“Yes, ‘tis been a long day already, and ‘tis only morning. I’ll take a bath and hope I shall feel better.”
Maddie smiled at Miriam as she left the room. She thought about her and how alike they were. Maddie hoped that she, too, could be saved just as Miriam was on the path of her own salvation.
Maddie worked at cleaning the hearth for several minutes when she became cold. Since she could not light a fire while she was cleaning the hearth, she went upstairs to grab her shawl. As she walked out of her room, she heard crying. It was pure anguish. What poor soul was crying like that? She walked down the hallway and finally pinpointed the room from where the cries emanated. Maddie knocked, but no answer came forth. She knocked twice more, but no response.
Another cry.
Maddie opened the door cautiously and saw a young lady, a little younger than she was, trapped in a nightmare.
Who was she?
Maddie gingerly walked over to the bed. Poor thing, Maddie thought, as her concerned eyes roamed over the girl. She reached out a hand and brushed locks away from her face. The girl sat up with a start, panting and sweating. She looked over to Maddie, confusion unmistakable on her face.
“Who are ye?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to disturb you. ‘Twas that I heard your cries and I wanted to help.”
She looked even more confused.
“Ye’re English?”
Maddie smiled.
“Aye. ‘Tis evident, isn’t it,” Maddie laughed quietly.
“What are ye doing here?”
Tears still remained in the girl’s hazel eyes. Her eyes reminded Maddie of Miriam’s.
“I am a guest. Connor, the laird, saved me from men who took me from my home. They wanted to ransom me. He brought me here and has allowed me to stay until my father’s men come to take me back home.”
The girl smiled a little.
“Aye, Connor would have saved ye.”
“You know him! Why, of course you do!” Maddie laughed at her foolish comment. Maddie eyed Katie suspiciously, making Katie laugh. “You have Lady Miriam’s eyes. Connor didn’t tell me he had a sister.”
Katie laughed again.
“My name is Katherynne. Call me Katie.”
“What a beautiful name,” Maddie said with a smile, but it faltered. “I thought all he had were two younger brothers.”
“Nay. I’ve been here in my room for quite a while.”
“Don’t you want to go outside?” Maddie asked curiously, looking around. “Wouldn’t you like some sunlight?”
Something flashed in the girl’s eyes. Katie shook her head.
“I’m sorry! I don’t mean to pry.” After berating herself under her breath, causing Katie to smile, Maddie said, “I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Madeleine Wynton. Do call me Maddie, please.”
“‘Tis nice to meet ye, Maddie.”
Maddie looked around again. What a mess! This wouldn’t do. Dresses were tossed everywhere. The floor needed to be swept badly. The chests needed to be dusted. Had no one cleaned this room at all? Her fingers flexed with the urge to tidy up and clean.
“I know that I’ve only just met you and so I wouldn’t dream of expecting you to tell me what has you so ill. There must be a bad flu going around. Please, I won’t take no for an answer. I simply must clean your chamber for you!” Maddie said, smiling at Katie.
Katie found her first true smile in a month. She had only just met this woman, and here she was offering to clean her own chamber. She was such a puzzle. She was also very talkative.
“I havena been of the mind to-”
Maddie waved her hands. “No excuses needed, Lady Katie. Besides, I am happy to help.”
“I couldna ask ye to-”
“I insist, Katie. Why, you’re my friend now and ‘tis the duty of friends to help one another.”
Katie nodded and looked at Maddie with curiosity. Maddie was so effervescent, she didn’t have the heart to say no.
Maddie talked on and on while picking up the room. Although Maddie didn’t mean to, she made Katie laugh. Katie became lost in laughter while Maddie babbled on. After picking up dresses and putting things back where Katie said they belonged, Maddie stood and smiled.
“Now! ‘Tis too dreary in here for you Lady Katie. You are a gem and need sunlight and flowers to compliment your beauty. I know what I can do! I’ll be right back!”
