“I know it might not be what yer used tae, but I hope ye find this room to yer likin’ miss,” Kelly said as she directed Edina to filling the wooden tub in the corner with hot water.

“Oh Kelly, it’s absolutely perfect,” Ella said, and she meant it. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you for your kindness.” After spending the last month on a hay pallet in the Cameron’s barn, Ella took one look at the bed in the corner of the modest bed chamber, with real linen sheets, a pillow, and two warm looking woolen plaids and thought she would sleep for days.

On the opposite side of the room, where the bath had been set up, there was a small hearth with a fire already lit and warming the room. There was even a small window that looked out over the loch, and a small table that Kelly busied herself with by placing a small bouquet of flowers.

“Och, lass, think nothin’ of it. When Lucas said ye were a healer, I thought ye might like the room overlooking the loch and some local flowers tae look at,” the woman said. Ella saw Edina roll her eyes in the corner and chose to ignore it. It was a kind gesture, and Kelly was a darling woman for thinking of it.

“Kelly, thank you so much,” Ella said. “I hope I’m not being too much trouble.”

“Och, not at all. Yer a breath of fresh air in this stuffy old castle. Plus ye saved our Lucas. Now take off that filthy dress and get in th’ tub. Let’s see how blonde we can get that hair of yours.”

Ella was a touch nervous getting naked in front of the two women.

“No need tae be shy love, we all got th’ same bits,” Edina said, snidely.

That was all the push Ella needed, she wasn’t going to let the girl make a fool of her. She stripped down and delicately tipped a toe into the tub. The water felt warm, and heavenly. Ella let out a sigh of delight. “It has been at least a month since my last bath,” she said to no one in particular.

“What’s that red mark on your breast?” Edina asked.

“I’m not sure,” she replied. Ella was unaware of any mark, she looked down and sure enough there was a slight red, circular mark just under the darkened part of her breast. It wasn’t tender, but it was definitely something she hadn’t noticed before. Kelly gave her a knowing look, and immediately Ella realized the mark must have come from Lucas. She reddened, and quickly shifted her position in the tub doing her best to hide the mark. “I…uh… I must have rubbed up against a poking branch or shrub on our journey,” she said.

“Och, I’m sure marks like that happen all th’ time during such rushed travels,” Kelly said, smiling into her apron.

“Well, it looks disgusting,” Edina said, smirking. “Lean back Sassenach, I’ll get tae washin’ yer hair so I can get out of this God forsesaken chore.”

“Och, Edina mind yer tone. Ella is a guest,” Kelly chastised. “I’m gonna run down tae th’ kitchen and fetch ye some bread an’ cheese. Ye must be famished.” Ella looked at her, pleading not to leave her alone with Edina. Instead Kelly shot Edina a pointed look of her own, “Mind yerself while I’m gone, girl.”

Ella watched Kelly leave. She didn’t want the other woman to go, but she wasn’t in any position to argue. Her stomach groaned loudly at the mention of the food, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. Besides Edina might be a touchy brat, but she doubted the girl would try and harm her while in the castle proper. She tried to relax into the feeling of having her hair washed for the first time in ages. Kelly had put a few drops of rose water into the bath, and the scent was lovely. Letting her mind wander. She wondered what Lucas was up to. No doubt he was having a bath of his own, before heading to see his mother and sister.

She was looking forward to the evening meal. When they were in the barn Lucas had told her of the magnificent feasts that were often prepared in the keep when the men came home from battle. Roast meats both herd and wild game, puddings, oat cakes, and trenchers filled with ale. She wondered if they would have that same feast this evening. After all it wasn’t every day the new laird came home after being thought left for dead.

“Ow,” she said. She had been lost in thought when suddenly there was a slight tug at her hair. Edina was getting a bit rough.

“Och, my apologies lass.” Her words didn’t match her tone and Ella knew she pulled her hair on purpose. No matter, the girl could be as nasty as she wanted. Ella wouldn’t stoop to her level.

Then as quickly as the thought came it was gone as Ella felt herself being pushed hard, under the bath water. She struggled to break the surface and take a breath, but Edina was strong. She pushed with all of her strength. She would not die now, not after everything she had been through and not at the hands of a misguided kitchen maid. She used her arms to push off the bottom of the tub, at the same time she opened her mouth under the water, resisting the urge to swallow and bit down on Edina’s arm, hard.

“Holy hell, Sassenach bitch!” the girl exclaimed as Ella broke the surface gasping for air.

“What is wrong with you!?” she screamed, coughing, and reclaiming her breath.

“Ye dinnae belong here, bitch. And if ye ken what’s good fer ye, ye’ll leave and let Lucas alone! The clan will never accept ye!” There were tears streaming down Edina’s face, and for a moment Ella actually felt bad for the girl. She clearly had feelings for Lucas, and how could Ella blame her. Edina was right Ella didn’t belong at the keep. But she had already killed a man once, and she would be damned if she was going to let Edina threaten her life without fighting back.

“That may be well and true, but it’s hardly cause for murder!” Ella screamed, climbing out of the tub and getting as far away from Edina that the room would allow. “Get out!”

