Chapter 9
Amanda awoke after a deep slumber. She was roused by the sound of someone moving about in her chamber and felt self-conscious. She jerked up and cast her gaze around the room, wondering if some servant had made a mistake and not realized that the room was occupied.
“Oh, ye are awake, finally,” Ann said.
Amanda blinked, rubbed her eyes, and then looked around to make sure that she was actually sure of her surroundings. Yes, she was in Logan’s keep, and she had not been dreaming.
“What are you doing here, Ann?” she asked.
Ann was busy laying out some clothes for the day and arranging some trinkets like jewelry out on the bed, as well as putting out a hairbrush, which Amanda was grateful to see. Ann turned and put her hands on her hips, scowling.
“I came as soon as I was able. What are ye thinking spending the night in the keep here without any warning?”
“I did send word back.”
“Aye, word, some messenger who didnae know his arm from his elbow! I hae never known ye tae act like this. What haes gotten intae ye? Are ye really gaeing tae let yerself be charmed by the laird’s son?”
Amanda swung her legs out of bed. “It’s not what you think at all.
I happened to bump into Logan at the market yesterday, and as we were walking along, we heard a cry from an alley.
There happened to be a child, a small girl, in some distress.
She would not speak, and she had been wounded so badly she was bleeding.
We had no choice but to come to a healer, and Logan said he had one in his keep.
Unfortunately the child would not leave without me, and I thought it best that I stay so that I am here when she wakes up. ”
“Hmm, well, one of these days ye putting yerself in harm’s way is gaeing tae get ye in trouble.”
“I am hardly taking a risk. The girl needed help and I was not about to turn my back on her. How is your niece, by the way?” Amanda asked pointedly, as if to remind Ann that this girl was not the first one she had cared for.
“She’s fine,” Ann grumbled, and then sighed. “I just dinnae like ye gaeing off like this. I’m nae used tae it. I like order and routine.”
“I don’t think there’s any harm in trying to change things. Besides, I have made a new friend.”
“Oh aye?” Ann said.
“Yes. Logan is a fine man, and it’s clear he has a grand sense of responsibility for the clan. In fact, I think it’s a shame that I have never made his acquaintance before.”
“Oh aye, I’m sure yer husband would hae loved tae hear about ye taking walks with the laird’s son, and I dinnae think people would hae thought of him well for inviting a married woman tae his keep.
If ye wanted tae begin another war between Scotland and England, well, they hae clashed for less,” Ann said.
Amanda did not think her movements would cause so much attention to cause a war, nor did she think Hamilton would have minded. He didn’t care for much of what she did, but she was not going to argue the point.
“I shall be sure to make sure you are included the next time something unexpected happens,” Amanda said wryly.
“That’s all I ask. I just dinnae like nae being by yer side. People dinnae know how tae take care of ye like I can,” Ann said.
There was something touching about the way she acted around Amanda, albeit it was a little stifling as well. After all, Amanda didn’t consider herself to be a fragile person, and she had not considered herself to be in danger at all. Then again, it was pleasing to have a friend beside her.
Amanda rose from the bed and picked up the hairbrush, feeling a great relief as she pulled the brush through the knotted hair. She winced in pain but endured it because it was only going to get worse.
“Now, I hae brought ye a range of clothes because I didnae know what ye wanted.”
“Thank you, Ann. I think something simple is in order. My dress from yesterday is covered in blood.”
“Blood?” Ann gasped, looking shocked.
Amanda shot her a look.
“From the girl’s wound,” she explained.
Ann looked relieved.
“I should say, ye give me a fright! What else haes happened here then?”
“Nothing much. I have mostly been concerned about the girl. I had dinner with Logan and his family last night.”
“Oh aye? And how was that? I hae heard that his da is sick.”
“Indeed, he is quite frail, although he managed to make it to the dinner table. He had to be escorted away by his sons, though. They are fine people, although they have experienced their share of sorrow.”
“Are ye meaning what happened with his poor wife?” Ann asked.
Amanda looked up, pausing briefly because she was startled.
“You knew about this?”
