Highlander Most Wanted Page 0,27
on the other.”
Brodie was unsmiling as he said his next words, and yet there was something odd in his voice. “I will be across the hall from both of you. If you have need of anything, I expect you to come to me.”
“Or me,” Bowen said.
Taliesan smiled, her cheeks turning pink and her eyes sparkling with warmth. “We will.”
CHAPTER 11
Genevieve sagged onto the bed and placed her palms down on the soft mattress, caressing the linens in an absent manner. A bed was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in a year. Not since leaving her own chamber in her father’s keep.
She’d been spoiled. Shamelessly so. Her every need was seen to. She’d been loved, pampered, and doted on.
Sorrow plagued her, and she tried her best to shake it from her chest and heart.
The only time she’d been allowed on a real bed was when Ian was using her. She’d grown to dread such a thing as a mattress, for as long as she was on the hard floor with the thin mat she slept on, she was safe from his attentions.
Bowen had seen to her comfort by having someone light a fire in the hearth and leave a jug of water by the washbasin near the window. The furs had been tightly drawn and secured, and candles had been strategically placed and lit around the room, so that it was softly illuminated by the warm glow from the small flames.
She should crave the isolation. She should be relieved and grateful that no one would bother her. And yet she felt hopelessly alone. Fearful and edgy.
In all honesty, she had no idea what to do with herself.
She sat utterly still and absorbed the change in the direction of her thoughts. Her plans. Everything had been sorted out in her mind, and then Bowen Montgomery had changed it all with his bold directive.
It should chafe her that he ordered her to stay within the keep. For an entire year she’d been subjected to the authority and rule of a man who had no care for her other than the misery he could cause her. And yet something about Bowen Montgomery made her stupidly … hopeful.
Ah, that word again. Hope. How sweet it was.
A knock sounded at her door, and she frowned. But before she could rise to answer the summons the door opened and Taliesan stuck her head inside.
“May I come in?”
Genevieve relaxed and motioned for Taliesan to enter.
The other woman carefully navigated her way into the room and limped heavily toward the bed where Genevieve sat.
“Is aught amiss?” Genevieve asked in concern.
Taliesan sank heavily onto the edge of the bed, rubbing her thigh through her skirts. “Nay. I was too excited to sleep, and the room is quite beautiful. ’Tis nearly as large as the entire cottage where I lived with my kin.”
Genevieve took in the tightness of Taliesan’s lips, despite the fact that nothing else in her demeanor suggested that anything was wrong. “Your leg is paining you, aye?”
Taliesan grimaced and looked down to where the heel of her palm was planted into her thigh. “Aye, but ’tis nothing I haven’t dealt with before. ’Tis the way of things and naught to do about it.”
“I’m sorry,” Genevieve said softly.
Taliesan sent her a startled look. “Whatever for?”
“That you suffer pain. I wouldn’t wish such a thing on anyone.”
“You’ve a good heart, Genevieve McInnis,” Taliesan said. “ ’Tis glad I am that we are friends.”
It was still an odd sensation to think of having an actual friend among the McHughs. It made little sense. The McHugh clan represented everything that was evil in the world. ’Twas true enough that Ian was but one man and that she couldn’t hold the rest of his clan responsible for his actions, but no one had stepped forward to help her. No one had said this isn’t right.
It was foolish of her to expend any anger or resentment over the matter. What, really, could any of the clansmen have done?
But simmering in the back of her mind was the memory of how they’d treated her. With such disdain and venom when they’d known full well that she was a victim. And that was what she couldn’t forgive.
They could have shown her compassion. Even if they couldn’t go against their laird and his son, they could at least have looked kindly upon her.
She wanted to hate them all and be done with this place, yet she couldn’t conjure any dislike of Taliesan—nor could she ignore Bowen’s edict