“Ye can’t come in here all English and on a high cuddie tellin’ me what I can and cannae do,” was Edina’s comeback. Ella was shocked, the girl didn’t seem remorseful in her actions at all.

“I could’ve been killed by your hand, do you realize that?” Ella asked. “I’ve killed a man, Edina. It is nothing to take lightly. I wouldn’t wish that feeling upon anyone.”

Edina just shrugged. As if taking a life meant nothing to her. A chill went down Ella’s spine. This girl thought murder was a perfectly acceptable way to eliminate a problem. The door opened and Kelly came in holding a tray filled with breads, cheeses and fruit. She looked from Edina to Ella, and then to the mess of water on the floor.

“Och, Edina, lass, what did ye dae?” she asked, setting the tray down and bringing a long cloth over to Ella to dry her off. Ella was grateful, as her anger ebbed, she was beginning to shiver in the cool evening air, and the fire had gone down.

“Don’t worry Kelly, I thought I saw a spider in the tub and I jumped out. I’m so sorry for the mess I made. Edina was only trying to help calm me down. I’m afraid it’s been an arduous day, and my mind is very tired,” Ella said, covering for Edina. She hoped that not turning the girl in for her violent act would make her see Ella, not as an enemy, but more as an ally.

“A spider ye say, this far north in the cold. That surely is odd,” Kelly said.

“Tha’ is what I said. I tried tae tell the lass not tae fash, but she was too upset,” Edina said, still glaring at Ella.

“That’s right,” Ella said, nodding her head in agreement. “She did try, Kelly.”

“Well, that’s all well and good. Still Edina, they need ye back in th’ kitchens. Ye can go, I’ll clean up here,” Kelly said. Ella had never seen a girl move as quickly as Edina did in leaving the bedchamber. Ella dropped to her hands and knees to start cleaning up the water with Kelly.

“I’m no a fool ye ken, lass,” Kelly said. “I ken the girl attacked ye. What I dinnae understand is why did ye lie for her?”

It was a good question, and Ella wasn’t completely sure of the answer. She didn’t want to bring up to Kelly her insecurities about Lucas being laird of the clan, and her own misgivings about being an English woman in a highland keep. She supposed she didn’t want the other woman to think ill of the girl, for being jealous. She simply shrugged. “I guess I just want her to not think of me as an enemy,” she replied.

“Dinnae fash yerself with what that little twit thinks,” Kelly said. “ ‘Tis what Lucas thinks, and what the council thinks that will be verra important.” Ella wondered what Kelly meant by mentioning the council? She knew that an elder council made up of revered older clansmen, and other leaders of the clan, met regularly and discussed clan business. Lucas had mentioned that he had been a part of his father’s council before he was killed in battle. Would Ella have to pass some sort of test in order to be accepted by the clan? Did Kelly know of Lucas’s plan to send her away to relatives in France?

Weariness came over Ella. She hadn’t been lying when she said it had been and arduous day. The fight with Edina had brought to the fore of her mind the worries she had been struggling with since the moment she learned of Lucas’s true identity. Now, thinking about the council as well, facing Lucas, his family, and the entire clan seemed like another battle that she wasn’t prepared to face. As much as she was looking forward to her first evening meal at the keep, she was thinking now she should skip it.

“Kelly, would you mind terribly, making my excuses for the evening meal?” Ella asked.

“Why lass, are ye not well?” she asked, a look of worry in her eyes. She crossed the room and put a hand on Ella’s brow and cheeks. Ella backed away, slightly. Kelly was too kind in her concern. It made Ella long for her sister. She so desperately wanted to confide her fears to someone.

“It’s nothing to worry about, it’s been a long few days. I think a solid night of rest will set me back to rights,” Ella said. Hopefully, Kelly would accept her excuse.

“Alright, if ye insist. I’ll tell the men that ye aren’t feelin’ up tae it. But mind ye, Edina disnae speak for the clan. I fur one am happy yer here,” she said with a smile. Ella only wished what she was saying were true of every MacGille.

Kelly took her leave and Ella moved to look out the small window in the room. The waning light cast an orange and pink glow over the hills and meadows leading up to the loch. It truly is a beautiful place, Ella thought. In a different time she and Lucas could really be happy here. But he couldn’t marry her, even if he wished to. Not that he had given her any indication that he did wish it, but Lucas was an honorable man and she knew he didn’t take her maidenhead lightly. He would feel honor bound to offer for her, and it would kill her but for the best of him and his people she would have to refuse. His clan would never accept and English bride for their laird.

Ella wiped a single tear from her cheek. The truth of it was that if Lucas were to succeed in leading his people he would need to marry a Scottish girl. A girl like Edina, a MacGille, who is from this place. Someone who the people knew and who knew the people. Who was Ella to stand in the way of that.

She moved over to the bed, running her hands along the soft fabrics. In the morning she would speak to Lucas. Her mind was finally made up. She would go to France if that is what he was offering. It was clear that that was what was best for her, but most of what was best for Lucas. She would beg his family there for solid work, and when she could safely return, she would go back to England, where she belonged.