The Highlander by Ruth Ryan Langan

Author:Ruth Ryan Langan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: love story, historical romance, scottish romance, romance classic, romance saga, scotland romance, highlander romance, romance 1200s, scottish warrior
Publisher: Ruth Ryan Langan

Chapter Thirteen

“My lady.” Rupert waited until she had stopped her agitated pacing.

She turned to where he stood in front of the door, as solid, as sturdy as a giant oak. “Aye, Rupert?”

“I wish to thank you.”

“Thank me?” With thoughts of Dillon still crowding her mind, she seemed unable to focus on the lad.

“For keeping secret the fact that I helped you.”

“Ah.” She gave him a gentle smile. “It was little enough to thank you for your kindness. It shall remain our secret. Now—” she crossed the room “—it is time to join Mistress MacCallum and the servants below stairs.”

Now, more than ever, she was eager to use her newfound freedom to seek a means of escape. And her best means of escape was to learn as much as she could about the structure of this fortress.

Rupert opened the door and held it for her, then moved along by her side.

They found the housekeeper and her legions of serving wenches in the scullery, where duties were being meted out. Heads turned and voices stilled as the Englishwoman stepped into their midst.

Flame, her arms crossed over her chest, watched in silence.

Mistress MacCallum seemed truly flustered. It was obvious that she had never before given orders to a woman of noble birth.

Realizing how important it was to gain her confidence, Leonora decided to make it easy on the housekeeper. “Perhaps you would like me to start in the great hall,” she offered.

From the first time she had seen the hall, Leonora had known that it was the center of the fortress. There were many doors leading from there to outer passageways. It had to offer her a route for escape.

Whatever guilt she felt at betraying Rupert, she cast aside. This was war. She had to try to make it safely back to her father.

The housekeeper blinked and looked incredulously at Flame. The cavernous great hall was the largest room in the keep. The task of keeping it clean was a daunting one, and only the lowliest of scullery maids was ever assigned to it. Flame, sharing the older woman’s thoughts, allowed a smug smile to touch her lips. It was the sort of work she would have gladly meted out to the English dog.

“Aye, m’lady,” the housekeeper said. “A fine place to begin. Tell me what ye will need.”

“Little more than strong backs and brooms and buckets of water. Since the day is already half over, we will gather the old rushes into bundles for the fire, and sweep and scour. The morrow will be soon enough to lay clean rushes.” She looked up. “Do you agree, Mistress MacCallum?”

“Oh, aye.” The woman nodded so vigorously, her jowls jiggled. Then, remembering her manners, she turned in deference to the sister of the laird. “And ye, lass. Are ye in agreement, as well?”

Flame shrugged. “My brother has said I must remain and observe. But he did not say I had to share the work or speak to the prisoner. Continue, Mistress MacCallum.”

To make certain that

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