Chapter 4 #2
Ceana stepped away and smoothed down her damaged gown. The quick retreat pulled at the stiffness in her back, though she refused to acknowledge it beneath his attention.
“Prepare a warm bath and bring food to the east chamber,” Oscar told the nearest maid. “She is to rest before comin’ to me study.”
The maid immediately scurried away to carry out his order.
Several servants glanced at Ceana before lowering their eyes. Their interest made it clear that Oscar rarely returned with an unfamiliar woman wearing a muddy, torn gown.
“We will speak once ye have rested,” he told her.
Ceana adjusted the cloak over her ruined sleeve. “I was afraid ye might forget.”
His gaze paused on her face before he turned toward the castle entrance. Ceana followed, with Tommy and Ness beside her. It was eerie to think of what awaited her somewhere inside the castle.
A blonde-haired girl stood near the doors with her hands folded at her waist. She looked to be about twelve and wore a neat blue gown. Her careful posture reminded Ceana of someone waiting to be examined.
“Welcome home, Faither,” she said as Oscar approached.
“Paisley.” He stopped in front of her. “Have ye been well?”
“Aye, Faither.”
“And yer lessons?”
“I finished them.”
He gave a brief nod.
The greeting contained no easy embrace, and Paisley made no move to ask for one. She looked toward Ceana instead, her warm brown eyes passing quietly over the torn cuff and scraped hand.
Tommy rushed forward and ran one hand over Paisley’s carefully arranged hair. Several blonde strands fell across her face.
“Tommy!” she protested.
He laughed and tried to retreat behind Ness. Ceana caught his shoulder before he escaped. She lowered herself to his height, though her knees objected to the movement. “Was that polite?”
Tommy glanced at Paisley’s ruined hair. “Nay.”
“Then why did ye do it?”
“Because he hates me,” Paisley said before Tommy could respond. She tucked the loose strands behind her ear with practiced care.
“I daenae hate ye,” Tommy replied.
“Ye always ruin me things.”
“I do that because ye become cross.”
“That proves it.”
Tommy’s face tightened. “I only touched yer hair because I missed ye.” He covered his mouth after the confession.
The stable boy paused beside Ness, and one of the servants near the door looked away too late. Even Oscar’s expression changed, though Ceana could not tell whether surprise or concern caused the slight furrow between his eyebrows.
Paisley studied her brother. Tommy kept both hands over his mouth and stared down at the floor.
She stepped closer and straightened the collar of his travel coat. “I missed ye too.”
Tommy lowered his hands as she took Ness’s lead from him and faced the entrance before anyone could give his admission further attention.
Ceana rose slowly, taking in the view before her and what it meant.
Tommy seemed to turn affection into mischief because direct words embarrassed him.
Paisley protected herself through careful behavior and had protected her brother with a small gesture that drew every eye away from him.
Ceana had known them for too little time to understand more.
Oscar looked at her. His attention had sharpened while she watched the children, and she wondered whether she had seen something he preferred strangers to miss.
“Take them inside,” he instructed a maid. He turned to Ceana once Tommy and Paisley had gone ahead. “Eat. Bathe. Then come to me study.”
The order followed her through the entrance hall and up the stairs. The maid assigned to her led her along stone passageways filled with servants. Armed men occupied the lower passages, while baskets of fresh linen moved toward the family chambers. Few objects seemed to exist only for display.
The east chamber had been prepared quickly. A low fire burned in the grate, and clean clothes waited on a chest.
Ceana had barely crossed the threshold when the maid began looking under the bed. She checked behind the curtains next and examined the bed hangings. Ceana watched her test the top of the wardrobe door with cautious fingers.
“What are ye searchin’ for?” she asked.
The maid kept her attention on the doorframe. “I am ensurin’ the chamber is safe, me Lady.”
“Safe from whom?”
The maid opened the wardrobe. A wooden mouse dropped from above on a length of cord and swung inches from her face. She caught it without flinching, though her mouth tightened.
“Master Tommy,” she muttered.
Ceana stared at the carved mouse. “He left that here?”
“A previous guest discovered it less calmly.” The maid untied the cord and slipped the toy into her apron. “I would check yer shoes before puttin’ them on as well.”
Oscar’s warning in the carriage returned to Ceana with greater credibility. Tommy’s innocent smile was not innocent at all.
The maid inspected the bed curtains one final time. “Yer bath will be ready shortly. The chamber is probably safe now.”
She left carrying the wooden mouse.
Ceana watched the door close behind her and looked toward the clean gown waiting on the chest. It was quite fascinating how quickly the room had been prepared for her. However, she couldn’t tell what it would turn into later.
If she would remain here as a guest or captive.