Maddie opened the window coverings and let light in. Once she did that to both windows she left the room, only telling Katie that she’d be right back. Katie followed Maddie’s form as she bustled out of the door, marveling at how much energy Maddie had, and at how quickly she changed topics. Wasn’t it just a minute ago that she met Maddie and now she had finished picking up the room?
Maddie hurried out of the castle and began to pick flowers. Once she had an armful of the colorful stems, she started up the steps. Aimee passed by her.
“Aimee, may I trouble you a moment? Could you please bring some water and a couple of pots for flowers to Katie’s room?”
Shock registered on Aimee’s face but she was quick to recover.
“Aye, milady.”
Maddie made a face.
“Please, Aimee, call me Maddie. No formalities are needed.”
Aimee smiled and went quickly to get what Maddie had asked for.
Maddie rushed up the stairs. Katie was lost in thought when she came in. Sadness swan within the watery depths of her eyes, and it touched Maddie’s heart.
“Smile, Katie. God helps us all in his way. He shall help you, too,” she said, smiling down at her.
Katie wondered about that. She looked over to Maddie and her face lit up.
Flowers!
How she had missed colors since she had isolated herself in her room.
“Ah! I see these did the trick. I knew it!”
Aimee knocked and Katie welcomed her in. Maddie and Aimee began to place flowers all around the room.
Maddie looked around, satisfied. “There! A little more cheery.” She looked at Aimee.
“Aimee, could I ask that you bring a scrubbing board and some soap. I’d like to clean some of these dresses for Katie.”
Aimee looked at Maddie as if she’d lost her mind.
“Nay, mistress, I canna. That’s a servant’s work!”
“Nay, Maddie,” Katie chimed in. “Nay, ‘tis nay acceptable.”
Maddie shook her head, smiling.
“Nonsense. I don’t believe in stations, Aimee. When there’s work to be done, there’s work to be done, and that’s that. If I have the time, why burden the staff who are already burdened?”
Aimee was dumbfounded but Katie was laughing up a storm.
Miriam and Malcolm had been at the door when Maddie made her last statement. When they heard Katie laugh, it was as if the clouds parted and the sun finally came through.
“‘Tis nice to hear ye laughing again, Katie,” Malcolm said in a deep voice, thick with emotion.
Katie looked up surprised, not having noticed her parents there. She smiled at them.
“I hope you don’t mind, Lady Miriam. Lady Katie allowed me the pleasure of tidying up the room and I would like to wash her dresses.”
Miriam looked from Katie to Maddie and slowly nodded. Her smile was wide. She wouldn’t deny anything to the woman that had made her daughter smile again. Whatever Maddie’s special remedy was, it was working. Miriam didn’t want Maddie away from Katie.
“Aye. Thank ye, Maddie.”
Although Maddie didn’t know it, Miriam thanked her for a lot more than the simple chores.
Aimee had left the room and returned with what Maddie had requested. Maddie slowly began to wash the dresses and started telling stories of herself when she was younger. Katie smiled and laughed at the outrageous stories of Maddie learning how to clean. It became apparent to Katie that Maddie was fanatical about the subject.
Malcolm and Miriam left the two and slowly went down the hall.
“I
was concerned, Malcolm. When I laid down on the bed, I had no intention of napping, but I was so tired! I fell asleep.”
“Of course, love. Ye havena left Katie’s side for an instant.”
“When ye entered the room and I awoke, I was mortified! I couldna dress fast enough!”
“But Katie is fine, just as I told ye.”
“Nay, not for the reasons ye gave me. Katie is better because of Maddie. She went in there, cleaned the room, opened the window coverings, and placed flowers. Everything that Katie didna want, Maddie managed to accomplish. And quickly, at that!”
Miriam smiled and laughed. Malcolm silently gave thanks to the Lord.
The only thing that had been better than hearing his wife’s laughter and seeing her smile, was hearing and seeing that of his daughter’s.
