Chapter 7

Released From The Comfortable Prison

The knock pulled Holly from her sleep. She did not think she had slept deeper and better than she had the previous night. Light filtered through the uncovered window, and by the brightness, she could tell the morning was well on its way. She stretched in the bed. She might have gone back to sleep if the knock had not sounded at the door again.

“Aye?” she called from the bed.

“Ye can leave the room whenever ye wish,” the reply came from the other side. It was a familiar voice—Eric, her husband’s man-at-arms.

Holly didn’t know how to respond, so she repeated, “Aye.”

The heavy footsteps retreated down the hallway. She hadn’t known she had been a prisoner in her room, but she did take some relief in the fact that there was no immediate danger to her or the Laird.

She did not know if she was relieved that the Laird had not visited her during the night. She was a woman, and she had the urges and needs that all women had, but she was terrified of satisfying those urges with Ragnall. He had shown her he could be beastly, and she knew men acted on their urges much more than women did. Did that mean he would also be a beast between the sheets?

Yet, she wanted to get it over with, too. As soon as she was with child, she would not have to worry about sharing a bed with him anymore.

Holly got out of bed and went to the door, still in her nightgown.

“Is anyone there?” she asked, pressing her face to the wood.

When there was no answer, she quietly opened the door and looked out. There was no one there.

I’m in this by meself now.

Holly had a personal maid back home in Gallacher Castle.

Home. She wondered if MacPherson Castle would ever feel like home.

“Get a hold of yerself,” she muttered.

She had taken care of her four sisters, and she could take care of herself. She took a deep breath and then started her day.

It was more difficult to put her dress on, but she managed it and felt some accomplishment in doing so. Then she poured some water from the pitcher into the bowl and washed her face. She was ready to face the world.

Holly exited her bedroom and wandered through the castle. She made sure to make a mental note of where her room was, should she wish or need to return.

Her footsteps echoed off the flagstones as she walked. She pressed her hand to the bare stone beneath the paintings in the long corridors and let it drag across the smooth surface. She did not need to know anything about the Laird to know there was history within the castle walls.

She found that MacPherson Castle was not all that different from Gallacher Castle. The layout was different, but not by much. There were walls surrounding the outer buildings, which formed an additional barricade around the keep. There were multiple courtyards to explore.

Holly spotted Eric in one of them—he was hard to miss—and as he walked over to her, she wondered if anyone or anything could stop him. People naturally moved out of his way, but he might walk straight through a wall if it got in his way.

“Eric,” she started as he neared.

“I dinnae have time,” he replied curtly.

Holly stopped in the middle of the courtyard and turned to watch him walk past her. He suddenly halted and turned back to face her.

“I’ve to teach ye how to wield a blade,” he stated.

“A blade?”

“Aye. When I’m less busy.”

“Eric, do ye ken where me husband is?” Holly asked.

“He’s busy, too,” he replied, before turning on his heel and continuing on his way.

Holly watched him until he entered one of the rough stone arches leading into the keep—the darkness swallowed him quickly. There were a few other people in the courtyard, and she turned to each of them and smiled, greeting them. They greeted her back. She did not even know if they knew who she was.

The smell of burnt wood hung in the air, multiple fires aglow unseen across the castle—some were to warm the castle, some to forge steel, and others to cook food.

Holly’s stomach rumbled at the thought of food. She had no idea what was expected of her. Should she have gone to the breakfast room and dined with Ragnall to start the day? Was there somewhere else she should have gone? What was she expected to do with her day?

She wandered some more, but with her nose leading the way this time. It caught a delicious scent, and followed it, hoping to find the breakfast room still filled with food.

“There ye are,” an older woman said when she spotted her. “This way.”

Holly immediately followed, not understanding why she did so. The older woman was as stout as Eric but only about half as tall. She had the same gait, and Holly was sure she could also wield a sword well. The older woman had her jet-black hair tied in a bun, and while her face was creased with past troubles, the lines at the corners of her mouth suggested she was quick to laugh.

“In here,” the woman instructed, leading her into one of the large kitchens that supplied the castle.

“I beg yer pardon, but there must have been a mistake,” Holly said. “I’m nae a cook. I’m the new Lady MacPherson.”

“Aye, I ken who ye are,” the woman said. She held out a large, soft hand. “I’m Mirren Chapman, the head cook here at the castle. It’s a pleasure to meet ye, Me Lady.”

“Oh,” Holly murmured.

She took the woman’s hand, and it was more than just her hand that was shaken, but her entire body.

“Pass me that rollin’ pin,” Mirren demanded, pointing past her.

Holly did as she was told and retrieved the large wooden tool. In return, the cook slid a plate of bread and meat to her.

”Maybe ye would like to eat here for now,” Mirren said. ”Settle in and get some food in yer stomach before ye have to sit with anyone properly for meals.”