“Of course. Everyone here knows. It happened nae long before ye arrived. I still remember the wedding now. Oh, he looked sae handsome in his tunic. She was pretty tae, a wee bit plain, but she haed a good heart. Then she fell with child and, well, we rarely saw her. Word drifted around the village that something was wrong. Some people thought that she was cursed. They haed healers come from all over. Only Deirdre was able tae make her feel better, although in the end she could nae make it better. And then we heard what haed happened… Oh, it was sae awful. We didnae see Logan for days.”
“I’m surprised you never told me about it.”
“Well, it’s nae the kind of thing ye think about. And I didnae think ye would like tae talk about that kind of thing, ye know, given yer history…” Ann looked away awkwardly, and Amanda went back to brushing her hair.
“Yes, well, it is quite upsetting and I have tried to assure Logan that he need not feel guilty. He takes plenty of burdens upon himself. I think he sees himself as one of these stones that holds this keep together. I don’t know how a man can take on so much responsibility without breaking.
Hamilton certainly wouldn’t have done such a thing. ”
“Well, Logan is a rare breed. Everyone respects him. It’s just a shame that he haes nae got a family. I suppose it’s something that ye share,” Ann said.
When Amanda looked at her, she noticed the twinkling, teasing gleam that resided in Ann’s eyes. Amanda rose and went to inspect the dresses.
“You are wicked, Ann,” Amanda said. “I have just lost my husband, and Logan is still hurt by the past. I was merely speaking about him as a friend, that’s all. What’s more is that I barely know him. I only met him yesterday, and I have shared one meal with him and one walk. That is all.”
She spoke brusquely, but perhaps she spoke too soon as Ann did not seem deterred. She had this smug, knowing look on her face as though she was privy to something that Amanda was not. Amanda merely ignored her and also ignored the warm rush of blood to her cheeks as well.
She hoped that Logan would not be offended by wearing her own clothes and was much more glad to be in something that fit her properly than the dress that Logan had allowed her to borrow.
Ann helped her into it. This time Amanda allowed her hair to fall along her shoulders freely.
She felt more relaxed than she had the day before, and perhaps it was simply because Ann was there…
or perhaps it was because she was excited to see Logan again.
There was a knock on the door, and she knew it to be his.
He looked fresh and greeted her with a smile, although he seemed surprised to see Ann there.
Dawn had barely risen. Both she and, she presumed, Logan had expected her clothes to arrive later in the morning.
They had both underestimated Ann’s intention to find Amanda, though.
“Did ye sleep well?” Logan asked.
“I did, thank you. This is Ann, my maid,” Amanda said.
Ann stepped forward and bowed, showing the proper respect for the man who was to be her future laird.
“It’s an honor tae welcome me intae yer home,” she said.
Logan nodded and then turned his attention back to Amanda. “I just heard from Deirdre that our wee friend is awake. Would ye like tae gae and see her?”
“Let’s!” Amanda said with excitement.
Logan held the door open for her and Ann, although Ann showed deference for Amanda and Logan by remaining a few steps away.
“I hope she is not too scared.”
“I’m sure she will nae be. Deirdre haes seen tae it that she will receive some breakfast. I just hope that she feels more comfortable with talking. We’re never gaeing tae find out what happened tae her if she will nae tell us.”
Amanda knew that he spoke the truth, but she wasn’t sure how they were going to get the girl to talk if she wasn’t willing to. She hoped that the connection she had formed with the girl would be enough.
They went to Deirdre’s chamber and were greeted by the healer.
“I dinnae think she’s in pain any longer. She seems well and is over the shock. I hae stopped the bleeding, although she will hae a scar. She haes nae spoken yet, though. I’m hoping she is saving that for ye,” Deirdre said.
Amanda was dismayed to learn that the child would suffer a scar.
It meant that she would never be allowed to forget this horrible thing that had happened to her.
She glanced at Logan before they stepped into the room, and then she entered, hoping that they would finally learn something of value, something that would lead them on the path to finding the person who was responsible for this.
And, if nothing else, she hoped that she would learn the girl’s name.