Chapter Seven
Connor had made his way quickly to the border. He remembered the description of the castle Maddie had given him their first night eating supper together. She described the castle as gigantic, with “lovely” gray stone. The grounds were vast and colorful. There were many beautiful trees. It was warm and welcoming. She had smiled when she described her home. She certainly loved it there. Connor, being the practical man that he was, realized that that could describe any domicile, so he had relied on his father’s description and instructions.
Maddie.
Just thinking of her made emotions roil within him. They were odd and contradictory. He thought of her beautiful eyes and sensuous, soft mouth, of her quirky personality and cleaning obsession, and of her hilarious dream of serving the Lord in a convent. The deep honesty in every gaze and word out of her mouth was so at odds with who he had thought she was.
Good Lord, what had come over him? Less than a week had passed since having met her and she was already turning him as daft as she was.
His two brothers, Kirk, Bruce, and two other men snapped him out of his reverie.
“This is it, Connor,” Iain said, pointing to the castle.
“This is the ‘warm and welcoming castle’ Maddie described?” Kirk asked, laughing. Connor had informed them of the description she had given.
Connor took in his surroundings. The landscape was so dreary to Connor’s eyes. Bare trees. No flowers. No color. No life! It was pure gray. The grounds were a brownish-green, desperately needing attention.
“No gate and only one sleeping guard. It’s as if he had no sons or a daughter to protect,” Connor said distastefully.
Connor and the men approached the snoring sentry. Connor dismounted, but his men stayed on their horses.
“Ye! Wake up!” Connor said, but the man snored on. Connor kicked the man’s leg with his booted foot and the man groggily woke up.
“Aye, wha’ ‘tishit?” he asked, slurring his speech.
“Ye are the guard, I presume?”
Only now did the guard realize that it was a Scot speaking to him. He looked at Connor’s plaid, and his eyes narrowed. His gaze moved beyond Connor, noticing the others on their horses. The guard tried to stand up and grab his sword, but fumbled.
“You pre-shume corre-ectly. Whatta ya want?”
“I have a message for William Wynton.”
“And wha’ ish thish messich?”
“Let’s go. This is a waste of time,” Connor said impatiently, turning towards the castle.
“Wait…wait! Ya can’t go in! Wha’ d’ya want withhh Shir Wynton?” The guard could barely stand up.
“I took his daughter and I am here to ransom her. Ye-”
The guard’s laughter stopped Connor.
“Lady Madeleine gone? Ranshom?” The guard almost fell over hooting with laughter.
Connor didn’t understand the guard’s reaction.
“She’sh in tha cashel. Even if sh-she were gone, Shir Wynton would be hard preshed to pay a ranshom!” He laughed harder. In fact, it was more like cackling.
Connor looked over to his men with frustration.
“She is in my custody, ye bloody idiot.”
This seemed to tickle the guard even more.
“She’sh not gone, I tell you! Who cares if sh-she ish anywaysh?”
Leaving the guard chortling, Connor walked towards the castle while the men rode. Once in front of the steps, the men dismounted and headed towards the door. They noticed no other guards on duty. Connor shook his head in shock as he opened the front doors.
They looked around once inside. It was drearier than the outside. Good God, it was completely devoid of color other than gray stone.
“Maddie lives here?” Kiel asked, echoing everyone’s thoughts. “I mean, we’ve not known her for long, but she is too lively to live in such a dreary castle.”
“Where the hell is a servant? Anyone? Do they just let anyone come and go as they please?”
Connor’s temper was quickly rising. Not protecting a castle when he had a daughter? What imbecile would do that?
They walked throughout the castle, but no one was there. They headed up the stairs, noting the gloomy and dark hallways. There was no one in sight.
“Incredible! ‘Tis impossible that no one is aboot!” Iain said, his Scots accent deepening.
They headed downstairs again.
The irony wasn’t lost on Connor. They were ransoming Maddie and here they were trying to find someone to inform of the ransom.
“This whole castle is one ugly block of gray!” Kiel snapped.
Once downstairs again in front of the doors, a servant hurriedly passed by.
“Girl?”
She looked up startled. She had her arms full of wood blocks and was obviously headed somewhere quickly.
