Chapter 14 #2
Anna swallowed, blinking away the emotion that threatened to seize her and make itself seen.
She'd been so worried about meeting her new family, and after Marcus's reaction, she was afraid that she would only ever be viewed as an outsider.
To have Eilidh immediately stepping into a maternal role was unexpected and appreciated in a way Anna couldn't quite comprehend yet.
"Ye can take yer time pickin'," she said, letting go of Anna's arm. "Look inside them if ye want. Just let me ken."
Anna murmured, "I will," before advancing forward.
She took her time, as Eilidh instructed, checking each room.
Finally, she settled on one toward the end of the passageway.
It faced south and had large windows that would let in sunlight.
When she stepped toward them, she was enchanted by the view of the yard.
It was beautiful now, especially with the fall foliage.
"This one," Anna said when she stepped out of the room. "I believe this is the one."
Eilidh came closer, a look of amusement on her lips. Her eyes flitted to the chambers just next door. "Funny ye'd pick this one."
"What do you mean?" Anna asked, looking between the room and Eilidh. "Is there something wrong with it?"
"Nay, nae a thing is wrong with choosin' this space," she said as she looked inside. "Ye just happened to pick the room right next to yer husband's. I didnae even tell ye."
Anna blushed, though she knew she didn't have a reason to. Softly, she explained, "It had the best lighting. And such a beautiful view of the gardens, I…"
"Ye daenae need to explain yerself," Eilidh laughed, her voice lacking any judgement or animosity. "I was just pointin' it out."
"Oh," Anna said shyly, the heat in her cheeks slowly dissipating.
Eilidh walked past her, straight into the chambers. Opening the top of the vanity, she retrieved a key. Then, she walked over to Anna, pressing it securely into her palm. It wasn't until Anna's fingers curled around it that she let go.
"Ye'll want to keep yer room locked, especially at night," she said, her voice gravely serious. It was a far cry from the tone she'd been using.
Anna blinked twice, a fear without source digging into her gut. For the first time since meeting Hugh, she wondered if he might be a threat. He was a complete stranger, yet she'd chosen to trust him, never stopping to assess the danger he could pose to her.
"That's…" she trailed off, unable to articulate herself, too many things swirling in her mind.
"Oh, ye daenae have to worry about Hugh," Eilidh said as if reading her thoughts. "In fact, ye're safer because ye're so close to him. If anythin' were to happen, he's right next to ye."
"Then… Why do I need to keep my door locked?" Her posture was tight, unease settling behind her breastbone. "Am I… not safe here?"
"Nay, ye're safe," Eilidh promised, grabbing hold of Anna's fingers and pressing them tighter around the key. "Ye simply never ken who's lurkin' around the castle. It's open to so many people. Best ye daenae take any chances."
"I suppose that makes sense," Anna said, forcing a smile. The thought made her feel a bit better, but she still felt as if something was off.
She told herself it was because she'd never lived in a place like this. The manor had only her, her father, and their staff. Castle McDonald, however, served the village. It wouldn't surprise her if it were entirely impossible to keep track of who was inside at any given moment.
Before Anna could get another word out, a maid approached them. She was smiling softly, her red hair pulled primly out of her face. It seemed as though she was pleased with being the one carrying out her task.
"Lady McDonald," she said, giving Anna respect she didn't feel she had earned. "I've come to fetch ye. Laird McDonald has called for ye. He'd like to see ye in his study."
"His… his study?" Anna asked, glancing between the two women. Her heart hammered as she tried to find a reason why she was being summoned. "I… Have I done something wrong?"
"Nay, ye havenae," Eilidh said fondly, placing her hand kindly on Anna's back. "He probably just wants to see ye. Or to tell ye what his meetin' was about. I imagine they have some questions about ye."
"Oh," Anna said, nodding as she slipped the key in her pocket. She pulled Hugh's borrowed cloak tighter around her shoulders. She felt a bit better with the garment wrapped around her. "If that's the case, then I should probably meet him."
"Aye, me Lady," the maid said, stepping back with a slight bounce in her step. "He didnae seem to be in a foul mood. I think he just wanted to see ye."
Anna hummed her agreement, though her mind whirled as she walked with the servant.
She wanted to believe the two women, but something about this castle didn't sit right with her.
It was a beautiful place with excellent people, but Eilidh's warning, Marcus's dislike of her presence, and Callum's general demeanor made her hair stand on end.
All I have to do is keep my door locked at night. So long as the sun is out and there are friendly faces nearby, I'll be all right. I'm sure of it.