Mirren went to work as Holly ate, upturning a large bowl to release the dough inside. She kneaded the dough with the heels of her palms and rolled it out over and over, folding it every so often and sprinkling sugar and cinnamon on it.

“So, ye’re the new Lady,” she commented. “I heard ye were attacked on the way back here.”

“Aye,” Holly replied. “The Laird took down five men. Well, not single-handedly, but with the help of his men.”

“Aye, he’s the best fighter of them all,” Mirren informed her. “Must have been excitin’ on yer weddin’ day.”

“I wouldnae say excitin’,” Holly said, finding herself relaxing for the first time since entering the castle. “It was unexpected, that’s for sure.”

“I can see it in yer eyes, but ye needn’t be afraid of him,” Mirren told her. “I’ve kenned him since he was a wee lad, and he’ll grow on ye.”

“Ye think?”

“I ken.” Mirren picked up the dough and quickly tossed it into a large baking tray, before upturning another large bowl of dough and working on it.

“And will he ever grow to like me?” Holly asked.

“He doesnae give the best first impression,” Mirren replied with a smile. “And truth be told, he doesnae take kindly to many, but when he does, he takes to ye fiercely. Do right by him, and he will do right by ye.”

Holly wanted to ask more about the Laird, to discover what he had done to Clan Sutherland and why, but she was not brave enough to want to know the answer. Besides, it did not feel like the kind of thing she should discover behind his back. When she wanted to know, she would ask him directly.

“I dinnae ken if Eric likes me either,” she complained.

Mirren laughed—a loud, booming laugh that sounded like a drum. The sound was so unexpected and jovial that Holly could not help but smile.

“Och, he can go and boil his head!” Mirren exclaimed.

Holly felt the mirth bubble up her chest, and she placed a hand over her mouth as giggles escaped her lips.

“Dinnae worry about him,” Mirren soothed. “That eejit was in here last night, complainin’ about the weddin’. Eatin’ as much food as he could too, mind ye, but complainin’ all the same. He might act like he hates ye, but he doesnae. He hates that Laird MacPherson was attacked and injured. There’s nay one in the castle who is more loyal to the Laird than Eric. He’d put his life on the line for the Laird, and has on many occasions. It’s nae ye who he’s angry at.”

“He’s angry at Fraser.”

Mirren looked up from her work and held Holly’s gaze solemnly. “Aye,” she said, nodding.

Holly knew it was not the time to ask more about Fraser—she sensed the anger in Mirren—so she changed the subject.

“Do I have a maid in the castle?” she asked.

“A maid?” Mirren echoed with a smirk. “And what might ye want a maid for?”

Holly thought about it. “I dinnae ken. To help get dressed, and wash, and other things.”

“Were ye nae able to wash yerself this mornin’, lass? How did ye ever get that dress on if ye didnae have a maid to do it?”

Holly smiled uncomfortably as she thought about it. “I dinnae ken why I had a maid, to be honest. I suppose I only asked because I am used to it.”

“Maybe in time,” Mirren said. ”Ye should have one, but there’s too much coin goin’ toward other things right now. Ooh, who needs a maid anyway? Ye can dress yerself, cannae ye?”

Holly didn’t know if it was funny or not, but she started giggling again. There was something about the presence of the cook that soothed her and brought her happiness. With what she knew of Eric so far, she could not imagine him complaining to the cook and not coming away happy.

“I like it down here,” she admitted.

“Aye, I do, too,” the cook replied. “Feel free to come down here any time ye like. I ken this must nae be easy for ye, but ye have a friend down here. I like to think I’m a friend to everyone, but I dinnae invite anyone into me kitchens.”

“How about Eric? Did ye invite him in?” Holly asked.

“Och, ye cannae keep that man away from food. He’s a good man, and a good protector. Dinnae tell him I told ye this, but when he has drink in him, he can bellow a song pretty well.”

“That I would like to see,” Holly said.

She burst out laughing, and the cook joined her.

Holly was sure she could talk to the cook about anything, and it would end with laughter. The first two people she met in the castle were men who were hard to like, but the third person was an angel sent from heaven. She felt a little better about life in this castle already.

Mirren tossed the second large piece of dough into a baking tray and placed it beside the first. “Ye’ll have to excuse me, Me Lady. I need to prep the other cooks for lunch. Will ye be fine by yerself?”

“Aye, I think I will,” Holly replied. “I will go and explore the castle some more. Thank ye for makin’ me feel so welcome.”

“Ye are quite welcome, me dear.”

Holly left the castle kitchens feeling like she might fit in, after all. When she needed it, there would be a sanctuary in the kitchens for her.

It could save her from some things, but it would not be enough to save her from the Laird. She was happy for now that he was busy, but she would need to face him again. She needed to share his bed even if she did not want to.

She had a duty to the castle and the clan.