“Sirs?” she responded, looking from one Scot to another with shock registering on her face.
“Wynton. William Wynton. Where is he?”
“He’s eating his morning meal, sir,” she said slowly. She was looking to the side and it was apparent that she wanted to leave.
Was it normal behavior for unannounced guests to come in, that she so casually would leave them there standing? For crying out loud, they were Scots! One would think by the servant’s attitude that unwelcomed Scots came in all the damn time.
“Inform him that he has company, since apparently the guard he so carefully chose seems to be inebriated at the moment,” Connor said.
“Aye, sir. And who may I say wishes to speak to him?”
“Laird Connor Ramsay.”
“Ramsay!” Her eyes traveled from the top of his head to his booted feet. The girl began to howl with laughter. Connor held fast onto his patience. She left the room and her laughter trailed behind her. Damn the hound who bore his name!
“What in the world? What has her laughing? Are all the people here mad?”
“Nay, Bruce. ‘Tis that they’re English, that’s all,” Iain responded.
They heard voices come from the direction the girl had disappeared to. Moments later, four men stood in front of the Highlanders. Shock registered on all of their faces.
They were related to Maddie?
Connor noted that they were only a couple of inches taller than her and all of them had blond hair and blue eyes. The Englishmen stood tense. Disgust and recognition lit each of their eyes. This served to further enrage Connor.
Which one of them had violated Katie?
Patience, he reminded himself. There would be time to kill these bastards.
“Ramsay, is it? What do ye want?” William asked, placing a hand on his sword.
All of Connor’s men followed suit. Connor’s arms, though, were crossed on his chest. Tension made the air thick.
“Yer daughter.”
No emotion showed on the father’s face, except a tick spasming at his jaw.
“What about her?”
“I have her and I’ve come to ransom her.”
He actually laughed at Connor. What the hell was wrong with these English bastards?
By God, were they all insane?
“My daughter,” he snorted, “is here. Ye
Scots have no brain at all. Ransoming her when she’s under my roof!” The father and his sons snickered.
The Scotsmen looked at one another, each with an expression on their face mirroring their confusion.
“She’s gone. I’ve taken her.”
“How do I know that?”
“She isna here! That’s how ye know, ye bloody idiot! Or how would ye, considering yer guard is inebriated and there are no servants about! Ye have a daughter. Do ye nay care to guard her with a little more protection?” Connor yelled.
“Are ye here to lecture my father or attempt a ransom?” Christopher asked. Connor thought he looked like he was the oldest brother. He had asked the question so plainly. There was no reaction to Maddie’s disappearance. Wynton’s daughter and their sister had been kidnapped, and they couldn’t care less.
“Check yer castle for her. I would tell ye to involve the servants in yer search to hasten this, but there arena any servants about. Are they inebriated as well?” Connor taunted.
“I told ye, Father! The mess hall was too filthy. I told ye Madeleine wasn’t cleaning!” the youngest looking son, Robert, said.
“Saydie! Saydie!” Wynton screamed.
The servant girl stepped forward as if pushed. Her trepidation was obvious.
“Where is Madeleine?”
“Beggin’ ye pardon, sir. We’re usually so busy that we rarely see one another. I haven’t noticed anything amiss, other than dust.”
Connor held on to his patience.
“Damn it! Eric! Robert! Search for her! Saydie, do the same!” Wynton yelled.
As the moments passed, Wynton and Connor stared at one another.
“Ye better hope she’s here, bastard Ramsay,” Wynton snapped.
“Call me bastard again, and I’ll show ye one.”
“He’s never had bastards!” Christopher stepped forward and said.
He was as dumb as an oak tree.
“Funny, I counted three standing before us,” Connor said blandly.
The insult finally dawned on Christopher and he took another step forward. Wynton held him back, shaking his head.
“Calm yourself, Christopher!”
Moments passed as slowly as falling leaves from a tree. Tension was suspended thickly like a fog. Each side just stared at one another.
The Highlander Who Saved Me (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 2) Page 6
