ye trust him?” Madison asked arching an eyebrow as she started to wonder if maybe she should trust Eliza at her word.
“With me life. The laird has done nothin’ but lead with a firm, but righteous hand. He’s a leader if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Why and how?” Madison asked as she finished off the last biscuit. Her stomach felt overly full, but she wasn’t about to complain.
“Because I’ve seen him at his worst, and at his best. And even when he lost his temper, he never struck out at those who dinnae deserve his ire. Daenae get me wrong. He can be cruel. Most men can, but only when he wants to be.”
Madison bobbed her head as Eliza stretched before collecting the empty tray. With as much food as there was on it, Madison was surprised by how little remained.
“If there’s nothin’ else I can do for ye,” Eliza said as she made a beeline for the door. “I’ll take me leave. The bairn is twistin’ on me somethin’ fierce at the moment, and ye look like ye could sleep.”
“Thank ye, Eliza,” Madison said as she wished she could pry a bit more out of the maid about Theodore.
But as Madison watched Eliza closed the door, one thought kept popping up in Madison’s mind.
Although she was certain the laird was a decent man.
She couldn’t help but wonder who had made the laird so made and why.